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Quotes From 2003 ACC Football Kickoff
July 23, 2003
CLEMSON John Leake, Senior, Linebacker "That bowl game was terrible. I've watched that game over and over and over again. It's shameful, it's terrible, it's unacceptable. We're just going to have to improve. There were some good things about that game, but not many. We just need to look forward to our first game against Georgia and get better." "Georgia, I believe, will be in the top 15, and if we can come out there and play as well as we're capable of playing and beat them, that might get us in the top 25. That's a statement game -- it can break us or help us. We just look forward to playing those guys in Death Valley, doing the best we can and winning that game." Gregory Walker, Senior, Offensive Tackle "We take pride in running the football. The seniors on the offensive line, myself and Will Henry, we went back and told the offense that it's all on us. (The offensive line) sets the pace, sets the tone for the entire team. If we do well, the team does well. If we run the ball well, it's good for the defense because the defense gets refreshed." "Last year, we had faith in Charlie (Whitehurst) and Willie (Simmons). It really didn't matter which one was behind us ... Experience really isn't a factor. Charlie has the mindset of a senior quarterback." DUKE Alex Wade, Senior, Running Back
"I've been here for five years now. When I was a true freshman, that was a good team that unfortunately only won three games. Part of it had to do with a new coach coming in and having to adjust to a new system, so they didn't know all the nuances of it that first year, and it was unfortunate for them because they had a lot of guys go to the pros off that team. They just couldn't get the wins. I honestly think if this year's team were to play that team, we would win by a lot." Matt Zielinski, Senior, Noseguard "Last year there was a lot of emphasis on getting that one win since we hadn't won in two years. After that win happened, we weren't satisfied -- you don't get satisfied with just one win. We definitely play each week and don't look ahead, but if we win an ACC game, it won't be that big of a deal because we plan on winning more." "The fact that we've only lost one or two players from last year to this has definitely pushed us through the summer through those workouts where you want to walk away and cry because they are so tough." FLORIDA STATE Michael Boulware, Senior, Linebacker "We just need to come together as a team and do all the little things right. We have the talent, but we really haven't played as one yet. Once we get that back, things will fall into place." "People are still trying to beat us, we're still the standard (in the ACC) and everybody still worries about us. We're just trying to compete for a national championship. We have to take it game-by-game, but if we do the little things, we'll be alright." Greg Jones, Senior, Running Back "Last year was a major disappointment. We had 14 games and lost five. For a lot of teams, nine wins is spectacular, but for us it's disappointing. Our expectations are a little higher down here." "I think I'm 100 percent right now. I'm doing everything the other guys are doing, it feels great, it doesn't hinder me and it doesn't feel sore." "(Chris Rix) is great, and I'm behind him 100 percent. He's capable of doing the job, and I can't say enough about him. Athletically, he's gifted, and I'm behind him 100 percent." GEORGIA TECH John Paul Foschi, Senior, Tight End
"I think it has taken our team a year to adjust to (Chan Gailey's) philosophy and his way of playing football. I think we've all become comfortable with him and we're feeling good about him as our coach. We're ready to play this season." "It's a good thing we lost (Tony Hollings) early in the summer because we've had time to adjust to it. The chemistry right now is great, we're all working really hard in the weight room, we're together every week. We're not really thinking about much, we're just ready to get out on the field and play." Daryl Smith, Senior, Linebacker "On the defensive side of the ball, our philosophy is, if the other team doesn't score and we keep them off the board, then we've done our job. We know the offense will do its job, so we're not really worried." MARYLAND Bruce Perry, Senior, Running Back
"We know how it feels to be a champion, and we feel as if we had a great opportunity last year to do it again, and things just didn't work out the way we hoped. This year we're more focused on winning each game, and we feel as though the games will add up in the end." Madieu Williams, Senior, Free Safety "I don't think any one guy can replace an E.J. Henderson, who brought so much to the defense and to the University of Maryland. Guys like myself are going to have to step up and work together - it will have to be leadership by committee." "(Shawne Merriman) is a freak of nature. When he came in last year, it was hard to tell that he was a freshman. The way he's built, his demeanor, the way he carries himself, he's very confident - which he has every right to be - he's going to be a great player for us, especially this coming year." NORTH CAROLINA Bobby Blizzard, Senior, Tight End "Almost our whole incoming class came in at the beginning of summer workouts. How may teams can say that their whole recruiting class came in for the whole summer? Me being a senior, we have a couple of receivers that are supposed to come in and play as freshmen, and they are highly-touted, and I take