BIG TEN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: MICHIGAN VS IOWA

December 4, 2021

Kaevon Merriweather

Iowa Hawkeyes

Lucas Oil Stadium

Press Conference

Michigan - 42, Iowa - 3

Q. What are the emotions like after a loss like this?

KAEVON MERRIWEATHER: Definitely disheartening. Definitely sad. Mad. Angry. Pretty much everything, all the above. I mean, with a loss like that especially on this stage, this big of a game, I think the emotions are definitely strong in that area.

Q. 42 points on the scoreboard. What would you chalk that up to today?

KAEVON MERRIWEATHER: Disappointing. I think the defense, we try and limit opponents to 18 points. And seeing 42, that's really not us. That's not really what we preach. That's really not what Coach Parker preaches on our side of the ball, and definitely disappointing as a defense. I think we're definitely disappointed as a defense. That's not something that we do. That's not something, like I said, that's not something we preach as a defense giving up 42 points.

But I think learn from it, watch the tape, pick it up next game.

Q. Big plays that you guys find early and very uncharacteristic. Can you quantify what it meant for the game just to go down 14-3 after giving up (inaudible)?

KAEVON MERRIWEATHER: I mean, Coach Parker, we try to limit three big plays a game over 25 years. And I think there's like five to six players in the game that really counts towards the game. You never know what plays those are going to be. When you come on the short end of those plays and change the energy to the way the game's going to flow, the way everything's going. Just being on the short end of those plays definitely shifted the game and tied this game, made a major impact on the outcome of this game.

Q. Seemed like you had to play kind of a close style of play with your offense -- that you had to play not necessarily perfect but a very good game. How disappointing was it (inaudible)?

KAEVON MERRIWEATHER: Like I said, it's definitely disappointing. Like I said, that's not something that we try to preach or teach on my side of the ball. Giving up 42 points, really try to limit the offensive mobility, what they're trying to do, not give up those big plays, not give up that many touchdowns and limit their drives and them moving the ball. Like I said, giving up 42 points, that's not something we really want to do. That's not something that Coach Parker preaches on for us.

Q. What do you attribute (inaudible)?

KAEVON MERRIWEATHER: I mean, like I said, nothing really specific. Just us not really paying attention to our keys, not being locked in what is going on. Those trick plays, those are hard, not easy plays. Like the halfback pass, he's running, then he pulls back, throws the ball. That's a hard thing to read, especially as a corner or safety. Those are plays that have been really difficult to read. Like I said, you're not going to play a perfect game. But someone will definitely hit those passes and plays. You've got to be able to read out of that.

Q. (Inaudible)?

KAEVON MERRIWEATHER: Most definitely. I thought we were gaining momentum. I thought we had them backed in the end zone probably three times, I think. I think as a defense we definitely had a lot of energy, definitely had a lot of momentum during those drives. And I think we were tuned in, locked in into what we needed to get done during those drives.

Q. Is the 24-hour rule harder when you don't have a game right away to focus on --

KAEVON MERRIWEATHER: No, I already put the game in the past. It's already behind me. I'm not even thinking about it anymore.