Oregon Ducks College Football Pregame Quote, 12/29/2023

Q. How do you encapsulate the last year? You were hired about 54 weeks ago and this is the product.

COACH STEIN: Like I said when I first got here, it’s a player’s game. We have exceptional players that prepare like pros who practice their tails off. They’re a joy to coach. They’re a joy to be around. Very blessed to work for Dan [Lanning] who is so organized and detailed and forward-thinking. There’s a lot of things working in my favor that have allowed a lot of this stuff to happen for our offense.

Credit to everybody in the organization; our offensive staff. It’s a great blend of minds in our offensive staff room who all work really well together with zero egos and just want to win. Yeah, it was a lot of fun.

Q. What will be it like sending Bo [Nix] in for this game ‚Äì how do you define that? Fans will say, getting completion percentage record or whatever other statistical record, but I know coaches don’t like to define things like that. How do you define it?

COACH STEIN: Obviously, leaving the game as winners is the number one thing. We’re playing a tough Liberty team, 13-0. It’s hard to go undefeated. So they’re definitely a tough matchup. Coached really well. They play really hard.

But statistical measures, I mean, they’re all fun to talk about. It’s not like guys don’t think about them, and we can all say we don’t. I don’t. Players probably do more than coaches. But ultimately, I think Dan’s [Lanning] done an unbelievable job this entire bowl prep. The last game, it didn’t end the way we wanted to, so we have unfinished business.

The statistical stuff, we take care of the game or take care of the ball and play the way we’re capable of, I think all of these things will happen ‚Äì along with the most important thing ‚Äì winning the game.

Q. What sticks with you about the title game? Is it the start? Because it was slow. But at the same time, six plays, in fairness. Or is it the 3rd-and-9, even though the call was good but great execution. What are the things that stick with you about that? When you look back, what do you think about three, four weeks later?

COACH STEIN: There’s a lot of things. When you lose, you second-guess a lot more than when you win, just like the first matchup. The 3rd-and-2, 4th-and-2 in the first matchup was something that haunted me all year. Tried to make the best out of that situation, moving forward, which we did, and we wrote off a lot of wins in a row.

But there’s a lot of things in the game. The first 3rd-and-1, which was a long 3rd-and-1, we run a sprint out. That was not a great call. There was some things that I could control to get us more prepared in spots, but our kids played their tails off. They really played hard. It was not for a lack of effort. Everybody wanted that game as much as the entire state of Oregon wanted that game.

It wasn’t for a lack of want to. There were coaching errors. Could have got our guys in better situations. But yeah, it was a tough way to end it. But I’m really proud of the way the guys have responded. This bowl prep has been outstanding. Guys came to practice every day flying around. They want to finish this year off the right way and beat a really good team.

Q. Explain to fans who question the first one, the stuff inside the red zone, coming up short, but particularly running the routes to the corner. Many of the novices will look at that and say, if it’s blown up, you’re stuck in the corner, there’s no options. The title game, something like that, worked for a touchdown. They forget that part. Be that as it may, for fans, when it became a six-week-long indictment about red zone execution and play calling, etc., situational stuff, explain to folks the thinking.

COACH STEIN: Yeah, it’s like the way that we gameplan is the same way that Bill Walsh gameplans, in terms of the decisions you make are done not in the heat of the moment in a game. They’re done in the calmness, the coolness of an offensive staff room. So when you come together as a staff, when you have ideas, when you have specific schemes that you believe will work based on what the defense presents, you go with your gut. I mean, you go with that call.

And in those moments, you have to live with the result. I still like all the plays we called in the red area. The big thing about that game, I would say, is potentially the third down before the fourth down with a timeout and you could run the ball there. That would be one looking back, reflecting, okay, calm down, call one. And then you have a 4th-and-1 maybe from the 1 (yard line) instead of the 3 that you could run again.

But hindsight’s always 20/20, like you said. In the championship game, we run a play that was off of a play during the year and it was something that we really liked going into the game, especially tempo. And it hit. Those calls down in the red area, I still like those. I really do. It was really the 3rd-and-2, 4th-and-2, which were, I thought, that was poor schematics for our guys and didn’t give the guys the chance to finish on the field and take a knee.

