Mike Bloomgren, the Rice Football team captains and the newly minted starting quarterback met with the media in advance of their Week 1 game against Army.
The Owls are ready to hit someone in a different colored jersey. Those who spoke on the Tuesday press conference touched on the key takeaways from fall camp and spent a good amount of time looking forward to the upcoming season, specifically their Friday game against Army. Here are a handful of the most notable quotes:
From Mike Bloomgren
On the mentality of the team as a whole…
“I think this is a team that is hungry for success. You see it in the way they practice. You see it in the way they’ve taken care of their bodies, the way that they’ve really dove into learning these complex NFL systems on both sides of the ball. Really proud of what they’ve done so far… They know that being physical is a non-negotiable trait in our program. And they have certainly answered the bell.”
On why he chose Wiley Green to be the starting quarterback…
“He’s got elite arm talent … but also the way he prepares, the way he lives a quarterback lifestyle. And very simply, I think one of the things that led him to secure this job as our starting quarterback is his experience in the system and his ability to protect the ball consistently throughout training camp. Those are the things that are non-negotiable.
“This time last year, Wiley was taking three or four reps, and he was still struggling at times to call plays in the huddle like all quarterbacks do when they first enter the system. And now he really thinks like a coach.”
On Army…
“It would be extremely hard to prepare for this team in one week, in two days of actual practice. Luckily for us, we started practicing on them in the spring, for last two weeks, our commitment to them defensively has been real.”
“You can’t waste plays against this offense, or against this team, I should say, because it’s all about negative plays, they get you in negative plays and make you go three and out. You may not have the ball for 12 minutes, they’ve proven that time and time again on film.”
“I think Army absolutely feasts on finesse teams. That’s what they want. They want people that don’t want to, that aren’t willing to stand in front of them, and throw punch after punch after punch. And what they’re going to see is, you know, we’re going to be willing, we are willing to come into the fight. And we’re going to fight. I think these guys love each other too much not to do that.”
On the difference from last year’s opener to now…
“It’s the second time around for me. And just understanding more about my staff and this team, and having the comfort and knowing how great the people around the world and the trust in them. I probably tried to do too much as a first year head coach, especially with the experienced guys that I have around me. And I know who I can trust with what and so I can focus on the things that are truly important. I know this team better. I know this group of guys, especially as leaders better. I will sleep well Thursday night.”
From Myles Adams
On his focus during for his senior season…
“Unity and togetherness… that’s what we pushed this summer in our offseason… We’ve really bought into that intellectual brutality, where we have pride in what we do, in perfecting our craft, everybody having a common goal and trying to strive for that together.”
From Austin Trammell
On the feeling around the team…
“If you just kind of ask around, you could tell there’s a different energy, a different vibe going around the guys. Because it’s a new feel with how we are together. There’s a bond, that unity that Myles [Adams] is talking about. We just all love each other so much. And we want to succeed for our brothers, not so much for ourselves. And I think that’s what it’s going to create a lot of success for us.”
From Chris Barnes
On being named a team captain as a senior…
“Never thought I would be in this position, but like I said, I’m extremely grateful for it and I just want to do the best thing I can for the team and build this culture we’re trying to establish here and leave a lasting legacy.”
From Wiley Green
On the team’s mindset facing Army’s physicality…
“Army’s a disciplined team, but I feel like we’re gonna come out more physical across the board. The offensive line, fullbacks, running backs, shoot, even at the quarterback position, we’re going to come out more physical than they are. Because that’s that’s what we preach here. And that’s what we’re going after.”
