Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Players (College Football Playoff)
12/8/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Indiana football's Pat Coogan, Aiden Fisher, Riley Nowakowski and Elijah Sarratt addressed the media inside the Don Croftcheck Football Team Room on Monday (December 8) following the Hoosiers' selection to the College Football Playoff.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Pat Coogan | OL | R-Sr.
On the growth of confidence of the Offensive Line as a whole...
PC: I think we all believe in each other, and we all believe in Coach (Bob) Bostad and Coach (Derek) Owings and their plans for us. They put in a tremendous amount of work during the week to put us in a chance to be successful. At the end of the day, they] just give us a chance, right. All you can ask for is a chance on Saturday, in the box, to be able to have success. It's really a numbers game at the end of the day, in the box getting a hat on a hat, and our coaches have done an unbelievable job of putting us in a place to have success, so it's a credit to them, but it's also a credit to us and all of our hard work. It's a never-ending grind, just being able to run the football, it's a never-ending grind. We [have to] keep the pedals on the floor and keep finding ways to be successful and keep finding ways to improve.
On staying 'humble and hungry' throughout the next few weeks...
PC: I know the type of mindset and type of mentality we have, we all have a ton left to play for. We all know that Saturday was a huge step for us. Saturday was a huge moment for us, and a historic moment for us. We also know it's not the end of the road for us. We know we have a ton left to play for. And really at the end of the day, all of our goals are still in front of us. That was a huge goal for us, and we accomplished that goal, being Big Ten champions, but we got another one ahead of us. We [have] to take these next 3.5 weeks, or however long it is, and just find those inches of improvement, find those ways to improve and ultimately better our best. So, come January 1st, we have the best ability to go out there and have success.
On the moment when Mendoza started showing his leadership role as a quarterback...
PC: I think it's a build. Just like I've talked about, and he said the same thing throughout the spring and throughout the summer, to build up. You have to gain trust by your actions, you aren't going to gain trust just by saying it. You've got to gain trust by actions. What you do on the field, what you do in the meeting rooms, what you do in the locker room. That's where he really took the biggest stride is he is an ultimate professional, and an ultimate, wonderful teammate, in all three phases. He prepares like no one I've ever seen, he works his butt off like no one I've ever seen, and he is just an awesome locker room guy on top of that. If you had to pinpoint a moment in the season, I would say that hit against Iowa, when he got knocked out of bounds at the end of the third quarter, I think that was a huge moment for a rallying moment for this team. Just to rally around our quarterback, and he really showed us. We knew it, but he showed us again with his actions that he'll do anything, he'll really do anything for us. He'll put his body on the line just for a chance to have success. So, that was probably a huge rallying moment, just looking back and having some perspective there.
Aiden Fisher | LB | Sr.
On Indiana's defensive performance on film…
AF: Defensively, I think we did a good job getting pressure on the quarterback. I think Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy played phenomenal football games. I think our defensive line did a great job. The secondary did a great job. I think we gave up a couple [of] explosives, but I think we did a good job after that. The one touchdown we gave up, [there were] scramble mechanics; we have to do a better job plastering. [There's] still some cleanup we have to do. I know as a defense, we kind of give up some excess shots, like little out routes. [Jeremiah] Smith had a couple of those to get him going. Ultimately, I think we came out physical with bad intentions, and I think we did a good job for the most part in doing our job and limiting explosive plays from a really good offense.
On Fernando Mendoza's hit in the Iowa game…
AF: I was sitting next to him in the postgame interview, and he said he would die on the field to play this game. People laugh and chuckle about it, but he is dead serious. He will do anything it takes to win, he cares so much about his team and his teammates, and whatever it takes to win, he's going to do it. Maybe that's taking a big hit to reach for a first down on third down; he's going to do that. He's been such a great leader and so selfless. He's been a seamless fit since he got here, and I think that's why he sacrifices everything to win.
On Tyrique Tucker's progress since departing James Madison…
AF: He's been great. Talking to him this spring, it's been different for him. Throughout his career, he's had somebody to chase that was in a starting spot ahead of him. [When] I talked to him in the spring, he said it's been a different feeling, but I still have that feeling like I'm still chasing somebody. That's why I think he's seen such steady improvement. Everything that he's done this year has been phenomenal. His pass rush has been great. His run blocking has been amazing, getting off blocks and making tackles. He's been essential for us to make any run that we've made. His leadership has really come a long way. He's just done everything right and I can't say enough about him, he's done a great job.
