Indiana University Athletics
Media Tuesday: Outback Bowl
12/29/2020 12:45:00 PM | Football
Below are partial transcriptions of Zoom press conferences with Indiana running back Stevie Scott III, center Harry Crider, safety Jamar Johnson, and defensive tackle Jerome Johnson on Tuesday, Dec. 29.
RB Stevie Scott III
On the last several weeks…
SCOTT: It is really just dealing with what we dealt with in the summertime when the season got canceled. It brought back, not a memory, but something that we were used to. I feel like we handled that pretty well. We try to focus on the positives and stay together as a team and try to keep building on something special, and keep getting better each and every day.
Q. On looking forward to the bowl game after missing the game last season…
SCOTT: I definitely am very excited. I cannot wait. It is like a dream come true for me playing in a bowl game. Possibly being able to make history and get us a bowl win. We have not won a bowl game in l29 years, so being able to play this week and help my team to possibly get a W this week will definitely be an amazing feeling.
Q. On the time off…
SCOTT: I think our strength staff has done a great job at getting us back conditioned, just getting us back in our groove and back in shape just because we were sitting for so long. I definitely think now we are all locked in and very excited and ready to get this show going.
OL Harry Crider
On the team's respect for Haydon Whitehead…
CRIDER: I think the biggest thing for him is just consistency and his reliability. Ever since he has come here, he has been a guy you can count on no matter what. He is one of the best in the country at his position. He is a vocal leader, too. He is the voice of that specialist group. We came in at the same time, me and Haydon. As we have gotten older, he has become more of a vocal leader for the whole team. He is a guy, even though he is a punter, that can lead just as well has anybody.
Q. On the importance of this game…
CRIDER: There are a lot of things in play. I am sure you have heard a lot about how long it is been since we have won a bowl game. That is obviously a huge motivating factor for us. Another chance to play an SEC opponent. We get that opportunity maybe once a year, so it is a statement game. A chance for us to make a statement. So many factors play into it, and that is why we are so excited to get down there and play.
Q. On the change of perception surrounding the program since his arrival…
CRIDER: I remember coming to games when I was maybe a sophomore in high school and coming here to play football was not even in consideration. I remember coming to those games and it was just never really even close. The stadium was half full. There was not a lot of pride around the campus for the football team. Being an Indiana guy, I have always seen that. Where we are now is crazy. I am so glad to have been a part of it, building that foundation my first couple of years here. Then, thriving as we are now. It has been special. It means a lot more being from Indiana. Just seeing the growth that it has made throughout my lifetime.
DB Jamar Johnson
Q. On having something to prove…
JOHNSON: The energy levels are high because we know what is at stake. We know that this program has only won a few bowl games, so we are taking it upon on ourselves this time to do what we have to do make sure we get a win.
Q. On building off the bowl game last season…
JOHNSON: That game was really important. It gave us an extra chip on our shoulder to finish. We made it a big emphasis this year that we were going to learn how to finish games. People said Indiana is always close here and there, but they can never come out with a win so everybody did everything they needed to do to makes sure we finished these games at the end. We have had that chip on our shoulder and we are ready to redeem ourselves this year.
Q. On the Ole Miss offense…
JOHNSON: They have a great team and have the number one offense in the country. They are averaging about 40 points. They have great receivers that are fast and can catch in space, they have a good running back and quarterback. All we are going to have to do is keep doing our thing, 1 to 11 like we have been doing, play our game, and everything should be good.
DL Jerome Johnson
Q. On knowing anyone on Ole Miss or being a fan of the team growing up…
JOHNSON: I do not know anyone on the team that I can think of right now. Being from the south you watch a lot of SEC teams. You think about playing there and things like that coming from the area that I am from.
Q. On his leadership…
JOHNSON: I try to be a friend to all of the guys. I am not very vocal, but I try to lead by what I do on the field. I think I am a good football player so if guys see me doing what I am supposed to do and achieve certain goals that I set for myself then they will try to do the same.
