Mick Stoltenberg Quotes - 9/3

Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Monday, Sept. 3, 2018
Pre-Colorado

Senior Defensive Lineman Mick Stoltenberg 

On the rain delay
“It is what it is. It’s kind of rough when you prepared all offseason and everything for that, and man, it was bizarre just sitting there in the locker room waiting that out. I don’t know, here we are I guess. We’ll get the thing rolling on Saturday but until then, we just got to keep preparing hard. We felt like our preparation was good for the first week, so we just got to put all that stuff away and just focus on Colorado now.”

On the possibility to play on Sunday
“We were all just saying, ‘Hey, no matter what let’s just roll here and get things done.’ It would’ve been weird. We wouldn’t have been able to stay in the hotel the night before, so everyone would have been in a different area. The plan was, when we all left, was to go home and go to bed. Be here at 6:00 in the morning for breakfast and get ready for the game. But shortly after I got home with all the traffic and everything I got a message that it had been canceled for sure. We were looking forward to it, we were hoping it would work out and we’d be able to get that first game in, but obviously things didn’t work out so that’s kind of the way it goes.”

On how he spent his Sunday
“Sunday we just had what our typical Sunday would be. Obviously we can’t hold football stuff that day, being our day off and everything. So we had meals and everything like that but I kind of just hung out and did some homework and stuff like that. Typical Sunday.”

On how coming back to work helped get his mind off the canceled game
“Absolutely, I thought practice went really well today. You’re right, it was kind of a bizarre weekend for us and it’s good to just kind of get back to the work and stop thinking about all that. We’re glad to be onto a new thing and put all that behind us. Like I said, we got a head start in the game plan. We didn’t have to go watch film from a game like we usually would on Monday, so we got to kick start our Colorado stuff.”

On his reaction to the text message about the cancelation
“I’d like to say I was really surprised but I guess it didn’t really seem like something that would be that easy to handle logistically with travel and everything for those guys. We were hopeful for it and everything when we got back but I wouldn’t say it was the biggest surprise in the world. We kind of expected it a little bit.”

On why today’s practice went so well
“I think it’s almost just the let-down of not having that game that might be part of it. We like to prepare the same way every day and prepare hard but I think guys are just fired up and getting ready to play. Guys were antsy, they were really looking forward to Saturday so I think they took this as our next opportunity to get better, where Saturday would have been. So guys were fired up and ready to go today.”

On being named team captain
“That meant a ton to me. I’ve watched this program ever since I can remember and to be put on that wall and be one of those guys, it’s an honor to me. It’s something you’ve got to put in perspective a little bit but it’s a really cool, exciting thing for me. It’s cool I’m with Luke [Gifford] and Jerald [Foster], two guys I came in with. We’re fifth-year guys all from the state of Nebraska so I think it’s an awesome tradition we’re keeping going. I’ve been trying to be that leader and everything and it’s kind of cool that it came to a head a little bit. It’s just all that more responsibility on my shoulders, too. I’ll take it and I’m excited for it.”

On the disadvantage of not having played the first game
“We talked about that. It’s definitely something you’d like to have to get that first game out of the way and make your corrections and everything like that. We’ve just got to prepare that much harder this week. I guess the good thing is we got some film on them and we’ve got a game to watch that they have played. It’s all in the way we prepare. Like you said, we really don’t have the chance to correct those mistakes from game one so we’ve just got to go into practice with the right mindset and get to work.”

On the possibility of playing an extra game during the bye week
“I think guys would step up to that. I think guys want to play that game. Guys want to have a 12-game season; they don’t want to be cut short. Whatever happens happens, but I think guys will be excited for it and we’ll be up for it.”

On his memories of the Colorado-Nebraska rivalry
“The number one memory was probably [Ndamukong] Suh’s pick-six against Colorado and then [Alex] Henery’s game-winning field goal. Those are some cool moments I remember from the Colorado rivalry. I obviously don’t remember anything from the games in the 90’s but it was still a pretty good rivalry going on when we were in the Big 12. So it’s cool to kind of get that going. I know a lot of fans are excited to renew that rivalry. I think it’s a home and away series with these guys so that’s exciting.”

On if he was able to meet former Husker Ndamukong Suh
“No, I didn’t get to meet him but I saw him walking by. It’s kind of cool seeing him around. Obviously he’s a legend here and for him to want to come back and be around the program and watch us play is an honor for us. It’s great to see those legends back and enjoying themselves in Lincoln.”

On the team’s emotions and anticipation for football
“We’re trying really just to focus on Colorado and get the preparation going but obviously emotions were pretty wild Saturday night. To go through the entire day’s preparation especially it being a night game, you feel like everything comes to a head. Then for us to literally get out on the field, the ball to be kicked, the offense to go out onto the field and the game get called, it’s a pretty big letdown physically and emotionally. I guess it was tough for me to sleep Saturday night just because I didn’t burn the energy or use the adrenaline I got when we got ready for the game. But emotionally we’re all just real excited to get a game in and get rolling here this week for sure.”

On how he found out he was a team captain
“We voted on it, I think it was either Wednesday or Thursday. Then at our team meeting that night Coach Frost came forward and announced us as captains. It happened quickly. We got the votes in that day we were able to name the captains and everything.”

On his family’s reaction to him being named team captain
“My family was really excited. I think it’s a cool experience for them too, just watching me grow and everything I’ve been through in the program the last four years to get that honor. It’s great for my family. I love representing my family and everything in my name so it’s awesome and I know they’re enjoying it too.”

On if the tunnel walk felt different
“It was different for me. The captains went out first so I got to see it from the field. It was pretty cool seeing all that new stuff go on and everything so it was exciting. It was real fun to watch those guys run out of the tunnel and get ready to go.”

On if the tunnel walk was an emotional moment for Coach Frost
“I wasn’t in there right before they ran out obviously but you could tell he was ready to roll. He had the game face rolling. I think everyone was just super excited to get rolling. It was cool having some new aesthetic changes to the tunnel walk and everything. Those are kind of exciting too.”