Matt Farniok Quotes

Nebraska Football
Preseason Press Conference
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Aug. 1, 2019

Matt Farniok, Offensive Lineman 

On the improved toughness of the team

"I would say they show the strides we have been making in the summer. I mean (Zach) Duval and his staff have been doing a good job at actually getting us truly strong, and this is probably the strongest we have been as a unit since I’ve been here. And now I mean it is just about executing that and not being afraid of hitting, just going, just going full speed whatever it takes and being ready to bring it every single day."

On his confidence in finding replacements for 2018 seniors Jerald Foster and Tanner Farmer

"Extremely high. I mean it’s a game where no matter what, whether we lose all five guys one year or we lose one, I mean the next guy up is always going to be ready and always going to be prepared now. Some of the guys are going to be pretty new, and they are going to have a little of first game jitters but after the jitters are gone I think it is going to be a solid foundation and we are going to be ready to rock like nothing has really changed."

On his brother and fellow offensive lineman Will Farniok

"I have just seen him learn that he is not the big fish anymore. He has kind of learned that he can’t just be the bigger kid and just lean on someone to get the job done. He really has to rely on technique as everyone is his size or bigger, so he can’t get lazy with his technique and he can’t relax on anything he is doing. Granted that’s what everyone needs to be doing, but with him it is a little more emphasized. He has always accepted a challenge. He has never been one to back away, so I mean he is always ready, he always wants to learn, he always wants to figure out what he can do better, so that with me, being my little brother, it’s really easy if anything, I may over-push him just because he is my little brother. But I want him to be as successful as he can be. Sometimes I have to know when to back off, which I don’t really tend to do, so he kind of gets the brunt side of me the most, but he knows everything I do is for his best interest. So he is never really too upset about it, probably just more annoyed and angry with me sometimes."

On Coach Frost's perception that the team has a confident look

"To me it really means we understand what it takes to win a football game, and I mean winning and losing are kind of habits that you can create. When you create any type of habit, it is always going to be hard to break. And as you saw through end of the season, we kind of started to figure out how to create winning habits, how to become a winning team, and that is kind of what shows. We have a confidence to ourselves. We aren’t cocky, but we trust what we are going to do, and we believe in what we are going to do, so it makes it that much easier to play in the game and just go and play football."

 

On outside expectations for the team

"Honestly, its not that big of a deal to whatever expectations people put on us because at the end of the day you should always think you are going to be a winner. You should never go into a fight thinking you are going to lose because you are going to lose. So, whatever your expectations are, I always think they should be high and for me personally, it doesn’t matter what the end goal is. Right now, my main goal is to win week one. It doesn’t matter if you can win week 12 if you can’t win weeks 1-11. So, the main focus for me is every week just take it week by week, day by day, and just win the next day, win today and that’s it."

On the importance of veteran linemen helping a large group of newcomers

"It’s the same as always. The new guys there are always going to be on a learning curve from high school to college ball. You just have to take them under your wing and understand that its going to be more of understanding you can’t just be the big kid that leans on someone and shoves someone over without trying. It’s now you have to focus on technique, you have to get the steps right. We've got a great bunch of kids, and they recruited the right type of kids. They are willing to learn, they understand that they are not perfect, I’m not some guy that is going to walk up and be the next hall of fame O-lineman that is just going to walk on the field. They know this is a game of technique and a power game. They understand that, so they are always wanting to learn and take the advice from the older guys."

On Will Farniok's progress in the weight room

"From where he started his freshman year when he first got here to now, I think he is flirting with 300 pounds and all of his numbers have gone up dramatically, like you don’t have a choice with this staff either. With Duval, its either you are going to get really really strong or you are going to get really, really, really strong. He doesn’t give you a chance to back off, it’s a constant 'we are going to go' mentality, and its awesome because you don’t have a choice except to get bigger, get better, get stronger. It is amazing."

On if the offensive line now looks like a Big Ten line

"I think we always have, it was just, we just had to be more focused. We didn’t quite have the best mentality. We just had the “we are great. It doesn’t matter” as much as the technique. Now, we are each person wants to have the best technique possible, and I want to do everything right. It is more of a technique focus where you can just really grind it out and get ready to go."

On whether he is locked in at right tackle or whether he may slide around because of his versatility

"Honestly, I have no idea. That is for the coaches to decide. Wherever they tell me, I will go play it. Doesn’t matter. Whatever they want me to do. If they want me to go and play safety, I will go and figure out how to play safety."