Press Conference Quotes
December 11, 2010 | Men's Soccer
Dec. 11, 2010
No. 1 Seeded Louisville
Opening Comments:
Head Coach Ken Lolla - "As we said last night, we're excited to be in the championship game. It's another step on our journey. I'm happy for our seniors that we extended our season, and what a way to go out-playing for the national championship."
On playing against Louisville, a program he previously headed:
Head Coach Ken Lolloa - "It's not a big surprise. Akron has played well; they were expected to be very good. I think the two best teams in the country are the ones left. I don't know if it's right to call it ironic, appropriate would the better word.
On contact with old friends from Louisville:
Head Coach Ken Lolla - "A lot of hugs this weekend. One of the best parts of being here is reuniting the associations we've had. My wife and I enjoyed our time at Akron very much, and a lot of that was because of the people and the relationships. There's been a lot of hugging going on this weekend."
On the prospect of having a permanent site for the College Cup:
Head Coach Ken Lolla - "Looking at the championships that have been successful, having them at one place over a period of time, and not just having the event, but cultivating it and growing the event, much like in baseball, which has been so successful. Finding a community that can adopt the event and host it over a number of years and see if we can grow it and turn it into a special event that isn't just about the Final Four but a number of things around it where the community supports it would be ideal. I'm not sure where that place is; Santa Barbara has obviously done a great job putting it on. It would be great to build what Omaha has with baseball somewhere in the U.S."
On where the championship game falls on their journey:
Head Coach Ken Lolla - "It's the destination. It's the final step. It's not just from a championship standpoint; the real goal has been to allow these guys to achieve their potential as soccer players, as people and as students. Playing Akron, playing the best brings out the best in you. Certainly we're vying for a national championship, but more than anything else we want to bring out the best in each other and reach for everything that we can become."
On what this game means about soccer in the Midwest region:
Head Coach Ken Lolla - "I do think there's a balance between being a team that can mentally and physically stand up to the challenges of the game and still being able to play technically. I think there are a lot of teams like that in the Midwest. There are number of teams that can do both those things. To be successful in the NCAA tournament you have to be able to do that, and it's not a surprise to me that you find that in the Midwest because it's present in the character of the people there. I'm not saying you can't find it elsewhere, I'm just saying it's indicative of the Midwest."
On whether senior forward Aaron Horton has any late-game heroics left in him:
Head Coach Ken Lolla - "He's got plenty [laughs]."
On whether they'll bring as much pressure to the Akron defenders as they did to North Carolina:
Head Coach Ken Lolla - "They're a very technical team. We understand what they're strengths and weaknesses are. But more importantly, we need to play to our strengths and weaknesses. It's more about us. We know Akron well, but the key to the game is playing well and doing what we do well."
On the possibility of winning a title other than for basketball:
Charlie Campbell -"It's a great opportunity. Coach has always been telling us there is only one first time to win over the fans and start the program off right. This is a great opportunity to start dynasty here at Louisville,"
J.T. Murray - "Just win the first one, then try to win the second and the third and for years to come as new players and new recruits come in and create a dynasty or winning frenzy."
On the atmosphere back home:
Charlie Campbell- "Through text messages and social media, Ken had a message at the basketball game. We heard they had a standing ovation at the basketball arena."
J.T. Murray - "When we left they had a school sendoff for us which is amazing, a lot of fans came out that had supported us throughout the last NCAA wins we had. For those who could not make it, we know we have a lot of support back home."
On the pressure of being No. 1 and playing for the National Championship:
Charlie Campbell - "Coach has told us since the beginning that, 'pressure is felt by the untrained and the unprepared.' He has trained us well throughout the whole season. It's more that we are anxious to play than feeling pressure."
