University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Media Day
12/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 20, 2010
STORRS, Conn. -
The Univeristy of Connecticut football team held its media day on Monday for the 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Here are quotes from Randy Edsall and selcted players from the event.
Head Coach Randy Edsall Opening Statement:
"The first thing I want to do is congratulate Geno Auriemma , his staff and his players for tying the mark and I'm sure they'll erase that mark on Tuesday night. I hope people appreciate what they've done. From being a coach and having the opportunity to watch him coach and watch those girls play, you get great satisfaction from watching them. They do things the right way. They do the basics, they give everything that they have and he coaches that way. People can say what they want to say, but what they are doing is unprecedented. I don't care if its men or women, they should get the credit they deserve. If you can win 88 games in a row in anything, that's special. It's a lot harder going out there when you are expected to win each and every night. It's incredible. You have to talk about Geno Auriemma and John Wooden in the same breath now as the greatest coaches. He's one of the best coaches in the history of the game, men or women. It's incredible. I'm very proud of them and what they've accomplished. I wish them the best of luck Tuesday night in breaking that record. I'm sure they'll continue to grow that record as the year goes on too."
"In terms of Oklahoma, we are facing a very difficult test as we go out to phoenix on the 26th. I don't know if we can simulate in practice the speed in which their offense lines up and runs plays. They are averaging over 85 plays a game. An outstanding quarterback in Landry Jones, completing 65 percent. He knows where to go with the ball. Then when you have a receiver in Ryan Broyles with over 100 catches - a guy who is a game breaker, an excellent player that's an All-American. Demarco Murray, the running back, is a very good back. He runs the ball, catches the ball. He's an 1100 yard rusher with close to 60 catches. Then Stephenson up front is very good tackle. They are a well-oiled machine on offense. On defense, you get a team that's very athletic. They run extremely well and it makes for a tough time. Special teams are only giving up 3.2 yards in the punt return game. You know you have to be alert for fakes in the punting game as well as extra points and field goals. We've got a tremendous challenge ahead of us. We are preparing and preparing well. Their only weakness, if you look at red zone defense, they are ranked 112th in NCAA. Maybe if we can get the ball down in the red zone we'll have a chance I guess. Like I said, very sound and solid football team. That's why they are always in the top-10. They are extremely well coached."
On Oklahoma's speed:
"They have excellent team speed. I think we've played people like West Viriginia that has good team speed but Oklahoma is a very talented and fast team."
On special teams, punt coverage and punter Cole Wagner:
"Cole has gotten progressively better as the year has gone on. Just starting out as a redshirt freshman and punting for the first time, there were some nerves involved. He wanted to do really well. He had some issues each game there would be one bad punt. By the middle of the season, he got over that and has done a tremendously good job at putting the ball where we want it with hang time. Really, creating the field position that we like to have in the punting game. Hopefully, he'll continue that in the domed stadium and ideal conditions. Field position will be big in this game."
"A lot of the coverage has to do with the punter. The hang time and the distance allow our people to get down and cover the punt. Our kids really understand how important special teams and field position are. Not that they didn't run down hard before, but they want to go down and make sure they minimize the returns because again, field position is big."
On Zach Frazer:
"Zach's a winner. He can make the throws that we need him to make. He ends up finding a way to make plays that allow you to do the things that you want to do. He keeps the chains moving. He can get you a touchdown with the throw. Quarterbacks are usually judged by how many they win and how many they lose. It's not about the style points all the time. It's about do you win and make enough plays to help your team win. Those are the things that Zach's been able to do. Again, you take a look at these last few games, he's made some great throws. He's made some runs to keep the plays going. He makes the plays he needs to make to give us a chance to win. He hasn't thrown a lot of interceptions, that's what we want from your quarterback."
