ON HOW CRUCIAL OF A YEAR THIS IS FOR FOOTBALL
"This year is very, very crucial. I'll say it: 4-8, it does not meet the expectations. I mean, I think everyone knows that. I want us to be really, really good in football, and I know our fans do. So, I have to do my part. I'm excited. I think we have a good recruiting class coming in. I can't remember. We're a top 20 recruiting class, 22 maybe. I also know that we've got some good kids signed or committed coming up that's taking a look at us. So, I'm excited about where things are from that standpoint. But what has to happen? It has to show on the field, you guys. We've got to make sure that we rebound. We've got to make sure that we're building ourselves up, back in a way, to one, that we can compete in the Big Ten, first and foremost. I know people talk about our Big Ten record. We've got to compete there. We've got to get some of those signature wins in the Big Ten And those signature wins, as you guys know, are against the Penn States, the Michigan's, the Ohio States. We need those. I'm not going to run away from that, and our fans deserve that, and so we've got to push to making sure that we're able to do it. But my excitement is high. I'm always going to be positive and optimistic. I think Locks and the staff are putting in a lot of hard work. We've got some new coaches coming in. He's rebuilding and retooling his staff. So, my optimism is high, and we'll continue to do everything we can to support football to be successful."
