Weekly Football Press Conference Video & Quotes
11/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 22, 2011
Wake Forest Head Coach Jim Grobe
On the confidence levels of the team after becoming bowl eligible...
"We're a pretty confident football team. I was a little bit worried after such tough losses with Notre Dame and Clemson, but we bounced back last week and played a really good second half against Maryland. We know we can win, but we're smart enough now to know that we have to play to win."
On the expectations of Vanderbilt...
"We expect to see a really well-coached football team, and a really good fundamental defensive football team. You never really see them out of their gaps or out of their zones. Offensively, they give us some of the same problems that Maryland did. They like to run the option with their quarterback, so they make you be responsible on defense. They obviously have talent because you don't play in the SEC without talent."
On the satisfaction of being bowl eligible with one game still remaining...
"It's a great feeling. A couple of years ago we had a good football team and then lost five games there at the end and didn't get to a bowl game. Last year, we were just so young, and I thought this year we would be much better, but our schedule was so tough. So we might have been a pretty good team without much to show for it. It's really rewarding and especially good for me as a coach with the hard work that these kids have put in to see them rewarded."
On the satisfaction of seeing the seniors becoming bowl eligible in their final season...
"It's really good, and I think this might be as much fun as I've had coaching a football team. That's really because of the chemistry on this football team, and you can go back to the seniors for that kind of leadership. We've got just a great feeling with the old guys and the young guys. They work hard and they play hard on Saturday, and when your players like and respect one another, it's a good feeling."
On the challenge of facing an SEC opponent in the last regular season game...
"I think it's important. Some of our other ACC teams will be playing the SEC, so for us, we're two universities that are very similar. We're very good academic schools that play in big time leagues. I think it's going to be very exciting for all of our players to have a chance to play an SEC team."
On the team's offensive balance...
"I think we played pretty good football down at Clemson, but we just didn't come away with the win. We took care of the ball and had a pretty good balance there, and then on Saturday our second half performance is really what we want. We made a couple big first downs running the ball and then throwing it, and we actually had some good possession throws. That's what we're looking for and hopefully we're playing well enough to continue that."
On the returning talent for next year...
"We've got a beautiful group of seniors, including some walk-on players that have been really important to this football team. But, it's nice to know that you've got a really good mix of young guys that are going to be around for a while. I think some of the guys that are making plays for us now will be making plays again for us next year, so that's a good feeling."
On the play of freshman Orville Reynolds...
"He's really done some good things, but we just haven't played him enough. The other night (against Maryland), it was a close football game and I was a little nervous putting the young guy out there, but he had a great effort. He had two or three really nice runs, and he's just doing a lot of good things right now. Hopefully he can get more experience this weekend."
On the defensive performance against Maryland...
"We did some outstanding things on Saturday, and I was impressed when our backs were against the wall. I thought when we got the punt blocked, making them go four downs and out without having points was huge. We're a little softer than I'd like for us to be, but we were very stingy when it came to points, and that's what it's all about."
Redshirt Senior Offensive Guard Michael Hoag
On how it feels to prove the preseason projections wrong...
"It feels great, but I wouldn't say that we've proved everyone wrong. It was definitely motivation for us heading into the season to be picked last, it's hard not to use something like that as motivation. We fell short in a couple of games that we wish we could have back, but we've far exceeded most people's expectations for this team. The last couple of games that we lost really hurt though, especially since we had a chance to play in the title game."
On helping his younger teammates to prepare for a bowl...
"Well, first things first we still have another game. We still have Vanderbilt on the schedule and they're a good team; they had a tough loss last week up at Tennessee. We've got to handle them first. Obviously we're going to go to a bowl game, but they're looking to become bowl-eligible as well. They're going to come in here hungry, so we want to handle that first. If we win this week then it will give us a shot at a better bowl game and then we can start talking about how to handle it."
On Vanderbilt's defense...
"They're a real physical bunch. They've got some guys that have been there for a while like T.J. Greenstone and Tim Fugger; they played last year and in years before when we've played against them. They're really talented, it's easy to see that. They're only giving up 22 points per game, which is pretty good. We're going to have our work cut out for us."
Redshirt Freshman Cornerback Merrill Noel
On what you see from Vanderbilt's offense...
"They're a big, physical group. They get after you with their blocking. Matthews is a big receiver. He's going to give me a lot of competition. Me and Kenny (Okoro) on both sides of the field."
On the feeling of the team after becoming bowl eligible...
"We're ecstatic. Everyone was just so happy to just know that we were going to a bowl this year coming off of a bad season last year. A terrible season last year. It just gives us more momentum going into these two games."
On what there is to accomplish this last game...
"Like Mike Hoag said, we want to just play all four quarters hard and just have a complete game. That's basically it. Our focus is on this upcoming game against Vanderbilt. Just sticking together and facing adversity."
On what having a successful offense does for the defense...
"As I was always taught, offense sells tickets, defense wins games. When they got the crowd standing up it just boosts our momentum on defense to go out and give the ball back to the O. And let them do their thing with it."
