Wake Forest Athletics
Weekly Football Press Conference Video & Quotes
10/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 23, 2012
YouTube Video for Mobile Users
Head Coach Jim Grobe
Opening statement...
"I think the team feels good. It's tough to win with our schedule, that's always a challenge. I think the good thing is that not only did we get a win against Virginia, but we got it on the road. We played better on defense and our special teams picked up a little bit. Offensively we didn't have very good numbers but we took care of the football and that was the difference in the game. We're happy to get the win but we know we've got a huge challenge on Thursday night."
On the challenges of facing Clemson...
"They're shooting the lights out offensively. Virginia Tech did a good job against them last week and slowed them down a little bit, but their defense stepped up. Their defense has gotten better every week. Offensively they've got a lot of bigtime players at the skill positions and they've got a good kicking game as well. You just don't see many weaknesses in them; they've got great talent but they're also very well coached. We're going to have to play at the top of our game to have a chance."
On the state of the defense...
"We're healthy for a change defensively, that's a big shot in the arm for us. We've been lacking some of our key players from a health standpoint and I think we're a healthy football team right now, but this is a Clemson team that's as good as anybody in our conference. I think we're going to compete pretty well, but we're going up against a high-octane offense."
On the impact of a short week...
"We really have not played many times on a Thursday night, and the times that we have we've had an open date to prepare for it. I think this is the first time having played Saturday on the road and then having to work Sunday through Wednesday to prepare. We don't have a lot of experience with this, so we're siding with working more than working less. We'll be ready to play, but it's tough for all coaches. I don't think anybody's got it down to a science."
On the atmosphere expected on Thursday night...
"Typically, just playing an ACC game creates an electric environment. It should be a beautiful night, I think the weather is supposed to be great. We've got a bigtime football team coming to town, so I hope the Wake fans get out and support us. Our guys are going to be ready to play but it's going to take a great effort not only by our team but by the community as well."
YouTube Video for Mobile Users
Senior Center Garrick Williams
On how big of a win Virginia was for the team...
"It was big. Any win for us is big, especially coming off two losses. We needed another win. It got us back on schedule for the rest of the season."
On the quick turnaround this week...
"It's tough to prepare, but also, playing on Thursday is exciting, especially against someone like Clemson. It comes with its challenges. We had a practice on Sunday which no one likes to do, but it had to be done. Besides that, it's just a regular week."
On what Clemson's defense brings to the table...
"They're a good team. They've got quality players and they're going to provide a great challenge for us. I believe it will take a perfect game to beat those guys. Every game I go out there looking to play my best, and every game I hope I play a perfect game. They're good conference players, so we've got to come out with our 'A' game."
YouTube Video for Mobile Users
Sophomore Wide Receiver Brandon Terry
On whether every game is a must-win situation...
"We're trying to take each week one game at a time. Each week we focus and prepare for it like it is a must-win. Our goal right now is to win as many games as possible and make it to a bowl game."
On Clemson's defense...
"Watching the film, I didn't see anyone that had played last year, so their secondary is different. They run almost everything, so we have to be prepared to see anything from them."
On the excitement of playing on national TV...
"I definitely am. I didn't get to play against Clemson last year. I can't even explain in words how excited I am for a Thursday night game on ESPN. I'm really looking forward to it."
On entering Thursday's game with momentum from a win...
"The win helps out and boosts us up. It's also different because with Virginia we had two weeks to prepare and now we have just a few days. It takes more time in the study room and we have to get on our game more quickly this week."
YouTube Video for Mobile Users
Senior Linebacker Riley Haynes
On earning a win against Virginia...
"It was huge. Two losses will get a team down in the dumps, and you can't have no confidence going into a game. With a win like that going into a big game, it got our confidence back. We knew that we needed to play well against a quality Virginia team and we ended up sneaking one out at the end. Any time you win on the road, especially against an ACC opponent, it's going to be huge for your team morale and confidence as a unit."
On the positives that the team will take into the Clemson game Thursday...
"I thought we played pretty good defense against a really veteran offensive line, some good running backs, a good quarterback (at Virginia) and I thought we played the run pretty well, which I thought we hadn't done early in the season as well as we had wanted to. We got a little better in that area and hopefully we can pick up where we left off last week."
On Clemson's offense...
"(They bring) tons of speed and tons of talent. (They have) veteran players everywhere. Tajh Boyd and Andre Ellington are probably the best players in the conference. They can score on any single play. If you're out of position, they're going to make you pay for it. You can see on film every week that somebody gets out of their gap or misses a coverage assignment and they're going to score off of it. It's imperative that you study the film and know your assignments so that that doesn't happen to you, but it's not an easy task to overcome."
