Oklahoma State University Athletics
Smith, Morgan Talk About UNI, Iowa State
January 25, 2008 | Cowboy Wrestling
Head Coach John Smith
On the team's preparation for this weekend's home duals vs. Northern Iowa and Iowa State:
“We've had a good week so far. It seems like we have their attention, and we're going to need it to have a good weekend, there's no question.”
“You need to expect that you wrestle your very best at home. Obviously, that's what we're looking for. The season's a journey. We have several weight classes we need to get better at if we're going to do well at the end. We need to continue to maintain and prove at the weights where we have athletes that are solidified at their weights and are moving in the right direction. You don't want to be taking steps backward this time of year.”
“The key is to stay in the fight. We just have to stay in the fight. Individually, if you're struggling, if you quit fighting, you've got no chance.”
On Northern Iowa:
“Northern Iowa has struggled a little bit and they're obviously trying to find their way. It's a good opportunity for us to try to get back on track. The only way you get back on track is by winning. It's not necessarily winning as a team or winning a dual meet, which, that will take care of itself; it's just wrestling the way we want to be wrestling.”
On Iowa State:
“Iowa State is going to be a great test for us on Sunday, there's no question about it. It's going to be important with key match-ups for us in the Big 12. If we've got any chance of trying to win the Big 12 at the end of the year, we could really help ourselves this weekend with some upsets of our own that can put ourselves in position to score as many points as we can at the Big 12 [Championship].”
Senior 141-pounder Nathan Morgan
On last week's loss to Nebraska:
“It's [the Nebraska loss] just another stepping stone toward that NCAA Championship.”
On the leadership he and Coleman Scott provide:
“I think everybody looks at us to see what were doing. We're seniors; we've been in their shoes. We've competed at the nationals and gone on these long road trips. You get these younger guys that haven't done it before. It's a totally different setup than high school. The season is twice is long, you're traveling and wrestling. I think all the guys look up to me and Coleman, which makes us push harder to be a better example to those guys.”
On wrestling at home this weekend:
“Nothing beats wrestling here at home with the fans here behind you and the comfort of working out in your own room and walking out there in front of the OSU crowd.”
“We're just taking it one match at a time and (our opponents) are focusing pretty much all their efforts and everything just to beat us.”
On the team's preparation for this weekend's home duals vs. Northern Iowa and Iowa State:
“We've had a good week so far. It seems like we have their attention, and we're going to need it to have a good weekend, there's no question.”
“You need to expect that you wrestle your very best at home. Obviously, that's what we're looking for. The season's a journey. We have several weight classes we need to get better at if we're going to do well at the end. We need to continue to maintain and prove at the weights where we have athletes that are solidified at their weights and are moving in the right direction. You don't want to be taking steps backward this time of year.”
“The key is to stay in the fight. We just have to stay in the fight. Individually, if you're struggling, if you quit fighting, you've got no chance.”
On Northern Iowa:
“Northern Iowa has struggled a little bit and they're obviously trying to find their way. It's a good opportunity for us to try to get back on track. The only way you get back on track is by winning. It's not necessarily winning as a team or winning a dual meet, which, that will take care of itself; it's just wrestling the way we want to be wrestling.”
On Iowa State:
“Iowa State is going to be a great test for us on Sunday, there's no question about it. It's going to be important with key match-ups for us in the Big 12. If we've got any chance of trying to win the Big 12 at the end of the year, we could really help ourselves this weekend with some upsets of our own that can put ourselves in position to score as many points as we can at the Big 12 [Championship].”
Senior 141-pounder Nathan Morgan
On last week's loss to Nebraska:
“It's [the Nebraska loss] just another stepping stone toward that NCAA Championship.”
On the leadership he and Coleman Scott provide:
“I think everybody looks at us to see what were doing. We're seniors; we've been in their shoes. We've competed at the nationals and gone on these long road trips. You get these younger guys that haven't done it before. It's a totally different setup than high school. The season is twice is long, you're traveling and wrestling. I think all the guys look up to me and Coleman, which makes us push harder to be a better example to those guys.”
On wrestling at home this weekend:
“Nothing beats wrestling here at home with the fans here behind you and the comfort of working out in your own room and walking out there in front of the OSU crowd.”
“We're just taking it one match at a time and (our opponents) are focusing pretty much all their efforts and everything just to beat us.”
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
