Nebraska vs. Illinois
Nebraska Player Quotes
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014
Junior Running Back Imani Cross
On what he saw in the offense
"I saw a lot of movement. Those guys played with their eyes up, played with a great pad level. I think they did a great job of getting movement and creating holes for us."
On his 22 carries for the game
“It was really fun. I haven't had 22 carries since I don't know when. It was really fun to get that kind of action and contribute to the team. I just did my role and played my part."
On whether he was tired
"No I wasn't gassed at all. I think the weather had a lot to do with it. But the conditioning level was up."
On the importance of the first Big Ten game
"It was extremely important to just start off on the right path. We are not going to win the Big Ten Championship today. Coach made that clear to us. If we are on the right path that goal is a lot more achievable. I think we went out on the right note today. Tomorrow we have to focus on Michigan State."
On an increase in playing time
"I expect it every week. I just prepare as if I am the starter. Sometimes I get as much as I want and sometimes I don't. I think the main thing is focusing every week and preparing as if I am the starter and being ready when my number is called."
Sophomore Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr.
On running offense
"I guess it was just the game plan. We were running a bunch of power runs, and we figured if we ran enough to where we could play-action and maybe get a deep post on the safety that was biting down on the run, is how we started off the first half. It kind of worked out the way we planned."
On the importance of starting off Big Ten play on the right foot
"It's important. I feel like we started where we wanted to, but we had too many mistakes and we have to fix those. We are going to a dogfight this week coming up. Michigan State is no fluke team, and they're good. If we make the mistakes it may cost us the game, just like last year."
On if it felt like they were out there for 40 minutes
"It felt like we were out there for a long time. The way that we were playing, we were enjoying ourselves. I know Ameer (Abdullah) was enjoying himself. I know those guys up front were blocking, and they did a great job. They opened up holes for me."
On his 25-yard run on 4th-and-22 in the fourth quarter
"It was miscommunication between the quarterback and receiver. We tried to get in a certain route at the last minute, and I don't think he saw the corner jump him. He was kind of covered, so they told me if everyone is covered either find a back or just run and I tried to make the play. That's about it."
On Michigan State
"It's going to be a dogfight. We have said it day in and day out that it is how we prepare for whoever wanted to turn over more is going to win the game. We've just got to take care of the football and make sure we put ourselves in the right situation to win a ball game."
Sophomore Defensive Back Nate Gerry
On his interception
"We were showing pressure and I was middle safety, and we put in a new solid package today so we had me and (Corey) Cooper playing the box and one person is blitzing and I was middle third. I saw one of their guys got beat in coverage and kind of came my way so I just went and high-pointed it."
On defensive end Randy Gregory's tackle
"He was going for it so I tried to give him a little jazz step so he could set up a little better and then he smacked him pretty good."
On the defense's slow start
"I don't really know right now. That's one thing that we've been talking about when preparing for every game. That was one of our emphasis' last night. We didn't have a very good practice Friday and we kind of got on each other about that. Once we get in the groove we kind of start rolling, we just have to find that groove a lot earlier."
On the game tonight
"It was just another game. Coach Bo (Pelini) says you treat every game like it's a big game. It doesn't matter who you're playing, you have to respect the game of football. Illinois is a good team, they have good skill players out there, that No. 8 is an athlete. But it's one of those things we try to focus on every day, even if it's in the weight room or outside of the weight room, we just have to focus and be prepared for the little details. That's one thing we can lack on, is the small details. We need to clean up before next week."
On his interception run
"I was a little upset I didn't score, but I had no gas left in the chamber. I went and found a trashcan, that was the first thing. Yeah, I wish I would have scored."
On Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt not starting
"We kind of saw him as a pocket passer, throwing the ball type of guy, so once we figured out that he wasn't playing we kind of got in the back of our head that this guy can run the ball a little better. So we had to use our keys and stuff because we weren't expecting him to run."
On the Michigan State Game
"It's just another Big Ten game. I feel like we have to put every ounce of energy into this because we have a bye week after this week so we need to lay down the line. We need to have a great week of practice and preparation that roll over into Saturday. East Lansing isn't easy, especially with the great team that they have."