THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for attending today. I'm joined by Washington State interim head coach Jesse Bobbit, redshirt senior quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, and redshirt senior safety Tucker Large.
We'll begin with an opening statement from Coach Bobbit.
Coach, opening statement.
JESSE BOBBIT: Appreciate it. I want to start off by thanking the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl for a first-class experience. These last few days have been a blast. Our guys have really enjoyed it from the meals to the hockey game to sledding, the community of Boise, the city of Boise. A first-class experience. We appreciate all of the help and the support of us being down here and getting to do this together.
In terms of us, Washington State football, we're fired up to be here. I'm so proud of this team through the adversity and change that's happened here in the last couple weeks, to stick together, to come here to finish what we started, doing it for these guys, for this team, for these seniors.
I'm incredibly proud of these guys for handling it the way they have. We are really excited to be here to finish this off the right way as Cougs for these seniors. We just really appreciate the hospitality that we've been shown in Boise.
THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up for questions.
Q. Tucker, you've known Coach Bobbit for a million years. Tell me, what was your first impression of Coach Bobbit to where you are now?
TUCKER LARGE: Starting my career off, I had a different position coach. When Bobbit first came in, it was definitely a change-up. The coach I had was an older guy, very mellow. Bobbit, young energy coming in, cracking jokes. Changed the whole culture of our safety room, the defense at that time.
Seeing him progress over the years has been truly a blessing, just seeing it from that perspective, so...
Q. What does bowl season mean for you guys? A lot of comments about what the worth is.
TUCKER LARGE: Yeah, this bowl has been going on for I think 25 years or whatever it was. Being a part of history like that is always cool. Just being a senior this year, knowing it's my last game ever, just putting it all on the field.
Zevi can speak for that, too. One last opportunity to go out and be together as one.
ZEVI ECKHAUS: Yeah, for sure. Obviously this wasn't promised for us going into that last game. We still had to win one to be here. So just proud of the team, their ability to fight through everything that's happened in season, all the ups and downs. Giving us one more opportunity to be together, to be here, play as a team. Very grateful for this opportunity.
Really excited for tomorrow.
Q. What has been your favorite thing you've done in Boise so far this weekend?
TUCKER LARGE: I'd say the sledding. Pretty fun.
ZEVI ECKHAUS: Last night we went to like a hibachi restaurant, got some good food. That was fun. Our chef was doing some crazy tricks and whatnot. Yeah, it was pretty cool.
JESSE BOBBIT: I don't know if any of us knew what to expect with the whole sledding experience. That was awesome, taking that first leap, going head first down that thing. Pileup at the bottom. It was a blast. No one got hurt. It was a blast.
Q. Coach, how has the practice just leading up to the bowl season, how has the team's energy been? Some people maybe practicing for the first weeks, then they stop coming to practice. Where do you feel the team is at right now?
JESSE BOBBIT: Incredibly proud of this team. There's been a couple guys that chose to opt out and leave. Large majority chose to be here to finish this together. The energy and spirit from the first team meeting we had when the change happened has been awesome. The leadership within this team has been awesome. I just really appreciate them allowing me to lead and be a service to them to finish this out the right way.
Prep has been great. The energy at practice, the competition, these guys being able to go at it versus each other one last time for these seniors, pushing each other.
Again, we're here to finish this out on the right note. That's to get the win. We're here to do so. Prep has been really good.
Q. When you're in the FCS, these last games of the year, is win or go home. Not a lot of fun in the preparation. How has that been different from the bowl experience?
TUCKER LARGE: Yeah, when chasing a championship, we're always trying to be serious at all times. I feel like this has been more of a relaxed type of thing.
When we have meetings and practice, we're locked in at that time, no matter what. Bobbit has done a good job of just saying be where your feet are. When we're at practice, be locked in, be talkative. And outside of that, enjoy the time, have fun with your friends, enjoy the relationships.
I think we've done a good job trying to do that balance this weak, so...
