Opening Statement…
"As you go through the season you know what the schedule is and you have plans for the bye week. I don't know if ive ever seen a bye week come at a bad time, but that's definitely the case with us. Things that we try to get accomplished on bye week, we evaluate what we've done: personnel, scheme, and heal up as much as anything. Had a chance to get a couple good practices in, get some of our younger players in to help develop depth. So we feel real good, I had a chance to go out and recruit so it was a good week for us. But you really can't wait to get back to game weekend and that where we are right now. We are getting ready to play a team who is undefeated so that gets your attention itself. Again we need to get back on the football field and play. As we look at what we have done so far, there's some things we like and of course some things we don't like, it's as simple as that. It's just about going forward. Last year with Minnesota, they have an offensive scheme that they believe in, it's not like they change an awful lot. They are a team that gets off running the football, they like to run the football first and have a good play action game after that. This past week against Purdue their quarterback played outstanding ball, I think he had one incompletion, but good skill guys. Two good wide receivers, tight ends, good running backs, big offensive line, so it will be a good challenge for us. Defensively they've been playing good football for a period of time now, they run around and fly around the football. Antoine Winfield Sr., I had a chance to coach as a senior way back in the day as a first year secondary coach at Ohio State. Dad was an outstanding player, and of course his son is an outstanding football player too so it will be a big challenge for us. Whenever you go on the road you know what to expect a little bit. We're 0-1 in Big Ten play right now, we're anxious to play an opponent and have a chance to get back on a winning track."

On Devon Witherspoon's breakout…
"As a young player when you come in, we don't know a lot about you, you have to make first impressions. And not just your first time, your first actions to declare 'this is who I am.'. And for some of the young players you get a couple of reps first. Of course, he showed up. He showed up on punting. It's tough being a gunner and going down and making an open field tackle like that. So as a coaching staff we see young players that way, and we know the situation too, he will tackle. As a corner, as a head football coach, as a guy that just loved defensive play, a little corner tackle, he will. So we like everything about him. And as a young player if you are given a few reps and you do well, you will get more reps, its as simple as that. And that's how it is for all positions, so we have liked what Devon has done."

On the special teams unit…
"I know Coach Ligashesky and I have a long history together, I know he is an outstanding coach. Going into the football season, Blake Hayes, James McCourt winning the kicking position going against a good player in Caleb Griffin, Ethan Tabel getting put on scholarship. So our specialists we're in place. From there it's bringing up the core of the special teams. I mentioned Witherspoon showing up as a gunner. There are ways you can help your football team. I just know that the third phase, offense, defense, special teams, you win football games with that. That has given us the opportunity to stay in games and to win games."

On how the bye week helped injured Illini players…
"We're getting healthier, yes. The time last week helped. When you have nine days or so to freshen up it helps your body a lot. I don't know if we will be at full force, we will practice tomorrow but again time should help us. The players mentioned though (Stanley Green, Isaiah Gay) we need to get everybody back, so it will be a challenge for us."