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Press Conference: Frank Beamer

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Opening Statement: “The news right now is that we have lost our second tackle on defense. Kwamaine Battle was the first and then Antoine Hopkins, who I think is being operated on on Friday. That’s a tough loss for us. We have two freshmen in either Corey Marshall or Luther Maddy that will start in there. Isaiah Hamlette has been working and then we’ll bring Dwight Tucker up and get him some work this week.

“This Miami team we are about to play, they are just a typical Miami team. They are big and tough up front, they have some good athletes on the field. Jacory Harris is very talented, they have some tall receivers there in, He has Allen Hurns, Tommy Streeter and LaRon Byrd to throw to and they have some pass guys like Travis Benjamin, Phillip Dorsett and Kendal Thompkins to throw to. This running back, Lamar Miller, I think is exceptional; he averages about a 127 yards per game. Between him and Mike James, at the tailback position, I think they are getting about 170 yards out of that position.

“This is a very, very challenging game for us. I think we’re close, defensively I think we’d like to take about four plays out of the game. Offensively, when you watch it, it’s not like we just scored three points. We did, but there are a lot of good plays and we’ve just got to have a little more consistency. We’re so close on so many plays, as you watch the film and how we started out. As physical as we were playing, it just doesn’t seem right that we only scored three points. We were close to scoring more, but it’s just a matter of getting it done.”

Are you still planning on redshirting Kris Harley?

“Yeah, that’s the plan right now. We’ll get Dwight in there and get him some work. It’s going to be a lot of substituting going on there, but those freshmen have really come along, they’ve gotten better. Now they are going to be seeing quite a few more plays. They are both talented and they have good want-to so we’re going to go get them ready.”

What are your thoughts on the left tackle position and how do you go forward there?

“I think we are better than what it showed there in the end. The guys were getting a great jump. One time Lanier’s eyes were back inside when the ball snapped, so he was just a hair late getting off. Another time I thought the guy had a hand in our facemask and that kept us from being able to block him. I think we are better at that position than what came across at the very end. When you get into those third-and-longs and they know you’re going to throw and you have a good athlete over on the other side, that’s a challenge.”

How important is this Miami and do you have concerns about it after Clemson?

“It’s big. I said that this weekend, when we lost to Clemson it only made this [Miami] game bigger. There’s no question about the significance of this one.

“I think from an offensive standpoint we are as close as you can get there. It’s not like we have no hope. There are a lot of great things there. The way we started out that ballgame, we were very physical. I mean, we turned the ball over twice but we played hard throughout. We tried to throw the ball to Boykin one time and he runs 30-40 yards and the ball gets tipped. It was just a little something here and a little something there. I do think we are close offensively, and of course defensively there’s only four plays that made us feel like, “okay, we need to take those out of there.” It’s not like we have 20 plays we’d like to take out of there. It’s a matter of staying on course and continuing to work and getting better.”

How have things gone with Coach O’Cain as the play-caller so far this year?

“I think it has worked well. I like the way our called plays have gone. The one time we called a timeout, then got back on the field late and the noise loud and we jumped the snap. That’s not a signal from the sideline or delay of game type of thing. I think it’s going okay. It was kind of an unusual game. We had things rolling then had something happen, and it’s hard to get in a groove when you have good things happening and then all of a sudden there is a setback. I think our procedure is fine on the sideline.”

What do you think of Jayron Hosely’s play this season and what makes him so great?

“I think he’s playing well. He’s just a guy with great instincts and super ability. He loves to play the game and he’s an important part of our football team. I think it’s just instincts, he’s got great anticipation. He’s got a good football sense, and the game is just natural to him. I think he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen at just playing the ball. His body and how he gets it in position to catch a ball, I just think is very natural to him.”

Do you guys have any ties with Atlantic High School down in Florida?

“Charley Wiles has good relationships down there and we’ve just been fortunate enough to come out of there with some great players. I think when you get a few out of there you can get a few more and we’ve been very fortunate in that regard.”

What kind of factor were the noise and the band on Saturday?

“I think what happened, they started the 25-second clock and that got on us a little bit and we were rushing back out there to get the play off and I think we surprised the band with how quickly we got to the line and were ready to run the play. I guess the band was playing. They said they couldn’t hear the snap count.”

What is your reaction to David Wilson’s ability to stay alive during that big run?

“He gave great effort and ran hard. Even the time he fumbled, he was running hard but the guy just put his headgear on the ball. You don’t have to worry about lack of effort from David Wilson, I can promise you that. I don’t have his stats right here to see how many broken tackles and yards after contact he had but there was a lot.”

Is the rugby kick something Scott Demler is familiar with and how does it help with the wind?

“The change up is good to have against the wind and he did it in high school, until his senior year he rugby kicked. He’s pretty good at it. All of those things came into play there. I think the rugby kick can be part of our procedure back there.”

On throwing the long ball down field:

“I think you always have to take your shots down the field and keep everybody honest. I think that has to be part of our game plan. The wind can get you both ways. When you are against it, it’s hard, and when you’re with it it’s hard to get the exact right timing on that thing. Throwing a deep ball in the wind is not an easy thing.”

Was Logan Thomas’ shoulder hurt Saturday and did that affect the play calling?

“I think you have to be smart there. I think he’s fine but I don’t think he needs to take a lot of hits [on that shoulder] either. It affected our play calling, I can tell you that, as far as how many times we wanted tot run him.”

What are your thoughts on Thomas’ confidence level at this point in the season?

“I think he’s fine. He doesn’t need to think anything except to keep getting better. That first interception was just a couple feet off. It was a great pass and could have been a great play. Overall, he did a good job. He missed one check-off but it’s all part of growing as a quarterback. Tyrod texted Coach Stinespring and said he missed the guy on that flat when I was just starting out, so if you go to the flat with it then you’d probably go to the end zone. To me, that’s just part of learning and growing. I think Logan is fine, he’s a smart guy, he’s poised, he doesn’t panic. I like him as our quarterback and I like him as the leader of this football team.”

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