Wake Forest Athletics
WFU Football Weekly Press Conference Quotes
9/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 23, 2003
Wake Forest Football
Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003
Head Coach Jim Grobe
On the challenge of playing Virginia this weekend: ??This is definitely a tremendous challenge for our football team. Virginia is one of the more talented teams in the entire ACC. They are extremely well coached. We will put together a good effort and are excited for the challenge.??
On the feeling for Coach Grobe going back to his alma mater: ??Virginia is such a good team that I have not really had any time to be sentimental or nostalgic about the game. It will be much different though then when I was there. The stadium held only 20,000 people back then. Now, it is one of the best environments in all of college football. The crowd will be cranked up. It is another TV game as well, so we have another shot to give a good account of this team.??
On the uncertainty of Virginia's starting QB: ??One thing is for sure, the scheme does not change. They have three capable quarterbacks. Hagans has a strong arm and is so athletic. A lot of good things can happen when the ball is in his hand. And, we all know how good Schaub is. He is one of the better players in this league. No matter who plays, they will have 10 great players surrounding them. We just prepare for their offense.??
On the team??s health heading into the game: ??We will definitely be healthier. We will have most of our people out at practice this week. We are a young team to begin with, then you combine that with getting so banged up, it has been tough. The healthier we get, the better we expect to play.??
On the 3-1 start: ??We have played such a tough schedule. We have played a bunch of bowl teams - Boston College, of course NC State, Purdue and a talented East Carolina that has improved so much since the start of the season. They will all win a lot of games. Our guys have competed as hard as they possibly could have to this point of the season. The ball has bounced our way a few times also. It is so rewarding to be 3-1 at this point of the season with such a young and banged up team. I am really proud of our guys.??
On first impression of Virginia??s personnel: ??It has to be their size. The are such a big football team. They have gotten two real good recruiting classes in there and they are as well coached as anyone we will play all season. The series has been somewhat one sided for them over the years. We got lucky up there a couple years ago. I am sure we will face a fired up football team come Saturday.??
Junior Fullback Nick Burney
On not being heavily recruited by Virginia: ??I??m not really holding a grudge against them, but at the same time, you want to go up there and play well especially in front of the home crowd. Your friends and old coaches are watching you. So you want to make sure you do well.??
On the move to the fullback position: ??I knew there was a vacant spot there and somebody had to fill it in. I wanted to fill that spot in and prove to everybody that I could be versatile and do the job for us to win. The only adjustment was not touching the ball as much, and touching players more while trying to get your blocks. ??
Junior Strong Safety Warren Braxton
On Virginia??s gameplan: ??On film, Virginia is a tough, physical and hard-nosed football team. They really run right at you. They do not use many tricks or gimmicks, just power football.??
On playing at Virginia: ??We really look forward to the harsh environment. It is so great when it is just you, teammates and coaches fighting for a win.??
On what Wake Forest's defense must do: ??Their offense will give us quite a challenge. Definitely, one of the best we have played this season. Our defense takes it as a personal challenge. Our job is to hold them down and take away the big play.??
