Head Coach George O'Leary

Opening Statement...

"Just to recap the Ohio State game ... basically we didn't win the game, we lost. I thought the effort was good. We just can't make the mistakes that we made down in the red zone and give up points. That game is behind us; we made our corrections on it. That quarterback was an exceptional player and a better athlete than the guys we had chasing him. But again I think turnovers were a big point in that game. I told the kids that as for fighting for 60 minutes I thought they did that. I always tell the kids there are four things to every game: play hard, play together, play to win and play smart. We did the first three, we didn't do the last one - play smart at times. I think that's the difference when you play teams like that. All four have to hit to be successful."

On facing another running QB this week...

"Well, I think we faced three now. The first Akron kid was a running kid too. I think he's going to be a good player too. Watching tape, I think they (FIU) are good at what they have. No. 12 (Jake Medlock) is a steady quarterback, hurts you with his feet, hurts you with his arm. So, we'll have our work cut out defensively. Again, I think it's the more reps that you can see of those things the better you should play."

On if his players are fired up for this game...

"No, not really. I think all losses should sting. I remember every one of them in 44 years. Name the game and I can tell you what happened. I think it's the old saying that every time you lose, you die a little and it's true, from a standpoint of what happens on the field and how much effort you put in a game. Again, we have to take care of what we have to do. Last year was a game that we did nothing offensively. Defensively we did enough to win the game, but you can't give up six sacks. ... We didn't play well on special teams either. Again, we get another opportunity this Saturday to face them and we are working hard to get things right, and again I don't go into last year. I personally avoid that stuff with the team. I always talk about how their team is different and our team is different and that's the way I always look at those things. So, again it's another opportunity, it's the third game, third season of the year and we know we have an opportunity to come home for four-straight games. That's what I have been talking about. We are going to play in front of the home crowd for a change."

Updating Latavius Murray...

"He's out. He's not in this game plan and is week-to-week. Hopefully he's back for the Missouri game. That's what I'm triggering right now with the bye date, and that would have been three to three and a half weeks. Hopefully, he is back for that game."

On playing at home...

"It's great to be home. Hopefully, we have a good crowd and we get after it up there. That's what I'm promoting with the players. They got two on the road ... then, we got four at home in a row. It will be a good week and you always want to get a win before the bye date. We have the bye date after this and we will give the players some time after that. But all of our game plans are for FIU and what we have to do to get points on the board and what do you have to do to stop them from getting points on the board. Again, I think there's a mature group of kids we have. I lean on the senior class to make sure they understand every game is a big game. The fan base understands that better than they have in the past. Once Ohio State was over it's over. When Akron was over it's over. Everything right now is FIU and what we need to do to win."