Western Michigan University Athletics

Junior quarterback Jon Wassink on his team’s performance against Syracuse:
“It didn’t end the way we wanted, but one positive we can take from the game is the fight we showed in the third quarter. Coach always says he wants us to be the toughest team in America and today we showed that even if we’re down big, we still keep attacking.”
On adjustments in second half:
“In the first half we had a few mental errors, but coming out in the second half, we stuck to our assignments and kept attacking.”
On what is said when the offense is clicking:
“We talk about what we can do on the next drive and are always picking each other up on the sidelines. It’s awesome to have the explosive guys on our team like Bellamy, and Eskridge that can run past the other guys and generate those big plays.”

Junior running back LeVante Bellamy on running game against Syracuse:
“I have to thank my offensive line for creating the big holes today. Everybody came out to play and stuck to their job.”
On what goes through his mind when a hole opens up with nothing but green:
“Honestly, just run.”
On putting up 40 on a ACC defense:
“It gives up belief that we can do this to anyone we play this year. As a team you learn to trust one another and that creates belief that we can put up big numbers in every game we play.”

Junior linebacker Najee Clayton on how it felt to play his first game in the Brown & Gold:
“The first drive felt unreal, I’m blessed to be out here doing what I love.”
On Syracuse putting up 55 points:
“We really don’t think too much about it. We ran back into the locker room and said “We have to get better.”
On facing another dual threat quarterback next week against Michigan:
“At the end of the day we just have to run to the ball. Coach always preaches 11 hands to the ball.”

Junior wide receiver D’Wayne Eskridge on performance:
“I have to give thanks to Jon, I couldn’t have made the plays if he didn’t put the ball where he did. Our offense was clicking today in the second half, and we just rallied together.”
On how it felt to out run ACC defenders:
“It felt great to finally show off all the work we have been doing in summer camp. I love running so it felt good to finally show off all the work.”

Head Coach Tim Lester Quotes:
On his team’s performance:
“Our number one goal is always to fight to the finish, last year that was something we struggled with. The plan early on was to run the ball and try to control the clock, but they buried us early and so we had to switch things up. We didn’t have the consistency in our run game that we want yet. We came out a little jittery and some of our young guys including Jayden Reed were a shell shocked but we calmed down and came out and really fought in the second half.”
On Junior quarterback Jon Wassink’s performance:
“He came out and went through his reads too quick and I told him to just calm down and have some fun out there. And in the second half I felt that as he slowed down he kept getting better and better. We worked on the post routs a lot this last offseason and I really think it showed today.”
On junior running back Davon Tucker injury:
“When I went out to check on him I feared the worst, but when he talked to me, with his face mask still buried in the turf, I could sense the smile and that he was okay. I told the guys in the huddle that Tuck was being Tuck and they were super relieved. He is walking around right now in the locker room and back to his usual self, and we will get an update on the extent of it tomorrow.”