EagleBank Bowl Press Conference Quotes
12/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 19, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of both Wake Forest and Navy met with the media Friday afternoon at the JW Marriott hotel in downtown Washington, D.C for the EagleBank Bowl press conference. Both sides expressed how wonderful the week has been and Washington D.C. mayor Adrian M. Fenty was even on hand to welcome the teams.
Below is a transcript of some of the comments by Wake Forest's Director of Athletics Ron Wellman, head coach Jim Grobe and senior captains D.J. Boldin and Aaron Curry.
Director of Athletics, Ron Wellman
On being at the EagleBank Bowl...
"Last year when the ACC athletic directors were presented with various opportunities to go to different bowls as our ninth tie-in, we quickly responded that we wanted to go to Washington, D.C. This is a perfect location for the ACC and our institutions. When you look at the footprint of the ACC, there could not be a better place than Washington, D.C.
Of course when you go to a bowl, you have certain expectations and we have been to the Orange Bowl and the Meineke Car Care Bowl and with this being an inaugural experience for this bowl and I can tell you we have not been disappointed. In fact, I talked to a number of our players in the lobby before coming over here and I can say to a man, they said this was as good of an experience as they have had at a bowl. We are very appreciative of being here and it couldn't not have been run any better than it has been run this week.
There could not be a better opponent for us than the Naval Academy. We are just really happy whenever we can compete with an Academy and we have had a long history with the Naval Academy and they just represent everything that is right about college athletics and young people by the way they represent themselves. We feel that our players do the same. There will be two sets of players tomorrow that represent what is right about college football. We are thrilled to be here and thank you for the great job that you have done."
Head coach Jim Grobe
On being here at the EagleBank Bowl...
"I would like to say what an honor it is for us to be in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl. I want to thank the people of EagleBank and especially the folks of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission. I think you have hit a home run. I've been to several bowl games in my career and we've never been anywhere where we have been treated any better and our players have had a good experience so far. We're playing a great Navy team tomorrow so we know we'll have our work cut out for us.
I want to again thank everyone associated with the EagleBank Bowl because it has really been a great experience for us and for our families. We're looking forward to getting the opportunity to play one more game tomorrow and excited to be in this bowl game."
On how Navy held the Wake Forest offense in check the first game...
"I thought that was the one thing we had so much trouble with was that we had no balance. Navy did a great job stopping our running game, especially in the red zone, and then when we tried to throw the ball they mixed up their coverages so much that it gave us fits. This is just a really sound defensive football team were getting ready to play tomorrow."
On what has to be different this time around against Navy...
"I think we have to take what's there. I think Riley, the first time, tried to force the ball down the field too much. I think he felt a little bit of pressure because we knew how explosive Navy's offense was. I think he felt like he needed to hit some home runs and I think when we looked back, if we would have just taken the opportunities, we would have been better off."
On the excitement surrounding the first ever EagleBank Bowl...
"Like I said before, I think the D.C. Sports Commission has hit a home run. We've been a lot of different places not only at the Air Force Academy but also here with Wake Forest and nobody has treated us any better and it has really been a great experience for the players. To just have the opportunity to go around D.C. and see all of the landmarks has been great and then to play in the inaugural game is really special for us."
Linebacker Aaron Curry
On playing Navy again...
They are a very good football team. They play well and with a lot of intensity. I admire the idea that they are playing football because they love it. They know that when they are done, they're going to defend our country. They make it worth while playing them. D.J. [Boldin] and I know that when were done playing football here at Wake, we're going to stay here in the States and pursue our professional careers. When those guys are done, they are going to make sure D.J. and I are safe and allow us to pursue our careers. It's very humbling every time we play them just to know that they are doing a lot of things for us, more than providing competition."
On the first game this season against Navy... "I really felt like Navy came out and gave it everything like they always do. They weren't worried about playing an ACC team and how good we were supposed to be. They knew that if they executed, they could win. What they did on defense was unbelievable. They forced six turnovers and they put their offense on the short field all game. They outplayed, outperformed and out-executed us that game."
On playing at RFK... "Playing at the home stadium of the Redskins when they were three-time Super Bowl Champions is amazing. Being able to play on that field with all the tradition and history is an honor."
Senior wide receiver D.J. Boldin
On playing Navy's defense again and if it will be a key in tomorrow's game... "Definitely. We have to take care of the ball. Last game we played them we had six turnovers so taking care of the football is going to be a key to this game."
On Navy's triple-option offensive attack and capitalizing on possessions... "We have to make the most of all our possessions. Their offense is hard to stop. Everybody in the world knows that they're going to score so we're going to try to match the score and if we don't turn the ball over I think we have confidence."
On getting the opportunity to play at RFK Stadium... "It's very historic like Aaron [Curry] said with the three championships, and now we have the honor to go and try to be the champions [of the inaugural EagleBank Bowl]."
