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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Football Quotes: Houston
10/21/2024 6:47 PM | Football
Freshman Quarterback Isaac Wilson
On the recent changes…
"It's a hard thing to go through…but we have to keep moving forward. With this three-game drop, we have to get winning. I have full faith in Coach Bajakian. He's been our quarterbacks coach for a little bit now. I have full trust in him."
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What was Coach Bajakian's message to the team?
"Effort. You need effort. We're known as that team that has physicality. We need to work back toward that, and I think effort's the first step toward that. Coming out to practice every day and having that efficiency, effort, physicality—that's our traits as a Utah team."
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On working with Coach Bajakian already this season…
"He's a smart, smart dude. He's been all over the country. Tampa, Tennessee, Northwestern, he's done it all. Having that extra (help) I've had, now he's my O.C., I feel like I have a great connection with him."
Senior Wide Receiver Money Parks
On his and team's mentality moving forward…
It's a new chapter right now. We're going to buy into what coach Bajakian says. We're just taking it day-by-day and taking on the challenge.
On how things will change with coach Bajakian…
I feel like we're going to be more up-tempo and we're going to make plays. I feel like he's going to give us the spark we need.
On how Isaac Wilson has risen to the occasion…
He's playing well. He just has to focus in a little more on the small details. We're right there on the door[step]. Our backs are against the wall, but there's nothing wrong with that.
Senior Running Back Micah Bernard
On if they've regrouped and moved past Saturday's game…
We've moved past that. You have to. We're not sulking. The season goes on and you have to keep going.
On where his motor and attitude come from…
I love the game. Obviously, you hate losing. I hate losing, but that's why you have another opportunity. These are the my last few opportunities, so I'm going to make the most of them.
On what coach Ludwig means to him…
He's meant a lot to me. I remember when I first got here, he saw something in me and he incorporated me into the offense. He made sure I had my own packages to do things I can do better than a lot of people. That's what we've been doing the last few years I've been here, finding people and [creating] their special package and making sure they shine, like [Dijon] in the beginning of the season. He saw he could run, he saw what he could do, he threw him two long balls. He's that type of guy and I'm going to miss him.
Sophomore Defensive End Logan Fano
On what's changed defensively over the last few weeks…
I don't know. We approach the game the same way. We approach practice the same way we did in the beginning of the year. There are some opportunities we have to capitalize on for sure.
On what is says about the defense that they still rank highly…
The credit goes to our coaching, the way that we're brought up in this program, with coaches hammering it into us that we're going to be tough resilient guys. I think that makes up for a lot of the mistakes we make, but we want to be an elite defense and part of that is making big plays, so we have to make that happen.
On what needs to happen for the defense to take the next step…
Just making it happen. I'll speak for myself. Personally, I might wait for a play to come my way or wait for something to happen instead of attacking.
Senior Linebacker Karene Reid
On what it meant to him to get back on the field…
It's been really hard to sit on the sidelines and watch my teammates, especially when we've been struggling. I think its never easy to not play, but when you're winning it's a little more comforting. Just to be out there meant a lot to me.
On how the defense embraces an attacking mentality…
I think when you take three losses, its hard to play not to lose because you've already given up three games and you don't want to give up another, but that's what we're about and that's not who we are. We've always been the aggressor. We just have to get back to our old ways and it starts in practice.
On what he likes about what he's seen from the rest of the linebacker corps…
Obviously, you guys have watched Lander for years, but Johnathan [Hall] has really impressed me. He's super-athletic, super-natural. It's only a matter of time before he's really, really good. Everyone knows Lander, he's a great linebacker.
Â
On the recent changes…
"It's a hard thing to go through…but we have to keep moving forward. With this three-game drop, we have to get winning. I have full faith in Coach Bajakian. He's been our quarterbacks coach for a little bit now. I have full trust in him."
Â
What was Coach Bajakian's message to the team?
"Effort. You need effort. We're known as that team that has physicality. We need to work back toward that, and I think effort's the first step toward that. Coming out to practice every day and having that efficiency, effort, physicality—that's our traits as a Utah team."
Â
On working with Coach Bajakian already this season…
"He's a smart, smart dude. He's been all over the country. Tampa, Tennessee, Northwestern, he's done it all. Having that extra (help) I've had, now he's my O.C., I feel like I have a great connection with him."
Senior Wide Receiver Money Parks
On his and team's mentality moving forward…
It's a new chapter right now. We're going to buy into what coach Bajakian says. We're just taking it day-by-day and taking on the challenge.
On how things will change with coach Bajakian…
I feel like we're going to be more up-tempo and we're going to make plays. I feel like he's going to give us the spark we need.
On how Isaac Wilson has risen to the occasion…
He's playing well. He just has to focus in a little more on the small details. We're right there on the door[step]. Our backs are against the wall, but there's nothing wrong with that.
Senior Running Back Micah Bernard
On if they've regrouped and moved past Saturday's game…
We've moved past that. You have to. We're not sulking. The season goes on and you have to keep going.
On where his motor and attitude come from…
I love the game. Obviously, you hate losing. I hate losing, but that's why you have another opportunity. These are the my last few opportunities, so I'm going to make the most of them.
On what coach Ludwig means to him…
He's meant a lot to me. I remember when I first got here, he saw something in me and he incorporated me into the offense. He made sure I had my own packages to do things I can do better than a lot of people. That's what we've been doing the last few years I've been here, finding people and [creating] their special package and making sure they shine, like [Dijon] in the beginning of the season. He saw he could run, he saw what he could do, he threw him two long balls. He's that type of guy and I'm going to miss him.
Sophomore Defensive End Logan Fano
On what's changed defensively over the last few weeks…
I don't know. We approach the game the same way. We approach practice the same way we did in the beginning of the year. There are some opportunities we have to capitalize on for sure.
On what is says about the defense that they still rank highly…
The credit goes to our coaching, the way that we're brought up in this program, with coaches hammering it into us that we're going to be tough resilient guys. I think that makes up for a lot of the mistakes we make, but we want to be an elite defense and part of that is making big plays, so we have to make that happen.
On what needs to happen for the defense to take the next step…
Just making it happen. I'll speak for myself. Personally, I might wait for a play to come my way or wait for something to happen instead of attacking.
Senior Linebacker Karene Reid
On what it meant to him to get back on the field…
It's been really hard to sit on the sidelines and watch my teammates, especially when we've been struggling. I think its never easy to not play, but when you're winning it's a little more comforting. Just to be out there meant a lot to me.
On how the defense embraces an attacking mentality…
I think when you take three losses, its hard to play not to lose because you've already given up three games and you don't want to give up another, but that's what we're about and that's not who we are. We've always been the aggressor. We just have to get back to our old ways and it starts in practice.
On what he likes about what he's seen from the rest of the linebacker corps…
Obviously, you guys have watched Lander for years, but Johnathan [Hall] has really impressed me. He's super-athletic, super-natural. It's only a matter of time before he's really, really good. Everyone knows Lander, he's a great linebacker.
Â
Players Mentioned
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