STANFORD UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

November 27, 2021

Michael Mayer

Postgame Media Conference

Stanford 14, Notre Dame 45

Q. So you set the record for (regarding John Mackey record.) Wondering if I could get your reaction to that, and then the reaction to Takacs. (Audio cutting in and out.)

MICHAEL MAYER: Yeah, I'll start and Takacs. He worked his tail off all year. I'm glad it's coming into fruition a little bit.

But no, we rep that play all week. We knew he was going to be open. I'm so happy for the dude. Comes in, works his tail off every day, you know, finally got his for this season today.

And secondly, obviously got a year left here, but I'm just so appreciative of what everybody has kind of done for me here. Coach Rees, Coach McNulty, Coach Kelly, Coach Taylor, kind of all the offensive coaches.

They have game in game out put an awesome game plan in for me, an awesome game plan in for the offense. I don't beat this record without any of those coaches. Secondly, see the 11 people that are out there with me on the field.

Austin, Deion, Lenzy, their speed, they know how to catch balls, run routes, and that's kind of what they do. So it opens things up for me, which is very unselfish of them. Jack has done a great job this year getting me the ball, and it's been an accumulation of playing of a ton of things this year.

But, no, I mean, this record isn't broken by me, it's by the entire team.

Q. You ever seen the film with John Mackey?

MICHAEL MAYER: I have not, no.

Q. (No microphone.)

MICHAEL MAYER: Yeah, I think the social media reaction spoke for itself. I'm focused on the next game, next bowl game, whether it be New Year's or a playoff. I'm focused on that, and I'm not going to worry about the things I can't control.

Q. Teammates react to that or any of your coaches?

MICHAEL MAYER: Yeah, couple coaches tweeted some things out and I talked to pretty much every coach about it in the group. But I'm not going to say what was said to me. Just like I said before, just going to keep working and can't get caught up in what I can't control.

Q. Check out his film. He was a beast.

MICHAEL MAYER: I will, I will.

Q. When did you know that you guys were going to be able to have so much success in the passing game today?

MICHAEL MAYER: I just think some of the -- even throughout the week some of the looks we were seeing, we knew they run a ton the man. I love man. I love running routes against man coverage. I think I said this at the beginning of the year, but I believe nobody can cover me one-on-one, and so that's kind of what we got. We took advantage of it.

Q. (Regarding his block.)

MICHAEL MAYER: Yeah, the flag at the end.

Q. Yeah. The flag, and how much does that meaning to you to have a play like that? Is that meaningful?

MICHAEL MAYER: Yeah, I take tons of pride in my blocking. I definitely upped my blocking since last year 100%, and it's something I take pride and working with Coach McNulty and George Takacs, too. Me and George, I don't thing there is a better 1-2 punch in the nation.

Q. Mike, it's got to be an interesting spot for any football player right now; you're uncertain what's next for this team. Could go to the playoff, whatever else. What goes through your head as you think about that? It's unusual for the anybody not to know what the next game is.

MICHAEL MAYER: Yeah, it's not very difficult for me because I come in with the same mindset every day.

I am coming to work, doesn't matter where I'm playing, who I'm playing. Coach Kelly just said this actually when he was giving us a speech after the game. He was saying we di what we could with the games we had left, and so now we just sit and wait. I really believe that we're one of the best four teams in the nation.

Q. Obviously the offense has gotten a lot better as the season has gone on. Defense really improved as well. Curious, watching them practice and from the sideline out here, what have you seen from them to allow them to make as much improvement as they have throughout the year?

MICHAEL MAYER: Ton of different looks in practice, ton of different looks in camp. Coach Freeman has done a fantastic job with the defense. Got better every game throughout the season.

I think you guys would agree with me. They're climbing and been climbing the entire season.

They been doing fantastic.