Of course a quote (or misquote) will not tank a season. And which player authored the quote is irrelevant.
Now we do not know how pervasive the mindset that led to the quote is on the team --- perhaps this undue confidence is an isolated thing reflecting the perspectives of a few players... or, perhaps it is reflective of a huge subset of the team. We cannot (or, at least... I cannot) really say.
But if the quote is reflective of the attitude of the team then the quote is a symptom of a larger problem.
The problem is manifest this way.... we are NU and we are above playing Washington in the bowl game --- it is insulting to play them. LOSS. We are NU --- we show up against Northwestern and since we are so good and they are not... we will win w/o a problem. LOSS.
When a team is thinking championships when they have not had one in a decade --- when a team thinks they are so good that they should be feared (yet no one fears them) then the team is focusing on the wrong thing...
These coaches should be saying "shut up about championships and have hanging onto the ball as a goal.' Have playing hard, every snap of every game regardless of score your goal. Have not dropping passes as your goal. Have knowing your assignment as your goal. have your goals honed in entirely on process and getting better. The coaches should say shut up about what you think you should be and focus on getting better. Finally the coaches should tell the players that the coaches at NU and the players at NU have earned nothing yet --- have warranted no ones respect yet --- that the coaches and players collectively have not yet earned the right to have a Red N on their helmets --- and that now is the time to change that --- by totally dedicating to effort, intensity, discipline, an focus on assignment. Humble dedication to the process --- not arrogant entitled expectation.
No… the quote itself will not tank the season… the quote is but a symptom. The ailment is an entitled and mis-guided sense that somehow this team has warranted respect… when it clearly has not. Respect is earned… buckle down and earn it.