Q. What have you seen from Austin [Novosad] that would give you confidence? He has to come in on Monday?

COACH STEIN: He’s a kid that preps like a starter. He’s had really good bowl prep. Gotten better every single day. I think his time going back and forth with the scout team this year gave him quality game reps against a top 10 defense in the country. So he’s been playing at game speed all year and throws the football really well.

Him and Brock Thomas, our other quarterback ‚Äì and Brock is a local kid from Sheldon, same high school as Patrick Herbert. A lot of pride in University of Oregon and Brock and his family. He’s another kid who can come in and make an impact,

Q. Growing up as a youngster, was there a quarterback that you thought: I want to play like that guy? Is there a quarterback that you looked up to?

BO NIX: I think as I grew up, as I got older, it kind of changed a lot. I went from one to the other. I would go through phases and I would start watching one more than another. But I really remember Tim Tebow being the first one, because of what he stood for and because of how he played the game.

And right after that was Cam Newton, and I knew I was never going to be like Cam Newton because I was never going to be that big. But it was still fun to dream and imagine like that. As it went, there’s been a lot of others, college, NFL guys, that you may see a play or two and try to model the game after.

But at the end of the day, I know and recognize that we’re all different in our own way and I think it’s valuable to know that and to play like that, because you don’t have to be like someone else to be one of the best.

So I think each quarterback that plays that has success, I think they all added unique prep to their game. I think that’s what makes football, in general, so cool because you can be so different and still have success.

Q. Bo, taking a look at film and the Liberty defense, what jumps out to you?

BO NIX: I think they’re extremely athletic. I think they play the ball in the air really well in the back end. They’re physical. They do a lot on defense and I just think we’re going to have to do a good job of executing on early downs.

Q. In a game like this, where you guys are such heavy favorites, is there a tendency to maybe not pay attention to the details much? As a leader of the team, is it your role to make sure everybody stays as locked in against any other opponent?

BO NIX: Yeah, it’s important. We’re going to treat this game like we have any other game. We put a lot of respect and value on any opponent we play. We know any opponent can win or lose any game they play in. So we have taken it seriously. We’re going to make sure the details are on point.

It’s tough in a bowl game, though. There’s so many different things going on. But we got to regroup and get back to the basics and make sure we’re prepared going into each game.

Q. What it is about this offense that you feel has allowed you guys to have so much success?

BO NIX: Well, when you look at us, I think we’re extremely balanced. We run the ball as well as anybody in the country. We throw the ball as well as anybody in the country and we do a good job on third downs. We stay on the field, we score in the red zone.

I think just overall when you look at us, we’re kind of a complete offense. I don’t know if we necessarily lack in any area. But with that being said, we have to make sure that we finish drives and we do what we’re supposed to do. We always say that we’re the only team that can stop ourselves. So when we’re doing what we’re supposed to do, executing at a high level, that’s what makes us really balanced and really efficient.

Q. What it is about this coaching staff that you think has allowed all of you to just have the season you’re having, have that confidence to go out each and every day?

BO NIX: It’s a good balance of them coaching us really hard and them getting everything they need out of us. But at the same time, allowing us freedom and flexibility to do what we’re good at. They put us in situations to succeed because they don’t ask anything more than what we got and what we can present to the offense.

All we have to do is go out and be efficient and I think we played really well together; offense and running the ball, throwing the ball. I’m just excited to be in this position. It’s fun to be on an offense like this and to play with such great players and play with great coaches. It’s just been a really fun year.

Q. There’s been a lot of chatter, obviously, with Liberty in the conference that they play in, with the spread for this game. As a leader on this team, how do you not get caught up in all of that and stick to what you all are doing?

BO NIX: To be honest, I don’t even know the spread. All that, I guess, only matters if you’re paying attention to it. We know that this is going to be a good football team. They’ve played a lot of really good teams and they’re undefeated. They won their championship in their conference. So we’re going to have to come to play and be ready to go.

Q. Off the field, what do you enjoy most about bowl week?

BO NIX: I think looking at the entire week; when you get to spend a week like that with your team because you go the whole season ‚Äì you’re playing and you’re going week by week, and things get crazy. When you get to the bowl game, it’s like your last hurrah for the whole team and your last time to be together to maximize that time with your teammates and coach.

