Those were the words from N.C. State Coach Tom O’Brien as he described what the other side in tonight’s Champ Sports Bowl matchup must be experiencing — and he’s very familiar with such arrangements.

Oll Stewart was asked later about things and he dealt with those queries as he has others and offered a stiff arm and a stiff upper lip.

Specifically, when asked about the dealings with Dave Johnson and Jeff Mullen at Monday’s pre-bowl press conference, Stewart paused, breathed deeply and spoke.

That’s a personal matter,” he said. “I appreciate that you asked, and I don’t want to dodge the question, but that’s in my heart.”

O’Brien has been on the other side before. While at Boston College, he faced Arizona State in Bruce Snyder’s final game (2000 Aloha Bowl), then went against Boise State in Dan Hawkins’ last contest (2005 MPC Computers Bowl) before moving to Colorado.

O’Brien came away victorious both times. But that doesn’t keep him from wondering if Mullen will empty his playbook on the Wolfpack.

“If I was him, I would,” O’Brien acknowledged. “Why not?”