I know that I made a statement after the game on Saturday that I wasn't going to live through this again. I'm going to do everything in my God-given power not to. There is no question in my mind that we are on the right track and doing the right things. We are in the process of evaluating everything. Evaluating myself, every decision I've made from the time I got here. Whether it be recruiting, coaching or on the field during the game. I've talked to the coaches and I'll continue to talk to them this week to make sure that we are all on the same page. I feel better now than I have ever felt about the direction that this program is going. I've said this many many times, we are not nearly as far away as it seems. I am excited. I'm looking forward to February 1. We are going to go as hard as we possibly can and get as much done as we possibly can."

...on what type of athletes he will recruit:
"We have to get athletic guys who can make plays. We are not any different than any other program. We have to get guys with speed. I want guys on defense that are grabbing people and throwing them down. Help is on the way. We are gong to bring guys in not to take your job but to play with you. All we want to do is make sure we have the right student-athletes that are going to raise the athleticism.

...on recruiting in general:
"Recruiting is you're selling something that's abstract. People can't see a degree, they can't see an education or they can't see what it's like coming out those 11 Saturdays. We're going to have the greatest facilities in the country here in a couple years. One of the greatest things about this place, and I've had people come from all over the place, and they can't get over the passion our fans have. It comes down to people. It comes down to relationships."

...on Illinois' needs:
"We know our needs and we know our team. We're fortunate to have most of those guys back, but what we have to do is make sure we're bringing in the right mix to go with the guys we have. We need everybody. We need offensive linemen if there's one position that you do need because you've got to get guys on the line. I want to get receivers who've got jets in their tails and are going to make things happen that way. I want to get DBs who are going to throw receivers out of the way. I want to get linebackers who are going to run through people. We're not unlike anyone else in terms of what we're looking for. But we're fortunate that we're going to be able to sign more than some people."

...on the status of his staff:
"I don't anticipate any changes, but I've even been evaluating myself. I want to make sure I feel great about everything the way it is. Staff stability is important, and if you look around at teams that have been successful, for the most part the staff stays intact and the players know the coaches. I don't want to make any decisions. This has been something that it's been a while since I've been through and I don't like it. It's important that we make the decisions to make sure we don't go through it any more."

...on the effect of a January enrollment on a player:
"He's going to school, he's learning the ropes without the pressures of games, so if there are any problems academically you can get that resolved. They're going through the weight program, they're going through spring football and the summer, to get camaraderie. Then when they start in the fall, they're first-year players with having the whole winter, spring and summer under their belts. I don't think there's any question that if you can do that in some instances, that it's a plus for your program. There has to be a right fit academically and all those things enter into it. I think it is a trend that you're seeing across the country now."

...on what was learned during the season:
"I learned that we've got a great nucleus coming back. Guys that will do what we ask them to do. Guys that will lay it on the line for us. You've got to have good players to win, but it's not always the best players that win, it's the best team that wins. We've begun to develop what I consider a true unselfish team attitude. These guys are excited about recruiting and helping in recruiting."

...on the outgoing seniors:
"Those guys bought into us and they didn't have to. Those guys are the foundation. We are in a construction zone right now; it's hard-hat area. I mean there is mud and everything, but we are going to get this thing cleaned up. It's going to be all landscape and the sun is going to be reflecting off of it; it's going to be pretty. Those guys are still that foundation."

...on Ryan Matha:
"Here is a guy that has been here and been through it. He was a good football player, been though injuries and adversity that he has had to overcome. I am so proud of him and so happy for him. He was a leader. I'll do what ever I can do to help that guy. There isn't any question that he bought into us. Even though he was a silent-type of leader, those guys followed him."