Weekly Press Conference Video & Quotes: Nov. 24
11/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeFB)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Heading into the 2015 season finale against Duke, head coach Dave Clawson and senior linebackers Brandon Chubb and Hunter Williams met with the media at the weekly press conference on Tuesday. Video and quotes are available below.
Head Coach Dave Clawson
Opening statement...
"We look forward to hosting Duke this week. I think it's always great in college football when you can finish with a rivalry game. This game is very important to us. It's our crossover opponent, from the days of the Big 4. It's an in-state rivalry, and on top of that, once again, they're a very good football team. They're bowl eligible. Coach (David) Cutcliffe has done a remarkable job building the program. He has them in a bowl game for the fourth straight year. They're a very good team, their skill is excellent. Defensively, they're physical up front. Their safety, (Jeremy) Cash is one of the very best players in the conference, if not the country. This is a really big game, so we're excited. We don't have a big senior class, but there's nothing more we'd like to do than send these guys out the right way. Our football team has five more days of life as a football team. We want to make the most of it. Obviously, that would be a great feeling for our seniors for their last memory playing football at Wake Forest is to walk off the field at BB&T with a win against a rival and a quality program like Duke."
On the different quarterbacks for Duke...
"(Thomas) Sirk is a very, very physical running quarterback. He also throws the ball well. He's been very banged up. (Patrick) Boehme has really looked good and he did a great job leading them back in the Virginia game. He's an accurate passer and he can run the ball too. They don't just do one or the other, but their relative skill sets are different. In some ways it is two different offenses, although there is a fair amount of crossover, but that does present a challenge."
On using two quarterbacks against Clemson...
"I thought that was the best mix we've had. I think there's clearly things we did with John (Wolford). I think the combination of having both of those guys out there gave us some good plays. We had Kendall (Hinton) throw the ball a little bit so we weren't so one dimensional with him. He had the opportunity to make some plays. That was probably the best it's worked this year. The bottom line is, we've got to get these guys to spring. John understands the offense, understands protections, and is the most accurate passer. Kendall is probably the best open-space skill player on our whole football team. He makes more people miss than anybody we have in our program. The touchdown run he had was incredible. He is strong. No one can arm tackle him. He's a talent and I think that will play out more in the spring, but we think very highly of both of them and we think they're both very skilled players. Right now, with the explosive plays we made in that game, Kendall made every one other than K.J. (Brent). He's done that all year, but John played well. John put the ball on the money and converted third downs and had us in the right place and made some plays with his feet as well."
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Brandon Chubb
On the emotions heading into the final game...
"Reality has set in. I'm a senior and this is my last game as a Demon Deacon. It's going to be a very emotional game, especially a home game and an in-state rivalry. Emotions are high, so I'm just trying to give my all and end on a good note. Clawson had a good talk with the team this morning and said, if anything, do it for the seniors. That's including me, so I'm just going to give it my all. This is one of the games I'll remember because it's my last game"
On the importance of ending career with a win...
"It's very important. It would mean a lot and it will show what this program has built under Clawson with a win improvement over last year. It will also be good for the younger guys moving forward into next season with the offseason workouts. It will be something for them to hang their hats on and propel them into next season."
On the coaching staff...
"It starts with the coaches themselves. They're real top-notch, real professional. They're masters at what they do. I know that by some of the play calls we make, the type of stuff that nobody really sees. It's a great program that's going to get even better, especially with the new facilities, the top-tier recruiting classes. It's nothing but going up from here."
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Hunter Williams
On his emotions heading into his final game at Wake Forest...
"We're just really excited. This is a culmination of everything we've worked for thus far. We're excited to go out against a rival like Duke and have a shot to win our last game."
On his favorite memories as a Deacon...
"I think you look at this year, Boston College was a really emotional win that I'll never forget as long as I live. Last year's Senior Day against Virginia Tech -- being able to send those guys off with a win on Senior Day was awesome. Hopefully we can do the same this year."
On the strengths of Duke...
"They're really well coached. They do a good job getting guys in space and making plays. They don't mess up -- they execute all across the board and they're very skilled. They're very well-coached and very sound."
