Indiana University Athletics
Quotes Prior to NCAATitle Game (12-11-04)
12/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Opening Statement:
MF: "We're excited to be in the College Cup final again this year. We know we have a big task in front of us. We're playing a quality opponent in UCSB. We played them earlier, and they beat us earlier. I look forward to a great college match, and I look forward to the challenge the Gauchos are going to put up."
On the 80 degree weather:
MF: "It's something you have to deal with. Our guys play in the summer. We haven't seen this temperature for a little while, but I think they can adapt. They'll be ready to play."
On any similarities between IU and UCSB:
MF: "I don't think we're similar. They're good in their way. I was impressed with their game last night. They've matured a lot with their game this year. They're a hard fighting team, they play hard, and last night they were very impressive."
On Indiana fans coming out for the game:
MF: "I think they're outstanding. Our fans this year have been great throughout the whole year. Just the commitment they had to come out here shows how much they love this team. We love hearing the fight song when they can play. It gets the guys pumped out. Last year when the band came out at UCLA, some donors paid for them to come out, and we didn't know about it. The fight song played up, and it felt like a home game. I don't think it will tomorrow with the Gaucho fans."
On UCSB's style of play
MF: "Last night I saw a team that played hard and fairly and worked very hard. They play fairly direct but what I saw last night was a good team that took the field. The team I saw yesterday was much more mature than the one I saw earlier.
On being a first-year head coach in the finals:
MF: "I've got to pinch myself a little. I knew Coach (Yeagley) didn't leave the cupboard bare. He left me a very good team. A team that's skilled, that's committed, has great character. Last night's game showed great character, and the fighting to end showed the great character of this team. I'm very proud of these players. I was stepping into very big shoes, but I knew it would be an easy transition with this staff and administration.
On what kind of team UCSB is:
MF: "In their play last night, I saw a team that was committed to playing game the right way, a team that was working hard and a team that knows each other. I have to give my hats off to Tim and his assistant Leo (Chappel). From what I hear out here, they're building a great program. It's not just what you do on the field, you have to build a program, sell a program. I'm sure they worked hard behind the scenes to get those 11,000 people there (for the NCAA Quarterfinals). It's a commitment. It just doesn't happen. We have to sell our game, do things off the field too. Hats off to their staff; they've done an excellent job."
On winning in double overtime in the semifinals:
MF: "I'm a pretty positive person. I felt all the way through that we'd win the game. Even minutes after, I still felt there was an opportunity. I ask my guys to believe something can happen. We got punched in the nose a couple times because we didn't play to the last second. We lost to New Mexico with 13 seconds left in the second overtime. It was more a case of trying to win the game because we had lost to Santa Barbara the day before, and we wanted to come out with a W. With 25 sec. left, the ball was punted, we left ourselves naked in the back, and they scored with 13 seconds left. Those are lessons you learn. You can play a great game 99% of the game, but if you don't focus for that other 1% you can lose. We've worked hard at that psychological part of the game to be focused for 90 minutes trying to win every second."
Sophomore Back Jed Zayner
On the reason for winning nine of the last 10 matches:
JZ:"Our practice has stepped up a lot since the beginning of the year. We always say our second team could've been one of the teams in this tournament. We've stepped it up and matured. We've just been mentally prepared for all these games because of the practices we've had."
On what special things they need to do to stay focused against UCSB:
JZ: "I wouldn't change anything. Our team's playing great defensively as a team. Our defense has been playing great - just playing as a whole and knowing what each other's doing. We're talking to each other. I don't think we need to change anything."
Junior Midfielder Brian Plotkin
On the earlier game against UCSB:
BP: "It was a battle. Both teams came out charged up. We were number one, they were right behind us. They came out hard, and we matched their intensity. It was just a battle the whole game, physically, tactically, the whole game it was a big battle. I'm looking forward to the same tomorrow."
Junior Midfielder Pat Yates
On having the Indiana crowd and band traveling to California:
PY: "I definitely say the band is a huge pump-up for our team. That UCLA game last year, not knowing the band was there, and entering the field hearing the fight song, the high you get is indescribable. Having our pep band here is such a great factor."
On facing UC-Santa Barbara's size:
PY: "I'd say from a team aspect, keeping ball on ground and playing possession game. With their height we'll have trouble winning balls in the air. I don't think there's any real intimidation playing up against a bigger guy. It's not boxing."
