Quotes From Ralph Friedgen's Tuesday Press Conference
8/31/2004 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 31, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md.
Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen:
On Northern Illinois:
"Northern Illinois is a very fine football team and we're going to have to play a very good football game in order to win. They have, what they believe, one of the best offenses in the history of the school coming in. Their returning quarterback is very good, and a new tailback who they feel is fast and big in A.J. Harris, who is 6-1, 221 pounds and runs a 4.3. The offensive line is very big and they have everyone back except the center. Dan Sheldon who is also a very good punt and kick returner, is one of their wide receivers and he made a great play against us last for a touchdown.
"Defensively, they've lost some really good players. Their middle linebacker has left and their Sam linebacker Brian Atkinson is in to play in the middle is a very good football player. Lionel Hickenbottom, their free safety, is a good player and their defensive linemen and ends are also very good.
"Special team-wise, they have a good punter, Anthony Gallagher averaged around 40 yards a punt. They have a new place kicker, we don't know who that is, he could be a true freshman, it could be someone from last year."
On new starting quarterback Joel Statham:
"He practiced very well last night. Joel is more prepared than he was last year. When he played against Georgia Tech last year he was our third string quarterback and had very few reps. I'm sure this is going to be a learning experience for him. If he can get over the butterflies and go out and play the way he's capable, I think he'll play very well.
"Joel, by his personality, he wants to do things and he speeds up, and that's not him. With as many young players that we have, we're going to experience some of that on Saturday. It's just a matter of staying patient and not panicking. If you make a mistake, get it corrected and hope we don't make the mistake again. We have a very young football team. They're very competitive and enthusiastic, and I know that when the adrenaline starts we're going to make mistakes because they are reacting and not thinking.
On starting a new season:
"I think I have more [butterflies] this year than my first game. I really don't know how this team is going to react because it's so young. In our last scrimmage, I didn't think we scrimmaged very well until I looked at the tape, and then I thought we got after each other pretty good but the problem was that they were all freshmen out there scrimmaging. Some of them are going to be very good, the problem is that they're not ready - they're not mature enough. It's hard for a lot of these kids to understand because they were good in high school and now they come in and it's a whole other level. They'll grow and learn and hopefully as the season goes on these kids will get better, bigger and stronger. There's just so many things that we don't know about this team that we're going to find out a lot more on Saturday about where we are."
On addressing last year's game against Northern Illinois with this year's team:
"I really don't think I have to address it a whole lot. They should understand what type of team Northern Illinois is and how well we are going to have to play in order to be able to win the football game. Northern Illinois went into Alabama and beat Alabama, so it kind of speaks for itself. They're a pretty good football team and we're going to have to be ready to play."
On the competitiveness of the team:
"The thing I love about this team is that they will compete. If I think they are going through the motions, all I have to do is put a prize at the end of it and drill comes alive and they compete. I enjoy coaching this team a lot. Once we get over our inexperience and as we mature and get more confident, I really think that this is going to be a good football team. I just don't know where they are at right now, and I'm waiting to see."