Q. On his recruiting process…
JOHNSON: This was a late pick up and they got me on I think Signing Day actually. I had offers from Indiana and Jackson State so things were slow, but in the end, things worked out.
RB Stevie Scott III
On the last several weeks…
SCOTT: It is really just dealing with what we dealt with in the summertime when the season got canceled. It brought back, not a memory, but something that we were used to. I feel like we handled that pretty well. We try to focus on the positives and stay together as a team and try to keep building on something special, and keep getting better each and every day.
Q. On looking forward to the bowl game after missing the game last season…
SCOTT: I definitely am very excited. I cannot wait. It is like a dream come true for me playing in a bowl game. Possibly being able to make history and get us a bowl win. We have not won a bowl game in l29 years, so being able to play this week and help my team to possibly get a W this week will definitely be an amazing feeling.
Q. On the time off…
SCOTT: I think our strength staff has done a great job at getting us back conditioned, just getting us back in our groove and back in shape just because we were sitting for so long. I definitely think now we are all locked in and very excited and ready to get this show going.
OL Harry Crider
On the team's respect for Haydon Whitehead…
CRIDER: I think the biggest thing for him is just consistency and his reliability. Ever since he has come here, he has been a guy you can count on no matter what. He is one of the best in the country at his position. He is a vocal leader, too. He is the voice of that specialist group. We came in at the same time, me and Haydon. As we have gotten older, he has become more of a vocal leader for the whole team. He is a guy, even though he is a punter, that can lead just as well has anybody.
Q. On the importance of this game…
CRIDER: There are a lot of things in play. I am sure you have heard a lot about how long it is been since we have won a bowl game. That is obviously a huge motivating factor for us. Another chance to play an SEC opponent. We get that opportunity maybe once a year, so it is a statement game. A chance for us to make a statement. So many factors play into it, and that is why we are so excited to get down there and play.
Q. On the change of perception surrounding the program since his arrival…
CRIDER: I remember coming to games when I was maybe a sophomore in high school and coming here to play football was not even in consideration. I remember coming to those games and it was just never really even close. The stadium was half full. There was not a lot of pride around the campus for the football team. Being an Indiana guy, I have always seen that. Where we are now is crazy. I am so glad to have been a part of it, building that foundation my first couple of years here. Then, thriving as we are now. It has been special. It means a lot more being from Indiana. Just seeing the growth that it has made throughout my lifetime.
DB Jamar Johnson
Q. On having something to prove…
JOHNSON: The energy levels are high because we know what is at stake. We know that this program has only won a few bowl games, so we are taking it upon on ourselves this time to do what we have to do make sure we get a win.
Q. On building off the bowl game last season…
JOHNSON: That game was really important. It gave us an extra chip on our shoulder to finish. We made it a big emphasis this year that we were going to learn how to finish games. People said Indiana is always close here and there, but they can never come out with a win so everybody did everything they needed to do to makes sure we finished these games at the end. We have had that chip on our shoulder and we are ready to redeem ourselves this year.
Q. On the Ole Miss offense…
JOHNSON: They have a great team and have the number one offense in the country. They are averaging about 40 points. They have great receivers that are fast and can catch in space, they have a good running back and quarterback. All we are going to have to do is keep doing our thing, 1 to 11 like we have been doing, play our game, and everything should be good.
DL Jerome Johnson
Q. On knowing anyone on Ole Miss or being a fan of the team growing up…
JOHNSON: I do not know anyone on the team that I can think of right now. Being from the south you watch a lot of SEC teams. You think about playing there and things like that coming from the area that I am from.
Q. On his leadership…
JOHNSON: I try to be a friend to all of the guys. I am not very vocal, but I try to lead by what I do on the field. I think I am a good football player so if guys see me doing what I am supposed to do and achieve certain goals that I set for myself then they will try to do the same.
Q. On his recruiting process…
JOHNSON: This was a late pick up and they got me on I think Signing Day actually. I had offers from Indiana and Jackson State so things were slow, but in the end, things worked out.
Players Mentioned
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