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Jan. 1, 2009

DT Roy Miller
On practices leading up to his last game as a Longhorn: I'm just trying to enjoy everything, spend some time with my teammates. That's the main thing -- hanging out with them more, little things you might have taken for granted over the years, just enjoy practicing with the guys and things like that. It's really been a great experience being here at this bowl game. Every time I wake up, I'm looking forward to the new event they have for the day. It's great what the Fiesta Bowl has prepared for us.

On his college career at Texas: It goes by very fast. You don't realize how fast it's going until it is your last game. It's been a long, long journey. I'm just thankful for everything I've gone through and all of the people I've been able to meet.

On comparing Texas' defense with Ohio State's defense: They have a good defense, but we feel very good about our defense also. We take a lot of pride in our defense and everything we do. We like to think we're one of the best in the country. There may be a little competition there, but we look forward to playing our best and showing how good we are.

On being a leader on the team: We're just trying to pull everything out of the guys. All year, we've been reminded to wear the hard hat and have this blue-collar mentality. We just want to pull everything out of our guys. We're going to lay it all out there. We have guys playing their last game. As a leader on the team, I would like to see everything we have been talking about come to fruition.

LB Roddrick Muckelroy
On preparation in practice this week: We've been practicing hard to try to send (the seniors) out right. You've got to finish. We've been preaching finishing ever since last spring. We haven't come this far by just sitting around and not finish a game. Why not put together a 60-minute game right here at the end. Let's just leave it all out there on the field and have fun.

On Ohio State running back Beanie Wells: We've got some great backs in the Big 12, but not a big back with quick feet and capable of doing what he's doing. You look forward to games like this. You have to pin your ears back and just go. You live for these games like this.

CB Ryan Palmer
On the possibility of winning a split national championship: Our goal is still there. We still can do it if we play well. Our main goal is to get 12 wins, get another bowl win and go out there and have a great performance.

On defending against Ohio State's offense: I know it is going to be different for us to go against a team that mostly runs. It's going to be a challenge for us to make sure our eyes are right. We have to be ready in all cases.

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR Will Muschamp
On Ohio State running back Beanie Wells: We haven't seen a back like Beanie (Wells). He's a big, strong, physical, downhill, one-cut guy. It's hard to simulate a guy like him that carries the ball as well as he does.

On Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor: I think when you have a young quarterback, you always have to find his comfort level. Throughout the year, they have certainly played at a high level for most of the year. They have found some things that he feels comfortable with doing. As coaches, that is your most important job - to put your kids in situations where they can be successful.

On defending against Ohio State's offense: You start with the power running game. I mean you have Beanie Wells as the seventh-leading rusher in the country. And then I think you go from there with them trying to create one-on-one situations for (Terrelle) Pryor at quarterback. They give you a variety of looks within what they do from their packages.

On defending against any surprises in Ohio State's offense: With a new young quarterback, the more practice and the more reps you get, obviously the more comfort level he is going to have with what you are doing. There will be a wrinkle or two in the game just like we will have. Anytime you have time off as coaches, you tinker with what you do and try to tweak what you do. We'll adjust in the game to what they do. The thing about bowl games when you have a lot of time off, you can chase ghosts. You have to evaluate what they have done and what you think they might do. You look at what they have done against Texas before in '05 and '06. I think you watch those games and make a judgment as a coach what you think you'll see.

DE Brian Orakpo
On his successful season: I worked really hard to try and have a season like this. I'm a hard-working guy. The year before, I got banged up. That was unfortunate for me. I tried my best this offseason to come out in 2008 and lead this team to the best of our abilities. I'm going to write the story in the book because it's a dream come true. It was a very successful season in what we accomplished this year. I'm so proud of these guys for going out there every game and giving it their all.

On going against other great college football players: You see these guys on TV all of the time. You just wonder how they are. You know how you are, so you wonder how the other great players are. Everybody is so cool. Me and James (Laurinaitis) are actually a really good friends. We texted each other this week to see what we are doing. College football is a very physical and nasty game when you are playing, but guys are guys. Everyone can get along pretty well. If I see Laurinaitis at the coin toss, I'll tell him it's go time. You have that friendly competition and you want to do the best you can for your team.

On playing in his last game at Texas: Really what's going through our minds is, "Let's just put on a show," basically. This is our last time wearing that Longhorn helmet. Let's not hold back anything. Let's just go out there and ball. Doing what we have been doing all season and not leave anything out there.