Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch didn’t exactly go Joe Namath or old school University of Miami in confident quotes about Florida State to The Sporting News put out on Twitter on Thursday morning.

But neither Lynch nor Huskies coach Rod Carey backed down from them.

“We’re not cocky,” Lynch said after Thursday’s practice at Barry University. “We’re confident in what we do. We have a good offense, a great defense, and we feel like we can be in the game. We didn’t come down here for all the activities. We came down here for the Orange Bowl to play in it. Florida State, they’re a great team, they’re physical. But we’re physical also.”

Lynch’s lines, which eventually appeared in a Sporting News story:

• “They’re just like us. They’re human, too. If you cut them, they bleed.”

“They’re fast, they’re physical. But they haven’t seen anything like our offense.”

• “We plan on wearing them down. In the fourth quarter, we plan to have them on their knees — and then just keep pounding away.”

Carey laughed, “Is that brash? Is that brash? What did they say to it?”

Informed the Seminoles players brushed it off but their fans were raising a ruckus, he replied: “Their fans? Aw, I don’t care about their fans.

“What’s he supposed to say? ‘Hey, we’re just hoping to get a first down, get a yard or 2?’ ” Carey continued. “I mean, come on. It’s what we do. And that’s the confidence. And these guys expect that. And we’re doing everything we can to make that happen.”

Running thin

Most of Northern Illinois’ rushing yards have come from Lynch. But with third-leading rusher Akeem Daniels being a mere 5-7, 184, the absence of No. 2 runner Leighton Settle and No. 4 runner Keith Harris could play a big role Tuesday.

Settle missed the final three games of the season with an ankle injury. He didn’t make the trip, and Carey wouldn’t even say if he was still on the team when asked. Harris also has an ankle injury.

Feeling the noise

The crowd noise preparation at Thursday’s practice at Barry included about 10 minutes of Florida State’s “Scalp ’Em” chant blasted through speakers. No word if the Miami Shores neighbors preferred the hip-hop from earlier in practice.

Perks for coach

Another OB perk for Northern Illinois: transportation.

“They have a car to drive me back and forth to practice! What is that?” Carey said. “[At home], I’ve got to drive myself everywhere. My wife doesn’t even drive me. Now, I’ve got someone driving me. Crazy.”