Big Ten Media Day Coverage: Coach Speak Wrap-Up

Sam Wenk is LIVE at the Big Ten Media Day in Chicago.

The Big Ten coaches were asked a number of questions.  Here are some quotes from each one during the first day.

Purdue Head Coach Joe Tiller

“(I’m) as excited about this year as I was about (my first year).  (We have a) very important summer and training camp ahead of us.”

On his legacy at Purdue:

“People are still curious about me.  We were able to bring Purdue from the depths to competitive.”

On the transition to new head coach Danny Hope:

“Danny was with us our first five years at Purdue. ... (Next year) I’ll miss the camaraderie of the staff.  I’ve been very fortunate.”

On the spread offense:

“(It) just fits right in.  Things can be consistent (when running it).”

On Penn State head coach Joe Paterno:

“He’s not going to coach forever.  Penn State will miss him.  College football will miss him more so.  Like the Energizer bunny, (he) just keeps on ticking.”

On his technological background:

“I’m the only coach without an email address.”

On the Big Ten conference being labeled as weak:

“Let the critics say what they may.  I don’t put too much stock in that.”

Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel

“It’s an exciting time for all of us coaches.  I think we have 40 guys entering years four or five.  It’s a lot of fun.  Every day is different, every year is different.  We’re excited about our football team.  You don’t know much about your leadership until it is tested.”

On the Michigan rivalry: 

“(It’s) tremendous being a part (of it).”

On Carson Palmer’s comments regarding Ohio State:

“Shows he’s very proud of the place he played.”

On when Terrelle Pryor will become part of the offensive system:

“August 4th.  (There’s) a lot of things he has to build (on) as a foundation.  (He) loves to train, (he) loves to compete, (he has) great ability.  From day one, (he’s) a guy you will take notice of.”

On playing USC September 13:

“It’s an exciting thing when you talk to guys (you are) recruiting.  (Playing USC is a) tremendously difficult (challenge).  (Pete Carroll’s) folks have tremendous fundamentals, bring a lot at you.  (We) look forward to having that opportunity (to play them).”

On the pressure to win:

“At Ohio State we're expected to win the conference every year.  I don’t know if that adds anything.  They (the players) understand we want to be the Big Ten champions.”

On quarterback Todd Boeckman:

“(He) has real life experiences.  There’s no price tag on experience.  Now he has proven (to his team) he has been their quarterback.”

On Penn State head coach Joe Paterno:

“If I were a betting man, I’d say he’d be there in 2009.”

On the prospects of losing a third straight NCAA Championship Game:

“If that happened again, (at least) that means we were the Big Ten champions.”

Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio

On the Big Ten:

“(It’s) one of the premier conferences.  (I’m) very proud to be a part of it.”

On running back Javon Ringer:

“Javon Ringer is one of the premier running backs.  I can’t say enough about him as a person.”

On Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez:

“(He’s got) great football awareness (and is an) outstanding recruiter and worker.”

On his team being considered this year’s surprise team:

“Everyone has an opportunity in this conference.  How we play down the stretch will be important.  Your seniors have to play their best football.  We have to replace some key people.”

On replacing wide receiver Devin Thomas:

“(Wide receiver) Mark Dell is raising his game.  (B.J.) Cunningham is a guy we can look for great things from.  We have some other guys moving through the process.  Sometimes it’s what your quarterback can do to give those wide receivers opportunities as well.  Can we get the same production out of one person (like we did with Devin), that’s tough.  (Remember,) Thomas didn’t catch a pass (last) spring.”

Minnesota Head Coach Tim Brewster

“We feel like we recruited one of the top classes in the nation.  We feel like we’ve added more football players that will make us more dynamic.  We didn’t stop anybody (defensively last season).  (We were a) very poor defensive football team.  We went out and recruited defensive football players (this year), kids that can make a difference on the defensive side.  There’s a tremendous commitment (for us) to get better on defense.”

“(We were) extremely physical in spring practice.  Most physical practice I’ve been around.  We changed a lot of things.  Our change is really going (to) benefit us as we move forward.  We’re committed to winning a championship.  I feel the state (of Minnesota’s) pain.”

On wide receiver Eric Decker: 

“I think he is going to be one of the top wide receivers in America.  (He’s) just an outstanding athlete and a tremendous player for us.

On linebacker Steve Davis:

“Really like his leadership.  (He) likes to play the game.  Steve Davis without question loves football.”

On the new on-campus stadium:

“(It’s a) tremendous advantage for recruiting and game day experience.”

On changing the defensive philosophy:

“(Our) players have an attitude.  (Our philosophy now is) Alignment, assignment, and tackle.”

On the Big Ten:

“From top to bottom (it’s) an extremely competitive conference”

Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno

On his induction into the Hall of Fame:

“You like to be recognized by your peers.  I’ve had a lot of outstanding football coaches who’ve taught me how to coach.  I haven’t gotten the time to enjoy it.”

On Terrelle Pryor’s impact playing for Ohio State: 

“I think that’s a dumb question to be honest with you.”

On retiring after his 43rd season as a coach:

“I get tired of answering the same old question when I don’t know.  I’d like to retire when I feel I can’t make a contribution to Penn State.  I want to get out of it when I think it’s appropriate.  I don’t want it to take away from the team I have this year.  I’m having a lot of fun.  I don’t want to be too stupid.”

“I d-o-n-t know.  How many times can I say it?”

On his attitude this season:

“Health-wise I feel good.  I’m ready to have a little fun.”

Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez

“Coming in (from another conference), the Big Ten has the most respect as any conference in the country.  The transition (from West Virginia) has gone as well as I expected.  The players’ attitude has been tremendous.”

“We’re going to be very young on offense.  We’ve lost some of the best players that probably have ever played.  I really don’t know (how I’ll be like as the new head coach).  I’ll have a better feel for it through camp.”

On coping with his past:

“After a while it was like ‘stand in line if you’re going to throw darts our way.’  I’ve tried to stay focused on the future the whole time.”

On how the players are responding to his offense:

“There’s no one right way to do things.”

On the strength of the Big Ten:

“There’s a lot of players every year playing in the NFL (from the Big Ten).  There’s fast athletes everywhere throughout (the conference).  Sometimes perception becomes reality in people’s minds (that the conference is weak), but not mine.”

On the rivalry with Ohio State:

“Those are easy games to get your team motivated.  You don’t live in Michigan without understanding the rivalry games, you have to be crazy not to.  I still have the (beat Ohio State) button.  If you look too far ahead you’ll stumble your way early.”