Ethan Garbers leaning on experience to spearhead UCLA offense in first Big Ten season | NBC Sports

Ethan welcome to the Big 10 how does how does all this change feel uh it feels great you know there's nothing better than some change the challenges though that come with it whether it's the weather new opponents uh all of that what have you been focusing on what do you think is the biggest challenge when you go to a new conference yeah I I would say the biggest challenge is you know just getting used to the different teams that you're going to be playing each week you know uh we're not playing the same teams in the Pack 12 you know these guys uh they're more physical and they're probably bigger opponents but uh we're looking for to it so you have something in this conference that not a lot of quarterbacks have and that's experience how does that help you going into this year as a guy that's already started games at the college level yeah it it helps a lot because um you know having that experience is is really big because uh going into those tough games and and those nitty-gritty situations you know uh having that experience to rely back on really really makes a difference what kind of environment is coach Foster building right now UCLA he's building an environment that everyone on the team is going to have dis respect and enthusiasm is there a different energy cuz he's an alumni like a different passion where it's like I've played here I've been here this means something a little bit more to me yeah no it you could definitely see that it means more to him as as an individual you know being the head coach of the team that he played for it's it's really cool it's really something special what are the strengths of this offense going into the season uh we're going to have great receiving core great running back play great offensive line player all around we're just going to be a well oiled machine that works together and uh really gets our gets our goal across one of those receivers Jay Michael Stant we've already seen the connection between you two with his speed playmaking the way he could track the ball how have you guys been able to build on the flashes you had last year going into this year you know we've been uh in the offseason you know working together building that trust you know we lived together for almost a year okay so uh so we got some a good relationship helps right yeah exactly and then uh you just working in the offseason with all the guys you know getting that Rhythm down in those those hot summer days you know are the times where you build that chemistry and build that relationship so everyone knows about you and him but who are some of the more under the radar Playmakers in this offense yeah we have I mean we got great receivers Logan Loya J Mike Titus uh Mo timala uh Rico Flores Braden pigan some young guys quasi Gilmer you know we got a bunch of really good athletes at the receiver position and uh we're really looking forward to take advantages so new offensive coordinator and Eric bemy the guy with a long track record of coach at multiple levels what does he have you focusing on specifically at the quarterback position what's the message from him his message is you know you just need to find a way to get 1% better every day you know that's that's the biggest goal as a football player and especially as a quarterback is I need to continue to develop and continue to get better every single day is there kind of a pinch me moment when you're you're getting coached by him and it's like this guy's coached Patrick Mahomes he was an NFL coach in Sam how last year like it's there kind of that moment of this guy's done it at the highest level and had success at the highest level and now you know obviously he's coaching you yeah you know I'm forever grateful that uh he decided to come to UCLA but uh at the end of the day you know I'm I'm just uh I'm just the same same as those guys you know I put my pants on the same same way they do and uh he doesn't treat me any differently than he would treat those guys and uh and I respect him for that when you look at the schedule is there any place because once again you're in a new conference that you're looking forward to going to or just a different environment or anything that you know kind of stands out to you with this schedule unique schedule this yeah I'm excited uh obviously to go to LSU and play in Death Valley and I'm excited to go to Penn State and play play there so this program has won at least eight games the last three years which is you know speaks for itself what do you do to get over the hump and try to get to that double digit Mark I think it just comes down to uh us playing for the guy that's next to us and playing for our brothers and you know just every week we're not playing an opponent we're playing ourselves and if we can limit the self uh inflicted wounds and and and all the things that that will bring us down you know will'll be successful does the expanded college football playoff maybe raise expectations or kind of change things because now it feels like the door is opened a little bit more for everybody it's not as tight yeah definitely I you could say that uh but uh I'm I'm just excited it gives a great opportunity for teams uh to sneak in there and create upsets you know it's a great thing about college football is there's there's upsets everywhere and anything can happen on any given day what's your favorite thing about playing for this program my my favorite thing about playing for UCLA is uh I grew up in Southern California so I'm basically playing for my home state my my home town you know that's that's really what means so much about being UCLA Bruin when it's all said and done and you're done with your time in college what is the one thing you'll look back on with maybe the most pride or the fondest of memories you know honestly when I'm done with all this I'm going to look back on those long summer days doing workouts running uh we we call them 300 yard shuttles but running those and then looking at the guys next to you and just seeing like that everyone is exhausted and and and and like that feeling that you get we're like dang like we're we're at our lowest point right now and that's when you get get closer and closer together so I'm going to be thinking about that for sure thanks Ethan yeah thank you