On Trevardo Williams' improvement and recruiting:
"I think it's a great story because of the fact that Trevardo has really worked his butt off to get where he is today. We knew about him the end of his junior year and he was a state champ in the 100m. I had a chance to see him at some of the state meets because my daughter was throwing at East Catholic High. So I was at those meets watching my daughter and he was there doing his thing. He's a young man that worked very, very hard. He had a goal in mind of where he wanted to be. He worked extremely hard and went to Canterbury Prep to further advance himself academically. You can just see him grow in the time that he's been here as a person, as a student and as an athlete. He wants to do well in everything that he does. He's one of the nicest guys you'll ever want to meet. Not very outspoken, kind of quiet, but I know that he's only gotten better and he will continue to get better because he has that mindset. To me, the credit really goes to Trevardo and his ability to want to do well."
On eliminating opposing teams' big plays the last four to five games:
"I think some of it is experience in the secondary. W e were playing with two guys in Mike Lang and Harris Agbor that were guys who hadn't really played their positions a whole lot. They got experience and we've kind of simplified things. We didn't play as much man-to-man coverage which cut down on the big plays. Our kids played better fundamentally really. They did a better job of executing the techniques that they were being asked to execute."
On the impact of a BCS game on the program:
"I don't think it has totally impacted the program at this point. We've seen a bump in recruiting but I think we'll see more of an impact next year with that. I think what it has done is brought a level of respect to the program. It's brought an appreciation to what these young men have done. I think people are starting to realize just how hard and how much of an accomplishment this is for the institution and the program. To be seven years in the BIG EAST to where we are now. There are only 10 teams a year that get this opportunity (BCS Game). To do it in the time period we did and not having a great football tradition originally, not being in an area loaded with Divison I recruits - I think people appreciate the hard work and what's gone in to make this happen. I think what's going happen is that we'll reap more benefits as each day goes on as we get through the next two years. I think we won't be called an up-and-coming program anymore. I think we've maybe erased that kind of a stigma. We've been to four bowls. We've won two conference championships - one outright basically. We've been to a BCS bowl and there are a lot of schools in our conference that haven't been to a BCS bowl or won a BIG EAST Championship. Maybe that will remove the up-and-coming tag. People will say now that we have a good football team. Regardless, we have t work our tails off each and every day to improve. That's the biggest thing now, to make sure now that this is accomplished, you don't become satisfied and put on all the weight from eating the food and praise people want to give you. You have to be humble and stay hungry with that mindset that got you here in the first place."
On the buzz around campus affecting the team:
"There's not much on campus since all of the students left. I think that's a good thing. The guy won't drink the poison and accept the pats on the back. The guys are excited to go out and play. When you grow up, you watch this stuff on TV and you dream about playing on New Year's Day and playing in one of these BCS games. Now they've grown up and they've earned the right to be there and experience it. The thing that they also understand is that they want to go out and play the best game they can possibly play. All the things we did in the previous games to get us here, we still have to go out and prepare to be the best team that we can be on January 1. You really don't get a chance to enjoy it. You really don't. You'll get a chance to enjoy it after the fact, but you really won't get a chance until after you've gone out and won the game. That's the only thing that will make you happy."
On the history of running backs performing well at UConn:
"When you look at what we've been able to do with running backs and the number of 1,000 yard rushers we've had here and you see Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) go out and have the game that he had yesterday over 100 yards, things along those lines really help you. You have two BIG EAST Players of the Year that were both running backs. I think people understand that our philosophy is that we are going to run the ball. Yeah we want to be balanced, but we want to always be able to run the ball. I was talking to a general manager the other day from the NFL trying to get some feedback and he said the one thing we do is that we understand who we are. We have two seasons up here. We have the fall and the winter. So where we are located, we better be able to run the football because when it gets cold, if you can't run the ball in those elements, you've really got no chance. That's who we are, that's what we want to be. So those are the things we try to sell those young men out there who are running backs. You have a chance to come here and here's the proof of what people have done here. To me, it's a philosophy that has worked for us that we'll continue to do. You play the cards you are dealt, you work to win games with what you have and that's what we do."
