Quotes From Monday's Football Press Conference
September 27, 2004 | Football
Sept. 27, 2004
Audio Clips
Louisville, Ky. - Head Coach Bobby Petrino and selected players made themselves available to the media for the weekly football press conference on Monday at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. They discussed U of L's 34-0 win over North Caroina last Saturday and the Cards' upcoming home game against Conference USA foe East Carolina. Kick off for the Homecoming game between U of L and ECU is set for 3:05 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Following the ECU game, the Cardinals take to the road for a nationally televised ESPN game at the Miami Hurricanes on Thursday, Oct. 14 in the Orange Bowl.
Petrino's thoughts on the game against North Carolina and the upcoming game against East Carolina:
"In the first half we didn't have as many possessions because we used up so much of the clock. It was a fast game; we didn't have a lot of possessions. In the second half, I think we scored every time we had the ball except for that very last time when we just let the clock run out. I think our running game was executing the way we wanted it to. We were throwing the ball for a very high percentage. I'm getting nervous because we don't have as many big plays as normal or as many big plays as we want. That might be because we're running it so much, but it's helping us keep their offense on the sideline and really playing a very good team game. We are going to concentrate this week on East Carolina there will be nobody asking any questions about Miami. We know that's out there and we addressed that with the team and told them, hey, that's all people are going to want to talk about. When you turn in it on ESPN and they talk about the BCS busters it's going to be Louisville playing Miami but our focus has to be on E. Carolina. They always present us with a lot of problems with their defense because it's so unique. It does a lot of different blitzes, different looks. Last week they had all 11 guys standing up jumping around, which we call a radar defense. And then they have different guys blitzing. It's something that we work on in the off-season trying to have some game plan for and John Thompson always changes certain things. We will have to run the ball well because that kind of balances it out at times, if you're able to run the ball well against them. We're going to have to play good defense."
On his awareness of East Carolina's run defense:
"You watch the video and see it and they played Buster Jr. the first game and that guy's a heck of a running back now, he's very impressive when you watch him on video; his speed and balance and size and they gave up a lot of yards to him. They've gotten a lot better each game against the run, so we have to understand that too."
On whether he expected the defense to be playing so well this season:
"I never really can say that I expected this or expected that. I'm very happy with the way our defense is playing. I probably didn't think they'd be playing this well. When we started the whole thing out, I don't think it's very often you get two shout outs out of your first three games. They're doing a nice job. They're gaining a lot of confidence, playing fast. Offensively I thought we'd probably have to throw the ball more than we are, but we're really working the offense and the defense together trying to play off of each other. Control, the ball. Get three and outs. What I'm most happy with is our time of possession. The difference that we have in our first downs versus our opponents and the fact that we're very balanced."
On the mindset of the team due to its undefeated record:
"I think we understand what it is we need to do. I think the players are a year more experienced. The guys that we have back from last year's team are very motivated. And right now I like our team chemistry."
On the difference in how this year's defense is playing versus last year's defense:
"The first thing we're doing better than last year is playing with much better techinique and fundamentals. It's kind of across the board at each position. And some of that is because they're a year more experienced and some of it is because we've emphasized it more and when we say that, we really are working hard to make sure we're better fundamentally. I think we're tackling better. We work a lot harder at tackling and less at scheming and that always really helps. Now they have confidence and they're playing fast. You play fast because you understand the game better. Robert McCune was playing middle linebacker for us last year and that was his first time playing in really a long, long time. Now he has all those games of experience. Brandon Johnson, Marcus Jones, Kerry Rhodes, Brent Johnson...those guys. Last year was their first time starting. Now they're all back with much more experience.
On new coordinator Mike Cassity's influence on the better play of the defense:
"I think a lot of the attitude and the confidence is something he's helped them a lot with. I think he's a guy that has a tremendous amount of energy. He's very experienced and understands exactly what we want to run on defense. It allows the players to play fast because it's a smaller package and they know it better."
On how he knew of Mike Cassity:
"I met Mike a long time ago on the recruiting trail....it's funny because I was on a plane going out to Las Vegas to recruit right after the bowl game. And I just happened to have a message from Mike. He was calling to say hello and I called him back. In the middle of the conversation I was thinking about getting this guy here to help us out. And that's when I really decided to bring Coach Levine back as the director of football operations and bring Mike in as the secondary coach and it ended up working out. Of course (former defensive coordinator) Coach Gilhammer left and it was the natural thing with his experience for him to become the coordinator."
On whether the win against North Carolina will help in recruiting:
"...the kids relate with North Carolina very highly. I really think the way we won the game against them will help us in recruiting. There are a number of kids that we talked to before the game that were really keeping an eye on the score. We had one guy that told one our assistant coaches that he would go to the school that won the game..."
On the buzz surrounding the Miami game:
"I think it gives a lot of people something to talk about...it's interesting and makes for great conversation and you always wonder how you match up if you played in that league and in those games, but it really doesn't mean a whole lot. Each week you've got to go out and prepare for the game you're playing...if you're there toward the end of the season and you're right around there in the rankings then I think it means something, and it's something that we'd certainly like to do."
On the reason for his team's willingness to sacrifice stats for the good of the team:
"We talk about it a lot. We talk about the fact that you have to be committed to the team first and that each guy will get their opportunity when it presents itself. And it's been working that way. I always look at the running backs because they're three that share a lot of the wealth when they probably could play a lot more snaps. They've been good about it...when you win it all takes care of itself. The challenge will be if we lose a game."
On any conversation he's had with (ECU coach) John Thompson after last year's game:
"I saw him when we were down in Memphis and talked to him. I've always had a lot of respect for John and his defenses. He's got a great reputation. We battled against each other when he was a Southern Miss and I think he was Florida when I was at Auburn. He wasn't doing a much of his stuff there as he's doing now but we've just got to get ready for the game. "