Riley Nowakowski | TE | R-Sr.+
On his role evolving this season offensively…
RN: I think, personally, that's something I've always felt like I can do. I always felt like I was athletically gifted enough to have an effect in the pass game. Obviously, I haven't always had the opportunity to show it, but I think I've built a great relationship with Fernando. Both being transfers, I think we just became friends. We did a lot of work during summer together and a lot of work during winter. I think we ended up building a relationship where he had a lot of trust in me. Opportunities arose, and I tried to take advantage of every opportunity that came to me. I think that helped build some trust with the coaches and I think I've been rewarded for the work I've been willing to do.
On the Big Ten Championship win…
RN: It was huge. It's something you dream of as a kid right? The moment for me was the confetti shooting up and it was just like 'Wow". I went to the Vegas Bowl in my younger years and we had the confetti too. It just felt a little different this time and had a little more meaning behind it. The red and white with the Big Ten logo coming down. I woke up this morning and texted some of my old teammates with a picture of the medal saying 'Woke up a champion today.' It was awesome, they were all really happy for me. It's been surreal. It's probably the most amazing thing I've done in my life so far, so it's been great.
On the communication with play callers and fellow offensive players…
RN: I think we're constantly trying to give feedback. It's really helpful that we have iPads on the sidelines, so we can look at stuff and diagnose it. [We can] say 'Hey, this can work here or this might not work here.' What people don't realize is football is always a conversation. We're always talking whether it's on the field or off the field. You're always talking, trying to tweak things, and trying to make things right, and making sure you're talking to the right people. Something I really admire about Coach Shanahan is that he's really great at listening to us and valuing our opinions, and then making the right play calls off of it. I might see something and say 'This is what they're doing.' I don't necessarily know what the best play call is to go off of that. Maybe I think I do, but that might not be the truth. He's really great at getting us into a call level, whether it's to crease them or hit them over the top. I think he's been great and I think it's just part of that trust to believe us and value our opinions.
Elijah Sarratt | WR | Sr.
On Charlie Becker's role recently and his relationship with him...
ES: It makes me very happy. I remember when Charlie (Becker) first got here, before he got here, I remember getting a text in my DM and just him asking me, like, how should he prepare? How should he be coming into college? And I'm just telling him simple stuff, just come in and shape and then learn your plays when you get here. And ever since he's been here, his head's been down, and he's just put in the work. This offseason, he's made a tremendous jump a lot of times after workouts and stuff. He was getting extra work in with coach Eddie (Burk) doing releases and stuff. And it's showing off now. Now we have a great receiver room, so he had a chance to step in when I got out, and he's been making the most of it ever since. And for offense, it's helped. It helps us out a lot, because now teams have to worry about Charlie. He's just as good as me, just as good as Coop (Omar Cooper), as good as anybody. So, to have him being able to do that, it's amazing. And the skies the limit for Charlie. As long as he keeps doing what he's doing, he's going to continue to have great success on this team.
On his touchdown in the Big Ten Championship game and the key components of it...
ES: I like moving around in the slot. The slot gives me more space to work through. Gave me a slot before pre-snap. I knew it was man to man, just because the corner had moved in with me. So, it was a man to man. Look, then he pressed up on me. So, I'm like, oh yeah, I'm almost like, I'm going to get the ball before that. Before that possession, Fernando (Mendoza) had told me he was going to come to me, so I'm always ready for the ball. And then O-line blocked perfectly, Fernando threw a dime, and I was just able to get my hands on and make a play.
On processing how he got to this spot in his career from a zero-star recruit at Saint Francis (PA)
ES: It's crazy. I'm still processing it, just that whole moment, just seeing the confetti coming down, us being on the podium, hearing the crowd pop, scoring the touchdown. It's a surreal feeling like; I got to thank the man above for allowing me to be in this position. Because there's a lot of times where I didn't know what was going to go on with my football career. So, to be here right now, talking to you guys, this is a blessing. So, all these little moments that I've been going through, I appreciate it. I appreciate it a lot.
