Quotes from Tuesday's Champs Sports Bowl Practice
12/26/2006 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 26, 2006
ORLANDO, Fla. -
Head Coach Ralph Friedgen
On practice today:
"Today we practiced pretty well. We did make some mental mistakes, but there was some good points to the practice too. We went to this function [the Day for Kids], which I think was a very nice function, and every player from all four teams here [Maryland, Purdue, Wisconsin and Arkansas] spent about two and a half hours with underprivileged kids, and they were playing games, and it was very nice but our guys were on their feet for two and a half hours. So that might have played somewhat into how the practice went. I think we had two very good practices down here despite the weather."
On his involvement with the Day for Kids: "I went there, I did a commercial with [Purdue] Coach Tiller and a couple of the players. Although a couple of the kids came up and said `hello' to me, I think they wanted to get close with our players. Our guys do such a good job with that, especially community service, but I thought all the players were very patient. We had some kids in wheelchairs, and other disabilities. Each team has about 120 guys, so they must have had a lot of kids, since every player had a kid. The kids really enjoyed it, so it's a good thing to have on the schedule."
On how the offense is playing: "Better right now, not to where we were before exams. The last practice, we did some drills and we had some really good catches. I took them out of full gear today because I thought they've gotten hit enough. I'll look at the tape, because it's never as bad as you think it is. It's never as good either."
On the defense: "Today, they were pretty good. We went against them in blitz drill, and I thought they had one of their better days. Some days, we do pretty well offensively, and then the next day they come back. I'm hoping we can put it all together on Friday."
Erin Henderson (LB, #1)
On Wesley Jefferson:
"I think he's done a good job all year. I haven't really seen any changes in him. He had a little issue with his shoulder for a while but I think that is healthy now. He's definetly been consistent for us and I'm glad to say I played next to him."
On how the defense has grown since the losses to BC and Wake Forest: "We had a lot of opportunity to tune a lot of things up and fix a lot of different issues we have. We got all the wrinkles ironed out, and now it's just a matter of executing."
On what is at stake for the team in Friday's game: "Just the way that we finish the year off, and that we send our seniors off right. They're very important to us, and they mean a lot to us. So to win this game, our ninth win, before they go out, it's very important for the young guys who are coming back next year. It's kind of like the first game of next year. It's just one of those games you want to win so you have a good taste in your mouth going into the next season, something positive and not a three-game losing streak. You just want to go out there and take care of business."
On practicing indoors at University of Central Florida: "It was nice. They have a very nice facility over there and I was impressed. It was definitely a relief from the wet fields that we've been practicing on, since it's tough to keep your footing. It was a change of environment too, and I think that helps people out with their energy."
