“The hardest thing I ever did was pursue my degree and play championship football. Toughest thing I ever had to do. And I so respected the endeavor that when I got out, I really didn't think anything I was doing was as rewarding.”
“This is not a made-for-TV movie. This was a real-life trauma where friends and family had to stay in the dorms and the town swelled to take in the New Orleans evacuees. We are treating people that are injured and disadvantaged 200 yards from our stadium. We have a scrimmage, and Blackhawk helicopters are flying people from New Orleans over our heads.”
“Rudy is quick and smart, which are two things you have to be play center. He fits in very well there and has played very well. He calls a lot of the blocking assignments and has been good at that.”
“I think that speaks to the experience that they've had here. I think it says that they have enjoyed their college career, and their families have allowed them support and enjoyed the fact that they stayed.”
“[LSU offensive line coach Stacy Searels and head coach Les Miles, a former Michigan guard and offensive line coach, say center is the most natural position for Niswanger, though he has the 6-foot-5, 294-pound build of a tackle.] Rudy is quick and smart, which are two things you have to be play center, ... He fits in very well there and has played very well. He calls a lot of the blocking assignments and has been good at that.”
“[The Tigers saw Black Hawk helicopters fly over as they practiced in Baton Rouge, bringing in the injured. Just 200 yards from their stadium the injured were treated.] We were surrounded by a real-life problem, ... They wanted this game for the people back home. They would not be denied.”
“Several of our players have more people (evacuated family and friends) in their apartment than they have any right to have in their apartment. And you can't kick them out because certainly it's the right thing. And they're not sleeping, and some of them don't have their own bed. There's some drain on our players both emotionally and physically.”