For myself, the last time in college and last time with this group, it’s all about the relationships and all about making it as enjoyable as possible, because you’re not going to have these moments again. Next year, everyone will be on a completely different team, no matter if they stay here or if they’re going to the next level ‚Äì whatever it is, it’s going to be different. It will never be the same.

I think it gives you one last opportunity to be with your guys and make memories.

Q. Of all the defenses you played against this year, does Liberty’s defense remind you of anybody in particular in terms of scheme and style and players?

BO NIX: Honestly, not really because they do a little bit schematically, they’re a little bit direct. So that’s going to present us with a different challenge. I think Liberty kind of just gets in your face and they play you man-to-man a lot more than we faced in the Pac-12. But I think that in saying that athletically, talent-wise, it’s going to be similar to teams we played. Schematically it will be a little bit different.

Q. When you look up and see 21 interceptions from them, obviously, you don’t turn it over. What do you see in the secondary that presents issues?

BO NIX: You want my honest answer? I’ll probably get in trouble for that.

No. I think first of all, they do a good job of playing sideline to sideline and they do a good job of getting the ball when it’s up in the air. I think their creativity disrupts quarterbacks and on film, you see a lot of guys throwing it to the defense. So I don’t know if it’s opportune picks or what it is, but you see a lot of guys literally just get thrown the ball. They take advantage of that.

And I always tell the defense, if you’re going to throw it to them, you better catch it because it’s not going to happen a lot. That’s what Liberty’s been able to do. They’ve caught it. It’s hard to do that ‚Äì and 21 is a lot, no matter who you’re playing against. But I think the defense’s turnover margin is the most important thing, probably. You can get turnovers and all that kind of stuff, but they’ll be ready to go. I know they’re not going to miss opportunities if you throw it to them, so got to stay away from that.

Q. What has Tez Johnson meant to you as a brother and teammate this year?

BO NIX: It’s meant everything to play with him. In high school, I never thought I would be able to have this opportunity again. I think that it’s important to make the moment count, make it last, because I don’t know if I’ll get to play with him ever again now. Having a year like we had and playing with each other ‚Äì and he went over 1,000 yards for the first time. I mean, it’s just been awesome to have a front row seat and to challenge him and help him grow over the last year.

Seeing it through my eyes, it’s been just an awesome experience and I’ve really just been excited to see him and watch him play. Not only watch him play, but to play with him and be his quarterback. It’s been an honor, and just extremely thankful for him. I don’t even think words can describe the season that we’ve had and the amount of memories that we’ve been able to make. You know, we’ll both remember it for the rest of our lives.

Q. I talked to Tez [Johnson]. He says 10th grade year of high school, he came to live with you guys. Both your parents talked that over. Were you really good friends before that?

BO NIX: We weren’t necessarily close. He was a grade younger and it was my first year there. So obviously, after that, we became super close. But up until that, I mean, we saw each other at football but we never necessarily hung out and we had different friend groups. He was battling himself trying to do well in school and on the field.

So it wasn’t until he moved in that we started getting to know each other, and I’m glad he did. I think both of our lives have been changed because of it.

Q. Is there a young guy who has stepped up, guys who hit the portal where they will have a bigger role and they have already shown that in practice that they will do well in that bigger role?

TEZ JOHNSON: Yeah, like I said, Dillon [Gresham], Jurrion Dickey, Kyler Kasper. I think they will play a big role in this bowl game. They have been doing really well at practice, locking in and taking notes in film room. And so those – us like Traeshon [Holden] teaching those guys what notes they need to take for this particular DB, this particular defense that they are playing, and they are actually listening to us and wanting to get better.

Q. Excuse me, what has Dillion [Gresham] showed you?

TEZ JOHNSON: Dillion has taken the top off of defense fast! I know I’m fast, but DG got another gear. So it’s been ‚Äì watching that from just coming in, he’s so locked in. He wants to know every little detail and that’s what excites me the most about him.

Q. I think we asked this to Rod (Rodrick Pleasant) a week or two ago – have you guys had races yet?

TEZ JOHNSON: Races? I would beat Rod. I got the video.

Q. You beat Rod?

TEZ JOHNSON: He’s the fastest in Cali, but it’s different when it comes to football.

Q. So you lined up?

TEZ JOHNSON: We lined up, we didn’t go the full 45.

