Wake Forest Athletics
Weekly Football Press Conference Video & Quotes
10/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 18, 2011
Head Coach Jim Grobe
On bouncing back from the loss to Virginia Tech...
"Our kids know that we have tough games every week. The rest of the season, we don't have an easy game. We have to play well every Saturday, and we didn't play well enough this past Saturday, but there's nothing we can do about it now. It's behind us and we have to go forward. I do have to give Virginia Tech a lot of credit. I thought their guys played really well. We didn't play as well as we are capable of, and we have to do that to have a chance to win."
On the in-state rivalry with Duke...
"We're so similar. Two good academic schools playing in a big-time league. There's always a lot at stake when you play an ACC game, and probably a little bit more if you're in-state because you're butting heads with guys that you probably played against in high school. We have a bunch of North Carolina guys on our team, and they do too, so that makes it a little bit more interesting."
On winning 11 straight games against Duke...
"Well quite frankly we've been lucky a few times - a field goal here, a late pick in overtime, things like that. Whenever you get into crunch time down at the end of the fourth quarter, a lot of times the ball just has to bounce right, and we've been very lucky that we've had some things go our way. But all that is history. We're starting all over again on Saturday."
On the Duke offense...
"Well I think with Coach Cutcliffe, they've always been really good on offense. They've flat worn us out a few Saturdays with a lot of points and a lot of yards. They're just continuing to improve. On video, they scare you to death. They have receivers that can run and catch the football, and their quarterback is playing really well. I like what their offensive line has been able to do protecting the quarterback. I think they have some very capable running backs, so they have a lot of weapons and a great scheme, and they do a great job of taking what you give them."
On whether practice is different coming off of a loss...
"Well you know I thought we practiced pretty good last week. I wasn't enamored with our practices the week of Florida State, but we played really well. Last week I thought our practices were pretty good preparing for Virginia Tech, but we came out and didn't play very well. So they've got me confused. I'm not sure. I do think we have a team that is probably a little bit more focused and a little bit more serious right now. I think any time you go on a winning streak, it's a little easier to relax and not remember what got you there. I think we have a football team that will practice well this week"
Sophomore Linebacker Mike Olson
On the current focus of the team...
"We're really focused on growing as a team right now. Losses are going to happen, and it's unfortunate that it did, but we're just trying to work on getting even better."
On the Duke offense...
"They're tough. They've got a big running back and some good receivers. Our defense has just got to come ready to play."
On last year's shootout with Duke...
"It's going to be tough to match the excitement of last year. I think we have a different defense this year though, so the score should be interesting. Hopefully in the end it will come out in our favor."
On the pressure to win with a tough upcoming schedule...
"We've got as much pressure as we would have in any other game. We take every game like it's the last one that we'll play."
Senior Tight End Cameron Ford
On Virginia Tech's improved defense in the final three quarters...
"They started showing some things that they hadn't shown all season from the film that we had seen. After that it took us a while to get back to the sidelines and talk it over with our coaches about what we were seeing out there, so it took us a while to get adjusted. That's still not an excuse, you've still got to go out there and do what you do as an offense and you've got to put points on the board."
On Duke's defense...
"They show a lot of the same coverages that we saw against Virginia Tech, so it was good to get that live-fire experience like we had last week. I think it will be in our advantages because we've seen a lot of the same looks that they'll use."
On getting increased offensive touches against the Hokies...
"As a tight end, the smaller guy on the line, it's fun to be able to get out there and run around instead of having to hit those big guys on every play. We've got a really exciting offense to watch."
Senior Safety Cyhl Quarles
On how you are helping the younger guys put the Virginia Tech loss behind them...
"We're doing pretty good. We established a great bond in the spring. Right now we're just clicking together and regrouping after that loss to Virginia Tech."
On how you are preparing for Duke's offense...
"They have great receivers in Varner and Vernon so they've been there. They're senior and junior receivers. They understand the offense. They understand how to get open and make plays. As a secondary we just want to cover them and try to minimize big plays."
On your excitement on playing on the road in the ACC...
"It's fun. It's exciting very week. Playing at Clemson. Playing at Duke. Playing at Virginia Tech. Just playing all around the ACC. Going to all those places is fun. I know Mike Olson said he like playing away, but I like playing at home. Playing away is also fun, especially in state so it's going to be a great game."
Junior Fullback Tommy Bohanon
On extra pressure being on this game because of the win streak against Duke...
"Not really because we take it game by game like everyone else has said. We look at the film. We look at our mistakes. We look at how we play and we just kind of focus on that and play the best we can."
On what worries you about the Duke defense...
"They have great players across the board. Like everybody said, their an ACC school. They have great players. They have great defensive linemen, DBs, linebackers, everything. They fly to the ball. You just have to worry about that and be able to make plays."
On there being extra motivation because of the in-state rivalry...
"You could say that. We play Duke, NC State, and UNC this year so we kind of play all three of them. We're trying to win all three. We're trying to win every game, obviously. I would say that playing an in-state school is a big game every time."
