Wake Forest Athletics
Tuesday Football Press Conference Quotes
11/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 14, 2006
Head Coach Jim Grobe
On winning a game by more than a touchdown:
"Well it actually felt pretty good. When you are up 30-0, as a coach, your thought is how they are going to get back in it. A couple of home runs and all the sudden it is a horse race again. But, toward the end of the game it felt pretty good."
On how well his team played at FSU:
"I was a little concerned on our kickoff coverage. We almost let them out of the gate a couple of times. But, I thought Sam Swank did a nice job, we had some good special teams. Also, offensively, against a really good defense, I was pleased. Defensively, I thought we played as good as we could play. I was pleased overall. Going down there without Abbate and Gattis, I was a little worried. It was nice to get a win this time."
On keeping his players confident but humble:
"I just try to remind the guys that we are here now because we have played well. We practice hard during the week and have gone out on Saturday and played well. That is the only measure of success, is how you play each week. What you have done in the past doesn't matter in the sense of what you are going to do next week. I think our guys are old enough to understand that what we have accomplished is because we have played hard and played well."
On staying focused on Virginia Tech:
"I don't think you will be able to convince our players and our coaches that winning is not important. That is one of the reasons we're where we are right now. So in the whole scheme of things, that may be something that is being talked about. But, I will tell you that, from a coach's standpoint and from a player's standpoint, you don't get many chances to take the field and play football. So winning one game is huge. And our players and coaches understand that. So trust me, this is a very important game to us."
On Riley Skinner:
"We were really nervous at the start of the season when Ben (Mauk) went down. As the season has gone on, we have a lot of confidence that Riley will take care of the football. He still has a lot of room to play better. There are a lot of things that we are working on with him mechanically and technique-wise. He can get a lot better. But, the best thing he can do is take care of the football. We feel confident that he can do that and give us a chance to win."
On Virginia Tech:
"They are a really physical football team. They are obviously really talented. They are the top total defense in the country and I think third in scoring defense. Offensively, they have the best running back in the ACC, statistically speaking. They also have possibly the best special teams in the ACC. They have a great punter and kicker. So they are a really well-rounded football team."
On the team's injury situation:
"It is really not good. We are pretty banged up right now. Fortunately, we don't have a lot of serious injuries. We got those out of the way early in the season. But, we are pretty banged up. Abbate and Gattis are better then they are last week. But, I'm not sure whether they will be full speed by Saturday. We just have a lot of ankles, knee sprains and shoulder sprains. It is the same thing that every team in the country has right now. So a big part for us will be how we deal with some of those bumps and bruises."
On the confidence of the team:
"I don't think there is any question that we are a confident football team. We are more confident then we have ever been. I think it is because we have played well these past three or four games. We are a better football team now then we were at the start of the season. Winning has a great deal to do with confidence. But, I think that the most important thing right now for our kids is that they know we are a better football team."
On not getting respect:
"I think we are beyond that respect issue. I know the kids talk about it. But, I think the main thing we are trying to prove now is that we are a good football team. I think we have gotten some respect, but, I think the key now is whether or not if Wake Forest is that much better or if the competition is just not as good as it has been. Hopefully, we are going to find out that Wake Forest is that much better."
On Virginia Tech's run defense:
"This would be a nice time for us to run the football and prove that we can. The problem is that they are so good against the run. You look at them on film and say that we ought to get our yards through the air. However, they are the top pass defense in the league. This is the most balanced defense we have played. Their total defense is the top in the nation. They are just not a lot of good ways to move the football. This is maybe the top defense in the country."
Boo Robinson, Defensive Tackle, RS Freshman
On coming down emotionally from the high of the FSU win:
"Yes I think I'm back to normal now."
On being a defensive lineman dropping back in coverage:
"I'm supposed to do the spying because I am too slow. I just dropped back, the quarterback made a read and was throwing it to the wide-out, and I just happened to be there for the pick."
On his thought process once he made the interception:
"All I was thinking was, `take it to the house.'"
On the excitement of the season so far:
"It's been a great season so far. It has been history in the making and it is still going. It took a lot of hard work. Everybody had to work hard and everybody had to believe."
On the influence of the RS Freshmen:
"We can't all take credit. It has been a long process. The seniors have been here for the rough times and the good times. This is just my first year and I am just riding the wave. We just happen to be riding high right now."
On how to stay focused on Virginia Tech:
"It's Virginia Tech. I mean it's on national TV again. This is what you live for. When you are a little boy you dream of playing college football. You live for the big games. We are 9-1 right now, but we want to get to 11-1."
Riley Swanson, Cornerback, RS Senior
On how much fun he is having:
"I am having a blast. This has been great. It is definitely a senior year to remember. It is a dream come true. It is great to be 9-1, but we know there is still a lot of work to do."
On staying focused on Virginia Tech:
"We feel that Virginia Tech is a very important game. Personally, I have never beaten Virginia Tech. So, it is an accomplishment I would like to have. But, it is still an ACC game so it is a big one."
On winning by a big margin:
"It felt good. It was good to see a lot of players get in who usually don't. Playing in a big game can be stressful. So, it was good to go in and have that taken off and just have fun."
On quieting the critics:
"I think more importantly people finally realize that we are a good team. We have good offense, good defense, good special teams, and that's the most important part. And the most important thing for us is to continue to play hard."
On being the underdog again this week:
"I don't think that really matters. I think that we have to go out there and play hard on Saturday. Whoever is ahead on the scoreboard at the end of the game: that is what really matters."
On playing at night:
"It's a great stage. I enjoy playing under the lights. It will be one of the few games on TV at the time. It is just a great feeling. A couple of weeks ago, the Boston College game was a great atmosphere. I think that it will be the same this week."
On the health of Josh Gattis and Jon Abbate:
"Josh and Jon, being the competitors that they are, will find a way to be ready come game time. They are still resting and doing a lot of rehab. But, come game time they will find a way to get on the field."
On the best part of this year:
"Obviously, the success has been great. But, the team chemistry has been great. We faced a lot of adversity, losing some good players, and so rebounding has been really special."