Q. You beat him by a good amount?

TEZ JOHNSON: It was by three yards. He can tell you. We talk about it all the time. If we get on the track, he will probably beat me. But if we go to the 35-yard line or 40 whatever, it’s a different type of gear.

Q. Does DG (Dillon Gresham) have that type of gear?

TEZ JOHNSON: Yes, we will see that in fall camps and summer training and stuff, like, we going to see that from him. He can tell you, he’s a quiet competitor. Like, you can’t count him out.

Q. Speaking of next year, since you alluded to it, have you made a decision on going pro or not?

TEZ JOHNSON: Right now, I’m just focused on this bowl game. That’s pretty much in ‚Äì that’s all that’s on my mind right now.

Q. Is there a process for you? I know that there is, like, a strict deadline. Is there a process in trying to figure out and how that will go down?

TEZ JOHNSON: Yeah, I mean, always a thought, but like I said, I’m focused right now on this bowl game.

Q. Well, what do you see from Liberty on their defensive side of the ball?

TEZ JOHNSON: Pretty good. Especially coming from the Sun Belt Conference, I know what they are capable of. I played them when [Malik] Willis was there. So playing and actually losing to them, there’s, I believe, some personal things that I want to get done, obviously winning the game. I lost during the first time I played them. They have good corners. They played fast and physical. I played Coastal Carolina. He’s a really good coach (Jamey Chadwell). He’s got a really good team put together. I’m looking forward to playing them to see what they can do.

Q. When this matchup was officially announced, for you, since you have the background to it, did this game mean more to you when it was officially announced that you were going to play Liberty?

TEZ JOHNSON: For me, because I know what they are feeling. When I was at Troy, if we would have went to a New Year’s bowl, it’s a championship game. It’s a championship game. They’re playing Oregon. They want to come out swinging. I know that just from experience. They are a really good team. You don’t discount a team like this out, because they will shock you. We will come there and handle the business.

Q. You haven’t seen Liberty too much. Just on film and all that. I mean, what do you do to prepare for something like that?

BUCKY IRVING: I mean, it’s just another football game, another team that you treat every game the same, prepare it just like it’s another game. But we treat it no different from the teams we play in our conference. We sit down and watch a tape and prepare the scheme and play during the game.

Q. What pops about them?

BUCKY IRVING: Fast tempo offense that will score a lot of points. We can score a lot of points. So it should be a fun game.

Q. What has it been like playing with Bo [Nix] on the offense this year?

BUCKY IRVING: It’s been pretty exciting. We feed off of him. As he go, we go.

Q. What has it meant to you the last couple of weeks preparing for this game? You will suit up one more time for this program that you have given so much to.

BUCKY IRVING: I mean, being with the guys one last time. It wasn’t ‚Äì I mean, I could say that it wasn’t an easy decision. Like, I already knew that I was going to come out and finish the season. I was telling my guys they got me this far. So I feel like I needed to put one last step on the 2023 season and finish off on a good note.

Q. You mentioned playing for the guys and one of the things that talking with the other guys, Tez [Johnson], Ferg (Terrance Ferguson) was saying, why is it important to you to, like, connect with those different position groups in a way that maybe some other guys don’t?

BUCKY IRVING: I mean just having a connection with all of your guys, that’s a big part. You are not doing this by yourself. So just having that connection with a lot of guys. I think it means a lot to them.

Q. Running backs and receivers get stereotyped as “me” guys. Why do you think you are not that way. Is there somebody who taught you to appreciate and respect your teammates?

BUCKY IRVING: No, I think I’ve always been that way. It’s not about me, the team. All the individual accolades and I think that plays a big role as a team, but ‚Äì because without all 11 guys, you can’t accomplish the goals that you want. Everybody has a job on the field.

Q. How many guys do you think on the team would say that, about you, that you have that type of individual connection with too?

BUCKY IRVING: I mean if you go to a lot of the guys, I’m pretty connected with all the guys. So there’s certain guys you hang out with and do stuff with, that’s everywhere. Everybody has those type of friends like Tez [Johnson], Ferg (Terrance Ferguson), you know, everybody on the team. You have the ones that you are going to connect with, and it’s going to be a lifelong friendship.

