Wake Forest Athletics
Football Media Day Quotes
8/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 10, 2003
Head Coach Jim Grobe
"Now that we've been in this scheme offensively and defensively for the past couple of years we're getting a lot of recall really early on in practice. The first day was pretty amazing, all the veteran guys pretty much had it down. The young guys are scrambling, which really emphasizes why you don't want to have to play freshmen. Freshmen are scrambling every minute they can to study the playbook and try to learn what's going on. But for the vets, by this time it's actually a little bit boring for them because it's just repetition, repetition, repetition. But I've learned not to have a whole lot of expectations in early August. I don't look for freshmen to come in and be good players. Some of them are jumping out a bit. But we won't know until we actually get in pads and scrimmage how the young guys are going to be. With our old guys, our biggest concern is to get them in good shape and teach them what to do but to keep them healthy. That's a fine line, because you have to work hard enough to be tough enough, but at the same time if you beat them up so bad you don't have anybody to play the opener. You don't want a lot of tough guys standing on the sideline in the opener. I think we're about where we need to be. Our guys are starting to get their legs under them a little bit. We've gotten the first four out of the way; hopefully today we'll have a good safe practice. Then after five days we ought to be able to push these guys a little harder."
Sophomore Running Back Chris Barclay
On preparations for the season: "I believe that champions are made in the weight room. Hard work in the weight room will pay off in the long run. We've all been working hard all summer trying to get our bodies ready. I think we can have a good season because everyone is working hard. I know I've gotten stronger, so hopefully I'll be ready for those 25 carries a game (laugh)."
"We want to do bigger things than what we did last year. We never want to settle for a 6-5 season. In anything you always want to do bigger and better things, get bigger and better so that you can accomplish more the next season. Hopefully we can get to a bigger bowl - who knows, maybe BCS."
"Individually, I believe I had a pretty good season last year. But I don't really get into the stats and all the hype. You can kind of let that go to your head and get complacent. That's the last thing I want to do. I don't get on the internet too much and read stats and whatnot. I try to focus on the team more because I don't want to get complacent. The minute you get complacent, you get your spot taken. So I just wanted to come into camp with the mindframe that I just want to be on the field this year. Do what I need to do and hopefully coach will put me on the field."
