December 6, 2014

Without a chip on my shoulder, not as An interview with: much as the confidence that my teammates and my coaches had in myself.

COACH Q. Cardale, how much fun was that? : It was very fun, going MICHAEL BENNETT out there showing everybody what we can do CARDALE JONES when we all come together as one. Mike said it best. This is the first time I THE MODERATOR: We'll ask Coach think we played as a nine-unit strong all the way Meyer to make an opening statement. across, from the kicking game to offense to COACH MEYER: Well, it's an honor to defense. It was a great game plan executed by represent the Big Ten as the champion of the the players. conference. Very proud of our team. Also great respect for Coach Andersen and Wisconsin. Q. Michael, what were you feeling on I've been asked a lot, ‘Did I see this the defensive side of the ball? What was it like happening?’ I saw a team that prepared very well going up against Melvin Gordon tonight? and is playing at a very high level right now. MICHAEL BENNETT: They have had a A lot of things happened this past week. really high-powered offense all season. Great There's a family grieving that was a big part of our O-line. Melvin Gordon is the real deal. He made a family. Kosta, we had a prayer and a moment of lot of plays that there was nowhere to make a play. silence for him in our locker room for him and his I got a lot of respect for that offense. family. We'll never forget our teammate. I think we came out with a lot of intensity, a Also some injuries, from to lot of drive. Cardale said it, nine-unit strong on Dontre Wilson to J.T. They were here supporting defense. We usually had the D-line do well, then their teammates. Nine assistant coaches who did linebackers don't do well. Then linebackers and a wonderful job. But most importantly very grateful DBs do well, then D-line doesn't have a great for this team I get to coach. These are great guys game. that come together. In a tough week, a close team This is the first time everybody did got even closer. everything that was asked of them and did it as Thank you. hard as they possibly could. This is a huge victory THE MODERATOR: Questions for for us. A lot of respect for the offense we won Cardale and Michael. against.

Q. Cardale, did you play with a little Q. Cardale, Ohio State did everything it chip on your shoulder? All week people were could do. Will it be difficult to wait for calling you a third-stringer. tomorrow until the College Football Playoffs CARDALE JONES: I wouldn’t say a chip are decided because that's nothing you can on my shoulder. I played with confidence because control? of the confidence my teammates had in me, the CARDALE JONES: That's right, that's confidence my coaches had in me, my family, nothing we can control. All we can do is prepare close friends, Buckeye Nation. for our next opponents. If it's going to the playoffs or not, that's out of our hands.

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visit our archives at asapsports.com strongest units on the team. He's done a Q. Cardale, what kind of statement do marvelous job. you think you made to the Selection Committee But Cardale is a veteran player that was with this one? immature when he first got on campus and has CARDALE JONES: It was a huge really matured. Obviously Tom gets a lot of credit statement, I think. I mean, we played a great, for that. great team, the number two defense in the country. We put up 59 points on them. They have the best Q. What statement did you make to the running back in the country, so... Selection Committee? COACH MEYER: I hate getting asked Q. Cardale, you had them on the run. that, to be honest with you. I like coaching a team. What did you say at halftime to make sure you This is without question the most improved from kept things going? What did you say to Coach start to finish team that I've ever been around. To Ginn when you saw him? see them operate in all facets of the game at a CARDALE JONES: We knew going into high, high level from our punter to the way we this game we was going against a great team, like I played defense, then offense was incredible. Our said before, all around. We had, what, a 31- or third quarterback, two Heisman candidates out, 38-point lead going into halftime. this guy comes in and plays like that. That team didn't win 10 games by giving The Selection Committee has a tough job. up at halftime. That's something our coaches The whole BCS thing, this is supposed to clean up preached at halftime, they have fight. They was the BCS conflict or conversations. All I can speak going to keep fighting back, keep fighting back, to is I've been around teams that have competed keep fighting back. I saw that on the very last and won national championships. This team, the drive. They called a timeout. This team will not way it's playing right now, is one of the top teams die. We had to keep our foots on their throats and in America. just keep going. Q. Could you talk about your defense Q. (No microphone.) and how you thought they played today? CARDALE JONES: I talked to Coach COACH MEYER: Yeah, best effort we Ginn. I'm going to talk to him a lot this week about had since we've been here. I think Mike said it staying patient, poise, every opportunity for best. There's always been games where the success. Keeping me levelheaded. I would say D-line played well, maybe the back end was giving he knows me best. Even though I might not show up some plays. a lot of emotions, he knows how I'm feeling. This was a complete, thorough effort by He did a great job of keeping me our defense. Coach Fickell, Coach Ash. levelheaded. Everybody was waiting for the silver bullets to THE MODERATOR: Thank you, fellows. come back, including the head coach. That was a We'll take questions for Coach Meyer. fantastic effort.

Q. From the time you got the news on Q. You talked a lot this week about how Braxton till now, can you elaborate on the job far Cardale has come in three years. Now that Tom has done this year? How difficult was it he's done this, can you answer that again? for Cardale and Tom to get ready in six days COACH MEYER: Yeah. He's one of the together? most improved players I've ever been around. The COACH MEYER: Well, our strength coach correlation between handling your business off the made a point to me, and I made it to the team on field and on the field, he does a good job in the many occasions, that Cardale came in when we classroom now. It wasn't pleasant his first year came in. He's been in every meeting with our here. Our academic people have done a great job. quarterback coach. Tom Herman is an excellent You have to give credit to Cardale's coach. support group at home. Obviously he played for His unit the first year was very average. I one of the best high school coaches in the history talk about we got a Player of the Year in the Big of the high school game in Coach Ginn. He's been Ten, but as a unit they weren't very strong. got better and better. Now it's one of the

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visit our archives at asapsports.com very supportive. We've had many conversations about this situation. If everybody wasn't aligned, that wouldn't be the same young man sitting right there. His support at home, his high school coach, his position coach, they're all obviously close. Obviously Cardale bought in. THE MODERATOR: Thank you, coach. COACH MEYER: Thank you.

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