Big Ten Teleconference: UNLV Review, Freshmen in Line for More Playing Time, and Big Ten Locker Room Standards

Ohio State rolled UNLV last Saturday and heads to Rutgers this weekend to face the Scarlet Knights under the lights of High Points Solution Stadium.

Tuesday, Meyer took to the Big Ten coaches teleconference to talk the win over UNLV and preview his team's return to conference play.

Highlights:

Four-game assessment: "Pass defense continues to be No. 1 on the hit parade. ... No. 2 is consistency on offense."
How he keeps players focused despite "everything going on" in the country: "It goes back to development of culture. It goes back to a culture of respect. I was unaware of anything until yesterday."
On Tracy Sprinkle's return: "He's one of our top players in terms of player respect. ... His last two games have been much better as he continues to improve and gain confidence on that leg."
If a player came wanting to protest, how would he handle it? "That's between me and the player. To be honest, I don't know, and if I did, I wouldn't share it with you."
"I just agree [with Jim Harbaugh]" on his comments about Big Ten opposing locker rooms. Said he dealt with it a year or so ago, and he called his staffers to make sure Ohio State's opposing locker rooms were up to proper standards. "These players do a lot for us. They do a lot for the conference. They should be taken care of."
Would Urban Meyer buy stock from future financial advisor Sam Hubbard? "We know that answer ... He's one of my favorite players."
Any players in line for an increased role after Saturday? Pete Werner and Baron Browning have "made important strides." Jeffrey Okudah has "taken a giant step and earned playing time." Trevon Grimes "has had a couple good weeks of practice but not yet in position to join the rotation."
On Demario McCall: "He wasn't himself when he had the ball in his hand. It's really up to him. We're pressing him to get him ready to play. ... It's a real injury, and it's just a guy who needs confidence to become the dynamic player he can be."

Other coaches:

Chris Ash (Rutgers)

Plans on wide receiver Janarion Grant being available. Contributor on special teams and their “go-to guy” on offense. “Him just being there and being involved with our team is a big boost for us."
On competing against richer teams in the Big Ten East: “I knew that coming here and didn’t shy away from that. … We know we have limited resources, but we’re not making excuses.” Noted private donations help bridge the limited Big Ten checks.
“I’m really happy with the progress our team has made. … How long will it take to get to where we want to be? I have no idea, and I’m not worried about it. If we keep improving, we’ll get where we need to be.”
Noted J.T. Barrett’s ability to run and decision-making make him tough to defend. “I have great respect for him. He’s a tremendous competitor.”
On praise from Urban Meyer on Rutgers’ improved defense: “Credit to the players. They’ve done a great job at pressing the reset button.” Said they’re putting players in better positions to make plays, and they’re playing harder.

JIM HARBAUGH (MICHIGAN)

The attention defensive lineman Rashan Gary garners helps every Michigan defender look better on film.
On comments on Big Ten opposing locker rooms: “It’s on the athletic directors’ agenda in October. My feelings are well known.” Noted the first person Michigan is going to look at themselves. Also said it’s not just Purdue.
On potential protests by players during anthem: "Those are private conversations." Said he allows players to make their own statement. Would he allow his players to kneel? "I would respect their right to do so."
Quarterback Wilton Speight's condition: "If we were playing a game this week, he wouldn't be able to play. And he's hoping to make it back as soon as possible."

PAUL CHRYST (WISCONSIN)

Are Michigan's opposing locker rooms up to standard? "They're all different. Our advanced group does a good job at making it as best it can be. But they should look into it."
On potential player protests: "You try to respect other people and their views."

MIKE RILEY (NEBRASKA)

On new interim athletic director Dave Rimington: "He's a perfect for this place."
Nebraska lost at Illinois, 14-13, in 2015. "We'll probably bring that up in the lead up to the game."
Opposing team locker rooms: "There are vast differences in places that you go. ... That might be a good idea for people to have to look at that."
Potential player protests: "We have not faced that possibly as we've been inside for the anthem all year and probably will be on Friday."
On his team through four games: "Oh, boy, we've had a mixed bag."

