Wake Forest Athletics
Bowl Press Conference & Video: December 14
12/14/2018 1:39:00 PM | Football
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Head Coach Dave Clawson, offensive lineman Ryan Anderson and wide receiver Alex Bachman met with the media on Friday (Dec. 14) as the team held its Birmingham Bowl press conference.
Head Coach Dave Clawson
Opening Statement...
"Memphis is a really talented and well-coached football team. Mike Norvell has done a great job with their program. Offensively, they are one of the top teams in the country. They are fourth in total offense, fourth in rushing offense and seventh in scoring offense. They average 43 or 44 points per game. The back, (Darrell) Henderson, is a great player. He is headed to the draft, but we are expecting him to play. Even if he doesn't play, Taylor and Pollard, are really good players too. Their offense has put up video game numbers. Brady White is an efficient quarterback for them. He has a lot of weapons. I really like their offense line. This is as good of an offense as we have seen. This is one of the nation's elite offenses. They move the ball against everybody. This is going to be a challenge for our defense. Any time you get to a bowl game, you are going to play a good team.
"Defensively, because of their style of offense, they do a great job of creating turnovers. They are active and are coached to strip the football and create possessions. They are a very disruptive defense. Like our defense, because of what they do on offense, their numbers tend to be a little inflated. This is a team that last year won 10 games and this year won eight games. Look at their games against UCF. Twice they had very winnable football games. I'm sure they struggling with that because they had them beat. We all know what UCF has done over the last two years. We have played teams from the AAC. We went to overtime at Tulane. Two years ago we played Temple. These are good football teams and we expect a hard-fought competitive game."
On importance of getting a third-straight bowl win…
"It's important to our players. Every team is unique. These guys are very aware of the streak. Being able to get to a third-straight bowl game is very important to them. You could see it in the energy and execution level against Duke. The last two have nothing to do with this game and our players are aware of that. Certainly, 7-6 will look a lot better than 6-7."
On notion that bowl games have been devalued…
"Bowl games haven't been devalued by anyone that plays college football. A bowl game is the only game you get, where you get there together as a program, the kids don't have any academics going on, no classes, tests or papers to write. This is the one time the players can go to a game, not flying the day before and they can enjoy each other. We're going to visit the Civil Rights Museum. When we were in D.C., we took a tour of the Capitol Building. With this opportunity, we're creating an experience of a lifetime. I don't think you've ever heard a college football player or coach say that the bowls have been devalued. To be able to spend three more weeks together, play another game together and have an experience together as a football program, that's what it's about. There is a personal and relationship side to it. These bowl games create memories that last a lifetime for these kids."
On practice atmosphere before heading to Birmingham…
"We've focused on keeping everyone fresh. Today we'll introduce the game plan. Today will be the first practice that we'll input the scout teams and work specifically on stuff that we plan to use against Memphis. Up until now, it's been general practice. Keeping everyone loose, and honestly, since the Duke game, we've only had three home practices. Due to the snow, we didn't want to risk having some guys travel from off campus. We'll try to get the entire game plan in before heading to Birmingham. Everything from First-and-10, red zone, fourth down, goal line and two-minute drill will be implemented. When we arrive, we'll focus on enjoying the bowl experience. Our goal is to make it fun. It's more than just a game."
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Ryan Anderson
On getting back to work after a break...
"It's been good. I feel like the coaches have done a good job of letting the older guys get reps, but also get some rest after the season and get our bodies right. I'm feeling good and we have a good mix of letting some of the younger guys take some reps and building depth but also with the older guys staying fresh"
On getting a break before bowl preparations...
"It's nice, but we also want to get back into the flow of practice because it is weird going every day and then taking five days off and then just practicing on the weekends. With finals week coming to an end, it is nice to get back into the flow of things again."
On confidence following the Duke win...
"Our backs were against the wall. That was such an awesome win and nobody wanted our season to end and that was a great game to end the regular season. It was cool for me as a senior because it was the largest margin of victory for us against an ACC team, so that was awesome and just getting that sixth win was even better.
On making it to a third consecutive bowl game...
"I was pretty reminiscent before the Duke game looking at all of my bowl gear from previous years so I was getting a little nervous. Getting that win and making it to a third straight bowl game is awesome."
Senior wide receiver Alex Bachman
On time off to recover before bowl prep...
"There have been guys that have taken 800-900 reps throughout the season, so for me there were just a lot of bumps and bruises. It was just a time to get healthy again and a time to get the younger guys reps. Those bowl practices are crucial down the stretch. It's really just more conditioning and less contact plays just to make sure we are healthy for the game."
On facing Memphis...
"They have a high powered offense as well and a lot of people are predicting a shootout, which as an offensive guy I don't mind at all. It is going to be a challenge. They have proven this year and that they can compete against high level teams. They were neck and neck with UCF for the entire game and they have proven that they are a tough team.I'm excited to be done with finals, I turned my last paper in last night so it is nice to just be able to focus on football. It's fun and it just comes down to execution. It's all about whoever makes the fewest mistakes. If we protect the ball and don't turn it over, that will probably be pivotal in the outcome of the game."
On playing in three consecutive bowl games...
