Football: Coach Stewart Press Conference Quotes
September 08, 2009 04:16 PM | General
By MSNsportsNET.com
Sept. 8, 2009
Opening Statements
This Saturday, at our football game against East Carolina, there will be child identification packets handed out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This partnership between the FBI and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) was first established January 8, 2002, and we are very proud of this partnership. Members of our local FBI will be distributing these kits halfway through the fourth quarter.
My observations after watching the film from last weekend, are that number one, we played hard. Number two, we did not play as smart as I would like for us to have played. We did not play dumb football, we just had a few communication breakdowns, and we need to play smarter.
The guys that I am most proud of after this game were, on offense, Jarrett Brown and Don Barclay. Defensively, J.T. Thomas and Julian Miller were co-players of the game. I thought both played hard. On special teams, I can’t imagine the rush going through his mind on the first kick, Tyler Bitancurt was awarded.
This week, East Carolina brings some talent. They won a tough game, and they played very well at times against Appalachian State. I really respect Patrick Pinkley, it all starts with him. He is tough to get out of rhythm and the game plan goes through him.
Their defense comes at you, and they play hard. They don’t make a lot of mistakes. Their kicking game has a lot of speed, athleticism and they have guys that follow the plan. East Carolina is solid, and they should be tough. It will be a hard fought football game.
On Julian Miller
Julian did a nice job with second-effort rushing. He did not have any free shots on the quarterback, but once he engaged the blocker, he really got after it.
I think Julian Miller brings some speed to our defense, particularly on the front. He is an athlete like Scooter (Berry) and Chris (Neild). He is a guy that has stepped up and that is going to help our football team.
A pretty good football coach named Bill Kirelawich helped step him up. He spent his time on the scout team, he got to play some last year and that opened his eyes a little. I thought he had a very good spring; he just hadn’t done it in the arena like he did on Saturday.
On Ryan Clarke
He (Ryan Clarke) was physical, he had a few pancakes, where he knocked the guy flat on his back, and I thought he ran the ball hard when he had a chance. He is getting better. It is all ahead of him, but he has a chance to be a pretty good football player.
On Reed Williams
I looked out there one time and said that I was glad number 47 (Reed Williams) was out there in the middle of the defense. He looked like he was having a ball. He was enjoying himself, he was playing downhill, he was playing fast and he did a nice job. We didn’t play him the entire game, because we didn’t want to. We have other guys that can play, but it was nice to have Reed and his senior leadership back.
On the Status of Wes Lyons
That is an issue that will be handled by Dave Kerns and our medical staff. He should play, but if he is not 100 percent or at least close to it, he won’t. It will be left up to the trainers.
On the Offensive line
I thought our offensive line handled the stunts and twist pretty adequately. They were thrown things that we haven’t seen.
On Last Season’s ECU Game
I was not pleased and the players were not pleased. I talked to them about how you have to do more than just out and put on the old Gold and Blue, you have to go out there and block and tackle. I was not very happy after the game last year.
On Robert Sands
He didn’t start because the guy that started did better in practice, and that goes for every position. But Robert Sands came on and had a pretty good game. Competition is healthy. He is excited and if he works hard, maybe he will come out for the opening play.
On Getting Over the First-Game Jitters
I believe that each and every game you can get better. I’ve heard that most teams improve the most between games one and two, but I don’t know if I’d go that far. I think we got better all last year. I hope we continue to get better this year, I just hope we do it quicker this season.
On Patrick Pickney
He (Patrick Pickney) does not turn the ball over, he moves the chains and he does what he is asked to do. He really knows how to take care of the football. That is what each and every quarterback needs to do. If you take care of the football, you have a chance to be in contention at the end of the game.
On the Progression of the Corners and Secondary
They have gotten better. Brandon Hogan and Keith Tandy will just have to play smart and sound, but we are going to have to help them. We need to get pressure, we need to drop and confuse the quarterback and we need to help our corners because they are going to be tested.
On Coach Chris Beatty
Chris Beatty is a decent human being, a fine man and a tremendous role model, as all of our coaches are. I have a great staff. We have some fine men of society, they are great dads, great husbands and they live life the way you are supposed to live it. We all stumble in our walk, but our players have great men to emulate. So far, Noel, Jock and the rest of the guys have tried to emulate the kind of guy Chris Beatty is and that is special.
On ECU vs. Appalachian State
I think Appalachian State is good football team. What happens is sometimes you get ahead and you relax. Then here they come and you have a problem on your hands. It will be a chess match on Saturday. I think those who strain the longest and play the toughest will win the football game.
