LOS ANGELES – For the final time, Urban Meyer took the podium to preview an upcoming game.
Meyer, joined by Washington head coach Chris Petersen, took questions from the media on New Years Eve as the Buckeyes and Huskies prepare to meet in the 2019 Rose Bowl on New Years Day.
What follows are the main takeaways from their press conference.
Urban Meyer
- Reminisced about watching Petersen’s Boise State team in the Fiesta Bowl, when the Broncos defeated Oklahoma. Said his wife Shelley teased him for not being more creative on offense after Petersen ran a ‘hook and ladder’ and ‘statue of liberty’ play.
- “I can’t imagine a better game and opportunity to go play,” he said. Added that he is downplaying the idea that this is his last game.
- Joked that he doesn’t get nervous, rather “deathly ill,” before games.
- “It couldn’t have been better,” Meyer said of the transition to Ryan Day as head coach. Added former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops has given him guidance during this time.
- Said he tries to avoid giving an opinion when players ask if they should stay or leave.
- Said he wants to make sure his next role keeps players from getting “used by the system” of college football. Said he will still be around Ohio State’s players.
- Said he has been a thorn in the side of the defensive coaching staff this week, preparing for trick plays and wrinkles from the Washington offense.
- Has asked his players to shut everything outside of game prep down during the week. Mentioned shutting out any outside noise and even visits from family, girlfriends, etc.
- Said he has not thoroughly discussed or thought about playoff expansion, but does have “strong opinions.”
- Said the highlight of the last few months was the win over Michigan. Added he had a good feeling about the outcome going into the game because of the week of practice Ohio State had.
- Thayer Munford is still a “game-time decision” for the Rose Bowl.
Chris Petersen
- Said he changed his practice routine for the Rose Bowl in terms of when the team practices, and added the Huskies have had a great week of preparation in Los Angeles.
- Praised his senior class and said he believes the class will “reap the benefits” of what the coaches have preached over the years both on and off the field.
- Said he is anxious just to play the game.
- “You have to have a bunch of people around you that want to make it just as successful as you do,” Petersen said of what it takes to build a program.
- Said coaches don’t think much about the power of conferences.
- Said he has former UW players in town who have played in the Rose Bowl for the Huskies.
