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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Football Quotes: Iowa State
11/20/2024 10:30 AM | Football
Senior Running Back Micah Bernard
On the emotions with senior day approaching…
I think it hit me yesterday that these are the last two. I'm just doing whatever I can to make sure these last two are something I can walk away from and be like I gave it my all. I'm going to give my all for these last two, especially this game, senior night, got a lot of family coming.
On the gameplan against Iowa State…
We haven't been doing a great job of executing. That's just the hard truth. We can be a good team. We just haven't been a good team. The gameplan is the gameplan. We just have to continue working on executing and hopefully we get a third shot at it.
On how he's doing…
I'm hurting. I'm in pain, mentally, physically, all of the above, because its just so hard to be in a position where I've been playing well, not for the last few weeks, but just overall season and for us not to be successful. It hurts, but I talked to my high school coach and he reminded me I didn't have a good senior season back in high school, we went 3-7 my senior season in high school after going to the second round of the playoffs, going 8-2 in the regular season, so it was a full circle moment when he told me that and it's God's plan.
Sophomore Defensive Tackle Keanu Tanuvasa
On what Senior Day means to him…
I think it means the world to be able to celebrate people who've battled. On and off the field, they know what we went through and unfortunately, they're not with us anymore. To honor Ty and Aaron is such a blessing to not only do that but to honor our teammates who are going to not be with us next year. They've gone through the world with us and you guys know what we've gone through. It hasn't been the easiest, but we've battled through it together. To honor those guys and give them one last win in Rice-Eccles means the world.
On what stands out about Iowa State's offense…
They play smashmouth football. They love to hit, they love to be physical, so I'm excited. We're a very physical defense as well, physical offense and we'll have to bring our "A" game and do the best we can at what we pride ourselves in.
On how he stays motivated…
I think you just have to go back to your why. It's been a big thing. Two things that've been part of our facility recently is our why, why you started playing football and a big thing is why you continue to play football. It's a lot to wake up every day. It's unfortunate to lose six games in a row and to wake up on these cold days. Second is the culture. What culture are you instilling in your life? Football eventually ends, so am I going to be someone who quits on my wife one day and that's something that's going to continue and I have to staple that into my life now.
Senior Defensive Tackle Junior Tafuna
On what Saturday's game means to him
It's everything. Last game in Rice-Eccles. I've been grateful for it, wouldn't have it any other way. This season hasn't been the best, but it's life. You learn from it. I'm ready to give it all and hopefully, if God wills it, go win.
On his favorite memories…
Obviously, the first two years and the last two years definitely stand out. It was bittersweet and that's just being a Ute. You fight every day and nothing's going to be easy in life. It really is a life lesson coming here and I'm just grateful for it.
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On the emotions with senior day approaching…
I think it hit me yesterday that these are the last two. I'm just doing whatever I can to make sure these last two are something I can walk away from and be like I gave it my all. I'm going to give my all for these last two, especially this game, senior night, got a lot of family coming.
On the gameplan against Iowa State…
We haven't been doing a great job of executing. That's just the hard truth. We can be a good team. We just haven't been a good team. The gameplan is the gameplan. We just have to continue working on executing and hopefully we get a third shot at it.
On how he's doing…
I'm hurting. I'm in pain, mentally, physically, all of the above, because its just so hard to be in a position where I've been playing well, not for the last few weeks, but just overall season and for us not to be successful. It hurts, but I talked to my high school coach and he reminded me I didn't have a good senior season back in high school, we went 3-7 my senior season in high school after going to the second round of the playoffs, going 8-2 in the regular season, so it was a full circle moment when he told me that and it's God's plan.
Sophomore Defensive Tackle Keanu Tanuvasa
On what Senior Day means to him…
I think it means the world to be able to celebrate people who've battled. On and off the field, they know what we went through and unfortunately, they're not with us anymore. To honor Ty and Aaron is such a blessing to not only do that but to honor our teammates who are going to not be with us next year. They've gone through the world with us and you guys know what we've gone through. It hasn't been the easiest, but we've battled through it together. To honor those guys and give them one last win in Rice-Eccles means the world.
On what stands out about Iowa State's offense…
They play smashmouth football. They love to hit, they love to be physical, so I'm excited. We're a very physical defense as well, physical offense and we'll have to bring our "A" game and do the best we can at what we pride ourselves in.
On how he stays motivated…
I think you just have to go back to your why. It's been a big thing. Two things that've been part of our facility recently is our why, why you started playing football and a big thing is why you continue to play football. It's a lot to wake up every day. It's unfortunate to lose six games in a row and to wake up on these cold days. Second is the culture. What culture are you instilling in your life? Football eventually ends, so am I going to be someone who quits on my wife one day and that's something that's going to continue and I have to staple that into my life now.
Senior Defensive Tackle Junior Tafuna
On what Saturday's game means to him
It's everything. Last game in Rice-Eccles. I've been grateful for it, wouldn't have it any other way. This season hasn't been the best, but it's life. You learn from it. I'm ready to give it all and hopefully, if God wills it, go win.
On his favorite memories…
Obviously, the first two years and the last two years definitely stand out. It was bittersweet and that's just being a Ute. You fight every day and nothing's going to be easy in life. It really is a life lesson coming here and I'm just grateful for it.
Â
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