On kicker David Teggart and his job security after the Louisville game:
"I think David Teggart has had a really good year for us after the first part of the year. The second half of the year here, he's been absolute dead on with his contributions kicking field goals. He's a young man that has always had talent. Once he started to make sure he focused on the things he can control, he was very good. Kicking at the end of the year like he has, that's what we expect from him all the time. He has that kind of ability. Those are the things we expect out of him. Hopefully if he gets his opportunities in the Fiesta Bowl, he'll be as good as he's been at the end of this season. We alternated those guys. I might have not said it publicly, but we did that. We had the punters competing as well for spots. I think it's always healthy to know that you have someone there pushing you. As a leader, you have to use those things to motivate people. If there's someone who is struggling, you have to maybe give them that bump and say we need to see who this job belongs to - to get that edge back to where it should be. That's why competition is so great. With young kids, you get them to understand that nothing is guaranteed. A lot of these guys, you have to remember, have never been put in that position. In high school, they were the stars. They did what they wanted to do. Now at this level, guys can compete and get on the field. If the player isn't doing what he needs to do, you can't be afraid as a coach to say hey, we're giving someone else an opportunity. That's when you find out how much of a competitor that person is. He made himself better in that situation."
On the injuries at this point of the season:
"Everybody is really a full go right now. The only guys that are out are the five guys who've been out for a while. Everybody is cleared for the game. Hopefully we have no injuries during practice from here on in."
Scott Lutrus (Brookfield, Conn.) - RS Sr., Linebacker
Have you heard from people back in Brookfield?
"I have been getting messages, texts and calls from people that I haven't necessarily kept in contact with since high school, but they are just saying good luck to the team and my family keeps telling me that they are hearing from a lot of people also."
When you were being recruited did you ever envision this?
"No, when I signed here I didn't think we would be playing teams like Michigan, Notre Dame or an SEC team last year in the bowl game and this here the ultimate dream of winning the BIG EAST and going to a BCS game."
How has your perception of UConn football changed since coming here?
"I didn't really have a view on the program back in high school, I had never been to a game, didn't follow it much and really didn't even know much about Rentschler Field until I was a senior in high school and came to visit. Then it really hit me that this was the place for me and it's where I wanted to come and I wouldn't take it back for anything."
What would you tell younger kids about the UConn program?
"It is an honest program and a great education and that is what is most important to Coach Edsall and the staff, getting your education first. It shows in our graduation rate and the great football that we have here. Just look at the facilities that we have here compared to other schools around the country and where we have come from."
How did it affect the team when Jordan stood up and spoke after the Louisville game?
"I think it was very mature of him. We always see him around the locker room and he is just Jordan in there. But to stand in front of the team at such a difficult time in the season, we were 3-4 then and 0-2 in the BIG EAST, and to have somebody step up like that and say those things it meant a lot. I don't think it matters if it is a freshman that would stand up, we had a team meeting with just the captains and Gus Cruz spoke his heart out and that meant a lot to everyone even the upperclassmen. That means a lot that someone who has only been with the program a few months really cares about the team and is willing to speak to the whole team like that."
Zach Hurd (Waterford, Conn.) - RS Sr., Offensive Guard
What have you learned about Oklahoma after watching some film?
"They are fast, they have a very good defense but they have their weaknesses. We are going to keep watching film and keep practicing hard and we will see them on January 1st."
How has the offensive coaching staff helped the team this season?
"Coach Foley and coach Moorhead both know their stuff and the whole offensive staff. Give them a month to prepare what they can and it is scary what they can do. Just now I looked up to their offices and they are watching film, they are always watching film. We have faith in our coaches that they will put the best game plan together and put us in a position that we can win."
Blidi Wreh-Wilson (Edinboro, Pa.) - RS So., Cornerback
People always said that UConn couldn't make it this far, what do you think about that?
"When it comes down to it the only people that can control what we do is us. If we listen to what they say they are going to try and break us down and say that we don't deserve to be there, but we won the BIG EAST and I don't know what else that want from us. We are going to go out there and play UConn football. We just need to worry about us and ignore what everyone is saying."
How do interceptions change the momentum of the game?
"When you can score on special teams and defense it takes the pressure off of the offense and we can create good field position which is huge. If we get an interception return back to the thirty then our offense only has to go 30 yards to score which helps them out. We try to create field position and score every time we get an interception."
Did you know how big the interception was against USF at the time?
"At the time we were just trying to shut South Florida down and to get seven points on defense helped us out a lot because we didn't score an offensive touchdown that game. It was huge, but at the time it just gave us so much momentum going into halftime which helped us for the rest of the game."
