Weekly Football Press Conference Quotes
10/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 26, 2010
Press Conference Video: Grobe | Frye | Nenon | Wilber | M. Williams
Head Coach Jim Grobe
On how tough it is to go through the current stretch of losses ...
"It's really hard. We're a football team that likes to win. We don't like to lose. We have some expectations. We're not meeting those expectations, but at the same time, we have played some really good teams - some of the best teams on the road. We're getting ready to play another really good team this weekend on the road, but we have to grow up and find a way to win some games."
On what the team focused on during the bye week ...
"We wanted to rest as much as anything. You hate a bye week after a loss from a mental standpoint, but I think it's been good for us physically. We've healed up a little bit. We're still not great, but we're better than we were."
On what the biggest difference is between Maryland last year vs. Maryland this year ...
"Maturity. They're older. All those guys who played for them last year are playing for them again this year. I think Maryland was a good football team last year. If you look at a lot of their scores, they were like what we've been like this year. A lot of the games last year went right to the wire and were only lost by a field goal. They're a team that was a pretty good football team last year, and they've really matured this year. They're a really good football team right now."
On the skills that Maryland WR Torrey Smith possesses ...
"He's electric, and he's doing big things to everybody. He's a big playmaker in a lot of different ways, and that will be a problem for us. We've been a little spotty at times on special teams, and we've certainly given up some big plays defensively. He's a guy that we have to hold in check. Defensively, in order to improve, we're going to have to start limiting big plays. He's also a guy that can wear you out on special teams, so we have a lot of concerns."
On what Maryland QB Danny O'Brien brings to the table ...
"He's doing a really nice job running their offense. He is completing the throws that he needs to make, and he seems to be a polished kid. He's a redshirt freshman, but he's doing a really nice job for them as a leader, as well as doing the things you want a quarterback to do in terms of throwing the football. Watching him last week you wouldn't know he's a young quarterback. He played more like a veteran last week."
On what to expect from RS freshman running back Josh Harris after his record-breaking day at Virginia Tech ...
"He's going to start. He has earned the opportunity to be a starting running back. You hope that he continues to play well week in and week out. The problem that some young kids have is that once they have had a really good game, it's easy to keep patting yourself on the back too long. I think coach [Billy] Mitchell has talked to him about that. We saw that with Tanner [Price] - he had the great game against Navy and then didn't play very well against Virginia Tech. That's not just young guys, because old guys can do the same thing. We're hopeful that with all of our players - not just with Josh or Tanner - we can start playing a little more consistently."
On still having the possibility to reach a bowl game ...
"I would hope that a bowl game is motivating. We're really not trying to use bowl games as a motivator right now. When you're 2-5, you're just looking to win a game. If we win a game Saturday, that gives us an opportunity to get to a bowl game. We know we have to win four out of the next five, and that's not going to be an easy task with the teams that we are playing. The thing that we have to focus on is just playing better. If we play good football, all of the other stuff will take care of itself."
Senior Center Russell Nenon
On the attitude of the team...
"Going into the off week, I was a little worried about how the team would react to what has happened the past five weeks, so showing up on Thursday, it was great to see how the team has a refreshed sense of motivation. The team is obviously frustrated that we're not winning, but we're very up-beat, working hard and are up-tempo at practice. It's neat to see, because we're a great group of guys who are always going to come to work. Hopefully we can translate this to Saturday and come out with a win."
On the team's biggest focus during the bye week...
"(It was) execution and consistency. We threw well against Navy and we ran well against Virginia Tech. We have to put the two together, because you can't show up with only 50 percent of your offense. We need to play well on defense and have a complete game, because I don't think we've had a complete game yet this year. It's vital for us to show up on Saturday and play how we know how to play. The coaches always give us a good game plan, it's just a matter of showing up and executing it to the tee."
On the biggest difference between Maryland and Wake Forest this year...
"If you watch any of the film you see that they're winning the close games, while we're not. They're a great team. Coach Friedgen's done a great job up there and they have some great leadership. It's a matter of showing up and competing. We know we can win, but we're also playing a great team in Maryland, so we have to play our best on Saturday."
Senior Wide Receiver Marshall Williams
On Maryland's improvement from last season...
"We all know the capabilities that they have on the offensive side with their receivers. I feel like they're a much better team. They have a quarterback that's playing pretty well. They have a defense that has sometimes produced some problems for us. I feel like I see a confident team, and right now they're rolling. They're winning and we haven't had the fortune of winning as well as them. We go to Maryland, and the last time we went to Maryland it wasn't a good outcome for us, so we have to go back up there and prove something."
On the team's motivation to make a bowl game...
"Of course, everyone wants to go to a bowl. I was home last year for the first time, and it was miserable watching teams play. You know you have the capability to play with those teams. You know you have the talent. I feel like we were the best five-win team in nation last year, even though that's not really saying anything. You see teams on the bowl game schedule making plays, and we just need to make more plays. We definitely are motivated to make it to a bowl game, even though our chances of making it to the ACC Championship, which we originally set out to do, are not great. We've got to go for what's attainable right now. We're definitely focusing on coming out here and winning these games.
On Maryland linebacker Alex Wujciak...
"He's a great player and he's always in on every tackle. He's had numerous tackles over the past couple of years that he's played. He's definitely someone that's going to cause problems for us, but we know that one player can't beat us on defense. We're going to try to do some things to avoid him or exploit him in any way, though he doesn't have too many traits that are exploitable. He's pretty much everywhere on that field, so we're going to have to account for him at all times."
Redshirt Senior Free Safety Alex Frye
On the team's confidence level...
"I think it's still pretty high. It's taken its shots throughout the [losing] streak, but I think it's still high. Definitely energetic."
On how a losing streak affects his pride...
"I think everybody's pride has to take some type of a hit because we all came from winning programs back in high school, so when you're accustomed to something and you're not doing it anymore, it definitely plays a role."
On the main focus of the coaches during the bye week...
"Just getting back to the basics, the fundamentals, going through a lot of drills. We've had a lot of missed tackles, so we've been doing a lot of tackling drills."
On Maryland's biggest difference going from 2-10 to 5-2...
"They're just going through growing pains. They've had to shuffle through a lot of quarterbacks through injuries and things of that nature, but they've risen through the adversity, so they're definitely a determined team."
On whether the potential of a bowl game is motivating the team...
"It's definitely still motivation. It's my senior year, and we want to go out on top, or at least in some type of spotlight. It's definitely a motivation for the entire team, not just myself."
Redshirt Junior Defensive End Kyle Wilber
On the threat posed to the defense by Maryland receiver Torrey Smith...
"He poses a big threat to our defense, and he poses an even bigger threat to our special teams. Basically, our special team is our defense, and if we don't shut them down on special teams, it's going to make it easier for them to get closer to the endzone."
On Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien...
"We have to get pressure on him. I think that's always a big weakness in all quarterbacks. If we get enough pressure on him, hopefully we can make him have bad throws and our defensive backs can get some interceptions."
On whether Wake's schedule becomes easier now...
"I'm not going to say it's going to be easier, because everybody in the ACC can beat you and we can beat everybody in the ACC. It's just how we go out there and play football."
On what he's learned about himself and the team during the losing streak...
"I learned that we're not going to give up. I know we've got great fan support and our coaches are backing us. Our teammates have our back; we might get mad at each other, but that's always going to come because we expect so much out of each other."
