Football: Tuesday Evening Player Quotes
September 01, 2010 09:41 AM | General
September 1, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University player quotes from Aug. 31.
Ivan McCartney
On playing at WVU verses in Miami
The rivalry in Miami, Fla., is really tough so after playing in an environment like that, butterflies don’t stay too long. Playing in front of 70,000 people might get to me at first but I’m sure after five minutes, it’ll go away. I’m just ready to get back into this football mode and help the team win the BIG EAST.
Differences in preparing for college games
With watching film, it’s the same way we did it in high school because my high school head coach set film up just the way they do in college. The only difference is practice because the tempo is really fast in college compared to what it was in high school.
On contributing to the team as a freshman
It was always my dream to play on this level and coming in, I never expected myself to play as a true freshman. But with hard work, things happen. I’ve worked my butt off every since I got here on June 6, and I worked my way into the rotation.
Ryan Clarke
On hopes for the season
My personal goals are to do well in everything I’ve been working on in the off-season like blocking, my footwork and technique. I just want to be ready to do whatever I need to do to help the team win.
On getting the season started
I’m really excited because I feel like this year is a whole new atmosphere. When the team is all together, it’s awesome and I’m really excited for Saturday.
On the potential for offense
The only people that can stop us is us. There’s too many threats, too many positions, too many people for the defense to be able to guard one person as far as running and passing. They’re going to have to be able to defend everything.
Short yardage package
We ran it last year with the same people, except Matt Lindamood as an extra blocker. We just critiqued everything from last year and we’re able to run plays better now.
Noel Devine
On opening up the season at home
Of course I’m happy about that and I’m excited about it all. I’m ready to go out and prove what our team has to offer this year and define our status. I think we’re going to be a special team this year.
On opening with a FCS school
We need to take one at a time and not take any of them lightly. We just need to work on our game, even though they are FCS. We just need to keep getting better and compete. Just like Michigan a couple years back when they lost to Appalachian State. You can’t take any team lightly because you never know.
On the overall speed of the team
I think we have it all and I believe we’re unstoppable, not to sound big-headed or anything. We have too many weapons and you just can’t kill me, and that’s the way it should be. You have to respect Jock and Tavon and Bradley, along with the rest of the line. They can game plan all they want, but you never know what we’ll hit you with because we also have Ryan Clarke who is a power back.
On difference in offensive line
The difference from last year is our dedication and maturity. They grew a lot and learned since last year, so they’re ready to get out there and prove to people that they can do it. They started to get told that they weren’t any good, but that just gave them the drive to work hard in the off-season and they certainly did.
On Jock and Noel’s relationship
It’s just like when you have three brothers and everyone has a favorite brother. He’s just like my favorite brother. My team is my family and we’re on the same team, he’s just my favorite brother.
Jock Sanders
On Jock and Noel’s relationship
It’s indefinable. We just had that instant vibe. We’re just always on the same page because we’re around each other so much. Whether right or wrong, we’re on the same page.
On anticipation for the first game.
I usually don’t get nervous or get the jitters, but that first game always excites me. It’s always exciting but after that first game, I’m in the zone. It’s been five or six months since we’ve ran out of the tunnel, so just running through the tunnel in the first games gives me the jitters.
On first game opponents
We‘re okay as long as we prepare right because the game is going to be won throughout the week before, not on game day. So if we prepare right, it doesn’t matter who we‘re lined up against because we‘re going to get the job done.\We just need to prepare how we should to win that specific game.