Zach Frazer (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) - RS Sr., Quarterback
Do you feel that you are an intangible part of the team as the quarterback?
"Yeah, definitely. It takes a lot to be a leader and to be a quarterback. There is a lot that goes on that people don't know about, and I think I have all of the things that it takes to be a good quarterback."
How is the UConn offense effective?
"I feel like our offense does what we have to do to win the game. Our running game has been working, but if they are going to plan to stop our running game then we can throw the ball. I have a lot of confidence in our wide outs and I have a lot of confidence in our offense game."
What do all of the big wins this season do for the team?
"It boosts everyone's confidence. To come into the season and beat West Virginia and play Pittsburgh and get a win and get all of the other big wins, you get this atmosphere that you can compete and play with the big schools. Going down to the Fiesta Bowl and playing Oklahoma is going to be a challenge, it will be a great game, but we aren't going in there thinking that we are going to lose, we are going into the game with the mindset that we can win."
Many say that quarterbacks manage the game, do you see this as a bad thing?
"I don't think it is a bad thing, because who else is going to manage the game. A quarterback in my eyes is a coach on the field and that is the same thing as how you elect captains. You want somebody on the field to organize everything and be a leader on the field and a quarterback fits right in there. If you aren't managing the game then who is, the coaches can't do anything on the sidelines. They can tell us what to do but ultimately the players have to make the plays."
Do you take offense to people calling UConn the little guy with all that this program has accomplished?
"Yes, slightly. We have been through a lot and we have been to a few bowl games so I agree that we aren't up and coming anymore. It does get frustrating when you hear people say `oh UConn has a football team now' when they compare us to basketball which is completely different. I think going to the Fiesta Bowl gives us a chance to prove to everyone that we are here and we work hard everyday. We have a lot to fight for. This program has come a long way and it continues to grow and grow."
Jordan Todman (North Dartmouth, Mass.) - Jr., Tailback
People usually down play the strength of New England football, what are your thoughts?
"It is definitely the truth, we aren't coming from down south where the recruiting level is so high. We do it though and we are able to go out and compete with the best of them. I feel like everyone on this team from the New England area could go to other schools and compete. We are happy to be where we are though. It will be a great showcase for our team on a national level and it is up to us to do our thing and compete."
What are your thoughts on Zach Frazer being named UConn's Offensive Player of the Year?
"It was well deserved for him. He is the general out there on the field, he keeps us together out there and keeps the game going. He makes third down passes and moves the chains. He has a great record here as a starting quarterback, and he is a winner every time he steps on the field."
Did you ever think you would get to this point?
"We always believed that we could. We go into every season with good intentions that we will win the BIG EAST and we match up with our opponents. We always have confidence in ourselves that we can go out and win games and we start the season out that way and it continued through the entire season this year."
UConn has consistently had good running backs, why is that?
"I feel that we do a good job recruiting at the running back position but when you get here you learn so much. The coaching staff is great, they are like a football book with all of the knowledge they have about the game. When you have a great offensive line that takes pride in what they do it makes our job a whole lot easier. We consistently have good running backs here and hopefully we can keep that up."
What does this game do for UConn nationally?
"Nationally it put us back on the map. When people say that we don't belong in the game we expect to go out there and compete and prove them wrong. Us playing at the BCS level brings a lot of publicity to the school which is great, but we really want to bring the win back to the school."
What will it take for people to respect UConn as a football school?
"What it takes is for us to win. We have been winning big games this season and last year but you still have the doubters out there who might put us down. If we go out and beat Oklahoma the respect level will for sure go up."
Anthony Sherman (North Attleboro, Mass.) - Sr., Fullback
What does it mean for UConn to play in the Fiesta Bowl?
"It would be great for the whole state of Connecticut and the school to have great basketball teams and great football teams, and playing in the Fiesta Bowl is a great way to put football on the map again here at UConn."
Have you had a chance to study Oklahoma?
"We have been watching film on Oklahoma, they do a great job on their defensive schemes and they run the ball well and they are physical. It will be a great challenge for us."
Players Mentioned