Q. When you're getting ready for a game, you're studying the other team's offense, but to get a full scope of a team, how has that been for you?
JESSE BOBBIT: It's definitely different. I've still been heavily involved in game planning for their offense, which is a challenge for sure. Testament to them.
But yeah, definitely been different. As a head coach, previous head coach, my mentor, Jimmy Rogers, just talked about the game management, situational football, all the things that go into it. My first go-around will be tomorrow doing that. Trying to think of the million situations that can happen is not possible.
Trying to do my best so that it's a crisp, clean game that is managed the right way, to put these guys in the best possible situation. That is not easy. Thinking through that, it's been fun. I've really enjoyed being able to do that side of it. But there's been a lot to balance. There's been a lot going on.
I'm excited to get these guys my best tomorrow from that role.
Q. All the things you've had to balance. There's the portal, recruiting... What has that experience been like for you, along with being an interim head coach?
JESSE BOBBIT: Yeah, it's been stressful. But at the end of the day, it's helped me grow a ton. With that, I think the biggest thing you can do is just be honest and have clear communication with whatever those situations are.
My biggest message with that, as Tucker just said, is to be where your feet are, enjoy the moment. I've used the phrase 'make adversity your partner in growth', and find joy. You can find joy in anything. Even in this crazy time of change, the chaos a little bit for these guys, you can still find joy in it. That's what we've tried to do. They've done that.
That's what's been so cool to see, just the energy and spirit of these guys enjoying their time together. With all those distractions that I've been dealing with in a sense, that are needed to be dealt with, the biggest thing is don't let them affect what we're trying to do and steal the joy that really is what matters most.
Q. You've been with the team for two years. Maybe the introduction to Coug Nation was at the bowl game last year. Walk through the last 12 months, how you're feeling leading the team.
ZEVI ECKHAUS: Yeah, definitely been a wild ride. I think when it comes to college football, the season, you always have expectations. It's good to have expectations, but it's also good to understand that maybe things won't always align how you expected it to go. That's kind of happened this year, like it's happened many years before.
The most important thing is staying true to your morals, who you are as a person, who I am as a person, that's trying to be the best person and player I can for this team.
That's really been my focus these past 12 months, trying to be the best player, quarterback, teammate for these guys. Like I said, I'm really excited to do it one more time tomorrow.
Q. Coach, this is a preview of two teams that will be in the Pac-12 together next year. Does that add anything extra to this game, or is it purely about this game for right now?
JESSE BOBBIT: No, I think it definitely does. It's an exciting time for the new Pac-12. As you go into the new Pac-12, see what rivalries will come about, it's exciting to face a future opponent.
I'm excited to be able to do that. At the same time it is the same mission as always, to go 1-0 and execute and be where our feet are and be at our best to get the win.
Q. What is the scout on the Utah State defense? What do you know about them so far?
ZEVI ECKHAUS: They play fast. They play physical. They play together.
Q. Coach, with Bryson Barnes obviously kind of a headliner for Utah State's offense, what have you seen from him?
JESSE BOBBIT: Yeah, he's a really talented player. He's definitely led their offense to have the success that they've had. He can make all sorts of throws, every arm angle, whatever that may be. Their offense is challenging in terms of their scheme and the triple option style play in terms of all their RPO game and what it makes you have to do as a defense and how to execute.
He executes it really well and he leads it really well. He also lays his body out there on the line. This dude, he doesn't slide. He's going to do what he can for his team to get first downs, to make the play. He makes a lot of plays. So it is definitely a big challenge.
He's a really talented player and we're excited for that challenge, excited for our guys to go out there and compete against a great player like him.
Q. (Question about Kirby Moore.)
JESSE BOBBIT: Yeah, I think the biggest thing is focusing what we have on task here, finish this thing off the right way.
But I have had a couple conversations with Coach Moore. He seems like a great dude. I know that Washington State is in good hands and they're going to have success moving forward with him.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you all for joining. Gentlemen, best of luck tomorrow.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports