Tuesday Football Press Conference Quotes
10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 31, 2006
Head Coach Jim Grobe
On whether or not this game is the most important of the season:
"I think it is because it's right now. Certainly it is on top of us right now and I think it is a very important game. We're playing a really good team, Boston College, and it is going to take a monumental effort to win the football game. But, it is exciting. It is where we want to be. It is not something to shy away from. I think our players are happy to be 7-1 right now and our goal is to be 8-1 and we are going to have to work hard to do that."
On what worries him the most about Boston College:
"A little bit of everything. They are a very balanced football team with offense, defense, and special teams. They are the most physical football team we have played on both sides of the ball. They are big and tough and play hard. They are just a good solid football team. You don't find a lot of weaknesses with this group."
On Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan:
"Typically what you try to do is you try to vary your approach. You try to play some coverage and you try to go get him sometimes. But, he has had a week off. He didn't play last week against Buffalo. With a couple weeks rest, I feel like he will come in here full speed and he will be ready to roll."
On the importance of having good assistant coaches:
"It is very important. We pick guys on our staff based off of being good guys first and football coaches second. I've got nine guys on my staff that don't have any egos and enjoy working for us and enjoy coaching whether we win 49-48 or 49-0. The same goes for recruiting. We bring players in who we think can help us and sometimes some of my coaches don't bring in any recruits. But if the other guys on my staff have found better players, that's the way we go. So we have a very unselfish group of coaches."
Willie Idlette, RS Senior, Wide Receiver
On fan support:
"I think our fan base is really excited about what we're doing this year. They have been behind us all year, which is great. They have been going right along with us."
On avoiding hype:
"We just have to play each game to the best of our ability. We can't worry about who is saying what, or what records you have. We just know we have to go out and play every Saturday."
On the excitement of this game:
"It's definitely going to be fun. We haven't had a night game this year, both teams nationally-ranked, and on national TV. We will get some recognition."
On the effect of the injuries at running back:
"I think we will just have to be more of a balanced offense now. It is always sad when you have injuries like we have had this season."
On blocking as a receiver:
"It's a huge part of our offense. We are primarily a run team. With Coach (Tim) Billings coming in this year, one of the main things he stressed was that we are going to be the best blocking receivers in the ACC this year. So we are trying to fill those shoes as best we can right now."
On playing in close games:
"It is very stressful to be out there and have the play come down to the final three seconds. But, it also shows what kind of character you have. We know going into the game that it is going to be a battle for four quarters so we go in and try and play as hard as we can for those four quarters."
On looking back on close games:
"It is always better when you win. But, the close ones define who you are. It tests your character and reveals your character."
On the difference between this year and past years:
"I think more so than in previous years, this year we are more of a team. We play together as a team for four quarters in all areas: offense, defense and special teams."
On how big this game is:
"It's the game we play on Saturday. So, it's the biggest one."
On advice to younger players:
"Never be satisfied with where we are right now and never get down when times are rough. You have to stay even keel and go out every Saturday and play tough."
Josh Gattis, RS Senior, Free Safety
On the joy of having a winning season having been through previous losing ones:
"We have a lot of guys who have been here in the past and been through difficult seasons. We have stuck with this program. We are all red-shirted seniors and it is great to be able to go out there and contribute a lot to this team. I think it was just a matter of time before it happened this year. We are finally pulling together as a team and playing well."
On how his role has changed:
"When I first got here I was red-shirted. Then my red-shirted freshman year I got to back up Quintin Williams and play a lot on special teams. Then my sophomore I was thrown into the fire and I responded well to certain situations and didn't respond well in some. So I think just maturing as a person as well as a player has really helped me a lot. A lot of us have been starting since our sophomore year. Therefore, that experience we gained has really helped us a lot to contribute."
On red-shirting:
"It turns you into a better player because it allows you to learn so many things about the game that you didn't know before. But it also allows you to adjust in the classroom and helps you with your grades. You are also able to hit the weights and put on more strength. It allows you to observe how those who are starting above you are preparing for the game. You do a lot of film study. College football is much different from high school football so it helps you get adjusted."
On providing senior leadership:
"The key thing about being here and seeing some of the people before me is that I get to gain a little bit from everybody. I see how they did things and how they acted. And once you realize how things work, you're able to be your own leader. We've been through both good and bad seasons so we have been on both sides of the ball. That allows us to be our own leaders and contribute something to this team that it hasn't seen before."
On the importance of the Boston College game:
"This game means a lot, not just for this season but for this program. Boston College is a tough team and we're on national TV this week. You can't let the rankings or the rest of that stuff get to you. We have had some great battles with Boston College. We match up well with them, and they always know we are going to give them our best shot and we always know they will give us theirs. So we really have to prepare this weekend and really get at it in practice. You just have to continue to stay healthy, stay focused and continue to get better every week."