Michael Haynes, DE
"This was a great win over a quality opponent. I don't think you realize that Southern Mississippi is a good team. Their offense was tremendous. From watching game tapes I was just expecting a spread offense and run game, I didn't expect the kind of passing game that they had to go along with it. They reminded me a lot of Northwestern."
"I'm shocked a little bit at the outcome (of the game) because their defense came in so highly ranked, but our offense just exploded."
On possible Bowl game talk-
"I think their may be a little bit of rumblings, but we are very focused on the task at hand each week, and to just take one game at a time."
Zack Mills, QB
"We've got tremendous confidence right now. We seem to be improving steadily each week. I'm most proud of the fact that we had no turnovers this week."
"I really don't have a go to receiver. I just throw to whoever is open. I just go through my reads and try to make the right play."
"I think we've turned the corner. Last week's comeback was huge. It says a lot about the character of our team. The more success that you have, the more that you want to play better."
Larry Johnson, RB
On his punt block-
"I like playing special teams. It's the only time I get to play in a defensive role. Every time that you make a big play on special teams, it turns the whole game around."
About the play of the offense-
"We're still making some mental mistakes, but we're playing much better. A few weeks ago, we were lost. Now we're all on the same page."
On why the offense is more successful-
"It's a combination of everything. It's like a disease that gets contagious, if one guy makes a play, that makes all of us want to make plays."
Bryan Scott, DB:
On better offense: "To be on the defensive side of the ball and not have to go in as much, is just a wonderful feeling…I am proud for each and every one of them and I take my hat off to them."
On changes since first three weeks: "I think it is a lot of things. A lot of intangibles things, we are working just as hard if not harder than we were the first three weeks, our confidence is sky high right now, and to be honest I think that is what was lacking the first three weeks we were not playing with emotion and now we are starting play as a team and come together."
Kenny Carter, Assistant Coach:
On performance: "They are just making the plays by doing the things that are asking of them fundamentally and making things happen."
On practice: "It is just as matter of confidence, what I have done with them is really put a lot of pressure on them, even on the practice field and it is not acceptable to have any rep be a rep where you take a break."
R.J. Luke, T.E.:
On starting: "It felt real good, I was not sure if John was going to be able to go out or not. When I actually went out for the kickoff, Joe told me I was starting so it was really exciting, I never care about playing too much so it was a lot of fun."
Anthony Adams, DT:
"It feels like right now we are on a roll and nothing can stop us now, we got our swager back. It seems as if everybody is out there playing with heart now, it feels good right now. "
Ron Graham, LB
On team confidence:
"We are real confident. Everyone feels better about everything. We've got a lot of momentum going. We know what are capable of doing after these last two game and this game. The offense is capable of making big plays. The defense is capable of making big stops."
On leadership in the last three games:
"A lot of guys have stepped up. Old and young. Guys are leading by example at practice. Everybody's picking each other up."
Matt Senneca, QB
On offensive explosion:
"People are starting to make plays the way they needed to. You look at the first couple of games, we were one play away, one block away from making something happen and getting some confidence. But now we are coming together and starting to do that."
On receivers dropping passes when he's in the game:
"It's just the way the game goes. Zack may put them in better spots than I do."
Were you nervous entering the game?
"I was pretty relaxed the whole game. Joe sat me down and said, 'don't be afraid to make mistakes,' and I am not. I am not worried about anything. I am just trying to make plays."
On Zack re-entering the game in the fourth quarter:
"Because we needed to get the ball out of there. A couple of us started relaxing and we needed to get some plays. They [Southern Miss.] tried to make a little run, which didn't work out. I think coach thought that Zack had the hot hand and he was confident in that and you can't blame him for that."
Omar Easy, TB
On scoring the first touchdown:
That was major for us. We had to get control of the game, so that was a big score for us. The defense needed that to get them motivated to make a stop."
On stretching for the touchdown:
"I wasn't going to be denied. At Northwestern, I had a similar play. I couldn't get the ball stretched out to get a touchdown. So I said to myself today, there was no way I was going to be denied this time."
On reaction after diving touchdown:
"Everybody was real happy, really hyped for the touchdown. It got us back in the game."
Tony Johnson, WR
On team confidence:
"We played five or ten times better. We have the ability week in and week out. We have won three games in a row. We go to play Illinois which is a good team. Our confidence should be high which it is."
Is the team looking past Illinois?
"No, not at all. Maybe when we get that sixth win, we'll think bowl game. We are taking it one game at a time."
Associate Head Coach Fran Ganter:
"We played the way we always expect to play. Zack has great vision on the field. He sees a lot of things that even we don't see. He has a great feel for the game."
Gus Felder
On the difference in the play of the team:
"We've been working together. We stick to the game plan, come off the ball harder. We're more excited and ready to play. Zack has been great. He's been coming in relaxed, making plays, making good calls, getting the ball to the receivers, avoiding tackles when he has to. He's been leading the team."
On Zack inspiring confidence in the huddle:
"A young guy like he is, he's come in like he's been there for years. He's great in the huddle, making jokes. He puts his foot down when he has to. When guys get down or get a little upset, he's been great about getting them back up and getting them back in the game."
Bob Jones
On being selected captain for today's game:
"I've never got that before, and for my teammates to give me that honor, makes me feel really good."
On knocking down balls today:
"I was just in the right place at the right time I guess. The coaches all week have been telling me their favorite play is that screen out of the one formation, I just knew they were probably going to throw. I just got my hands up. It feels pretty good, it's something you don't feel every day."
On the confidence level of the team:
"It's going up. Everything is starting to click for us. We're nowhere near where we need to be, but it's a lot better than what it was. We're going up, and that's a lot more fun for everyone. It's amazing when you have fun, things just fall into place."
Jimmy Kennedy:
On looking up and seeing the score 38-7:
"Myself, I'm out there playing until the clock hits zero. We've proven in the last two weeks that you can come back in the fourth quarter."
Bryant Johnson:
"Everyone has confidence, and when you have confidence, everyone plays with a lot more excitement. Confidence is a big factor. Once you have confidence, then no one can touch you. Personally, once you catch a couple of passes, it becomes a rhythm."
"[Coach Paterno] still tells us we're good, but we have to play within the parameters that we're capable of. We still make mistakes and we still have places where we need to make improvements."
"Going into the Northwestern game, we looked at it as a seven game season. If we go ahead and win the seven games, then we'd be bowl-eligible and that's the way we look at it. We're 3-0 right now.
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