Football: Bill Stewart New Conference Quotes
September 01, 2009 04:41 PM | General
By MSNsportsNET.com
Sept. 1, 2009
Opening Statements
I would like to begin with National College Colors Day. I hope that each and every Mountaineer fan would please wear gold and blue on Friday for the celebration and on Saturday for the game.
I don’t know where this football team is, but we are going to find out. Like you, I want to see these men in the arena. They have worked hard, and it has been physical. We have hit, and we have gotten after it, but we don’t know where we are and the barometer is the other team. Liberty comes in here after a 10-2 record last season, and we are going to find out where we are on the barometer.
With that being said, I am excited. I want to see us play, the staff wants to see us play and the fans want to see us play. Most importantly, our players want to play. They want to get out there and get after it. They are tired of hitting each other. We’ve had crisp, sharp, tough practices. This Sunday was a nice practice, Monday we were off and today we will go out in full pads and hit a little bit.
I want to hit live on kickoffs, and I can’t wait to see it live on Saturday. I want to hit today on punt block as well and I can’t wait to see that. I want to see this offensive line, I want to see Jarrett Brown play, I want to see the short yardage, with Ryan Clarke and Ricky Kovatch, I want to see our defense and see if we fly around like everyone has been saying we are going to do, and I want to see our special teams.
On Tavon Austin
Tavon will be one of the punt returners. As I said a week ago, I trust Brandon Hogan and Jock Sanders. I trust those two, so on the first punt – they will be back there. On kickoff returns, Noel Devine and Mark Rogers, but I want to get Tavon in the game.
On Jock Sanders
I have thought about this for a long time. Jock (Sanders) has been through the grind, and he has done everything that he has been asked to do. He will be available after the game to talk to you.
On starting positions
We are pretty set after the scrimmages that we’ve had and I think what you see take the field is what has been indicated in our lineup.
On Jarrett Brown
There is a rush that goes through you that is unknown to man, unless you have been in the arena. It is absolutely breathe taking to come out of the tunnel in any stadium, on any field, on any level. I think I know what he (Brown) is going to do since he has been in the arena before.
I remember in 2006, we played a pretty good game here against Rutgers. We didn’t know till we came out that Pat White couldn’t go. So I told Jarrett he was going, and he gave me a big smile. That was probably one of the hardest games I have coached in my life, because it was tough, but he did a nice job and played like a champ. I hoping that is what happens this weekend and if not, we will settle him down, he has a fine coach.
On Liberty
This is a good football team, and they have a veteran offensive line. I see Tommy Beecher, he started at South Carolina, and he is a big guy. Then I see Mike Brown. I don’t know what they will do. Would you go with Beecher if he has a hot hand and stay with him, or would you pull him out and put that athlete Mike Brown in? Both have a lot that they bring to the table.
We aren’t going to get too fancy on either side of the ball, particularly in the kicking game.
When Mike Brown is in the game – are you going to blitz as much You always have to account for the option. We have tremendous option football coaches here, and I know they will have a plan. We will have a plan for that and someone will be assigned to him.
On preparing for Beecher
You just keep the speedy game. Today, we are going to go against each other fast. We are going to do the inside drill fast and physical for 10 minutes against each other. I pray that we don’t get anyone hurt, but that is football and you just have to prepare.
On Mike Brown playing receiver
We will find out where number 10 is and try to do the best that we can. He is a really talented athlete, and he is a good football player.
On WVU’s injury situation
It is good. We have been nicked up, but everyone is back. I just don’t know about Trippe Hale (groin). I would like to see him get out there and play because he is a special team’s leader and he is a guy that deserves to play, but he may have to be held one more week. That will hurt our punt and kickoff teams, because I really like what he brings.
On playing the first game
I know the fans are excited, and I’m excited. Most importantly, our players are excited. I just don’t want them stumbling because it is the first game. It is like Christmas, you just don’t know what you are going to get. I’m hoping that it will all work out.
On a first-half consistent team
We are looking for consistency. I know they will be excited. They are going to come out in front of 60,000 fans, and our fans are the best. But what we are going to do is see where the heart beat of this football team is at. I don’t know that yet, I think I do, I think Jarrett Brown is going to take care of the ball and be a good leader. I think Reed Williams will too, and I expect Scooter Berry and Chris Neild to do what they are supposed to do. But I want to see these young safeties can do. I want to see this young offensive line play, I am excited about them. This is all we have, and I am proud of them. Let them play and let’s turn them loose.
On the players receiving scholarships
Scott Loving has been first of all a gentleman on and off this field as have the other three, Josh Taylor, Ricky Kovatch and Mike Poitier. They have done everything this program has asked. I am very excited about those four young men because the type of youngsters they are. They have been here, they come to 6 a.m. workouts, they do what they are supposed to do and they give every ounce of sweat they can give to the old Gold and Blue.
They are good in the classroom, they are good in the community, and they are good teammates. We, as a staff, felt it was the right thing to do at the right time. Apparently the squad did to, because every seat was filled and it was a thunderous ovation when I flipped those guys the footballs.
On Liberty’s defense
They come after you, they play hard and they are strong. Their nose guard is a guy we recruited. He is about 380 pounds, and he sorts them out. They also have tough linebackers.
They are a veteran team, and I think their secondary is going to be tough. They throw the ball on offense, so their defense is used to seeing that. I worry about them blitzing us and trying to confuse our offensive line.
We are going to try to make them defend the whole field. I want to see if we can handle them.
On the Offensive Line
I want to see them go. We are young, but that is no problem.
On Liberty coach Danny Rocco
I have always admired Danny and his dad, his family and his brothers. They are great in the game of football and they great in the game of life. These are classy people.
He was named the head football coach when I was recruiting in Virginia, so I went to Lynchburg and stopped by. I went in gave him a big hug and told him how proud of him I was and how I hope he would do great – never knowing that we would play. I am going to pull for Danny Rocco most of the time, but this Saturday is not one of those times.
On wishing you had more time for the first game
We have looked and watched and practiced and we are just as antsy as the players. I wish it were Friday, but when Friday gets here I will wish it was Tuesday like any coach.
On where the focus is
Our eyes are on Liberty. If there is anyone in this program that doesn’t have their eyes on Liberty, then we have the wrong guys. I hope people understand that we have to worry about game one, before we worry about game two.
On keeping the team calm
We give our seniors a lot of input in this program. It is their football team. Saturday at noon, our journey will begin. The first impression is the most lasting and what will your roll be in it, that is the theme of the week.
On Noel Devine’s Speed with the young line
Noel has that burst and that speed that he can make a lineman look really good when he does an average job. We have seen that in the past. It is a great asset. The faster you are, the better you are.
On the kicking game
I hope they will be good, but I don’t know till I see them. I hope Scott Kozlowski punts well, if not Gregg Pugnetti or Josh Lider will go in. I hope Tyler Bitancurt kicks well, and I hope Lider does well on kickoffs. However, it starts with the snap. I hope Cody Nutter has a good game with the snaps for his confidence.
On the seniors
These guys have gelled in a real neat manner. Now does that make them a good football team, I don’t know? I know it gets us to the door. If you care about each other, and you play with a passion for the game with each other, it gets you the opportunity to excel out there in the spot light.
