Wake Forest Athletics
Weekly Football Press Conference Video & Quotes
8/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 30, 2011
Head Coach Jim Grobe
On beginning the season...
"Well we're excited to get started, but we're like most coaches right now. We wish we had more time to prepare, but I really don't think we can get any better until we go out there and play a game. I'm happy with where we are right now. I think you're never quite sure because you haven't gotten to play outside competition, but I think we're as ready as we can be."
On fall practice and health...
"I think things went pretty well. I was disappointed that we missed too many practices with injuries. Thank goodness we didn't have any serious injuries, but that happens in every fall camp. We have some kids with bumps and bruises that are just part of the nature of football. We're pretty healthy right now. A couple of the kids that missed a lot of time have some conditioning worries and may struggle to execute their fundamentals like they should, but for the most part we're going to get over to Syracuse with a pretty healthy football team."
On the importance of winning the first game of the season...
"We couldn't have had a more positive camp. Our guys are really together, I think they worked very hard. I think they're really excited about getting the season kicked off, but there is no substitute for winning. It's very important to get off to a good start, especially with how tough our schedule is."
On Tanner Price's progression...
"You know, I was a Tanner Price fan last year. I thought that, at times, our supporting cast was not very good, whether it be catching the football, running the ball, blocking or those types of things. Tanner has come a long way, as has the rest of the offense. I think that he is going to get better support out of the other 10 guys on the field, and I think that Tanner Price is a much better quarterback today than he was at this time last year."
On what to expect from Syracuse...
"They're a very well-coached football team and a very physical football team. Offensively, there are some older guys coming back. I think there are eight or nine starters back on offense, and defensively they like to give you a lot of different looks with even fronts, odd fronts and a lot of pressure. They've been really sound in the kicking game, so my overall impression is that they are a well-coached, fundamentally sound football team that plays hard."
Senior strong safety Cyhl Quarles
On how preseason camp went...
"It went great. Going through summer workouts and camp was a great time to get the young guys back in order from summer and going home. (We were) working out, getting back together and forming that team bond and team spirit again, so it was really good."
On the biggest difference between this year's team and last year's team...
"We're really close as a team now. We hang out and we bond more. One thing that we decided that we wanted to do after the Vanderbilt game (at the end of last season) and in spring ball was to get to know each other more on a personal level and understand what we all are playing for."
On the importance of winning the first game of the season...
"It's very important. Syracuse doesn't know what we're going to do. and we don't know what Syracuse is going to do. Execution is the big key for the first game. One thing that we want to do is come out, execute and remember what the coaches have instilled in us in the offseason and during camp. That's out big motive right now."
Senior linebacker Kyle Wilber
On the younger players on the team...
"They're really excited. They bring a lot of energy to our team. It's going to be really exciting to see the young guys play."
On the biggest difference between this year's team and last year's team...
"Closeness. We're better as a defense now. We hang out a lot more and we understand one another. It's going to be exciting to see how we all play together now."
On Syracuse...
"They are a power team. They like to run the ball down your throat. If you can't stop it, they are going to keep on doing it."
Freshman punter Alexander Kinal
On going through his first fall practice...
"It's been good. It's been a bit of a transition from playing Australian rules football, but everyone's sort of come together and bonded pretty well, so I'm enjoying myself out there.
On how he ended up at Wake Forest coming from Australia...
"At the end of last year, I sent out some recruiting film and the coaches got in contact with me. Everything sort of fell into place, and I guess now I'm here.
On the difference between Australian rules football and American football...
"The field is a lot bigger. We don't wear any pads, it's full contact, and we run a lot more."
Senior left guard Joe Looney
On going up against a team with a different colored jersey...
"I'm very excited. Going through camp, we get to hit each other for three straight weeks. We go through scrimmages. Just beating up on each other. Finally we have that opportunity to go against a team in a different colored jersey. To be able to play this first game is awesome."
On the first game of your senior year...
"I'm definitely more excited. This is something a lot of people want to do when their kids growing up playing football. They want to make it to their senior year of college and be able to play."
On what you're expecting from Syracuse's defense...
"They get to the football. They have some great players over there like Chandler Jones. They're going to be ready for this first game, and we just have to go out and take care of the ball, make sure we don't turn over the ball and play our game.
Sophomore quarterback Tanner Price
On why you changed your number...
I've been 10 since 7th grade. I was 10 all through high school, so I just wanted to go back to what I've always been. It's also kind of a fresh start - put last year in the past and start over.
On how excited you are to get this year started...
I'm excited. We've put in a lot of hard work during these two-a-days this offseason. It's fun to be able to put all that practice into play. I'm really looking forward to this season.
On the biggest difference from last year to this year...
It's a huge difference. Just knowing what to expect is probably the biggest deal. Game experience is huge and just having that under my belt is going to make a big difference this year.
