Ameer Abdullah Press Conference Quotes

Nebraska Football
Press Conference Quotes
Monday, Sept. 22, 2014
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Pre-Illinois  

On how Ameer feels Monday morning after 35 carries…
“I feel better in week No. 4 than I have in previous seasons. I feel pretty good for the most part. On Sundays we do yoga, I make sure I get my butt up to get to treatment in the morning. There’s just a couple things I’ve done. Making sure I’m cold tubing after the game.”

On being named Big Ten offensive player of the week twice…
“That’s news to me, I didn’t even know. I guess it’s a good honor. I mean I always just want to win player of the week I guess. Didn’t really look across the Big Ten to see who’s worthy. The first time I won it, I shouldn’t have. (Penn State quarterback Christian) Hackenberg should have won the first time I got it, but you know I’m glad I got it.”

On promotion NU gives their athletes…
“It’s definitely a blessing because I remember high school and seeing Ndamukong Suh and just wondering why he wasn’t promoted when he should have been. I feel like he should have been the first defensive player to win the Heisman. For them to push me as well as they have up to this point just shows that they care about me as a person more than just a football player. They want to see me do well. Just to see the fans support outside the complex here, all the “Fear Ameer” stuff, it’s definitely something I’m cherishing my senior year. It means a lot to me.”

On playing with Tommy Armstrong Jr…
“People underrate Tommy as a runner. He gasses people, he is really swift and has good moves in the open field. He was a tough guy this summer and really worked on his quickness and it is really starting to show. Just because he is a quarterback doesn’t mean he can’t take hits or deliver it to people. I’m sure teams consider that. You have to account for him just as much as you account for any running back.”

On the receivers…
“They were great. Before the game I gave them a little pep talk about how we have to be physical every play and make sure you hit somebody and let them know, “I’m here, and I ain’t going no where.” Kenny Bell really took it upon himself to hit somebody every play. Watching film, he was cutting people down, he was pancaking people, and he was really exciting to watch.”

On wearing Miami out…
“Anytime you’re hitting them in the mouth, trading blows for blows and not giving up or holding anything back, you’re going to wear a team down. I feel like we did that on Saturday.

On the offensive line…
“We always emphasis that the offensive line set the tempo for the offense as a whole. The way they come off the ball, their effort off the ball, is ultimately going to transpire to the whole offense. This Saturday they definitely wanted to get physical. They wanted to make sure their presence was felt. And they did a tremendous job. I am really proud of those guys. Every time we got the ball there was at least a few yards cushion before I had to make a move. Any time you get that as a running back you have to do it for your team at that point.”

On friendship with the offensive linemen…
“I love those dudes. We are always doing stuff and they’re always picking on me because I’m small. They mess with me and stuff but I love those dudes. We’re always doing stuff together off the field. Jake Cotton is a neighbor of mine, he actually lives next door to me, and there’s positives and negatives of that. But I love those dudes and being a senior now I am really cherishing things more. The relationships I’ve built with people on this team mean so much more now.”

On continuing success after Miami game…
“We just need to prepare like we did in weeks prior to now.  Every game is important. The Miami game was important and it’s Illinois this week. We have to make sure we approach the practice field. Make sure we know all the personnel. Make sure we know the game plan in and out. Make sure we go into everything, and turn over every stone before Saturday.”

On opening Big Ten play this coming weekend…
“The season started weeks ago. We are just trying to better ourselves every week. Right now the goal isn’t to win a conference title. The goal is to win on Saturday.”

On the student section and fans…
‘The student section and the fan base as a whole means a lot for home games and sometimes they don’t understand how big the impact they can have on the other team. Last Saturday was probably the loudest I’ve ever heard Memorial Stadium since I’ve been here. Miami had a young quarterback and I feel like it got to him sometimes. It got to their offense a couple times. And that’s because of them. They may not realize it but they have a lot to do with the outcome on Saturdays.”