Football: Day Five Player/Coach Quotes
August 06, 2008 07:28 PM | General
August 6, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Coach Bill Stewart and player quotes following Wednesday afternoon's practice:
Head Coach Bill Stewart
On today’s practice
We had a very impressive practice in the heat and humidity, which is great, and that was really fun. It was warm, and it was a pretty good day today. Today was much better than yesterday.
We went through practice faster in pads today then we did yesterday in shells. That tells you that they have been working pretty well. The fourth day is usually the toughest, and that was yesterday, and we were pulling teeth. It was a good practice, because we competed and got after it.
Had a couple rousing moments out there today which was good, and we had to put some guys on the stadium bleachers just to cool them down. Its funny how running up and down stadium steps in full pads will calm one’s aggressiveness down. They think I’m the nicest guy since Mr. Rodgers I guess, and I am a nice guy. The trouble is, when you do something that isn’t apropos to the Old Gold and Blue, you will pay an immediate price. I’m not going to raise my voice; I will just tell them to hit the bleachers. We will coach, and they will play.
We were done two minutes behind in a padded practice on a hot day. I’m really proud of the Mountaineers today. We are going to do things right. We will cross our T’s and dot our I’s.
On Alric Arnett
He is an outstanding receiver, and he is going to have a chance to be a pretty good one here. I mentioned this today to the team after practice: I know everyone is hurting, heck, I’m hurting, but that’s the way it is-it’s football. Alric Arnett had some stomach problems and had a hard day out there but he just kept at it, kept hitting it. That was special. A year ago, coming from junior college, I don’t know if he would have done that. That’s not a slam at him, that is just how you learn to mature in a Division I program at the caliber of West Virginia University. That is very, very nice to see to see him step up to the plate and see him strain a little bit. He made some nice catches and a good touchdown catch. I thought he had a good day.
On Brandon Hogan
Brandon Hogan keeps showing up and showing up. That boy is going to be a player, and he really stepped up. He stepped up so well that there is no longer a question. D.J. Thomas went to the slot today. I made that decision last night. He just keeps stepping up and showing up.
Kent Richardson is showing up. Ellis Lankster had another good day and the defense again showed up. That was cool to see.
On offense and defense
The offense won the pass skeleton drill today, which they should. They should win skeleton, because there are no lines, no rush and a four second count until the defense starts. They did well.
Defense came back and bumped rush them. The defense was swarming and that was good to see.
The good thing was is that we ran some gassers and ran them a little bit after 20 periods of practice. I thought that was a good thing to do. They didn’t but when we put the ball down and went another 20 minutes of pretty intense practice, the offense came through, and I was pleased with that. You tire people, you stress people and that way you don’t have to raise your voice. All you have to do is gut them, in a nice fashion. We stressed them and tired them a bit. We put them to the test and that was good.
Pat McAfee missed his first field goal today, and I swear I thought he was going to bite through his mouth piece, into his chin strap, and start gnawing at his facemask. So, when he got another chance, he hit it and about knocked off whatever is on the scoreboard. He was really intense and that was good to see. Pat is a competitor. He punted today extremely well.
Our quarterbacks did a good job today again.
On players who are hurt
Pat Liebig has not been cleared yet, but we will hopefully hear tomorrow. Ryan Stanchek is coming along nicely. He is going to practice tomorrow. He was in full gear today and did some footwork and tomorrow he’ll be back but we’re going to watch them. The trainers and our medical staff call all the shots here at West Virginia. I’m just very hesitant when you know that you have a guy that can do it, I don’t want to push him. He has three weeks to get ready, and he’ll get ready.
Dorrell Jalloh tried hard today, he just got knocked pretty hard but he’s ok. This is football, you get knocked up sometimes. Will (Johnson) sprained his right ankle and was out today but he’ll be ok. Everything is precautionary at this point. If they have to suck it up and go, then we do that, but we’re cautious. Tonight, there is a pizza party. Old softy Bill Stewart will have a pizza party for the Mountaineers and we will break bread together.
Max Anderson had a slight hamstring pull and we’re just watching Sammy run. We know what Sammy can do and he has done a tremendous job on special teams. Sam Marrone has been such a mainstay in this program, I do not want to lose him four days into camp, and four weeks away from the first game. We know what those guys can do but they will be back in the fray quickly.
On Sam Marrone
He is a sharp guy. He is the guy that serves as the right shield to the kicker’s leg on special teams. That is how much I trust Sammy Marrone. He’s also going to play at tight end.
Defensive back Ellis Lankster
On his off season training
The offseason training has paid off. The 20 pounds I lost is really helping out. I’m moving faster side to side and that’s really good.
On the most improved aspect of his game
My one-on-one coverage has really improved. I can shuffle side to side a lot better and the coaches have helped me out a lot. Coach Lockwood has helped me learn to be quicker.
On learning from his teammates
I’m learning a lot from Quinton Andrews. He is communicating with me before the play, and he will tell me to take inside leverage or outside leverage.
On Brandon Hogan
Brandon Hogan, in his first five days, has really showed a lot. He might be a starter if he keeps practicing hard. The coaches love him.
Wide Receiver Jock Sanders
On the fifth day of practice
Yesterday was a hard day, but today was harder because we had full pads on and the sun was out. Yesterday it was supposed to rain so we clouds but when the sun is out, you get drained a lot faster. For me, today was the hardest day of camp so far.
On looking ahead to Villanova
I’m not looking ahead to Villanova just yet. I’m ready to get through camp, and I know there are a lot of things we have to get right before we get to that point where we are getting ready for Villanova.
On the camp overall
Everything is going right so far; we’re coming together and I like our new staff. All the new things that the staff is trying to do with us is going very well and we’re starting to click.
