Wednesday Quotes from Toyota Gator Bowl News Conference
12/31/2003 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 31, 2003
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Quotes from Ralph Friedgen at Wednesday's news conference for the 2004 Toyota Gator Bowl football game:
Opening comments:
"It's really a pleasure for myself and our players to represent the University of Maryland at the 2004 Toyota Gator Bowl. We've had a great time this week, the hospitality has been great. We've had good practices, enjoyed the city and the wonderful hospitality. We look forward to coming here many more times."
On a mid-season meeting of the seniors:
"I think it was the key to our season. We were very disappointed after the Georgia Tech loss. We met with the seniors and told them that the team was pretty much in their hands. They responded. I think the last part of the season, we were playing our best football. So I credit that to our seniors."
On the rivalry:
"I've said before, I think it's a tremendous rivalry. We have tremendous respect for (WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez) and his program, West Virginia University. Ever since I played - I'm a little older than Rich - we played in this game and we know if we played this game 11 times a year it would be a good football game. I think there's one win separating the teams in the whole series, so whether you play it in September or you play it in January won't make a whole lot of difference. It's going to be a good football game."
On a potential bowl win's carryover to the next season:
"Anytime you win the last game it carries over the whole off-season and in spring practice. It just gives you a lot of momentum. The fact that if we would be fortunate enough to win this game, it would be our 10th win and our third year in a row we've won 10 or more games. I think it's a tremendous credit to our seniors to have had three of those years in which they've been a participant. I don't know if there are many schools in the country that have done that. I think that's a high-water mark that we would like to reach."
On being recognized when traveling in Jacksonville:
"I didn't know I was so popular with Mountaineers. Last night we went to a restaurant down at Jacksonville Landing and a lot of people came up and asked for pictures. I don't know why anybody would want a picture with me. That blows my mind."
