TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL: OHIO STATE v MIAMI

December 30, 2002

Jim Bollman

Maurice Clarett

Shane Olivea

MAURICE CLARETT: I feel like I'm back to 100 percent.

MAURICE CLARETT: It was tough. You stick it out for the team if you can. I'm just glad we're here in Tempe.

JIM BOLLMAN: There is not very many guys gifted as he is in all phases of the game. Everybody always asks about Maurice throughout the year. Usually anybody who plays tailback for Ohio State is a pretty good ball carrier. He has pass receiving ability, picking up blitzes and pass blocks; all the different things, being able to function in all phases of the game real well.

SHANE OLIVEA: Nothing's really changed. I think we're all excited to finally be here. It's been a long time since we played. We practiced in August and July and went through two-a-days. Nothing really changed as far as preparing us. We're ready to play. That's why we came here.

SHANE OLIVEA: We have been hitting and guys' attitudes have been really good since being out here and adjusting to the climate. I think we're all over the distraction of the first day or two. I think we're all focused and ready to play the game. We prepared well and we kept it straightforward.

JIM BOLLMAN: I haven't even thought about it. No, if you're going to perform well in a big game, it takes a lot of poise, and I think that we've grown up through the year, you know, and that was one thing that we talked about a lot going into the Michigan game, was being able to play to your ability or as close to your ability as you can. In some of those big games in the previous years before, we did not play near as well as we could have, and, I think we've improved along those lines. I think that's something through everybody's own psyche and mental approach to the game.

JIM BOLLMAN: I mean, after what we have been through, why should we? You know, by just have been getting ready to play, preparing, put the bits and pieces together to make a first down, you know.

SHANE OLIVEA: That's probably not the first time I have been asked that question. I would be lying if I said there wasn't a change. If there is nothing there, sometimes you're going to try to make every inch and yard. It's been evident throughout the year. It's been a pleasure to block for him. If he goes down, we have other backs to help out. Like Coach Bollman, it's been a pleasure to block for him. I would be lying if there wasn't a difference. We can get it done if he goes down or anybody else goes down.

MAURICE CLARETT: I haven't really looked up to anybody; just play my football and be competitive. I tried to emulate myself.

JIM BOLLMAN: Well, I would think that the number one thing in this game we always talk about is turnovers, and I think that field position then comes into second along the line for us. That's always a big part of our game. Throughout the year we have played pretty good defense. We try to put our defense in the best situation we can. You talk about on offensive trying to end every series with a kick. Hopefully it's an extra point for a field goal or a punt. If we're ending every series with a kick, we're not turning the ball over. As long as we do those kind of things and our defense is playing well, you get a chance to hang in there.

MAURICE CLARETT: Actually I wasn't playing. I had more fun watching the Penn State game. The whole atmosphere of the game and see our teammates come back from being down early in the game and watching our team get it done collectively. It was more like a team game.

MAURICE CLARETT: No, I might remember when I see a highlight or something like that. Everything goes kind of fast.

MAURICE CLARETT: You don't go "wow." Everybody puts their pants on the same way. Anything can happen that day. I mean, we just have a game plan I hope we stick to our game plan and worry about ourselves.

SHANE OLIVEA: I think like Maurice said, it's been the whole year not with other teams but what we do. We make plays when we have to. Their defense is great. I think our defense line is pretty darn good and they've prepared throughout the Bowl week. Like the coach says, it's what we do. If we don't make the plays like we have to, then we're not going to win.

JIM BOLLMAN: In this particular game, that's a hard question to attend. Every game is a different scenario. I think for me to sit and say we would like to -- I can say some outrageous things, but that's -- I think that's foolish by me. You got to see how a game develops, each game develops very differently. So, you have to do, I think, at the moment, what is best for the overall team, you know. I mean, these guys would like to get into a scoring match with anybody. So, you have to kind of see what we've got to do. We always -- it's a full team deal. It's never about the Ohio State offense. It's about the Ohio State football team. And whatever in the moment in the game it takes to be successful we're going to do. There is different things that happen throughout the game, so I think I would have a hard time answering that question.

SHANE OLIVEA: No, for me, I don't think so and I think the rest of our offensive gives us motivation. If you're not motivated to play the game, underdog or not, you shouldn't be here. Talk is cheap, and you got to play as good as you can. If you're not motivated playing this game, you can't get motivated at all.