#NeverDaunted
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Pat Coogan | OL | R-Sr.
On the growth of confidence of the Offensive Line as a whole...
PC: I think we all believe in each other, and we all believe in Coach (Bob) Bostad and Coach (Derek) Owings and their plans for us. They put in a tremendous amount of work during the week to put us in a chance to be successful. At the end of the day, they] just give us a chance, right. All you can ask for is a chance on Saturday, in the box, to be able to have success. It's really a numbers game at the end of the day, in the box getting a hat on a hat, and our coaches have done an unbelievable job of putting us in a place to have success, so it's a credit to them, but it's also a credit to us and all of our hard work. It's a never-ending grind, just being able to run the football, it's a never-ending grind. We [have to] keep the pedals on the floor and keep finding ways to be successful and keep finding ways to improve.
On staying 'humble and hungry' throughout the next few weeks...
PC: I know the type of mindset and type of mentality we have, we all have a ton left to play for. We all know that Saturday was a huge step for us. Saturday was a huge moment for us, and a historic moment for us. We also know it's not the end of the road for us. We know we have a ton left to play for. And really at the end of the day, all of our goals are still in front of us. That was a huge goal for us, and we accomplished that goal, being Big Ten champions, but we got another one ahead of us. We [have] to take these next 3.5 weeks, or however long it is, and just find those inches of improvement, find those ways to improve and ultimately better our best. So, come January 1st, we have the best ability to go out there and have success.
On the moment when Mendoza started showing his leadership role as a quarterback...
PC: I think it's a build. Just like I've talked about, and he said the same thing throughout the spring and throughout the summer, to build up. You have to gain trust by your actions, you aren't going to gain trust just by saying it. You've got to gain trust by actions. What you do on the field, what you do in the meeting rooms, what you do in the locker room. That's where he really took the biggest stride is he is an ultimate professional, and an ultimate, wonderful teammate, in all three phases. He prepares like no one I've ever seen, he works his butt off like no one I've ever seen, and he is just an awesome locker room guy on top of that. If you had to pinpoint a moment in the season, I would say that hit against Iowa, when he got knocked out of bounds at the end of the third quarter, I think that was a huge moment for a rallying moment for this team. Just to rally around our quarterback, and he really showed us. We knew it, but he showed us again with his actions that he'll do anything, he'll really do anything for us. He'll put his body on the line just for a chance to have success. So, that was probably a huge rallying moment, just looking back and having some perspective there.
Aiden Fisher | LB | Sr.
On Indiana's defensive performance on film…
AF: Defensively, I think we did a good job getting pressure on the quarterback. I think Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy played phenomenal football games. I think our defensive line did a great job. The secondary did a great job. I think we gave up a couple [of] explosives, but I think we did a good job after that. The one touchdown we gave up, [there were] scramble mechanics; we have to do a better job plastering. [There's] still some cleanup we have to do. I know as a defense, we kind of give up some excess shots, like little out routes. [Jeremiah] Smith had a couple of those to get him going. Ultimately, I think we came out physical with bad intentions, and I think we did a good job for the most part in doing our job and limiting explosive plays from a really good offense.
On Fernando Mendoza's hit in the Iowa game…
AF: I was sitting next to him in the postgame interview, and he said he would die on the field to play this game. People laugh and chuckle about it, but he is dead serious. He will do anything it takes to win, he cares so much about his team and his teammates, and whatever it takes to win, he's going to do it. Maybe that's taking a big hit to reach for a first down on third down; he's going to do that. He's been such a great leader and so selfless. He's been a seamless fit since he got here, and I think that's why he sacrifices everything to win.
On Tyrique Tucker's progress since departing James Madison…
AF: He's been great. Talking to him this spring, it's been different for him. Throughout his career, he's had somebody to chase that was in a starting spot ahead of him. [When] I talked to him in the spring, he said it's been a different feeling, but I still have that feeling like I'm still chasing somebody. That's why I think he's seen such steady improvement. Everything that he's done this year has been phenomenal. His pass rush has been great. His run blocking has been amazing, getting off blocks and making tackles. He's been essential for us to make any run that we've made. His leadership has really come a long way. He's just done everything right and I can't say enough about him, he's done a great job.
