Schumacher and Solinsky Address Media Monday
November 15, 2005 | Men's Cross Country
Wisconsin men's cross country head coach Jerry Schumacher and junior Chris Solinsky previewed the 2005 NCAA men's cross country championships in a press conference Monday. The Badgers automatically qualified for NCAAs after winning the Big Ten Championship on Oct. 30 and the Great Lakes Regional Saturday.
Opening Statement:
JERRY SCHUMACHER: You know, things have gone really well in the championship part of the season so far and, as Justin said, we've been second three years in a row. And I think the thing that I've, I enjoy most about this team so far is that you never know from year to year what place you're going to be or where you're going to find yourself in terms of injuries and illness and so forth, whether or not you're really a legitimate team that's contending, you know, for a national championship.
But this year, last year we were, and this year we had hoped that, you know, throughout the season that we'd find ourselves in the position that we are in. And I think we are going to be a contending team and I know the guys are really excited and I'm excited and I think we're ready to go down there and see what happens.
Jerry, during these past few years then, what have you learned as far as maybe how to set your line up or your schedule or whatever you 've done this year to prepare for this championship'
SCHUMACHER: Well, I think that changes from year to year with team to team and individual to individual that's on the team. There's never a straight formula that we use. It really depends on the personnel and who we have on our team at that particular time. Things have obviously changed a little bit from last year as a whole, though we kind of, we do the same basic principles and we tweak a few things along the way that we think will better prepare us for this week.
Chris, what's this like for you and your teammates ' You know, some people are thinking you're going to go in there and win the national championship. What's the mindset like of your team and how badly do you want to do this this year'
CHRIS SOLINSKY: I think having last year going into it and, you know, being in kind of the same situation and then it, us not winning is driving us this year. I think the team as a whole is incredibly hungry for this championship and, I mean, I think I speak for everyone on the team saying that we're going to do whatever we can to get the job done and go in there with the right mindset to hopefully accomplish our main goal, which is to win the title.
Coach, how do you size up the competition' I guess Colorado, Arkansas would be among the teams.
SCHUMACHER: Yeah. There's always a handful of teams that, you know, that will be vying for that national title. I think right now when you look at it, Colorado, the defending national champion looks very, very strong. Arkansas looks outstanding. The University of Arizona looks to be very, very good. And then there will be another team that, you know, maybe Stanford or another team that will surprise us and really run well that day that'll be in the mix up there. There's a handful of teams that can win and it's really going to come down to who manages the day the best and who gets the job done that day.
Jerry, do you sit down and pencil out, okay, Simon has got to do this, Chris has got to do this, and we need to do this, this, and this, or would that just drive you nuts'
SCHUMACHER: I do that about a million times. It drives me crazy. That 's one of the things where I think you sit down and you go, okay, what if we do this, this, this, and this, and, oh, that's pretty good, and what if we do this, this, and this, well, that's pretty good too that way. So we do that. We play that game. It's completely pointless, but it makes me feel better. It gives me something to do during the week.
Chris, you sound like you're ready to go. I mean, do you have to temper your enthusiasm a little bit considering it's still a week off '
SOLINSKY: Yeah. As soon as we crossed the line at the regional championships, I mean, everyone, we thought straight towards, you know, the national championships. And this whole week you just have to kind of get back into the routine of the week and not, try to put the, you know, back of your mind, not have it consume your thoughts, but at the same time think about it and just make sure you're confident going in I guess. And, yeah, I'm definitely ready to go.
Jerry, have you decided who your top seven runners are going to be for the national meet yet'
SCHUMACHER: Undecided at this point.
Chris, can you just kind of assess how you think you 've done this year' Are you happy with your performance, satisfied '
SOLINSKY: Yeah. I think personally I've done enough to get myself in good enough shape to help the team. That's been my whole drive and whole desire this year, is to improve myself, to improve the team. And I think I've done the right things and I think the team as a whole has done the right thing as well. Everyone has taken a step up just like me. I mean, everyone is pushing themselves and driving to the next goal, which is a title. And I think everyone has done a really good job of that.
Jerry, your counterpart (women's cross country head coach) Jim (Stintzi) was in here earlier and he pretty much guaranteed that you were going to win the title. How do you feel about that'
SCHUMACHER: Can I say no comment' No. You know, Jim was obviously, being an alumni of the program and has a lot of pride in the University of Wisconsin, and I think he'd love to see us win as much as anybody else. We put ourselves in the best position we can heading into the meet. And a lot of things can happen that day, and we're just going to go in there, do the best, you know, hopefully we 're on top.
