Quoted: Pat Coogan & Aiden Fisher
9/23/2025 6:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– As Indiana Football's Week 5 matchup at Iowa on Saturday (September 27) approaches, seniors Pat Coogan and Aiden Fisher addressed the media inside the Don Croftcheck Football Team Room.
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 how he prepares for the challenge of playing in loud environments…
PC: It's more of a mental expectation, you really have to get yourself ready for it. You have to know what to listen to and what not to listen to. It's reps, you got to just put yourself in that environment and practice and go through all the mechanics and all the reps of it, it's not going to get easier, per se, but you put yourself in that mental state, with anything you prepare for, as you go through the reps, it helps.
On what is different about Fernando Mendoza than other quarterbacks he has had in the past…
PC: Each person is so unique, right? Each skill set is so unique, and I think that's been that's been cool to see in my journey, meet new people, and be around different types of quarterbacks. Each has their own personality; each has their own skill set. I think Fernando, his arm talent, is just unbelievably special, and I think we see that. But again, everyone's unique, but he's got a rocket for sure.
On what it says about the team only giving up three sacks all season and being able to protect Fernando and Alberto Mendoza…
PC: Well, I think it should be one. First of all, I didn't do a good job of declaring the box on that first one on Saturday (vs. Illinois). So, that's 100% on me. That was a cheap one, that should have never happened. Then the second one should have never happened as well. Three is still too many. We have to take better pride in protecting the quarterback and just finishing those protections and making sure we're all on the same page before we even start to play, like declaring the box like I said. So, that one was 100% on me, and we all have to be better at finishing those protections for sure.
Aiden Fisher | LB | Sr.
On the defense's success against Luke Altmyer…
AF: Scheme wise, we bring a lot of pressures and see what they had and the way they set up the protection and things like that. We knew we could get back there and be effective. Honestly, the d-line we were doing fine, we were just rushing four. Anytime you can watch the quarterback with four and get sacks and pressure, that's a really good thing for your defense. Talking about how aggressive we are and kind of the playstyle for our defense. A lot of sacks and TFLs for me every game. The last two weeks, I think we really answered that call from our coaches, to just be more aggressive and shoot your shots and take advantage of the opportunities you're given.
On the Iowa offensive line…
AF: They're big, they're physical, they move well. When you go against a physical o-Line like that, you really got to mind your Ps and Qs, you got to strike well at the point of attack. Scheme wise, you got to be able to manipulate some fits. Be able to do what we do best, be aggressive, play really fast, and just strike get off blocks. They do a great job; the tight ends are really good blockers too. I would just say staying aggressive, gap integrity. Make sure we're not two people in the gap, make sure we're not doing too much that you're not playing out of character or anything like that. Just staying focused on us and doing the little things we do well and executing that at a high level.
On Isaiah Jones…
AF: When we first got here, he's been engaged in the playbook. He's always asking questions. He stays in everybody's hip pocket, whether that's against Coach (Bryant) Haines, against J-Walk (Jailin Walker) against me, anything he can do to just absorb knowledge and be the best version of himself. He does all the right things. This year he took a step, just physically playing, but I think mentally the game has slowed down for him. He started to see things a lot quicker. He comes in and watches film with me, we watch film with Coach Haines. In the meeting room, he's answering quick. He's so confident in himself and I think that's really what you're seeing every Saturday, is the confidence he's playing with. He's done a great job and he's playing phenomenally right now.
#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 how he prepares for the challenge of playing in loud environments…
PC: It's more of a mental expectation, you really have to get yourself ready for it. You have to know what to listen to and what not to listen to. It's reps, you got to just put yourself in that environment and practice and go through all the mechanics and all the reps of it, it's not going to get easier, per se, but you put yourself in that mental state, with anything you prepare for, as you go through the reps, it helps.
On what is different about Fernando Mendoza than other quarterbacks he has had in the past…
PC: Each person is so unique, right? Each skill set is so unique, and I think that's been that's been cool to see in my journey, meet new people, and be around different types of quarterbacks. Each has their own personality; each has their own skill set. I think Fernando, his arm talent, is just unbelievably special, and I think we see that. But again, everyone's unique, but he's got a rocket for sure.
On what it says about the team only giving up three sacks all season and being able to protect Fernando and Alberto Mendoza…
PC: Well, I think it should be one. First of all, I didn't do a good job of declaring the box on that first one on Saturday (vs. Illinois). So, that's 100% on me. That was a cheap one, that should have never happened. Then the second one should have never happened as well. Three is still too many. We have to take better pride in protecting the quarterback and just finishing those protections and making sure we're all on the same page before we even start to play, like declaring the box like I said. So, that one was 100% on me, and we all have to be better at finishing those protections for sure.
Aiden Fisher | LB | Sr.
On the defense's success against Luke Altmyer…
AF: Scheme wise, we bring a lot of pressures and see what they had and the way they set up the protection and things like that. We knew we could get back there and be effective. Honestly, the d-line we were doing fine, we were just rushing four. Anytime you can watch the quarterback with four and get sacks and pressure, that's a really good thing for your defense. Talking about how aggressive we are and kind of the playstyle for our defense. A lot of sacks and TFLs for me every game. The last two weeks, I think we really answered that call from our coaches, to just be more aggressive and shoot your shots and take advantage of the opportunities you're given.
On the Iowa offensive line…
AF: They're big, they're physical, they move well. When you go against a physical o-Line like that, you really got to mind your Ps and Qs, you got to strike well at the point of attack. Scheme wise, you got to be able to manipulate some fits. Be able to do what we do best, be aggressive, play really fast, and just strike get off blocks. They do a great job; the tight ends are really good blockers too. I would just say staying aggressive, gap integrity. Make sure we're not two people in the gap, make sure we're not doing too much that you're not playing out of character or anything like that. Just staying focused on us and doing the little things we do well and executing that at a high level.
On Isaiah Jones…
AF: When we first got here, he's been engaged in the playbook. He's always asking questions. He stays in everybody's hip pocket, whether that's against Coach (Bryant) Haines, against J-Walk (Jailin Walker) against me, anything he can do to just absorb knowledge and be the best version of himself. He does all the right things. This year he took a step, just physically playing, but I think mentally the game has slowed down for him. He started to see things a lot quicker. He comes in and watches film with me, we watch film with Coach Haines. In the meeting room, he's answering quick. He's so confident in himself and I think that's really what you're seeing every Saturday, is the confidence he's playing with. He's done a great job and he's playing phenomenally right now.
#NeverDaunted
Players Mentioned
OL
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LB
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LB
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QB
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QB
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LB
/ FootballFB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB: Week 5 (at Iowa) - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Monday, September 22
FB: Fernando Mendoza - Illinois Postgame Press Conference (09/20/25)
Sunday, September 21