TicketsAug. 29, 2006
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Mark Dantonio Media Conference Quotes
About the Bearcats: "We are coming into our 26th practice of the season today, after starting on Aug. 6. We as coaches really like the fact that we're healthy, Number one, other than losing Mike Daniels. Corey Smith is coming along, but other than that we are very healthy as a football team. That's very important coming out of the preseason and that's what you want to be."
About Eastern Kentucky: "We are excited about the game against Eastern Kentucky. Eastern Kentucky is a program that I have a lot of experience playing against over the last 20 years. When I was at Akron, we played against EKU in the OVC and while I was at Youngstown State we played them five straight years. It is a program with a great tradition at the I-AA level. They have won national championships."
On the Eastern Kentucky Offense: "They are anchored by Josh Greco who is one of 16 players considered for the Payton Award. He threw for 3,000 yards last year as a redshirt sophomore. He had a tough freshman year after redshirting his first year. Also on that offensive football team, they have Patrick Bugg who is a first-team All-American at tight end. He's listed at 6-5, 220 pounds. He's more of a pass-receiving type tight end. He's a preseason All-American again this year. (Mark) Dunn is the tailback and he is a very exciting runner. Bobby Washington is a transfer from N.C. State."
On the Eastern Kentucky Defense: "Defensively, Mark Cristiani is their top player. He plays nose tackle and Brandon Rosser is one of their top linebackers and they are both all OVC picks. It's a defense that returns seven or eight starters. This is a program with tradition. Danny Hope has been the head coach for three years and he has had a winning record each year. They finished second in the conference last year, behind Eastern Illinois. Danny coached at Purdue from 1997-2001, so he is a Joe Tiller Guy. A lot of the concepts that they use offensively relate to what Purdue does. Without question this will be a challenge, but we are looking forward to it. We are excited about it, we had a great practice last night and our players are getting ready to go."
On naming Dustin Grutza the starting quarterback: "We've made a decision on the quarterback. Having been here for a second year Nick Davila is much more in tune with what's going on offensively in terms of game management. He was running neck and neck with Dustin Grutza. We have rotated those two guys with the first offense through the preseason. I think he has earned a chance to play. Grutza has had a good camp. In particularly, in the last couple of practices, he has looked sharp. I think he is an improved quarterback as well. I look at this as a luxury that we have two quarterbacks of a proven caliber."