JIM BOLLMAN: I agree with what Shane said. He's heard me say a thousand times "talk is cheap." You know, I wouldn't prepare for this game any different if we were three-touchdown favorites or five-touchdown underdogs. How often do you get a chance to be in this game. I'm thankful for that.

MAURICE CLARETT: I kind of like being an underdog; you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It gives you more incentive to fight more hard on every play.

MAURICE CLARETT: I don't have too many emotions with injuries; just injuries is something that comes and goes. It's all a part of football. When you get dressed and put your helmet and pants on every day, there is a chance we might get injured. It's a part of the game to accept.

MAURICE CLARETT: Once I had the Michigan game I came back and got a little confidence back in myself.

JIM BOLLMAN: I think teams that did that, you do that because of their offense. Like I said, it's a full-team game. Whatever is the best avenue for your team to win the football game, you know. Generally speaking, I mean, that's always an avenue that we would like to take anyway. We like to run the ball when we can run the ball, but if you think that in today's college football that's all you're going to be able to do or you can win every game doing that, no. If we didn't have some people making plays in the passing game, we wouldn't be here. I think you've got to take that into consideration. That's for sure.

JIM BOLLMAN: I can't answer that. I haven't studied Miami's offensive line at all. I think you always try to have players that can overpower people. You know, there is some things in this game that if you're going to take people that are the most valuable people on an offense, you've got to have people who can carry the game and throw the ball and catch the ball. All right. The offensive line is kind of a servant to all those people to give them a chance to operate. So, whatever they have to do is give those people a chance to operate. That's what we've got to do. You can talk all you want about I have been in situations where I have had great offensive lines to coach and the guy carrying the ball wasn't very good nor the guy throwing the ball. It doesn't work. You can always figure out a way to try to trip some people up. So, in trying to overpower people, I would like to think we try to do what's most effective. It depends on who you're playing against. To sit there and say in today's college football you're going to do this no matter what, there is going to come a day you're not going to do that, you better be able to have step two.

MAURICE CLARETT: I don't pay a lot of attention to it. There is a lot more to my life than football. I don't really watch sports that much at home.

MAURICE CLARETT: I don't regret anything I've ever said.

MAURICE CLARETT: It's been a cool, fun experience. It's my first time seeing palm trees, cactus and desert, stuff like that. I probably won't get excited for the game until that day. I'm staying focused on the game and just enjoying the whole atmosphere.

MAURICE CLARETT: We're kind of secluded. We're in our own area. You see the teammates and we're all in the game room playing games with each other. It's been really cool. We have had a chance to be around each other.

SHANE OLIVEA: His wherewithal when we're in the huddle. He doesn't get rattled. He's really tough. This year he's been able to show that he's able to do what he's been able to do. I'm happy for Craig. He's taking full advantage of it. He's someone you want to have in that huddle, fourth-and-one. There is no one else I want throwing that ball.

MAURICE CLARETT: I guess like Shane says, I would be in the huddle nervous and you look at Craig and he gives you more confidence. So he's not worried about it, so why should I be. I hope he can keep his composure through January 3rd.

SHANE OLIVEA: I think it's a positive, because you're able to focus about the game. This is the first day or so that's been really crazed with the media. We're able to get away and just focus and bring light to what we're here to do. We're here for one goal. That's to win. We didn't come this far to lose. I think it's a reminder that we're here, we're a team and a family and we're going to do things together.

JIM BOLLMAN: Most importantly is how fast they learn things if you're going to play real early. It doesn't matter how good an athlete you are. If you can't do the things expected of you, you're going to have to wait longer until you can get ready. So you're right, this team has had a number of young guys who have helped out to say the least. I mean, on offense besides Maurice, Robbie Sims has probably played the most in the offensive lines as a freshman. And Nick also has played a lot. It's great to have those guys be able to step in there, and you get in some of those situations where young guys, you don't like to see them just play a little bit. You would rather they be able to play more. It's been nice having those guys be major parts in the operation and gain a lot of experience and it will help us a lot more down the road. We would have been in some tough situations if those two guys in the front weren't able to stay in and fill shoes in a couple games.

MAURICE CLARETT: I'm from Youngstown. It was pretty much everything. I had a high school coach that was just like Coach Tressel. He was really disciplined, straight to the point, not going to lie to you.