%20--%3e%3csvg%20version='1.1'%20id='Nebraska_N'%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20x='0px'%20y='0px'%20viewBox='0%200%20163%20152'%20style='enable-background:new%200%200%20163%20152;'%20xml:space='preserve'%3e%3cstyle%20type='text/css'%3e%20.st0{fill:%23FFFFFF;}%20%3c/style%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M159.1,144c-2.3,0-4.1,1.8-4.1,4s1.8,4,4,4s4-1.8,4-4S161.2,144,159.1,144z%20M159,151.2c-1.8,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2%20s1.4-3.2,3.2-3.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.5,3.2,3.2C162.2,149.8,160.8,151.2,159,151.2z'/%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M157.4,145.6h1.4c0.6,0,0.8,0,1.1,0.2c0.4,0.2,0.6,0.6,0.6,1.1c0,0.4-0.1,0.7-0.3,1c-0.1,0.2-0.3,0.2-0.6,0.4%20h-0.1l1.1,2.1h-0.8l-1-2h-0.6v2h-0.8L157.4,145.6L157.4,145.6z%20M158.6,147.7c0,0,0.3,0,0.4,0c0.4-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.6-0.8%20c0-0.3-0.1-0.5-0.4-0.6c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.6,0h-0.4v1.4L158.6,147.7L158.6,147.7z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M147,0H93h-5v5v35v5h5h5v24.8L55.2,2.3L53.7,0H51H5H0v5v35v5h5h5v62H5H0v5v35v5h5h54h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V82.2%20l42.8,67.5l1.5,2.3h2.7h46h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V45h5h5v-5V5V0H147z%20M150,5v35v3h-3h-7v66h7h3v3v35v3h-3h-46h-1.6l-0.9-1.4L52,75.3%20V109h7h3v3v35v3h-3H5H2v-3v-35v-3h3h7V43H5H2v-3V5V2h3h46h1.7l0.9,1.4L100,76.7V43h-7h-3v-3V5V2h3h54h3V5z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M103,87L103,87L51,5H5v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0c0,3.3,0,68.7,0,72l0,0c-2.2,0-10,0-10,0v35h54v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0%20c0-2.6,0-47,0-47l52,82h46v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0c0-3.3,0-68.7,0-72c2.2,0,10,0,10,0V5H93v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0%20C103,42.6,103,87,103,87z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Monday, Oct. 19, 2020
Pre Ohio State
Press Conference Video
What are your thoughts on having to open at Ohio State?
“I'm excited getting to play Ohio State week one. I know our guys are excited our coaches, this program we fought to play so we're excited to play. It is what it is as far as the schedule we were dealt, I think we're excited and we're prepared.”
What are your thoughts on playing in an empty stadium?
“It'll be bizarre. But we did practice and I know other teams around the Big Ten have as well in empty stadiums. I'm sure it'll be a little bit of an adjustment at first during that game, but we’ll be ready to go either way. I think if you need any more excitement already to play in that game in that stadium, I don't think it matters if the fans are there or not. Guys are going to be ready to play.”
What was that like to be named the captain for the second straight year? Also, what is it like now to be into an actual game week?
“I'm honored, it's always a great honor to be voted on, voted by your teammates as a captain, it means a lot to me and I'm going to continue being a leader that I know I can be and be there for those guys. And then all I could say is finally. We've been practicing for a while and then doing different things, obviously, and we're ready to finally get to play. I can't believe we haven't played a game yet already. It's already been so bizarre and to finally being a game week, we're excited for it.”
How will this road trip be different?
“There's no doubt there will be some adjustments, but like you said, it's going to be up to our leaders, like myself, and the coaches to make sure those young guys, some guys who aren't as experience on the road get them adjusted and get him on the same page. I think fortunately not too much of our road schedule stuff will change. As far as our habits, to my knowledge right now, obviously there's going to be testing and different things like that, but I know our guys are going to adapt. We've had to adapt for a while now. You know the whole country has so will be ready to go.”
What impact do you think Nebraska and Nebraska players and that Nebraska coaches had on getting to this day?
“I would say there have been several players and coaches and programs that have had, a good amount of significance and an influence in this movement. I would say Nebraska was definitely one of the first and one of the vocal points in this movement, and I really applaud our program and our leadership that includes Coach Frost, our AD (Bill Moos) and our president (Ted Carter). For speaking up for what they believe in and fighting for us players who wanted to play. I'd say they played an important role, but they weren't the only ones.”
Are do you expecting to be the starting quarterback at Ohio State right now?
“I do right now, yes, but again, this is up to the coaches. And that's really where I'm gonna leave it. You know it's not really my place to speak on that but I'm feeling good about where I'm at and I'm gonna continue preparing that way.”
How different was it this preseason to have a true competition at quarterback?
“I think it brought the most out of myself and Luke (McCaffrey) and as well as the team surrounding us. It really got us going and I think it was only a positive change.”
What's it been like preparing for this Ohio State defense without having any film from this year to go off?
“It's definitely different. Since I’ve been here we haven’t opened with a Big Ten opponent, but obviously I know there's some new pieces in there. New players, new coaches, and obviously we have to go off of some of last year's stuff and other things, but I feel like this coaching staff has done a great job of preparing us to this point and we're going to continue to prepare this week, and I know we’ll feel confident going into Saturday.”
NU Athletic Communications