MSU Player Quotes from Tuesday, October 14
10/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
A look at MSU's game last week against Weber State and this week against Eastern Washington through the eyes of a pair of Bobcats...
SAFETY ARNOLD BRIGGS
What do you know about Eastern Washington?
“I’ve watched a little bit of film. They play a lot of four-wide. Every team in the Big Sky is a good team. You can’t underestimate anyone. We’re just waiting for the challenge. It’s another big step we have to take. We’ll just practice hard and go with the punches and see how it is.”
How frustrating were all the third down conversions on Saturday?
“It’s just how football is, anything can happen. Third downs, we should have executed. Things happen, you just have to bounce back, roll with the punches, get back on a roll, practice hard, do what we can do. We just need a lot more practice, more execution. I think we’re going to come back and be even better.”
In a game where possession time could be a key, how important is third down success?
“Time of possession is a big key. We have to stick together, try to get our drives going. Our defense is real good. Bad things happen, but we’ll get back on track.”
How important is it to stay positive against a team with such a potent passing attack?
“That’s the thing that’s key about our team, we all stay together, we’re all in it together. I feel like whatever adversity we’re in we’re always going to bounce back, because that’s how strong our team is. We can take on anything, basically.”
Other players has described the defense as a family, is that how it feels?
“The whole team, I feel like, is a family. Football is a team sport. Not only on the defensive side, but on the team I feel like we’ll come back and bounce back and take what happened and take it as a good cause and try to fix our mistakes. Like you said, family is a good word for what this team is.”
Does a game against a passing team make you more excited?
“If they’re going to throw the ball it’s always going to be exciting. Whenever the ball’s in the air we try to make plays. I feel like it’s going to be more exciting than Weber. Yeah, (Weber) did pass a lot, but as good as Eastern was last year, it’s (about) making plays.”
How do you deal with Eastern’s five straight wins over MSU?
“I feel like we can put it to the side, because it’s a new team, a new year. Just roll with the punches and we’ll see what we can do.”
How has your transition from cornerback to safety gone?
“It’s different, but I like being back there. You’re further back. It’s not a big factor, really. I like to hit more. At safety you get to come up and hit more. I get to be more vocal, basically. I like it a little bit more.”
PUNTER ERIC FISHER
Describe the importance of the special teams and field position?
“It gives us a lot of momentum, allowing us to be able to give our offense to get good field position. It gives a lot of momentum and gets us on the field with a good feeling.”
How do you feel about focusing on punting this year?
“I’m loving it. Punting is a big joy of mine. I grew up playing soccer, so as long as I’m getting to kick something, I don’t care what it is. If I’m punting, kicking, whatever I need to do, I’m happy kicking. I feel like I’ve come into my own lately and been able to step up a little bit.”
Was it a shock in the Kansas State game, with the blocked punts?
“I don’t know that it was a shock being down there as much as we hadn’t gelled together much, we hadn’t had reps together as a full unit. We’ve been able to get the things patched up we needed to patch up and come together and be consistent.”
Did the team change much after the Kansas State game?
“We didn’t really change much, we just fixed what needed to be fixed. It wasn’t a lot, just little things here and there that ended up making big damages in the end. The little things we fixed have really helped us a lot and made us a lot more consistent.”
Is special teams a role where it’s better when people aren’t talking about you?
“You’re either the hero or the goat as a special teams guy. If you’re not getting talked about, that means you’re doing your job well.”
Did you know you were in the running for Homecoming King?
“I was nominated over the summer through student organizations. It was a neat deal to get, but at the same time it was a little bittersweet Saturday with the game and everything.”
What has made Eastern Washington so hard for MSU to beat?
“They’re just a real sound team. They always come in (to this game), whether it’s here in Bozeman or up in Easter, and find ways to win. They’re a good team, it will be a good challenge this weekend, and we’ll be ready for them.”
SAFETY ARNOLD BRIGGS
What do you know about Eastern Washington?
“I’ve watched a little bit of film. They play a lot of four-wide. Every team in the Big Sky is a good team. You can’t underestimate anyone. We’re just waiting for the challenge. It’s another big step we have to take. We’ll just practice hard and go with the punches and see how it is.”
How frustrating were all the third down conversions on Saturday?
“It’s just how football is, anything can happen. Third downs, we should have executed. Things happen, you just have to bounce back, roll with the punches, get back on a roll, practice hard, do what we can do. We just need a lot more practice, more execution. I think we’re going to come back and be even better.”
In a game where possession time could be a key, how important is third down success?
“Time of possession is a big key. We have to stick together, try to get our drives going. Our defense is real good. Bad things happen, but we’ll get back on track.”
How important is it to stay positive against a team with such a potent passing attack?
“That’s the thing that’s key about our team, we all stay together, we’re all in it together. I feel like whatever adversity we’re in we’re always going to bounce back, because that’s how strong our team is. We can take on anything, basically.”
Other players has described the defense as a family, is that how it feels?
“The whole team, I feel like, is a family. Football is a team sport. Not only on the defensive side, but on the team I feel like we’ll come back and bounce back and take what happened and take it as a good cause and try to fix our mistakes. Like you said, family is a good word for what this team is.”
Does a game against a passing team make you more excited?
“If they’re going to throw the ball it’s always going to be exciting. Whenever the ball’s in the air we try to make plays. I feel like it’s going to be more exciting than Weber. Yeah, (Weber) did pass a lot, but as good as Eastern was last year, it’s (about) making plays.”
How do you deal with Eastern’s five straight wins over MSU?
“I feel like we can put it to the side, because it’s a new team, a new year. Just roll with the punches and we’ll see what we can do.”
How has your transition from cornerback to safety gone?
“It’s different, but I like being back there. You’re further back. It’s not a big factor, really. I like to hit more. At safety you get to come up and hit more. I get to be more vocal, basically. I like it a little bit more.”
PUNTER ERIC FISHER
Describe the importance of the special teams and field position?
“It gives us a lot of momentum, allowing us to be able to give our offense to get good field position. It gives a lot of momentum and gets us on the field with a good feeling.”
How do you feel about focusing on punting this year?
“I’m loving it. Punting is a big joy of mine. I grew up playing soccer, so as long as I’m getting to kick something, I don’t care what it is. If I’m punting, kicking, whatever I need to do, I’m happy kicking. I feel like I’ve come into my own lately and been able to step up a little bit.”
Was it a shock in the Kansas State game, with the blocked punts?
“I don’t know that it was a shock being down there as much as we hadn’t gelled together much, we hadn’t had reps together as a full unit. We’ve been able to get the things patched up we needed to patch up and come together and be consistent.”
Did the team change much after the Kansas State game?
“We didn’t really change much, we just fixed what needed to be fixed. It wasn’t a lot, just little things here and there that ended up making big damages in the end. The little things we fixed have really helped us a lot and made us a lot more consistent.”
Is special teams a role where it’s better when people aren’t talking about you?
“You’re either the hero or the goat as a special teams guy. If you’re not getting talked about, that means you’re doing your job well.”
Did you know you were in the running for Homecoming King?
“I was nominated over the summer through student organizations. It was a neat deal to get, but at the same time it was a little bittersweet Saturday with the game and everything.”
What has made Eastern Washington so hard for MSU to beat?
“They’re just a real sound team. They always come in (to this game), whether it’s here in Bozeman or up in Easter, and find ways to win. They’re a good team, it will be a good challenge this weekend, and we’ll be ready for them.”
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