Nov. 7, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Opening Statement: "We are preparing for another tough game. It seems each and every week the defenses we play get tougher and tougher. This is by far the best defense we've played. [Miami] doesn't have any weaknesses; they're big, they're strong, and they're fast."

On Sam Hollenbach last weekend: "Each and every week I think Sam is tremendously poised. Things don't seem to affect him. He was upset with the interception, he just misread the coverage, but that is something that we work on and it is very collective. He did a fantastic job and threw the ball well."

On comparing this year's team to his first team at Maryland: "I've mentioned that there are a lot of similarities between this team and the first team, just from a confidence factor, the perseverance and the togetherness. I think [both teams] were determined to have a good season even when things were shaky."

On looking at statistics: "I look at it and I see there are some areas I think we could get better, but sometimes I think know what I have to do in order to win the football game; that's the most important stat. Our margin of error is small. As long as we can continue to do what we have to do to win games that is what I am going to do."

On the passing game: "We have to use everybody. I think Sam did a great job of spreading the ball around. I know he likes to throw the ball to Joey [Haynos], but if you look I think Isaiah [Williams] had five catches, Darrius [Heyward-Bey] had five, Danny [Oquendo] had three or four. I would prefer to have it that way. Sometimes I get worried about picking one guy out. I think that leads to trouble. Defensive coaches see that and they set traps for you. I think you just read the coverage and throw to the guy that is open; that is to me how it ought to be."

On the offense: "I think we are starting to get better. I see some progress with Sam and his development. I've seen some progress with our line. They did a very good job of protecting against a very good pass rushing team last week. I wish we had more receivers, we are limited, we really only have three guys. It is what it is. You have to make the most of what you've got. I think I'm getting the most out of it right now."

On the team's progress: "I've always thought that this team, with success, would grow. I think the ball is bouncing our way a little bit right now, where maybe it wasn't earlier. I think there is confidence building in this team. That only comes through success. Being successful is where you become confident. Until that happens, there is a desire to be successful, but there is a difference when you accomplish something. I've been positive with this team throughout, encouraging them even when people were down on them. Somebody has to always be with them. As they learn how to win, they will become better players, but also better people."

On Erin Henderson: "Erin was getting hurt early because of his inexperience. He is going to get a lot better, he is young. He has instincts, he can find the football. He's going to get better when he gets bigger and stronger. He has a desire. He is resilient; he will make a mistake and come back and make another play. One of the things that he has to get better at is tackling, and I thought Saturday he made some good tackles. It's something we are going to work on today, and it's something we have been working on for the last four weeks."

On the fans: "I think it plays a tremendous amount into the kids' preparation. You feel a support from our fans. It pumps them up. The worst thing is to come out and there is nobody there; that is the other side of the coin. But I am really looking for our players to come out excited this weekend and I'm hoping that people will come early and stay late and really get behind this football team because they are very deserving of it."

On how big the win against Clemson was: "I don't really know what the point spread is, I don't really care. In my mind I'm planning on winning each and every week. It was a good win because of where it was and who we were playing. But if you look back, just in my tenure here, there has been a lot of great wins where we've been the underdog or when we come back from behind. I'm going to sort all that out when I hang them up, because I am expecting a few more."

On Nick Novak and Dan Ennis: "The first person to call Dan after the game was Nick. Nick is kind of Dan's mentor. They are very close. Nick has done a lot to develop Dan into a very good kicker. That is quite a story. Dan was a Terp fan his whole life and never played high school football. He has worked extremely hard in the weight room, with his technique, with his snapper and his holder. He has really turned into a real fine kicker for us."