Football: WVU Coach Stewart and Player Quotes
April 17, 2010 02:25 PM | General
April 17, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University coach Bill Stewart and selected player quotes from Saturday’s scrimmage.
Coach Bill Stewart
Opening Statements
It was a real good morning. We have a lot of nice junior prospects on campus, and it has been a wonderful morning. I think they saw an enthusiastic scrimmage, a spirited practice and some good and bad plays. But that is what spring practice is about. We are in the eighth day and half way through spring camp.
On today’s scrimmage
I liked our defensive tenacity. They got after it. I was really proud of our first team defense. If you were here for the pass skeleton though, I wasn’t really pleased defensively. Offensively, Geno (Smith) went down that field, and he was hot.
It was nice to see No. 7 (Noel Devine) and No. 9 (Jock Sanders) out there. I thought they both had a really good day. I was also really pleased with Tavon Austin, particularly in the pass skeleton plays.
On Geno Smith
Today was as good of a day as I have seen the Mountaineer quarterback throw the ball in pass skeleton in a long, long time. In the soon to be 11 years I have been here, Geno was hot. He was hitting the target, his reads were good and his timing was good. He just looked really good.
I thought Coley (White), when we went into the scrimmage, did some nice things. He runs the option very well, and he made some nice throws.
On the progress of spring practice
Up to day eight, I am pleased. I think we are gelling very well. I am really pleased with the left side of the line, and I am really happy with our receivers.
Ryan Clarke ran hard today and did a good job in the short yardage stuff.
Defensively, I am really pleased with the front three. I think Chris Neild is a force, Julian Miller bashed his helmet today he was playing so hard and J.T. Thomas looked really good.
I am so excited about our safeties. I see Robert Sands and Sidney Glover doing a really good job. This is the best our safeties have looked since the Ryan Mundy, Eric Wicks days.
On the kicking gam Field goal kicks were not very good today, and we have to get better. We made some in the scrimmage and that is ok.
On Tavon Austin
I think it speaks volumes of what type of young man he is. He caught a touchdown pass yesterday, but he had a couple of plays he didn’t go full speed. He sought me out today and told me he would never loaf on the field again. He is out there at receiver but he is a future running back who is going to take over for Noel (Devine), then he and Ryan Clarke will be the 1-2 punch like we have now.
PLAYER QUOTES Coley White Coach always told me that it was my grip and my lower half. It has nothing to do with my arm, it is all in my lower half and my grip. Now, being able to use my lower half and grip the ball better has helped my throw a lot.
I didn’t think I did too well today. We threw the ball a little bit today, but I just didn’t feel I played well today.
Noel Devine There has been a lot of improvement between last year’s day one to now and this year’s day one to now. Since I have been here in the spring, this has been the best spring so far.
Of course I am glad I made the decision to come back, I am sitting here smiling and I love everything about it. I just had to trust in God and believe that everything happens for a reason. I am ready to get back to work and go out with a bang in my senior season.
Robert Sands I am pleased with the progress we are making. We are making baby steps, but after a while we have to grow up. In the summer that is when have to show what we put into the spring.
There is more experience at the safety position this year. It is a lot of hard work and dedication on our part. We watch extra film and put in the extra hours. We also talk out there. Communication is a big key to our defense.
