Weekly Football Press Conference Video & Quotes
11/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Wake Forest Head Coach Dave Clawson
Opening Statement
"Certainly a very rewarding win against Virginia Tech. Very proud of our players. I think all of those adjectives, resilient, persistent, all those things certainly apply, and that locker room, it was like winning the championship. It really was. It was emotional and kids were excited and it was a great moment for our program and especially for our seniors in their last home game."
"I think there is a lot more juice in our step this week, and there needs to be because of who we play. We have another big in-state rivalry against a very good football program. Certainly Duke has had a nice run the last two to three years. They've built a very good program there, and it always starts up front. When teams are good, and I always look at their O-line, and this offensive line is older, it's extremely well coached, it's very physical, I mean they are a little bit like BC [Boston College]. When they get on you, they will just root you out of there, and that makes them go. They are a very good running football team, they have three backs that are all outstanding players, they have a very experienced quarterback in Boone, and they arguably have the ACC's best, certainly one of the top three skilled players in the whole ACC in Crowder. He presents some real matchup issues and their other receivers a really good too. The Blakeney kid is a 6-6 225 pound kid, McCaffrey catches everything. They a very well built well balanced offense. Defensively they are a little bit more bend, but don't break. They do a nice job of keeping things in front of them. We're going to have to execute very well and not have negative yardage plays. You're going to have to score points to beat these people. I can't imagine this one will go 60 minutes without someone scoring. Moving forward that is not going to be the formula that we try to win every game with."
"After a game like last week, you can take it two ways. I mean certainly people can be critical of the offenses and certainly there is some validity to that. I like to look at the positive. I think it was two defensive teams that played at a very high level. We didn't just play well on defense, we executed well. How we want to fit-runs and fit-plays and how we want to hit blitz-pass, our kids executed at a very high level and I think Virginia Tech did too. They certainly played at a very high level on defense and our kids played as well as any game all year on defense against a good football team."
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Zachary Allen
On playing final home game in Wake Forest uniform...
"It was a great experience, very emotional. Being the last game at BB&T Field I wanted to make it memorable, and I think as a team with the young players, and the senior class leaving, that made it most memorable, and I will remember that day for the rest of my life."
On what you're going to miss most about playing at Wake Forest...
"A big family. Seeing different experiences, meeting different personalities, meeting people from different backgrounds, the coaching staff, the support I had and the supportive community of Wake Forest University."
On how coming off a win and a win over Duke, would impact the program moving forward...
"I think it will do a lot. It will show a lot of character and fight for the for the upcoming players next year and you'll see a carryover from them. They will show they will never give up, no matter the record. Just play for each other no matter what."
On what Duke will bring offensively...
"They will bring a powerful offense. They have a great quarterback, a great offensive line, great running backs and great receiving corps. They have a lot of talent and we are just going to prepare like we do every week."
Redshirt Senior Offensive Lineman Antonio Ford
On the emotions of playing in his final game...
"It's going to be pretty emotional. Like Zach said, it's probably going to hit at the end because in the beginning we're focused on getting the W and just playing against Duke. But it's definitely going to be emotional playing in the last game."
On what back-to-back wins would mean for the program...
"It would just start momentum for next year. These younger guys are working very hard. I think our record is going to improve next year. We'll show them that we don't quit, we keep fighting, and we keep going no matter what our record says."
On what he'll miss most...
"I'm going to miss all the players. It's like a big brotherhood, and [I'll miss] the coaches. It's definitely been a lot of new experiences here especially, from where I came from. Then, coming to a school like Wake Forest, it was a complete culture shock, so I'm definitely going to miss that aspect too."
