March 25, 2003
Head Coach Rich Brooks
Opening statement…
“We’re just back from spring break. The players were welcomed back at 6 a.m. yesterday (Monday) morning with one of our conditioning workouts. We had another one this morning and will have one Wednesday and Thursday. We’ll give them a day off on Friday before we go into practice Saturday. I’m sure the players are glad that the off-season conditioning program is going to be over. I am, too, because I’ve seen about enough of them running around in shorts without a football in their hands. What I’m looking forward to is getting them onto a true practice field, getting some football stuff done, and seeing these athletes perform in actual football-related situations.”
On the importance of spring football…
“I think the most important thing is to implement our offensive and defensive schemes and introduce our kicking scheme as well. But more important from the coaches’ perspective is to identify the people we feel are going to be able to line up and play for us next fall. Some of them will be obvious and some of them will not be obvious. Even though you see people listed as returning starters, I’m not locked into anything and the players know that. Everybody’s going to have a chance to show what they can do. There could be some changes in who’s stepping up and playing in certain positions.
“I really think the most important thing is the implementation of the system. It will probably be a little ragged early. There are two teaching methods – the part/whole/part method and the whole/part/whole method. Offensively, Coach Hudson (offensive coordinator Ron Hudson) is choosing to go with the whole/part/whole method – we’re throwing the whole offense at them. I’m sure there are going to be some breakdowns in that area where we have some busted assignments. Defensively, we’re going with the part/whole/part method (teaching a little at a time), so hopefully there won’t be as many mistakes but we’ll also be a lot simpler on defense the first day or two than we will be on offense.”
On position changes…
“The only position changes we’re making for certain at this point are on the defensive side of the ball. Because of the fact that we’re having four linebackers instead of two, some of the defensive ends that played with their hand down (last season) are going to be standing up on the outside – sometimes they’ll be rushing, sometimes they’ll be dropping (into pass coverage). Other than that, the position changes that will take place will evolve as we go through spring practice.”
On getting back to the college level…
“It’s a lot different situation and atmosphere when you’re dealing with the younger people that haven’t been spoiled by multi-millions of dollars. It’s a fun thing and I enjoyed it when I left but I enjoy it more now coming back to it.
“I’m energized by the whole process. I’ve been energized since I arrived here in Kentucky. A lot of people say they don’t like recruiting – I like recruiting, it’s an exciting time and an extremely important time if you want to win football games. You better get good players. We’re all better coaches if you have good players. The most exciting part is just getting back on the field. We have two more days of conditioning to get to that point and I’m really looking forward to Saturday.”
On a sense of urgency to succeed right away…
“I’m 61 – I feel a real sense of urgency. I’m not a patient guy anymore. I know we have to build this team and this program. But I don’t have a good patience level so I want to win more than they (the players) do, believe me. And I know they want to win pretty badly. It’s going to be a very interesting season because it is a transition season, and unfortunately for this senior class, it’s their third transition. That makes it even more difficult.”
On the changes in college football since Brooks began coaching in 1963 …
“I think players are not quite as ready to do whatever the coach says without wondering why they’re doing it and if it’s important to do. Other than that, I think the biggest difference is the skill level in the passing game. Everybody pretty much throws the ball and everybody throws it well. It gets down to the discipline and execution of that. We obviously have an extremely talented quarterback (Jared Lorenzen) who can throw the football. He threw 24 touchdowns last year and only five interceptions. In this league, that’s hard to do. There weren’t a lot of teams 15 years ago that could throw the ball like that. Everybody throws the ball better. It’s the throwback things now that win football games – a little defense, a little kicking game and a little running game. Those are the things we need to address and who on this team can make those things work.”
On injuries…
“We have some limitations in the spring. (Cornerback) Warren Wilson is one guy who probably won’t (be able to practice). He had a screw removed from his surgically-repaired knee. He was running around with a limp this morning. I don’t think he’ll be able to go fully. (Offensive guard) Sylvester Miller has been cleared to go. He had surgery after the season and he’s been cleared. He’s not in as good of shape that he should be because he missed most of the off-season conditioning and running. (Linebacker) Durrell White, who is new to the program, looks like he’ll be at full go this spring. That will be a real bonus because I think he is one of the newcomers who has a chance to maybe move ahead of the veteran players a little bit.”
On Tubby Smith and his coaching job with the basketball team…
“I told Tubby that I’m going to get him out to help coach defense this spring. They’re just doing a great job. What they’re doing now is what coaching is all about. They’re playing as a team, great defense, great rebounding, unselfish. Everyone is on the same page and that’s a hard thing to do in athletics. This world we live in is so much about ‘I’ and ‘me’ and not a lot about ‘we.’ To me, team sports are the real training ground to teach people how to be team players. There are just so many selfish things going on in this world where people put themselves ahead of whatever else. That team really has grasped the ‘we’ concept in basketball. Obviously, they have some very talented players. But it appears that they don’t care who is the leading scorer or rebounder in the game. They care about who’s winning at the end. It’s a great thing to watch.”