Riley Nowakowski | TE | R-Sr.+
On his role evolving this season offensively…
RN: I think, personally, that's something I've always felt like I can do. I always felt like I was athletically gifted enough to have an effect in the pass game. Obviously, I haven't always had the opportunity to show it, but I think I've built a great relationship with Fernando. Both being transfers, I think we just became friends. We did a lot of work during summer together and a lot of work during winter. I think we ended up building a relationship where he had a lot of trust in me. Opportunities arose, and I tried to take advantage of every opportunity that came to me. I think that helped build some trust with the coaches and I think I've been rewarded for the work I've been willing to do.
On the Big Ten Championship win…
RN: It was huge. It's something you dream of as a kid right? The moment for me was the confetti shooting up and it was just like 'Wow". I went to the Vegas Bowl in my younger years and we had the confetti too. It just felt a little different this time and had a little more meaning behind it. The red and white with the Big Ten logo coming down. I woke up this morning and texted some of my old teammates with a picture of the medal saying 'Woke up a champion today.' It was awesome, they were all really happy for me. It's been surreal. It's probably the most amazing thing I've done in my life so far, so it's been great.
On the communication with play callers and fellow offensive players…
RN: I think we're constantly trying to give feedback. It's really helpful that we have iPads on the sidelines, so we can look at stuff and diagnose it. [We can] say 'Hey, this can work here or this might not work here.' What people don't realize is football is always a conversation. We're always talking whether it's on the field or off the field. You're always talking, trying to tweak things, and trying to make things right, and making sure you're talking to the right people. Something I really admire about Coach Shanahan is that he's really great at listening to us and valuing our opinions, and then making the right play calls off of it. I might see something and say 'This is what they're doing.' I don't necessarily know what the best play call is to go off of that. Maybe I think I do, but that might not be the truth. He's really great at getting us into a call level, whether it's to crease them or hit them over the top. I think he's been great and I think it's just part of that trust to believe us and value our opinions.
Elijah Sarratt | WR | Sr.
On Charlie Becker's role recently and his relationship with him...
ES: It makes me very happy. I remember when Charlie (Becker) first got here, before he got here, I remember getting a text in my DM and just him asking me, like, how should he prepare? How should he be coming into college? And I'm just telling him simple stuff, just come in and shape and then learn your plays when you get here. And ever since he's been here, his head's been down, and he's just put in the work. This offseason, he's made a tremendous jump a lot of times after workouts and stuff. He was getting extra work in with coach Eddie (Burk) doing releases and stuff. And it's showing off now. Now we have a great receiver room, so he had a chance to step in when I got out, and he's been making the most of it ever since. And for offense, it's helped. It helps us out a lot, because now teams have to worry about Charlie. He's just as good as me, just as good as Coop (Omar Cooper), as good as anybody. So, to have him being able to do that, it's amazing. And the skies the limit for Charlie. As long as he keeps doing what he's doing, he's going to continue to have great success on this team.
On his touchdown in the Big Ten Championship game and the key components of it...
ES: I like moving around in the slot. The slot gives me more space to work through. Gave me a slot before pre-snap. I knew it was man to man, just because the corner had moved in with me. So, it was a man to man. Look, then he pressed up on me. So, I'm like, oh yeah, I'm almost like, I'm going to get the ball before that. Before that possession, Fernando (Mendoza) had told me he was going to come to me, so I'm always ready for the ball. And then O-line blocked perfectly, Fernando threw a dime, and I was just able to get my hands on and make a play.
On processing how he got to this spot in his career from a zero-star recruit at Saint Francis (PA)
ES: It's crazy. I'm still processing it, just that whole moment, just seeing the confetti coming down, us being on the podium, hearing the crowd pop, scoring the touchdown. It's a surreal feeling like; I got to thank the man above for allowing me to be in this position. Because there's a lot of times where I didn't know what was going to go on with my football career. So, to be here right now, talking to you guys, this is a blessing. So, all these little moments that I've been going through, I appreciate it. I appreciate it a lot.
#NeverDaunted
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