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Man of Steele
September 29, 2000
That game was probably the best game I played all season. We did what we had to do. The coaches were stressed out about Whitaker, so we decided to go out there and really put it to them. We went out there and set the tempo, got ourselves down early in the game, but we fought back like we were expected to and pulled it out at home once again. It felt pretty good. It set the tempo for all the practices this week. I was very nervous when we were down in the fourth quarter. Just looking at the big screen and seeing that UCLA just lost to Oregon and then looking at our scoreboard and seeing that we were losing to San Jose State-that was just unbelievable to me. We really should have been up on those guys. But we came out in the fourth quarter and really put it all together and shut them down while scoring 22 points. The defense had fun out there in the second half, while the offense really showed how much better they are this year than last. San Jose State was really a big test for our defensive passing game. We have a little bit of work to do on that front. Oregon State runs the same offense as San Jose State which really helps us know what to expect. They go out there with four or five wide receivers and spread you out, so all this week we've been practicing on technique and other little things, like stopping the inside runs. We feel everything should go good and like the coaches planned it. Playing against this kind of offense is really suited towards my style of play, which is based on finesse and quickness. The first couple games were about stopping the run. This game and the last one are about pass coverage. I need to go out there and run with the receivers and check them off. We'll play lots of nickel coverage, too. Knocking the quarterback out and stopping the run would be nice accomplishments on Saturday. Ken Simonton is fifth in the nation in running and he didn't play the second half of the last game just to be ready for us, so if we stop him it will be a big accomplishment. We want to stop their running backs so that our running backs can move up in the stats. We just want to go out there and take them out defensively. Family life is going great. My baby is due at any time. I'm a little bit nervous because I don't know if it's going to come this week or next week. My father is coming out to take my place when I'm gone this weekend and he'll be my backup in case I'm not around for some reason. I hope it happens sometime between Monday and next Thursday so I will be around. My father doesn't show it, but I think he's pretty anxious. My mother is really anxious for the baby to come. As soon as the season is over, we'll take the baby back to Ohio. I don't want her out there too long, though-it's just too cold. Basically, I've been laying down and resting this week. It's going to be a physical game so you have to get your body ready. We have a 2 ½ hour flight and an hour-and-a-half bus ride once we get up to Oregon, so we really have to be prepared. We only have two more short road trips after this one, which feels very good. It seemed like we were on the road a lot last year. But this year, things are a lot more relaxed and there is better chemistry and everyone is positive, so that really helps out. Oregon State is the first Pac-10 game and it's going to be a tough one but I think we can pull it out.
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