Jeff Bowden Quotations

We have seen a lot of good linebackers with Miami and some of the teams we play, like N.C. State. He certainly ranks up there with them. I've always kind of had the feeling that when you get in the group with the top-five, it doesn't matter. You are so good at that point, you're good. He can change the game I know that.

Somebody is going to win. This is going to be the ultimate experience right off the bat for them.

One of the things we need to help us in this game is the heat.

If it wasn't worth it, I wouldn't be here.

He did a great job. Just so much was asked of him and to get a law degree on top of that is really something. I think he had like four hours of sleep a day.

He does that several times during the game. And nine times out of 10, he's right.

He's a very emotional young man. He's what you call high maintenance. He's getting it ... He's got to. I'd rather him be super talented and a challenge than not super talented and perfect.

He is one of the most unselfish players I've ever been around. The things that Willie has done for our team during his career, you can't measure.

Just think of the different types of personalities they've had to deal with through the generations. All the changes in society.

I think we're doing well, and really well where the need is the greatest and that's the OL. We're hanging in there at tight end and we need a running back. Receivers haven't been a priority, but there is potential out there for us. I think the most urgent needs - we're taking care of them and now it's just a matter of hanging on to them at this point.

I think deep down it does mean a lot. I know it does for everyone around him. It's something every kid in our family would like to see happen, just like in Joe's family.

Receiver was not a priority in the beginning and it became one. We were very fortunate to fill some holes. I was really getting nervous at the end as I lost the player and got to thinking that Rod Owens may not be ready to play.

Mat drills can improve their quickness so much. It also (addresses) intensity. Boatman never had anything like mat drills before. We like his intensity.

I think he's physically everything he was built up to be but the missed assignments are really costing him. He's capable of learning. When he gets his assignments down, he's really going to be able to help us.

I still think he's picking a little bit up there instead of slashing.

I still wish we had run the ball better. That surely would have helped us. But we knew that was one of their strengths. (The running game) will probably be the No.1 focus in spring ball.

I wasn't really excited about the run. I think our defense has got about all the answers against us ?they've seen so much. ... I thought the defensive line did good today.

You'd like to be 50-50, that'd be ideal. No worse than 55-45, I would say. That could go either direction.

We had a play called, a run to the outside, but we knew that he wanted the fullback belly. We should have stayed with our original call in that situation but we went ahead with the fullback belly and we had not prepared for that against them. We flat out couldn't block all of their guys on the play. We should have overruled him on that one.

We had some penalties from kids being over-aggressive.

You better be thick-skinned to be in this profession. And you better be ready to handle it when it comes. It's sad that that's the way it is, but that's the way it is.

We have a close family. If you are willing to put up with that - which so far I have been - (the criticism) won't bother you.

I've been really pleased with the weather that we've had. One of the things that we really need to help us in this game is the heat, and you've supplied plenty of that.

I've never talked with Jay about it, but I remember when he was going through it. There's not much you can say. It just reminds you that you have to be thick-skinned to be in this profession. It's sad that's the way it is, but that's the way it is. You just better be able to handle it when it comes.

The thing about the running game is he can't get it against the defense. You miss the reaction time going against fast people. What he is doing is getting assignments. He's just got to get it down mentally.

As long as we got the right six. He'll have to sign another class (of this size) next year. We did the best we could right there.

A lot more of them should have played in this past game because they could have been just as effective. But it didn't matter because we couldn't hit targets, so it didn't matter who was in out there.

It's frustrating when you can't put your best players on the field because of injuries. When it's like that, you're not as good as you should be. But these guys I hate to say it this early, but this group can be special if they can stay healthy.

It's hard to read that about fellow coaches in this profession. But that is the way it is, and you just better be able to handle it when it comes.

It's got to be frustrating. But I think (the receivers) understand.

That really frees me up in pre-practice preparation. I want them getting used to going to him for certain things.

It's not a father-son (relationship) when it's on this football field. It's boss-employee.

It was a good surprise because we needed him. The way I describe him is a tough, tough kid. He's got a chance to be a tough receiver, which is a characteristic we really need.

It was obvious to everyone on the field, and even to Xavier. Xavier's had to miss three, four practices with his shoulder, and with Drew getting all the reps right now he's just clearly in the lead.

I'm very disappointed any time a situation like this comes up. It's just unfortunate.

He's progressed, he's made it through the hump, the big self-doubt point, got us over that hump in the championship game. Now you hope he can do it one more time.

I don't know if I've seen a secondary that does a better job of taking the ball away from receivers. Those are huge momentum plays.

He's very familiar with our program, our system and our standards. He will work primarily with the wide receivers and help out in recruiting locally. He played in three national championship games and then got some great experience in the NFL, so we feel like he is a perfect fit.

He's what you call high-maintenance. He's day to day. He's getting it; he's got to.

He can change a game. I know that.

You know people can say what they want. They're just not going to say it around here.