"When I first came to Wake, that was our goal to change the culture of our program. The fans have high expectations. Finishing the season 6-6 wasn't really our goal, but when you look at some of the adversity we have faced, getting that seventh win will make us proud. A bowl game should be something that Wake goes to every year."
Head Coach Dave Clawson
Opening Statement...
"Memphis is a really talented and well-coached football team. Mike Norvell has done a great job with their program. Offensively, they are one of the top teams in the country. They are fourth in total offense, fourth in rushing offense and seventh in scoring offense. They average 43 or 44 points per game. The back, (Darrell) Henderson, is a great player. He is headed to the draft, but we are expecting him to play. Even if he doesn't play, Taylor and Pollard, are really good players too. Their offense has put up video game numbers. Brady White is an efficient quarterback for them. He has a lot of weapons. I really like their offense line. This is as good of an offense as we have seen. This is one of the nation's elite offenses. They move the ball against everybody. This is going to be a challenge for our defense. Any time you get to a bowl game, you are going to play a good team.
"Defensively, because of their style of offense, they do a great job of creating turnovers. They are active and are coached to strip the football and create possessions. They are a very disruptive defense. Like our defense, because of what they do on offense, their numbers tend to be a little inflated. This is a team that last year won 10 games and this year won eight games. Look at their games against UCF. Twice they had very winnable football games. I'm sure they struggling with that because they had them beat. We all know what UCF has done over the last two years. We have played teams from the AAC. We went to overtime at Tulane. Two years ago we played Temple. These are good football teams and we expect a hard-fought competitive game."
On importance of getting a third-straight bowl win…
"It's important to our players. Every team is unique. These guys are very aware of the streak. Being able to get to a third-straight bowl game is very important to them. You could see it in the energy and execution level against Duke. The last two have nothing to do with this game and our players are aware of that. Certainly, 7-6 will look a lot better than 6-7."
On notion that bowl games have been devalued…
"Bowl games haven't been devalued by anyone that plays college football. A bowl game is the only game you get, where you get there together as a program, the kids don't have any academics going on, no classes, tests or papers to write. This is the one time the players can go to a game, not flying the day before and they can enjoy each other. We're going to visit the Civil Rights Museum. When we were in D.C., we took a tour of the Capitol Building. With this opportunity, we're creating an experience of a lifetime. I don't think you've ever heard a college football player or coach say that the bowls have been devalued. To be able to spend three more weeks together, play another game together and have an experience together as a football program, that's what it's about. There is a personal and relationship side to it. These bowl games create memories that last a lifetime for these kids."
On practice atmosphere before heading to Birmingham…
"We've focused on keeping everyone fresh. Today we'll introduce the game plan. Today will be the first practice that we'll input the scout teams and work specifically on stuff that we plan to use against Memphis. Up until now, it's been general practice. Keeping everyone loose, and honestly, since the Duke game, we've only had three home practices. Due to the snow, we didn't want to risk having some guys travel from off campus. We'll try to get the entire game plan in before heading to Birmingham. Everything from First-and-10, red zone, fourth down, goal line and two-minute drill will be implemented. When we arrive, we'll focus on enjoying the bowl experience. Our goal is to make it fun. It's more than just a game."
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Ryan Anderson
On getting back to work after a break...
"It's been good. I feel like the coaches have done a good job of letting the older guys get reps, but also get some rest after the season and get our bodies right. I'm feeling good and we have a good mix of letting some of the younger guys take some reps and building depth but also with the older guys staying fresh"
On getting a break before bowl preparations...
"It's nice, but we also want to get back into the flow of practice because it is weird going every day and then taking five days off and then just practicing on the weekends. With finals week coming to an end, it is nice to get back into the flow of things again."
On confidence following the Duke win...
"Our backs were against the wall. That was such an awesome win and nobody wanted our season to end and that was a great game to end the regular season. It was cool for me as a senior because it was the largest margin of victory for us against an ACC team, so that was awesome and just getting that sixth win was even better.
On making it to a third consecutive bowl game...
"I was pretty reminiscent before the Duke game looking at all of my bowl gear from previous years so I was getting a little nervous. Getting that win and making it to a third straight bowl game is awesome."
Senior wide receiver Alex Bachman
On time off to recover before bowl prep...
"There have been guys that have taken 800-900 reps throughout the season, so for me there were just a lot of bumps and bruises. It was just a time to get healthy again and a time to get the younger guys reps. Those bowl practices are crucial down the stretch. It's really just more conditioning and less contact plays just to make sure we are healthy for the game."
On facing Memphis...
"They have a high powered offense as well and a lot of people are predicting a shootout, which as an offensive guy I don't mind at all. It is going to be a challenge. They have proven this year and that they can compete against high level teams. They were neck and neck with UCF for the entire game and they have proven that they are a tough team.I'm excited to be done with finals, I turned my last paper in last night so it is nice to just be able to focus on football. It's fun and it just comes down to execution. It's all about whoever makes the fewest mistakes. If we protect the ball and don't turn it over, that will probably be pivotal in the outcome of the game."
On playing in three consecutive bowl games...
"When I first came to Wake, that was our goal to change the culture of our program. The fans have high expectations. Finishing the season 6-6 wasn't really our goal, but when you look at some of the adversity we have faced, getting that seventh win will make us proud. A bowl game should be something that Wake goes to every year."
Players Mentioned
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