PREVIEW: Kevin Wilson Talks Purdue

You talked earlier this week about the focus of your team, this week and this opponent. How has your team handled that this week in practice and preparation for Purdue?

"It has been a good week. I am very respectful of our players and staff. They worked hard. I know a lot of teams have as it is rivalry week across the country. There are a lot of big games with a lot at stake. With us not having school, we are at that time of year that we do not over practice. We get a chance to get rested up, get chance for a lot of rehab, a chance to do some team activities and spend some good family time. We have had Thanksgiving family meal with them. We cut our guys loose Wednesday night, with the lot of regional guys families coming here, so they will get a chance to see their families tonight. We will come back and continue their preparation getting ready for Saturday."

On the field, as you prepare for Purdue, how important is to try make them one-dimensional?

"It is going to be tough because they are really good. Their backs are good. They get so much credit for the way they throw the ball, but watching their games, they have played so hard, so competitively and played some great teams really well because they are balanced. Some of our struggles this year come from our inability to run the ball and have that balance. There is no doubt there is some really good quarterback play, some good receiver play, but I think both teams ability to play defense and and run the ball or not run the ball will always make it easier. It is not the only key to success, but it will be something we are going to work hard to do. They are going work hard to do it and it will be interesting to see which team can execute. It is going to be a tough challenge."

It is the final game of the regular season here at Memorial Stadium for the senior class, can you speak to their importance and what they mean to this team?

"I appreciate this crowd. All these games are big and you are coming to the end of the time where, to me, we are just asking for everyone's best day and to go out and trust yourself and play. It is not going to be perfect, there are going to be mistakes. There will be ebbs and flows, highs and lows as you play any game or any sporting contest. It is a great group of kids that has embraced what we have been. Our last two classes have totally embraced what we are trying to do with being player-driven and we are player led. Those offensive linemen up front, Dimitric Camiel, has been injured but has been a great senior, Dan Feeney is awesome, Jacob Bailey and Wes Rogers give us great senior leadership. Mitchell Paige and Ricky Jones have been awesome. Dawson Fletcher and Ralph Green have been strong. I also appreciate some of our fourth-year guys: Rashard Fant, Marcus Oliver, Danny Friend, a lot of those guys are coming on. It is a great group of kids, I am proud of them and I love what they have given our school. We are going to keep giving back to those guys forever because they have given a lot to us."

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