MARK DANTONIO (MICHIGAN STATE)

"We've had great football games vs. Iowa since basically Day 1 of arriving here."
"Iowa always has a great defense."
Reminding L.J. Scott of the RB he can be in lieu recent fumbles: "I've said that to him continually. Nobody feels worse than he does [when he fumbles]."
Turnovers are "one of the areas" the Spartans need to clean up.
Is Michigan's opposing locker room up to standard? "I'm not going to answer that question right now. I'm focused at the task at hand."

KIRK FERENTZ (IOWA)

Ferentz said every Sunday his staff tries to flip the page to the next opponent, regardless of victory.
On opposing locker rooms: "I don't know if I have a strong opinion. I coached 1-AA football. That's a league of bus rides." His first road game was at a school in the Big East (for basketball) and the locker room only had one commode when he traveled with 50 players. Noted NFL visiting locker rooms are awful too. "That's part of football."
On potential player protests: "I'm of the opinion sports are sports. ... Me, personally, I don't think it's the time or place for political messaging. ... We're going to try to leave the political stuff to the side when we do our team stuff."

P.J. FLECK (MINNESOTA)

Assessment after three games: "We're getting better at the fundamentals of the game from day to day. And I think we've been able to do that."
"I know just as fast as we've gone 3-0, we can go 3-9, especially in the Big Ten."
"We don't focus on the result, because it's a byproduct of the process."
"We haven't won a championship since 1967, and that's the ultimate goal."

PAT FITZGERALD (NORTHWESTERN)

On player protests: "I'm blessed in that I get to coach the future leaders of the country. We talk about [local and national] issues. ... We've definitely spoken about it as a team as recently as yesterday."
"Three defensive coordinators [at Wisconsin] in three years ... the players have done a terrific job."
"It's no secret, for us to do well we need to run the ball."

LOVIE SMITH (ILLINOIS)

On 47-23 loss to South Florida: "We started well but obviously didn't finish."
On protests: "Well, our team is inside for the national anthem. Not going to be an issue for us."

D.J. DURKIN (MARYLAND)

On playing Minnesota: "The highest compliment you can give a team is say they play hard. And they do."
Status of his team through four games: "We've had some moments where we were good and others where we weren't. We need to work on our consistency."
On Jim Harbaugh's locker room comments and his own: "I did not see those comments. My comment is I have no comment. As long as it has a place where you can shower and change your close, it's fine. Anything beyond that is extra,"
On protests: "Since this weekend and everything, we haven't talked about it... We're in the locker room during our national anthem here."
On being "snake bit" with QB injuries: "I've heard that a couple times. I don't know what that means."

JEFF BROHM (PURDUE)

"Disappointed in the outcome against Michigan. We played hard, had our chances, and came up short. Looking forward to getting guys healthy this week [during an open week] and playing Minnesota next week."
On Harbaugh calling hit that injured Wilton Speight "egregious": "I didn't see anything egregious about it. There wasn't a penalty called on it, right?" (There wasn't.)
On Big Ten conference locker rooms: "It's not like you're changing in the Marriott ... I haven't been in many collegiate locker rooms that are nice and comforting for opposing teams."

JAMES FRANKLIN (PENN STATE)

On cornerback Lamont Wade's YouTube video supporting Colin Kaepernick: "To me, this is what college athletics is all about. This is what our country is about. It's what makes it special." Noted he's "proud" of how Lamont, as a true freshman, for articulating what he believes in. "People only want to credit their own perspective."
On getting a win at Iowa: "So much respect. Kirk Ferentz has done an unbelievable job there. ... I thought the environment was fantastic. ... I've always had a respect, but going and playing in that environment makes you respect it even more."
"I started that game at 45-years-old and ended at 55."