April 17, 2003
"I would really like to thank the people of Cleveland for just opening their arms and really accepting me as their head basketball coach"
"When I came here in 2000 with Michigan State, who was directed at that time by Tom Izzo, of course, it was an exciting time. We played two games in the Convocation Center, and those games bring back some fantastic memories. I was just thinking that we are going to have some of those same exciting times here very shortly"
"I had the opportunity to work for a head coach who believes in people, and that carried over to me and taught me something. He had a work ethic that is unmatched by any coach in the country, and that same work ethic, that passion that Tom Izzo has, is the same work ethic that Mike Garland is going to have here at Cleveland State. And in doing so, more importantly than that, I am going to transcend that passion to my players, because those are the guys that have to get it done. Those are the guys that are going to bring the memories in here that will last forever. Those are the guys that are going to take Cleveland State and the city of Cleveland and put it into a position where, when someone speaks of Cleveland State, they say 'Oh boy, basketball!'"
"We want to become the model program not only in this conference but in the country. That is our goal. That is what we plan to do"
"I told the selection committee that the one thing that I carry in my pocket is a blueprint for success, and Lee mentioned that. But you know what I really do not have in my pocket? It more importantly is in my head, but even more important than that, it is in my heart and it is in my spirit, and in order to make this thing a realization and to take from a dream state to a reality. That is where it needs to be."
"You have to remember that when we won our first championship in 2000, we were the first team in the history of the NCAA to ever have only one McDonalds All-American on that team. We built that team from the ground up, and we somewhat built our players from the shoes up, so to speak."
"I have already had success recruiting here in the state of Ohio. I was part of the staff that brought in Andre Hudson from Dayton. I was part of a staff that brought in Adam Wolfe from Columbus Westerville. I was part of a staff that brought in Doug Davis from Ohio Wesleyan. I was part of a staff that also brought in Jason Andreas from Sugar Creek. So we have had a lot of success here."
"It is not like I am trying to sell the kids a Volkswagen. We actually do have a Cadillac here to sell."
"We do not want to jump up and bring bodies in here just to have players. We want to bring in a special type of young man that fits the profile of the player we need to win championships here."
"We will play a style that is similar to that of Michigan State, but it will have a stamp that is uniquely Mike Garland's. The one thing that we will do is that we will play a style that is characteristic of all championship teams. That is, we will play hard nosed defense, be relentless on the boards and we will play a fast, up-tempo style of basketball that the city of Cleveland can connect to. And I tell you what, it will be exciting to watch!"
"You know what? From the time we came here and played in 2000, believe this or not, I have always had my sights on this program....Even three years ago I had my sights on this program. I have had my sights on this program for quite some time. I think it is a special place."
" One thing that we are going to try to do right away is to establish a student group similar to the one at Michigan State in the 'Izzone'. What we are going to try to establish here is a group we will call the 'G-Force': a force of green bodies that will be behind our team."