No. 3 Seeded Akron
Opening Comments:
Head Coach Caleb Porter - "We're in the preparation phase right now. We're getting a little regeneration here this morning, then we'll train in a bit. We're starting to do our scouting of Louisville. For me, right now, it's all about preparing my team to get the result we want. Our approach won't change; we'll do exactly what we've done all season long. We know this is the final step, but it's no different than the steps we've been taking all year. There's nothing new in this game, and our approach will reflect that. Louisville is a very good team: they're well coached, and we know we're going to have to do certain things well. Obviously, what we need to do well is perform. I think we're confident, but we're also business-like. The player's are going to be ready.
On their familiarity with Louisville's High-Pressure Game:
Head Coach Caleb Porter - "We've seen everything. This is nothing new. We've seen 4-4-2's, 4-2-3-1's, which is what we'll see with Louisville. We've seen a little pressure: high pressure, we've seen possession, direct play, re-starts - we've seen everything. So every team in every game offers a little something different, and this will certainly be a different game than it was against Michigan. We're going to have to be more organized and sharp, breaking down their block, as well as be aware of counters and be good on set pieces. We've had a lot of games like [the one against Michigan]. But we're prepared, [Louisville] has a lot of attacking players, Colin Rolfe and the others, but we've played a lot of good players. It comes down to us performing, and the team that performs for 90 minutes is going to win. At this point, all the teams are good."
On facing the Louisville attack, specifically striker Aaron Horton:
Head Coach Caleb Porter - "He's a good player. But we've seen players that are like him. We've faced the best strikers in the country this year. It's like anything: you have to be aware, and at any moment you can get punished if you fall asleep. At this stage, there are players on these teams who are going to punish you if you make mistakes."
On keeping his players relaxed:
Head Coach Caleb Porter - "We're very relaxed. We're excited, more than anything, to be here and have the chance to win the national championship. It's been a long journey to get here, so I think the guys are extremely excited more than anything. We're the No. 3 seed, so we're the underdog. It's almost like the tables have turned in some ways. Last year we were the No. 1 seed and undefeated, and now we're the No. 3 seed and the pressure is off us. We get to just go out and have fun and play. We have the opportunity to show the country what we're about - our brand - and I think you're going to see a very loose group tomorrow."
On overcoming adversity:
Head Coach Caleb Porter - "That [loss against Cleveland State] was a very important part of this process for me. We had gone 40 games without really losing, Virginia Tech was technically a loss, but through regulation we hadn't lost. I had seen our guys start to lose that hunger, that passion. I started to see a group that took the field with a ton of belief, but almost to a fault. You've gotta show up in this sport, it doesn't matter who you're playing against. I had told my guys that several games leading up to the loss, but it goes in one ear and out the other at some point. We didn't like it, at all, we took it hard. But one of the things about the teams with championship fiber is that they always respond positively to adversity and they grow stronger and get better when they're tested and challenged. We got better after that. We've been challenged since then too, quite a bit, and we've responded well every single time we've been tested. It's a credit to the makeup and character of these guys."
On the possibility of winning the schools 1st National Championship:
Zarek Valentin - "Being there for a year, it means a lot more than anyone could ever imagine. Seeing the support it would mean the world to some people. It would mean more than anyone could ever imagine."
Perry Kitchen - "It would mean a lot in Ohio, in Northeast Ohio we don't have to many great teams. For us to win would be amazing, the community would go nuts."
On family bragging rights, to get a title along with your brother:
Zarek Valentin - "Earlier in the year he sent me a picture of his National Championship ring and said, 'It's your turn now.' I used it for inspiration, and now I'm just trying to get my own."
On the fan support:
Zarek Valentin - "It's amazing, I think we possibly have the best group of fans in the country. They even teamed up with UCSB fans as well, which means a lot that they are coming out to support us too. The more our fans are in the game the more we are as well."
On having the College Cup here in warm weather and this setting:
Perry Kitchen - "This is something special here in Santa Barbara, weather is great; everything has been first class."
Zarek Valentin - "Regardless, it's been a pleasure being here and it's a great accomplishment, no matter where it is at."
On last year's title run vs. this year:
Zarek Valentin - "I was fortunate to be on the team year's team and to play big minutes. Last year things came more easily. This year we have had more adversity. That really has helped us become the team we are now."
