Michigan senior linebacker J.B. Fitzgerald answered questions about the difference between being a starter and coming off the bench, what it was like to beat Notre Dame in such dramatic fashion and playing against the man that recruited him to Michigan, Eastern coach Ron English.

Q: How much do you feel like there is competition for the starting linebacker spots, or do you not even care about starting because of how much players rotate at that position?

J.B. Fitzgerald: "It is kind of like that. Whoever fits, whatever the game plan is, you know. Obviously Kenny's (Demens) been going out there and making a lot of plays for us, obviously, and the hot hand's going to stay in and we come in and fill in whenever we're needed. (Against Notre Dame) we needed some more depth at (weak side linebacker) and you saw some guys get in there get reps, get the job done and that's basically just how it's going to go. Whatever and whoever gets the job done, we're going to get the best 11 out there."

Q: How do you avoid a letdown against Eastern Michigan after such a huge game against Notre Dame?

JBF: "It all starts with focus and leadership. Obviously coach (Brady) Hoke is really putting a big emphasis on this game and not taking it lightly because you can't take anyone lightly because that's when bad things happen. The upset is in the mind of the favorite, so we gotta stay humble, stay focused on what the game plan is. It was an incredible win on Saturday, but unfortunately it's over now. We gotta move on and keep chugging along."

What did you do to celebrate the win over Notre Dame?

JBF: "I know it was late. I didn't get out of (the stadium) until real close to 1 (a.m.) and then walked back with my family and ended up just going back to my house and hanging out with family for, I don't know, a couple hours then just passed out."

Q: Did it hit you what had just happened?

JBF: "It was a surreal experience, just the way it worked out. Just an incredible game. You can play hundreds of game and not ever have an experience like that. We're very fortunate that we've been able to play so hard and execute the plays that we did in order to come up with that outcome. It's really very surreal and it was just a great experience.

"We were looking around and talking, I was around a couple of guys after the game, almost ... not shocked because you know you had that faith, it we didn't have that faith we wouldn't be able to do it, but just I guess elated."

Q: Is it difficult to get the night game out of your head and move forward?

JBF: "No, I don't think so. We have that goal in mind. Obviously beating Notre Dame was our No. 1 mission last week, it was all we were focused on. But now we've beat Notre Dame, now 100 percent focus is on Eastern Michigan. That's what we have to do. And if it's not, bad things happen when teams aren't focused."

Q: What is it like postgame after a big win like that?

JBF: "You've got to embrace it and celebrate it for a little bit because you put so much hard work and effort and dedication and time into it all. You really gotta seize the moment and take it in. We definitely sang that Victors real hard after in the locker room and it's just a great feeling, but it's kind of like the 24 hour rule. You embrace it and suck it all in and then it's time to move on."

Q: What are you going to do with your throwback jersey?

JBF: "Since they're letting us keep the jerseys, I'll probably just give it to my parents."

Q: Is this defense sometimes a little bit too complicated?

JBF: "I don't think so. I don't think there's ever been a perfect football game, so you're going to have your missteps and your unfortunate missed assignments here and there, but I don't think it's too complicated at all."

Q: Is it a fun scheme to play in?

JBF: "Absolutely. I think we really embrace it and when you play to perfection, or, you know, as close to perfection as you can, it's great. It's a lot of fun hitting the quarterback. That's the defense's No. 1 goal really. To hit that quarterback and make sure he throws a lot of picks and you get a lot of turnovers for your offense."

Q: To what do you credit the defense's ability to create turnovers so far this season?

JBF: "I think, just for this year so far, I think it's just execution. We've been executing pretty well and we've been getting great results from that and getting turnovers and getting the ball back to our offense. I don't think it's scheme versus anything else, but, it's all about, you just got to execute and execution is there and the results have fortunately come."

Q: With Michigan and Eastern's campuses being so close, do you know anyone from the Eastern team? Do you guys ever cross paths?

JBF: "Actually I did have an opportunity to meet some Eastern guys this summer, I was actually going out to visit some family in California. They're pretty nice guys. I think they're junior college transfers and this is their first year. I got an opportunity to meet them. They were nice guys, but I won't be friends with them on Saturday until after the game's over. I've heard a lot of good things about what they have coming up and we're definitely going to hone in and focus and get ready to battle out there."

Q: Do you have any relationship with Eastern head coach (and former Michigan defensive coordinator) Ron English?

JBF: "I was recruited by Coach 'E' and coach (Steve) Szabo when they were here, but obviously I never played for them. I came in with coach Rod's first year."

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2561, by email at petercunningham@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @petcunningham.