Wake Forest Athletics
Weekly Football Press Conference Video & Quotes
10/15/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 15, 2013
Head Coach Jim Grobe
On coming off a bye week heading into the Maryland game...
"Well I think we're a little more healthy. We really weren't a beat up football team; I felt like we could have played last Saturday. It's always good, we've got some typical bumps and bruises that heal up a little better. Probably good for our football team both mentally and physically."
On the timing of the bye week in the schedule...
"Usually a bye week, especially if it's toward the middle of the year is good especially if you're coming off a win. It's not good to come off a bye week when you've lost a football game so that was good. Then it comes at the right time. We've had some bye weeks that have come too early or too late in the year. I think this one came at a right time."
On coming off a win over NC State heading into the Maryland game...
"Not only because it was before a bye week but we just really needed a win in the worst way. That's going to be our situation the rest of the year. We're playing a lot of good teams. There's not a bad team left on the schedule. We'll have to play really, really good any weekend to win a football game here on out. Hopefully we'll stay healthy. I felt like at practice yesterday, our guys had a little bounce to them. I think they're excited to get into the last half of the schedule."
On keeping the momentum from the NC State win...
"I think our guys just have to stay focused and realize that our energy level has to be high to beat anybody. That was the best energy level we've had in four quarters. It wasn't all good, we had some ups-and-downs. I thought we came out to start the game ready to play. I felt really good about our team heading out of the locker room at halftime. That's the way we've got to be. If we're not a four quarter football team then we can't beat anyone on our schedule."
Senior Wide Receiver Michael Campanaro
On the NC State win...
"It was big for us getting the win going into the bye week. It is very positive around the program, and we have some momentum going into our bye week. It was good getting some time off and getting refreshed for the back end of our season."
On what was accomplished during the bye week...
"Just catching up on things from this previous game and getting a jump on Maryland. We have an extra week of preparation for those guys. They're a good team. Having another week to prepare, guys are going to be able to play faster out there."
On Maryland...
"They're a great team. They have a lot of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball and a lot of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. They're 5-1 and playing good football - Coach Edsall has those guys playing really good right now. We have to come in and play a good game, and we think we'll be where we want to be in the fourth quarter."
Junior Cornerback Kevin Johnson
On the bye week...
"I think we got to accomplish a lot - most importantly I think everybody on the team got some rest on their body. Everybody has fresh legs, hopefully, going into the game and we got to prepare for Maryland a little bit more. We're all just excited with the momentum from the win against NC State, hopefully we can build upon that."
On Maryland...
"They have talent on the offense at quarterback and receiver. They're a great team and they have a great record. Hopefully we can do what we have to do - play fast. Our coaches are going to put us in positions to make plays, and hopefully we can make those plays. They have multiple offenses - their quarterback can run, they have some dynamic receivers. They can do a little bit of everything."
Senior Center Whit Barnes
On how the team has progressed from the beginning of the season...
"We've come a long ways. We're a really competitive group and I think that helps a lot. The offensive line doesn't get a lot of glory in the press, but within the offensive line, we compete a lot on knockdowns, cuts, stuff like that. We've changed our scheme up a little bit, and we feel like we're in a comfortable spot right now."
On whether it feels better to open up a big hole or protect the quarterback well...
"We kind of rank both of those exactly the same. There's nothing better than a big run of course, we love seeing that, and everybody locking down the defensive linemen on pass protection is just as good. We get rewarded pretty much exactly the same for both, so I enjoy seeing both on film."
Freshman Safety Ryan Janvion
On the state of the team...
"I felt like the bye week came at the perfect time. Coming off a big win over NC State, we were pretty banged up because the season taxes your body. We were all dealing with some minor injuries, not injuries that would keep us off the field, but things that just kept nagging us. We needed those few days off to refresh our bodies and get that mentality and spirits going for the next half of the season. Focusing on what we need to do and knowing that we have a big game coming up against Maryland - this is a big one for our program and for the rest of our season. It really helped us knowing that we have an extra week to prepare for this team because it's going to be a big challenge. They're a great team, very much improved from last year. They have explosive guys on the offensive side of the ball that the defense has been preparing for, so we're looking forward to it. It's going to be a great opportunity."