it upon myself to show them things they don't know." "(Incoming freshman running back) Ronnie McGill is one of those athletes that's one in a million. I've never seen a freshman strong the way he is. He came into the system as one of the strongest guys on the team. He kind of reminds me of Julius Peppers in that he doesn't have too many weaknesses, and he's the total athlete. People already call him 'The Franchise' so we expect big things out of him." Dexter Reid, Senior, Free Safety "I don't want to remember last year, but I went through 3-9 and I don't want to go through it again. Some days, you just don't have it, you just really don't want to work out ... Sometimes you need an extra motivational factor. I put 3-9 above my locker, and sometimes that adds a little icing to the cake in that you don't want to go through another 3-9 year. I see that every time I change clothes." "You're supposed to defend your backyard, and to go winless the whole year at home, you're kind of not showing your appreciation for all of the fans coming out and showing their support for the university. We're going to try to change that around this year." NC STATE Philip Rivers, Senior, Quarterback
"I feel like I've made great strides these last three years, even though statistics-wise it might not show. There are plenty of little things that you can do to get better as a quarterback that the average fan doesn't see, from footwork to knowing where your fourth receiver is ... and that can be the difference between having a great season and having a mediocre season." "I'm just going to focus on team goals, which is winning a conference championship and taking it one game at a time. If those individual awards come along with it, then that certainly would be a great honor ... You certainly think about it and you know about it, and you think about all the great quarterbacks that have been in the conference and at NC State, but if we do as a team what we're supposed to do, and if I'm fortunate enough to stay healthy like I have been, then those things should take care of themselves." "I don't like to look over teams, but I like to look forward to big games, and (playing at Ohio State) is definitely going to be one. It's not every day you get to play the national champion on national TV, so I'm looking forward to it." Andre Maddox, Junior, Roverback "Our defense has a lot of speed, and we have a lot of young guys returning, but we lost D'Antonio Burnette, Terrence Holt and the front four. Collectively, as a group, we're going to have to step up to help fill those guys' shoes to make this defense successful." "I'm a Miami native, so with Miami coming into the conference, I'm very excited. Also, with Virginia Tech, both of the teams are usually in the top 10 every year. I think it will be good for the ACC and good for football." VIRGINIA Matt Schaub, Senior, Quarterback
"I like having a lot of (different guys in the backfield). It brings a lot of versatility to our offense and a lot of different weapons. Each guy is pretty versatile and can do different things for us, whether it's running the ball or catching the ball. Letting them make plays is my responsibility, and I just need to get them the ball." "Heath Miller developed tremendously last year. He's a tremendous athlete for a guy his size. He came in as a quarterback and then made the transition to tight end. He embraced that change and worked really hard at it. He's got great ball skills, he's fairly quick for a guy his size, and he's great at running routes. It's hard for linebackers to stay with him and it's hard for safeties who are a lot smaller than him to cover him, so he creates a lot of mismatches for us." Almondo Curry, Senior, Defensive Back "(Matt Schaub) is definitely one of the biggest leaders on this team...He's matured and he's a lot more confident. He's more confident in what he says to the team as a whole, not just the offense. He lets us know when we're not practicing good, when we're not doing this good. He's really taken the role of being the captain of the whole team." "There's going to be a lot to say about this defense. We have a lot of depth on the defensive chart now, so our defense is going to be really improved this year." "Ahmad Brooks is an exceptional athlete, he has great football instincts, awareness. He still needs to learn the system, but by him coming in in the spring, I think that has helped him a lot also." WAKE FOREST Tyson Clabo, Senior, Offensive Guard "I know I've learned a lot from all of (our close losses), and I know that everyone who played in those games remembers it. If it doesn't make you sick, then there's something wrong with you. It's important to remember, because if you don't, you didn't learn anything." "Moving from tackle to guard, there was a slight adjustment period there, but now I feel comfortable playing either one, and I'll probably play a little bit of both this season." Quintin Williams, Senior, Free Safety "The past couple of years, our secondary was young and inexperienced, but now we have everybody coming back. I think that's good because we're going to have to be the strength of our defense, and losing great players like Calvin Pace, Montique Sharpe and Rod Stephen, we have to make up for that. It's going to take a complete defensive effort." "I was glad to hear that (coach Grobe) signed such a long contract. Even though I'll be gone, I'll be able to watch Wake Forest play like their hair is on fire for 10 more years, and that's a great thing."
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