TicketsOct. 30, 2007
"Another week and we're anxious to play. The guys have had a week off to understand where their at, and where there at is pretty exciting. We have South Florida at South Florida, top 20 team and clearly from our standpoints it's an elimination game. Two teams with two losses, it's going to be a great game, great battle.
We're excited about going into November and having a chance to contend for a BIG EAST Championship.
We've said all along that you want to get to November with an opportunity and we've got that. Now we've got to finish that off and play well and win this weekend. South Florida is a great challenge for us, I think it's another Homecoming game; we seem to be everyone's Homecoming this year. That's good, we like that. Should be a great crowd, great atmosphere for college football. I know our guys are excited to be playing; we're confident that we'll go down there and play good football."
On the bye week
"We tried to really teach, we're going through the process of understanding what it takes to be a top 20 team. The rigors and preparation and the mental ability to handle week in and week out being that team that can be a top 20 team. Its new territory for us, I think we've learned a lot about it, the kids have learned a lot about it, especially the younger guys. It's the entire group that needs to learn about how you stay up there, how do you play consistently week after week. So we really used this week to show our kids what it takes. It's hard to do it each and every week."
On the offensive line
"There a group that they'll give you all they have, they practice hard, and they compete hard. They do everything that we ask him to do. Obviously, from our standpoint, every position you want to get better. Their committed to getting better, they've done a great job transitioning from an offensive line that was shoe to shoe, eight inch splits, power drive off the line. To more lateral zone, inside outside zone. It's been a huge adjustment for them. I can't question their commitment, and how hard their working."
On South Florida
"(Matt) Grothe is just a competitive kid, in everything that he does; his style just rubs off on the team on offense. They're grinders, they continue to play and they've got some skill on the perimeter. If you get lazy and let that kid run around and he can find someone down the field. Clearly, he's the reason they've had success on the offensive side of the ball. They do have some complementary receivers, but we've seen some pretty good receivers as well. The back is tough and physical, but it's Matt Grothe and his ability to make plays, and not always in the realm of offense."