March 26, 2002
Spring Practice Press ConferenceCommonwealth Stadium
Coach Guy Morris
On winter…
“We feel like we’ve had a good winter program. Our kids basically started the Monday after we got back from Indiana. We’ve been working hard and I think that’s going to pay off for us down the road.”
On entering spring practice…
“We need to find out if some of these young kids that redshirted last year are going to be players or not, so you’ll see those guys get a lot of reps. We want to go ahead and keep the development process going as far as knowing the infinite details of our offensive and defensive schemes. Last year, our kids were concerned with learning the three-foot square that they operate in, but we’d like for them to know the entire offense and defense this year. We want to continue to teach our players how we want them to play the game of football. We expect them to practice as hard as they will play on Saturday this fall.”
On coach-player relationships…
“Everybody is on the same page as far as coach-player relationship. We feel like we know the strengths and weaknesses of our players. They’re comfortable with their coaches and the system they’re operating in so we should be more productive than we were last year at this particular time.”
On feelings going into practice…
“I feel a lot better now than I did this time last year. I feel a lot better about our program – where we are at and where we are headed. I think there is no substitute for experience and on-the-job training. I feel good about it and I think we got the message across to our kids in what we expect from them and they responded well.”
On QB Jared Lorenzen…
“He understands where his weight has to be at the beginning of two-a-days and I expect him to be there. We’ve been very pleased from an academic standpoint and he’s done well, he’s had a good spring and we’re proud of him. He’s like everyone else on the team – we give them a target weight where we feel they can operate at an optimum level and we feel he’ll be there.”
On QB Shane Boyd’s relationship with Lorenzen…
“They’re buddies. Last week when Shane got back (from baseball) and was there every day, they were like long-lost pals getting reunited. It was nice to see from a coach’s standpoint that they really like each other and they are tremendous competitors. They help each other and coach each other – they have a very special relationship.”
On newcomers contributing…
“We think Win Gaffon at the tight end position can help us. He’s a big kid that is physical, he will get a lot of reps this spring. DeMarcus Wood at wide receiver, he’s going to get a lot of looks because he’s been here a year and understands the system. He’s a nice receiver and we’ll find out if he can catch the ball. Coach John (Goodner) really likes Deion Holts, he’s a walk-on kid and a local kid. He also likes Nate VanSickel. He’ll get some snaps in the middle and has a chance to really help us on the defensive line.”
On injuries…
“Ellery Moore is coming along nicely, but we’ll probably hold him from contact. He’ll be doing some drill work and be wearing a brace. He needs to get comfortable getting back out there doing football drills, but we will not put him at risk because we need him this fall. Ronny Riley has had all the scar tissue removed in his joint and he will be doing some drills on the side. We do not want to put him at risk and he’s progressing right on schedule. Dewayne Robertson is close to 100 percent, but we’re not going to put him at risk either, we know he can play. Chase Harp will be limited with two bad knees and a bad back, he’ll also be limited.”
On why this team should be improved from last season…
“I think we’ll be better on the field because we’ve been together now for a year. Our kids know our staff and are comfortable with them, they know now what we expect and want out of them. Our schedule is favorable and obviously we need to win more than two games. I think that we’ll do that. We know our starters can play, the biggest concern going into spring practice is finding depth.”
On starting QB…
“Jared Lorenzen is our starter. There will be competition at quarterback but there will competition at every position. We’ve got a starter and it’s Jared. At least we don’t have to go through the quarterback circus that we went through last season.”
PLAYER QUOTES
Leonard Burress
“Our hopes are very high for more than two wins next season. We’ve been with this coaching staff for awhile and we know what to expect.”
“We can build on last season. There’s no reason to rebuild. We lost a couple of close games, so we just have to go and correct those things. We definitely can win more games.”
On the football investigation…
“It was definitely a distraction. It may have had a little impact on us. We have to put that behind us and keep getting better. We play to enjoy the game. A bowl is a bonus for us. If the ban is lifted, that’s great. But all we want to do is play.”
Morris Lane
On the NCAA sanctions…
“I think there was some concern initially. Through the winter, though, we have bonded as a team and have come together. When you play around guys you consider your family, you play harder. You don’t want to play for yourself, you play for your brothers. We can still accomplish a lot. I think we will get over it.”
On spring practice…
“It’s spring ball. We need guys to step up. We need guys to take the leadership role and corral all the players onto the same page.”
On his motivation…
“I get the opportunity to go out every Saturday and play football. To go out and try to win a game is all the motivation I need.”
David Johnson
On his final spring season…
“This is my last spring and I am anxious to get out there and get started. As a team, we really need to make the most out of these practices.”
On the 2002 season…
“We need to play more as a team this season. Toward the end of last season we began playing as a team and it made all the difference. Team unity will be the key for us this year. I am really looking forward to this season. I said it before and I am sticking to it, we are going to do a lot of good things this year.”
On the new players…
“We have some guys on this team who don’t have the experience of others, but I have been working out with a lot of these guys all winter and I am extremely confident in them. Some of these guys are phenomenal athletes and when they step on the field in September everyone else will be confident in them too.”
On his senior leadership…
“Being a senior, I know that it is my responsibility to lead this defense. I need to be more vocal to fill that role though. A big difference for this entire team will be having a year of the system under our belt. Team moral is high right now despite what has happened with the program during the offseason. I think you will see a more confident team this season.”
Artose Pinner
On the departure of several teammates…
“It seems like I’m the only one who weathered the storm. I lost some friendships because of it, but it’s time to put that behind me because I owe it to the team to perform every Saturday. These are the only guys I’m with, day in and day out, because they are in my position. Most of them live right beside me, so we go through a lot of issues together. It’s like losing a family member.”
“Being a senior and as the only running back with experience in the position, it means a lot to me. I have to make plays and I can’t take breaks at practice. I have to go hard at every practice to set an example for the young guys.”
“This off season, I’ve dedicated a lot of extra days just to working out. I think because I know that a lot is expected out of me, I have to step it up a notch.”
On the NCAA sanctions…
“I think most of it was expected. The biggest thing was the bowl ban, but none of the rest of is a surprise. I think the ban is fine with a lot of guys because we went 2-9 last season and still have a lot to improve. We feel like if we could go 9-2 and be on top of the SEC, we’ll be happy with that.”
Nick Seitze
On the condition of the offensive line this season…
“There’s not going to be too many questions. We have five solid players returning and couple of good junior college transfers coming in. I don’t think it will be too much of a question. The main thing is for us to stay healthy this season.”
On whether having a year on the offensive line has helped him…
I felt comfortable last year. As I was playing games last year, I got more comfortable. This year it was knowing that I needed to get in the weight room after I played and knowing that I needed to get stronger playing at this level. My confidence comes from getting in the weight room and getting stronger.”
