Indiana University Athletics
Gibran Hamdan Press Conference
10/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
October 15, 2002
Bloomington, Ind. -
Opening Statement: "We have another ranked opponent coming to Memorial Stadium, we are very excited, just like we were last week. It is going to take a week of preparation, and it is going to take us executing on Saturday to come out victorious. I don't think anything changes, the thought process is that we have to go into the game prepared and focused and do our best to come out with a victory. We are very excited to play a ranked opponent again, it does this program well."
Q: What was the mindset when you were down 29-10 against Wisconsin?
"From the standpoint of myself and the offense, I think what was stressed by our coaches was that we need to keep on playing the game. If you start looking ahead and think too much about how we are going to come back, you are not as effective. You need to play one play at a time and just try to execute to the best of your ability. If you look back, that's what we did. We would get the play call and run it to the best we could. A lot of those plays were not designed to be 30-yard play runs. They were plays that were in our offense, we didn't panic, and we stayed with our game plan. We hit them with 10-yard passes. It was a matter of us sticking to the game plan."
Q: Did you try to slow things down - as a quarterback?
"No, not necessary. I wasn't trying to slow things down. You need to stay within yourself in those situations, you can't really think about what is going to happen next, or the next play called, you have to focus on the one play that you have called at that time and read the progression and execute to the best of your ability. That is the thinking that goes through your mind. There is no reason when you are down by a lot of points to throw the ball deep and try and make a miracle play. You don't need to slow things down."
Q: What kind of showcase game is this for you guys?
"I don't think that this football team looks at games as showcases that we have to prove something to the country, that is not the focus of this team. The focus of this football team to getting prepared for games and going out and playing as well as we can. There is nothing about this team that says that we have to show how good we are, or we have to show people that don't believe in us, because we believe in ourselves. If other people believe in us that is fine and if they don't that is fine. All that matters is that we execute and that we prepare ourselves throughout the week to get what needs to get done for us, and that is to win football games."
Q: Has Coach DiNardo showed the same demeanor throughout each game, and has he shown the same demeanor no matter what the result is?
"Obviously after the game he was very excited like everyone was, but Sunday you couldn't tell, because it was time to concentrate on Iowa. I think that is one of coach DiNardo's greatest strengths. It is something that needs to be done when you are a coach. Once the game is played you need to move on to the next week. That is something that he has stressed the whole time, to focus on the journey, and not so much the destination."
Q: Have you ever allowed yourself to think about individual accolades (such as Big Ten Player of the Week)?
"No I honestly have never thought about that. The funny thing is that the baseball team was giving me a hard time because I started in the Big Ten in baseball for two years and never even sniffed an accolade. It is kind of interesting but I look at it like I looked at it after the Central Michigan game, I don't base how I played on what other people say, I have standards that I set for myself. Obviously it is an honor and it is such a prestigious conference to be awarded something like that and I don't take it lightly but I look at myself after every game and decide for myself how I played. That is the biggest accolade any athlete can give themselves."
Q: How did Saturday's game rank by your standards?
"I think that I can play quite a bit better, and so can our offense."
Q: Talk a little about the play by the wide receivers and their progress throughout the season.
"I can't say enough about them. I have seen some plays by quite a few athletes here at IU and I would say that the third and 17 catch that Courtney catches its a 5-yard gain, he turns up the sideline and gives himself up for the team on a crucial play, might be one of the top three plays that I have seen at this University. That speaks a volume about our receivers. For a receiver to go up and sacrifice his body like that, I would be hard-pressed to find a tougher play on Saturday than what Courtney did. I think that it is a matter of maturity and a matter of confidence, they are all gaining it week by week, and they need to keep working hard and stay focused. All of them have a great future ahead of them."
Q: What have you tried to talk to the team about?
"The good thing is that we don't have to talk about a lot. Everybody understands what needs to be done. Everybody knows that we need to come out today (Tuesday) and have a great practice and follow up with a great practice on Wednesday. Everybody has a good grasp about what the coaching staff expects and what it is going to take to be successful."
Q: What scares you the most about Iowa?
"I am never scared of an opponent going into a game, but I will say that them coming in here ranked and being very successful in the Big Ten so far, works towards their advantage. But obviously, if we execute, I think that it is going to be a wonderful game."