Q. Do you find it challenging to maintain all of these relationships with different guys?

BUCKY IRVING: I know that they are there. So you don’t really have to question your friendship with guys that you are always with.

Q. As somebody who has watched him (Bucky Irving) play, what are the key elements of his running style?

STEVEN JONES: Elusive, twitchy and very physical.

Q. What is your first impression? What is something that you have come to learn about him, respect about him?

STEVEN JONES: I think as every running back, he has a lot of appreciation for the O-line, but I think he makes an emphasis of that, too, by coming to meetings or maybe just offensive line meetings. He will come in and watch protections with us or even if we have, like, an offensive unit. He’s in tune with what’s going on with the O-line. It’s not so much block for me and run for me. He wants to make sure that we are on the same page.

Q. And that’s relatively rare.

STEVEN JONES: Yeah.

Q. It feels like someone is invested.

STEVEN JONES: He s not just someone who sees us as a blocker and trying to make plays off of us. He wants to be connected with us so we know what is going on.

Q. Did it surprise you (Bo Nix) was going to play in this game?

STEVEN JONES: Yes and no. I think we had the sour taste in our mouth from the Pac-12 Championship that drove us all to want to play this game. Knowing Bo [Nix], he’s all about the team and I think playing in the bowl game was something that was not a question to him. He already knew before we ended the season that he wanted to play in it. I think that’s really cool of him and all of the old guys who decided to come back and finish the season off right.

Q. What do you know about Liberty? What have you guys seen from their defense?

STEVEN JONES: They are a really solid defense. They like to fly around. Our coaches emphasize they are one of the best teams in takeaways. We have to be able to protect the ball. I’m excited to go compete and see how they do.

Q. Are you ready for the game? How much film have you watched?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: A lot.

Q. You have had one of the best seasons in Oregon history. What does this year mean to you to perform and produce at this level?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: You know, it’s been a blessing, God has given me an opportunity to come to Oregon, one of my dream schools, and be able to play right away. Obviously, I had a pretty good season. I think that’s a testament to my coaches. The guy over there, Bo [Nix], you know, giving me the rock. I think it’s really just been a blessing and I have been able to enjoy it with all of my teammates.

Q. You guys have a pretty tight-knit tight end corps compared to last year, for sure. How tight is that room? And how much have you guys tried to get better all the time?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: We are really tight. Coming from last year, I was afraid it would be a little rocky. You are throwing new pieces in. We are as tight as ever and they are my brothers. Pat (Patrick Herbert), Casey [Kelly], all of those guys ‚Äì and even all of our walk-ons ‚Äì we’re all really close and we always compete in everything. It’s funny just at practice, we’re all talking about who is the fastest, and who is better at this and that. We are always competing.

I think it’s been really good because you have guys like Pat and Casey who have been in football a long time and they’re seasoned vets and they do a lot of good things. Then you have a young guy like Kenyon [Sadiq] who is the best athlete in the room. So I’m getting pushed in multiple aspects in my game. I hope I’m pushing them in the same way.

Q. Where do you feel like you have improved over the course of the year heading into this game?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: I would say my route running. Just confidence with the ball. I have been able to break tackles and be a better ball carrier. Me and Pat (Patrick Herbert) really got elevated to the leaders of the room, just because we lost a lot of seniors in the tight end room and so we had to step up and be there for the young guys like Kenyon, show him the ropes and how we do in the tight end room. There’s a long list of good Oregon tight ends who have always done stuff the right way in that room.

Q. Did you like kind of getting thrown into the fire of being a leader?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: A little bit. It was fun and really, I’m going to say me and Pat (Patrick Herbert) have really took on that role. And some other guys looked to us ‚Äì tried to do things the right way. So it’s been really fun to have some younger guys look up to us. And try to follow in our footsteps and try to read them the right way.

Q. Was there anybody that you might have reached out to? Do you feel like a certain situation where you were not exactly sure what to do, like reach out to somebody?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: Yes. One of the biggest people that we kind of talked to, Ed Dickson who played tight end at Oregon and probably the greatest Oregon tight end, he got on Zooms with us over the summer and we all got together and as a tight end room and did that for a while. So he’s just giving us a lot of knowledge and helped me out a lot. He’s been a big mentor to me. So I would say that one guy.