Aidan O’Connell
Purdue Quarterback
On the run game helping total offense
“I think it was huge. Last week we had a tough week in practice and credit to our offensive line coach credit to all our coaches. Credit to our offensive line receivers for blocking. That run game really opened it up for us.”
On ZanderHorvath
“Zander is the type of kid obviously everybody sees that playmaker. In the locker room you see a guy who just goes out there works hard, plays hard, loves his teammates and so much more than just a great running back. In fact, a guy who more than just a great running back a guy who we need in the locker room.”
On defending David Bell
“They were doing a good job with coverages. They did not really do anything we did not see on the film but they were sometimes clouding him and putting a safety of a topic over there, but then also giving us some one-on-one opportunities. So when they double team somebody like that it opens other guys up so my job is just to see when they do that and then find the open guys.”
On playing Michigan State
“What else would you want? That is what you play the game for. Hopefully we can get another great win. Coach always says one game season. You have to prepare this week to play a really good Michigan State team, the best team they have had in a long time. 8-0 like you said so it is going to be a big test.”
On picking the team up after loss last week
“Coach talked about it all week on getting the mojo back, and I think that was the focus trying to get back to what we do. We know we did not play good last week. Probably our worst game of the season offensively. So we knew we could play better. It was not anything pondering on if we could play good football. We know we can play good football. We just had a good week of practice come out here and do it.”
On no interceptions
“No interceptions. That is not a first, but I guess not super rare around here for me so it is my job.”
On finding receivers other than David Bell
“I try to always and obviously do not do a good enough job all the time but try to go through my progression know the design of the play know what we are trying to accomplish and then understand how changes based on coverage. I do not think I did anything different. I just tried to be smarter with the ball and playing quarterback you have to find the line of being able to take shots, trying to make tight throws but also being smart with the ball.”
On Jackson Anthrop
“Again, just a kid who is all about Purdue, a kid from West Lafayette, who the town loves, the team loves, comes back for a sixth year and just works his butt off always practicing, always and does whatever we need him to running back, receiver, huge leader for our team, one of the most important guys on our team. So he was a big part of this one.
NU Athletic Communications
