TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL: OHIO STATE v MIAMI

January 1, 2003

Mike Nugent

Darrion Scott

Will Smith

DARRION SCOTT: I believe, you know, it has been that way this week. We want to wrap up things. We don't want to go out there and go for the physical game. We're a physical team. Basically we want to take these last couple of days and take it as a mental practice.

WILL SMITH: Yes, it's repetitious. We want to focus on what they run. We're running all their plays in practice. We're focussing on that. We're not trying to kill ourselves out there. We're trying to make sure everybody knows what they're doing

MIKE NUGENT: I'm not really too involved in that aspect of the game. What we're trying to do is get everyone down there to do what they're supposed to do. Hopefully, like what we have been doing the rest of the season.

WILL SMITH: I think we have speed to match Miami. Everyone on the defense is fast. We all ran good 40 time. I don't know if that counts. On offense too.

WILL SMITH: Probably Washington State, like you said.

MIKE NUGENT: I've actually been really impressed by the way everyone's been acting lately. With such a huge game, everyone has been doing a really good job taking it as just another game. It's so different than a regular season game. Everyone's been doing a really good job and doing the same thing they do every week. I've really been impressed.

WILL SMITH: Everyone's been focused like Mike said. Everyone is just relaxed, making jokes. I know once game day comes, everybody is going to be focused.

DARRION SCOTT: I'm proud of the Big 10. There is really no good teams in the Big 10. Everybody, you know, they lose. On a Saturday, you never know who's going to come out on top in the Big 10 game. That's the difference between our conference and the other conference. Like I said, if you look in the other conferences you see a team with a dominant record. They'll probably win, but with the Big 10 you never know.

DARRION SCOTT: No, I tend to stay away from bowl games and other football games. I've seen enough of football this year and right now. Basically I try to relax and get my mind off of football when I'm not doing it.

WILL SMITH: I watch the bowl games. I like watching bowl games. After we leave here we're probably going to watch the Michigan game and I don't know who else plays for the Big 10 today.

WILL SMITH: Yes.

DARRION SCOTT: They're impressive, but like any other team, they can be stopped. That's why you have game plans and whatnot. You make game plans to stop a team. You put in different defenses or blitzes to prevent the quarterback and not give him time to pick you apart. They're a great team and have great weapons. We also have a great defense.

DARRION SCOTT: We're going to go into this game confident. I can't see why we would go into this game not being confident. I think we can come out victorious.

MIKE NUGENT: It has been a long season. Like I said earlier, everyone's been sticking together. Sometimes you're going to see when guys are almost hanging around each other too much, they'll get tired of each other. I haven't noticed that. Everyone's working so hard together to do what we want to do, which is to win the game on Friday. Everyone's working together and being really focused. There is times you can have fun with each other and other times being really focused and working hard.

MIKE NUGENT: I think that's one thing kickers when we watch each other, we'll feel bad for one another. It's just one of those things. I haven't been in that position. He had a great season going into that game. Just one kick like that can mess you up for the rest of the season. I heard his season hasn't been as good as what it was during the beginning. I can feel for someone like that and hopefully if I ever get put in that situation I can do the opposite of what he did.

MIKE NUGENT: Thinking as a team player, I would go in and wish we could win by 100 points so no one the world would have any worries about the game. It kind of leads up to a situation like that. I could say, yeah, if that situation does happen, I'm just going to go into it with everything I've got and try to do exactly what I have been doing all season.

WILL SMITH: They have a lot of great players on the offense, a great running back, quarterback, receivers, but I think we have some great players on our defense, and I just think that both teams -- we have to go out and play them hard and physical and play fast like we know we can and be confident, and I think things should go our way.

WILL SMITH: No changes. We're going to keep the same game plan we have been keeping for other teams. You've just got to hit them before they can get in the open field and show their speed.

DARRION SCOTT: Have you guys heard stories about Brett Romberg and him running his mouth? What do you expect from him ?

WILL SMITH: I really haven't heard the story that much.

DARRION SCOTT: A reporter asked me yesterday what would I do if this guys -- he talks a lot and likes to touch people after the plays. I mean, hopefully I can stay away from that. I'm going to try to stay away from that during the game. We don't plan on being down there anywhere near him since we're not on his side.

MIKE NUGENT: My parents came into town last night and my roommate's family came in. We had curfew by 11:00. I was in bed about 10:30 last night.

WILL SMITH: I stayed in my room with my roommate, Darrion, and we just relaxed and went to sleep.

MIKE NUGENT: I think right now, just since the game is just a couple days away, as much as we can when we get time off. It's nice that we got to spend Christmas with them this year. On my side of the family, when it's with my family, I hang out with them every night except the last night before the game, just as much time as you can with your family.

WILL SMITH: My family will be arriving tomorrow. I probably won't get a chance to see them until after the game.

DARRION SCOTT: Same here.