Oct. 17, 2006

Curtis Terry, junior linebacker
On Indiana
"From the film we have seen they are very well coached. They are a hard-working team and they are going to fight to the end. They beat a very good Iowa team and they are going to come prepared."

On Indiana's quarterback
"The defense is going to have to make sure to contain him. He has a good arm, is very accurate and can make plays. The defense will have to do everything right to stop him."

On identity of the defense
"I think we have established an identity of being an attacking defense. Last year's defense would go out and stop you. This year, we are going to go out and make things happen and create turnovers."

On BCS rankings
"I honestly didn't know they came out today. In the Big Ten anything can happen. Any team can sneak up on you and we have to stay focused and prepare for Indiana and for each game."

On confidence of the defense
"You always have to have a swagger. To be a good defensive player you have to have a swagger and an attitude that lets people know you are going to go out there and hit hard."

On making big plays
"I never once thought in my head that I needed to go out and make a big play in order to gain a spot. I just go out and do my job for the defense and just play. As soon as you go out there and try to make a big play and try to act like superman you stop doing your job for your team."

On defense
"There is always room for improvement. Whether it is tackling, being more emotional, or knowing our assignments better, there is always room for improvement - especially with the little things."

Brandon Mitchell, senior free safety
On Indiana beating Iowa
"Anytime someone beats a good opponent, they get revved up for the next game. Iowa is a great team. If they (Indiana) can beat Iowa, they can beat us. No matter what the score is, they are going to keep playing." On what the defense needs to improve
"Our defense has done a good job on third downs in the red zone. As a whole, we know we haven't done a good job to stop the run. We just have to get better at holding the rushing. We are proud that we have not given up many points, yet we know Coach (Tressel) wants us to stop the run."

On holding the No. 1 spot
"We know we are No. 1 going in to a game and we prepare knowing we are a No. 1 team. That definitely puts an added emphasis on our game, because we have a lot at stake to lose. Coach Tressel wants us to get better every day. For every game, we go out playing for a championship, because if we lose, we are out of it."

On playing for the No. 1 team in the nation as a senior
"We understand it is our responsibility to go out and play hard every game. We owe it to the fans, our team and every guy in the locker room. For us seniors, it helps that we have been with a team that has seen a national championship. We know what the guys in '02 did to keep us focused. In turn, we can tell that to our young guys."

On the cohesion of the team
"The guys this year are really tight. As far as being a close-knit family, we are like the '02 team in that respect."

On Head Coach Jim Tressel
"Tress does a good job of teaching us. He teaches us how to be great men. We do a lot of community service and I appreciate it. Everyone who knows this program knows that Coach has a sound impact on his team. He is always telling us to remember who we are."