Opening statement
"It feels like it has been forever since we have played. After that last game, you want to take a little bit of time off. You have a non-conference schedule that you go through and that is getting you ready for Big Ten play. We are excited to get back out on the football field and play in front of a national T.V. audience again. That is a big thing for our program as we move forward.

"Last year against Nebraska, we played a good game for a majority of the game but we were not able to finish it. Last time we played them here, it was a big win for our program, so it doesn't take an awful lot to get fired up for this game.

"Also, the excitement that goes along with recognizing our inaugural Hall of Fame class. Three members have a direct football tie. Our football team this year, we put in place ways that our team can earn helmet decals. To honor two of those great players, Red Grange and Dick Butkus, every offensive player can get a decal of the number 77, when they do something good, individually or team-wise. The same thing with our defensive players, they can earn a number 50 decal. That creates a lot of excitement.

"For us, offensively, it is about putting points on the board. I think we are about as healthy as we have been. I assume we will have everyone ready to go, which is a big deal. Defensively and for our football team as a whole, we have to play harder and be more physical."

On bye week practices
"As a general rule, the bye week is about self-evaluation. We moved on to our next opponent, Nebraska, late in the week. Especially, with the mental part of the game, early on in the week were more training camp practices and fundamental work. Also, it is a time to get healthy and take a little bit of time and let the bodies heal up. That is the standard way we run a bye week."

On the growth of the team 
"I think that we have learned that we can be a really good football team. Of course, the goal was to win all three of our non-conference games, especially the first two home games. First game, we had to come back to win it. We had to finish it the right way. The second game we were able to get off to a faster start and see a lot of players. Now, we have an idea of what they can do in a game situation. Now, we need to see how we come back from a big loss and a game where we didn't play our best football. We can play a lot better than. Everything is set up and it is about Big Ten play for us. We have a big opportunity ahead of us."

On the growth of the newcomers
"When you are playing for the first time, you are learning from A to Z. First off, we had to go through a pregame routine with them and what we do on game days. We had to teach them how you come out from halftime and how you respond when you are in a situation to make plays. There are a lot of things and our guys are just growing up. Of course, we are not talking about freshmen guys anymore. These are young guys on our team that get better and better with each rep they get."

On quarterbacks
"During the bye week, we saw what we have seen all along. You have to keep in mind that during the bye weeks, you don't play. We have been practicing throughout with the guys. We are not all of the sudden going to see something that we haven't seen. We wanted to use that time to get better in everything that we ask the guys to do. Our guys show up to work each day, do what they are asked to do and they try to get better. Each week, we want to see improvement in their game."

On Nebraska
"Offensively, I see a commitment to the run.  That is what you expect from a Nebraska team. They are a more traditional run offense. There is some read option-type plays, but we see a commitment to a run. Their quarterback is a little different than what they have had. He is more of a thrower than an athletic, running quarterback. Defensively, it is the same type of approach that we have seen. A hard-nosed group of guys that know what they are doing. They are physical at the point of attack. Return game-wise they have two returners who have gotten plays."

On events over the weekend
"I have a lot of thoughts of where we are at right now. I think there are players taking a stand against what they feel is right in our country and things that have been said about our private citizens. Is our president a role model, I am asking you. I think we would all say yes. I think there are certain things you would expect him to say and certain things you don't expect him to do. What is happening right now has brought a lot of people together.

"The way to voice your opinion on what you think is right and wrong is through the vote. I voted for a certain person because of I believe in what they stood for. The presidency of our United States requires a certain level of respect and manner of which you assume that position and the way you should behave. That is not the case right now. For this many people to feel like they need to take a stand against it, something is wrong. For me, my opinions have not changed an awful lot.

"We coach and I coach college students and teach them to state their opinions. If you see something you don't like, be educated in what you say and voice your opinion at all times. Constitutionally, we have the right to do that."

On the message to the team
For us, we always talk about current events. To me, on what is happening right now, that changes our program and what we do. What I have told our players, again I will go back to the election, I want them to be involved in everything that happens in their communities and country, period. Be educated about the event, have the information and make your voice heard. That is what we tell all of our students. They have an opinion. Use it at all times. I don't think I have to change what I tell our team right now. If they have an opinion, speak for yourself at any time. They don't have to do that during a game. Students can do that at any time. Our athletes can give you their opinion at any time, that is what I always tell our football team."

On modeling good behavior
"Some of us are role models. Do we consider our athletes role models? Yes. Do you expect them to behave a certain way? Yes. With any leader, you say yes. We should all be judged by that standard. Are you holding our leaders to that? Is it okay for someone to call another American those names? Is it okay? If it is, make your opinion known. To me, it is not."

On the team being in the locker room for the national anthem
"We don't come out before the national anthem and we are not going to change what we do. We have the same opinion. What is happening right now does not dictate how we do things. We don't come out before the national anthem and we are not going to now. Our guys all have opinions on what is going on."

"This is how we have been doing it all along. Should we change it up now? No. This is how we do it. If you want to know our opinion, we will give you our opinion. We think what is happening right now is wrong, like everybody else. Declare your opinion and then go that way."