MF: "We're excited to be in the College Cup final again this year. We know we have a big task in front of us. We're playing a quality opponent in UCSB. We played them earlier, and they beat us earlier. I look forward to a great college match, and I look forward to the challenge the Gauchos are going to put up."
On the 80 degree weather:
MF: "It's something you have to deal with. Our guys play in the summer. We haven't seen this temperature for a little while, but I think they can adapt. They'll be ready to play."
On any similarities between IU and UCSB:
MF: "I don't think we're similar. They're good in their way. I was impressed with their game last night. They've matured a lot with their game this year. They're a hard fighting team, they play hard, and last night they were very impressive."
On Indiana fans coming out for the game:
MF: "I think they're outstanding. Our fans this year have been great throughout the whole year. Just the commitment they had to come out here shows how much they love this team. We love hearing the fight song when they can play. It gets the guys pumped out. Last year when the band came out at UCLA, some donors paid for them to come out, and we didn't know about it. The fight song played up, and it felt like a home game. I don't think it will tomorrow with the Gaucho fans."
On UCSB's style of play
MF: "Last night I saw a team that played hard and fairly and worked very hard. They play fairly direct but what I saw last night was a good team that took the field. The team I saw yesterday was much more mature than the one I saw earlier.
On being a first-year head coach in the finals:
MF: "I've got to pinch myself a little. I knew Coach (Yeagley) didn't leave the cupboard bare. He left me a very good team. A team that's skilled, that's committed, has great character. Last night's game showed great character, and the fighting to end showed the great character of this team. I'm very proud of these players. I was stepping into very big shoes, but I knew it would be an easy transition with this staff and administration.
On what kind of team UCSB is:
MF: "In their play last night, I saw a team that was committed to playing game the right way, a team that was working hard and a team that knows each other. I have to give my hats off to Tim and his assistant Leo (Chappel). From what I hear out here, they're building a great program. It's not just what you do on the field, you have to build a program, sell a program. I'm sure they worked hard behind the scenes to get those 11,000 people there (for the NCAA Quarterfinals). It's a commitment. It just doesn't happen. We have to sell our game, do things off the field too. Hats off to their staff; they've done an excellent job."
On winning in double overtime in the semifinals:
MF: "I'm a pretty positive person. I felt all the way through that we'd win the game. Even minutes after, I still felt there was an opportunity. I ask my guys to believe something can happen. We got punched in the nose a couple times because we didn't play to the last second. We lost to New Mexico with 13 seconds left in the second overtime. It was more a case of trying to win the game because we had lost to Santa Barbara the day before, and we wanted to come out with a W. With 25 sec. left, the ball was punted, we left ourselves naked in the back, and they scored with 13 seconds left. Those are lessons you learn. You can play a great game 99% of the game, but if you don't focus for that other 1% you can lose. We've worked hard at that psychological part of the game to be focused for 90 minutes trying to win every second."
Sophomore Back Jed Zayner
On the reason for winning nine of the last 10 matches:
JZ:"Our practice has stepped up a lot since the beginning of the year. We always say our second team could've been one of the teams in this tournament. We've stepped it up and matured. We've just been mentally prepared for all these games because of the practices we've had."
On what special things they need to do to stay focused against UCSB:
JZ: "I wouldn't change anything. Our team's playing great defensively as a team. Our defense has been playing great - just playing as a whole and knowing what each other's doing. We're talking to each other. I don't think we need to change anything."
Junior Midfielder Brian Plotkin
On the earlier game against UCSB:
BP: "It was a battle. Both teams came out charged up. We were number one, they were right behind us. They came out hard, and we matched their intensity. It was just a battle the whole game, physically, tactically, the whole game it was a big battle. I'm looking forward to the same tomorrow."
Junior Midfielder Pat Yates
On having the Indiana crowd and band traveling to California:
PY: "I definitely say the band is a huge pump-up for our team. That UCLA game last year, not knowing the band was there, and entering the field hearing the fight song, the high you get is indescribable. Having our pep band here is such a great factor."
On facing UC-Santa Barbara's size:
PY: "I'd say from a team aspect, keeping ball on ground and playing possession game. With their height we'll have trouble winning balls in the air. I don't think there's any real intimidation playing up against a bigger guy. It's not boxing."
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