Before the season, Urban Meyer showed Jack Mewhort the wall of his office. Side-by-side were framed jerseys of Tim Tebow and John Simon. Meyer glanced at Mewhort and said he was saving a space for a No. 74.
With one last home game in his career, Mewhort has done his best at holding up to his end of the bargain. Meyer has continually praised his on-field play and called him one of his all-time favorite players. When the Outland Trophy is presented in Omaha, Meyer said he hopes Mewhort is in attendance.
“He’s an energy giver,” Meyer said.
Notes
Urban Meyer:
- Meyer said injuries are making special teams coverage units a mishmash of offensive players. Five offensive players are on coverage units now. Meyer said teaching them open-field tackling is a challenge.
- A lighter Carlos Hyde has contributed to his better acceleration this season and getting to and past the second level of the defense, Meyer said.
- The offense is 60/40 in favor of the run, according to Meyer. He said they’re absolutely a power-run team.
- Joshua Perry will practice today and is probable for Saturday, while Curtis Grant will attempt to practice and is questionable.
- Meyer said being a heavy favorite has zero impact on the Buckeyes’ preparation and mindset entering the Indiana game. He said they’ve watched the Hoosiers offense on film, no reason to look past them.
Kevin Wilson:
- Wilson said you can’t only concentrate on Carlos Hyde because the Ohio State offense has multiple weapons.
- “It’s going to be a very strong challenge. [Hyde] is a quality part of a very quality offense.”
- Indiana is a young team, but Wilson said going on the road into a hostile environment is nothing new. He doesn’t believe they’ll be intimidated. IU’s played at Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin this season.
Brady Hoke:
- “A lot of resiliency in our kids” is how Hoke described Michigan’s improbable win at Northwestern. He said the Wolverines practice hurry-up field goals each Friday.
- The temperatures at Iowa Saturday are supposed to plunge into the 20s. Hoke on if he’ll wear a jacket: “If I was a smart guy, I probably would. We’ll see how it goes.”
- Hoke said Fitz Toussaint (concussion) is available this week. Said his health is fine. Whether he starts or not will be decided later in the week.
- Hoke on the Iowa linebackers: “Their intelligence and dissecting of plays really stands out.”
Gary Andersen:
- For the first time in decades, the Wisconsin-Minnesota game is huge. Andersen said you can’t ask for much more as a college football fan, coach or player. Said Badgers are excited to be part of game.
- Andersen on Melvin Gordon and James White’s Big Ten player of the year candidacy: “If one of them got it, that’d be fantastic. You’d have to flip a coin on that one.”
- Andersen said Minnesota is well-coached and does a tremendous job at utilizing their talents. “That’s what a good team is.”
- “No, not at all.” –Andersen on if he thinks about style points and the BCS.
Bo Pelini:
- What makes Ameer Abdullah so good is his ability to do everything, according to Pelini. He said his versatility makes him someone the defense must account for on every snap.
Mark Dantonio:
- Two necessary traits for a quarterback are resiliency and being calm under pressure. Dantonio said Connor Cook possesses both. He said Cook’s growth over the season has been terrific.
- Dantonio said Michigan State was the lone Big Ten school to offer Jeremy Langford a scholarship. The Ohioan is now the Spartans’ starting running back. He has a combination of speed, power and toughness.
- The locker room dancing started when Dantonio talked to Dabo Swinney during the offseason. Dantonio said one coach dances each week. He performed after the Michigan game. “It’s a light moment to celebrate together. It’s for nothing else other than our football team.”
Kirk Ferentz:
- Iowa’s second bye week came at a good time, Ferentz said. The Hawkeyes are injured, so it allowed them to heal and then prepare for the final two games.
- “We’re not flashy, but we’re more productive than we were a year ago.”
- Ferentz said going against Devin Gardner is worrisome because he can produce with his arm and legs. Iowa has struggled against dual-threat quarterbacks.
- Ferentz said Michigan is a talented, well-coached team. They’ve had ups and downs, but the ups weren’t too far in the past, he added. Ferentz referenced Michigan’s blowout win a year ago. “We’ll have to be at our absolute best to win.”
Jerry Kill:
- To get Paul Bunyan’s Axe back on Saturday would mean a lot to Minnesota’s seniors, Kill said. He also said it would continue to shirt the program in the right direction.
- Kill said Wisconsin has no weaknesses and is better this year than in 2011 and ’12.
- “Our job is to make sure our team is ready to play at a high level on Saturday. … I don’t think there's any more demeaning thing when somebody takes that ball and runs it down your throat, and you can't stop it.”
- Kill will be in the press box Saturday. “That’s the best situation for our football team where we’re at right now and the best situation for me.”
Tim Beckman:
- “I continue to se this team progress in the manor we ask them to. Of course, we need ‘Ws.’”
- Beckman said he’s looking at the final two games as bowl-type games for Illinois. He said it’s big to “get the monkey off our back” regarding the Big Ten losing streak.
Darrell Hazell:
- Hazell said he can’t say enough a bout Purdue’s 21 seniors who have committed to the new coaching staff. He said they’re still knee-deep in preparing and contributing.
- Hazell continues to see strides made by true freshman quarterback Danny Etling. Excited to see what the future holds.
- Purdue’s defenders have been in the right place, Hazell said. The plays just aren’t being made.
Bill O’Brien:
- O’Brien said Penn State’s senior class means a tremendous amount to the football program. O’Brien is hoping for a big crowd Saturday to send them off in appropriate manner. Said players could have left during hard times but they chose to stick it out.
Pat Fitzgerald:
- Fitzgerald said Northwestern has been resilient even though they’ve lost six consecutive games. He said they’ve shown fight and the attitude and approach to each game has not changed.
- The most difficult aspect of the season, according to Fitzgerald, is all the injuries. He said everything else is correctible.
