Everything Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz said about Jack Coan, Notre Dame on Monday
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz is approaching Saturday’s contest against Notre Dame like it’s just another big-time college football game.
A big game it is. Though there is another obvious storyline: Mertz taking the field across from former Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan—the Badgers presumptive starter last season before a foot injury derailed his year.
Related: Everything Notre Dame HC Brian Kelly said about Wisconsin on Monday
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst shared a similar sentiment to Mertz about Saturday’s contest: it’s a big game for both programs, but it isn’t defined by that storyline of Coan transferring to Notre Dame.
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Five statistics that will decide the winner of Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame
Mertz met with the media on Monday and discussed everything from the day Jack Coan got hurt to whether his offense needs to spread the ball around more. Here’s everything he said in his weekly press conference:
On the Notre Dame defense
"The big thing is they're just a really talented group. They do a lot of different things, and it's a fun group to watch because you get a mix of different things. We'll be ready, it'll be good."
On Notre Dame QB Jack Coan as a person
"Jack's a great guy. Nothing but good things about that guy, he's a great player, great teammate, great friend. So yea, Jack's a great guy."
On needing to win big games
"You just need to win big games. Period after that. You can talk about past years and all that stuff, but in the end it just comes down to the game at hand and winning when playing a ranked opponent. So point blank, you just have to win big games."
On winning ranked games
"Whenever you get a ranked game, you want to win. Point blank, you want to win it. I know the guys have a great approach, today we had a good practice. We know what we need to do and want to do, and that's win."
On the day Jack Coan got hurt
"I remember the day it happened, I remember at practice, the emotions that he had following it. You never want to see a guy get hurt and go down like that, so definitely wasn't a good situation that day. It unfolded how it unfolded, and we all kind of know what happened. You never want to see a guy go through that but I'm glad that he made it through that and he's healthy. Happy for him."
On spreading the ball around in the pass game
"Just in general as far as a passing game and your approach, you want to spread it out. You never want to have all your targets on one guy. Just in general, offensive philosophy, you want to spread it out and get everybody a bunch of touches. I think it was a good approach that second week."
On whether the game is him vs. Jack Coan
"I'm not lining up across the ball every play. Like coach said, it's Wisconsin versus Notre Dame. I'm prepping for their defense, I'm not prepping to play [Jack Coan] in a one-on-one basketball game. Obviously you know what it is, it's out there. For me it's just Wisconsin versus Notre Dame, just another game."
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