MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch may have given Florida State some bulletin board material. In an interview with the Sporting News’ Steve Greenberg, Lynch said the Seminoles haven’t seen anything like the Huskies’ offense.
Lynch also gave Greenberg this quote: “We plan on wearing them down. In the fourth quarter, we plan to have them on their knees – and then just keep pounding away.”
Speaking to reporters after Wednesday’s practice, Lynch didn’t really back down, saying it’s a confidence thing.
“No, we’re not cocky, we’re confident in what we do. We have a good offense, we have a great defense. We feel like we can be in the game,” he said. “We didn’t come down here for all the activities and everything. We came down here for the Orange Bowl to play in it. We’re not cocky at all, we’re confident.”
NIU head coach Rod Carey agreed with Lynch.
“What’s he supposed to say? ‘Hey, we’re just hoping we get a first down, get a yard or two?’ Come on now, it’s what we do,” he said. “That’s the confidence, and these guys expect that. We’re doing everything we can to make that happen.”
Other notes from Wednesday’s practice:
NIU’s new uniforms seem extremely popular among the players.
The Huskies will wear brand new white uniforms with metallic silver numbers on the front and NIU written in red above the numbers. NIU’s new uniforms feature red sleeves with a Huskies logo, and red pants. The uniforms, made by Adidas, are tight-fitting.
“Those are real nice uniforms. It’s a big change from what they had before,” safety Demetrius Stone said. “It was nice that they made those uniforms for us, and our team’s excited.”
• According to the Florida Atlantic fan site Owl Access, Florida Atlantic defensive line/special teams coach Brett Diersen is headed to NIU’s coaching staff, although Carey wouldn’t confirm the hire.
Diersen spent just one season at FAU, and came from Indiana, where he was the Hoosiers’ defensive ends coach and recruiting coordinator. He coached with Carey at Wisconsin-Stout from 2004-06.
Diersen would take over for Ryan Nielsen, who is joining Dave Doeren at N.C. State after the Orange Bowl.
• Carey said Doeren will be at the Orange Bowl, and he added that he had heard Jerry Kill will be in attendance as well.
