Opening Statement: “I think this Virginia team is playing with a lot of confidence and they should. They’re playing well. Playing extremely well. Playing hard. I think the quarterback is making good decisions for them. Running backs are excellent. Big and strong up front offensively. The receivers – they have some playmakers out there. Defensively, again, strong up front. Physical. So we got our work cut out for us.”
On response to national criticism of Virginia Tech’s early season schedule: “Not really. What I would say is that I think we’re a football team that has improved. Improved where we are. I’m proud of where this football team is. And I also think people respect our program. I think the coaches that-I don’t know where we’re ranked in all the polls to be quite honest with you-but I think in the Coaches Poll, are we fourth or fifth or something?”
Clarification from Mark Giannotto on Virginia Tech’s ranking: “Yeah you’re fourth in the Coaches Poll, fifth in the Harris Poll and sixth in the AP Poll.”
On clarification of rankings: “Yeah, but I do think fourth is respect for our program, how we do things and how we have consistently been able to win here at Virginia Tech. I think that’s a reflection on that.”
On if he’s surprised of Virginia’s recent winning streak: “No, they’ve had a great month. They’ve had some great wins and played some great football. They’ve played some excellent football, so they deserve all the credit.”
On how much more difficult his job and the jobs of the coaching staff become when the in-state rival is playing well in terms of recruiting: “Well I think it’s good for the state of Virginia, for both programs here in the state to be doing well. We’ll continue to do the things we do and we’ve been doing them this way for a long time and been able to recruit well for a long time, so we’re going to continue to do the things we’ve done for a lot of years.”
On what he thinks the biggest difference is this year with Virginia: “I think the quarterback makes a difference. I think those two running backs or actually three running backs – (Perry) Jones, (Kevin) Parks and (Clifton) Richardson make a difference. I think they’re a year older in their defense. They got a couple guys up front that are seniors there in 94 (Matt Conrath) and 56 (Cam Johnson) that I think really help them out. I think they’ve added some skill to their football team, which helps them out. I think that’s made a difference.”
On if he can provide an update on Andrew Miller and Alonzo Tweedy and their status for Saturday: “No we’re going to have to see how that goes this week.”
On if 2007 was the last time the Virginia Tech-Virginia game meant something: “Yeah, I believe you’re right in saying that. I think so. But you better check that.”
On if the players have a greater respect for Virginia and a greater sense of urgency going into this week: “I think our players have always had respect for Virginia. I don’t think it’s ever been any other way. Certainty when you look at it, it means who wins the Coastal and who gets a chance to play in the ACC Championship. I think they understand how important it is.”
On if he can give a reason on why David Wilson’s fumbling issues have come up again: “No, I just think he gets running so hard with so much effort sometimes and the ball gets around there. But I don’t think it’s anything. He’s not fumbling guy. He runs hard and runs with great effort. He’s not a fumble guy.”
On Detrick Bonner’s game playing the whip linebacker position on Thursday against North Carolina: “I thought it was ok. At times, he played like a new guy playing a new position. But he always played with great effort. He’s a tough guy and the more he plays it (whip) the better, he’ll get.”
On if he expects Bonner to play whip again on Saturday: “It’s early in the week here. We’re just starting our game plans today-or yesterday really.”
On the offensive line’s early game struggles against UNC: “Well the first one (play), we just got in the wrong formation and missed a block. That was it, but what I was proud of was I don’t think we ever panicked. We kept doing our thing and got things corrected.”
On if he saw the ending of the Virginia-Florida State game on Saturday: “I did watch the end of it. It was back and forth there quite a bit to be honest with you. A lot of things going on that were really going to determine the ball game. So it was one of those type game.”
On if he’s ever been in a game like the Virginia-Florida State game when the teams were brought back on the field after time had expired: “No, I don’t believe so. I can’t recall one like that.”
On Virginia’s running back Perry Jones lining up in different spots and how that makes it difficult on defenses: “Yeah, the kid’s got 41 catches. That’s a lot of catches. They’re moving him around. Is he a back, is he a wide receiver? Certainly they’ve got a lot of flexibility there and you better be able to adjust.”
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Chris Graham
