Presser Bullets: Urban Meyer Talks Alabama, Tom Herman, Competing for a National Championship

By Patrick Maks on December 18, 2014 at 1:57 pm
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With Ohio State's Sugar Bowl bout with Alabama looming in the not-so-distant future, Urban Meyer met with reporters Thursday afternoon to talk about the Crimson Tide, preparing for the chance to play for national championship, replacing Tom Herman, injuries and Cardale Jones.

Notes:

  • Meyer said sophomore H-back Dontre Wilson will be a “close call” to play in the Sugar Bowl. “I’d say 50/50 at best.”
  • Meyer on No. 1 Alabama: “They’re a great team. When you watch video there’s not much difference than other Alabama teams we’ve studied." The Crimson Tide have won three of the five last national titles. “It’s gonna be an excellent opp for us.”
  • Meyer said he’s used Alabama as a sort of motivation/measuring stick before: “I’ve used Alabama, any time (you’re) the top of the mountain, I’ve used them … I’ve respectfully used them. Every year, they’re in the championship hunt. There’s a lot of respect for the University of Alabama and their athletes.”
  • Meyer on the Sugar Bowl: "Every available hand in this facility is working for this one … It would be a tactical error for not everyone in this facility to not be focusing on Alabama.”
  • Meyer on how the Buckeyes are preparing: “We’re on increments on how to win a game like this. Every day, your percentage goes up to compete and win this game … That’s the methodology. If you don’t have a good day, your chances of winning this game are probably zero.”
  • Meyer on Heisman Trophy finalist and wide receiver Amari Cooper: “He’s tremendous and when you focus on him there’s two other ones.”
  • Asked whether Ohio State can compete with a team like Alabama, Meyer said, “absolutely.” He added: “After Week Three, probably not. I thought at some point we were building (a team that could compete) for a national championship … The future’s bright … it’s a good young team that matured.”
  • Meyer, again, said he worries over how families will afford to make the trip to New Orleans and, potentially, Dallas: “Everybody’s gonna get tired of saying it until somebody does something about … where are they gonna come up with that? I just worry about bad things happening because families can’t see it.”
  • Meyer on co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tom Herman, who will become the next head coach at Houston: “It looks like someone hit him with a bat around here, a good bat. He’s a pro.” Meyer said he approached Herman to ask him what he could do to help with the transition. “He had that frazzled look that we’ve all seen. He loves Ohio State, he’s very appreciative.”
  • Meyer said Ohio State’s “crossing (the bridge) now” in respect to replacing Tom Herman: “This is a big hire. This is huge … I’m not gonna release anything, but I’ve got plans.”
  • Meyer on hiring Herman from Iowa State in 2012:  “I took a chance on Tom, I don’t think some people realize that … his interview was off the charts. He’s been a really instrumental member of our staff.”
  • Meyer on quarterback Cardale Jones: “Cardale’s a great story, it’s still a process now. He’s not the grown man he needs to be, but he’s getting close.” Meyer said Jones made a mistake during the Big Ten title game and came back over to the sideline, “looked me right in the eye and said, ‘Coach, I made a mistake. I wont do it again.’ I said go back to offensive line and tell them that … if I hear an excuse, we can’t have that."
  • Meyer on Jones’ transformation: “I’m not sure I’ve experienced one like that.”
  • Meyer on starting nickel Armani Reeves, who missed significant time with an undisclosed injury: “(He) got dinged … should be fine … he should be ready to go” for New Orleans.
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