Quotes from Head Coach Ralph Friedgen's Press Conference
9/12/2006 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 12, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland Head Coach: Ralph Friedgen Quotes Press Conference- September 12, 2006
Opening Statement: "It's been a hectic week, and it's far from over. We are going to play a very good football team. We are going to go up there and see where our maturity is; we will see how we handle the environment and how hard we play the game."
On playing West Virginia early in the season: "I think we can win this football game, I see it as an opportunity. This team is going to have to win a game like this to develop; it's going to happen and if it doesn't happen this time we are going to get some more opportunities."
On the last two wins: "It is what it is; they were two wins and I haven't seen a bad one yet."
On Drew Weatherly: "He won't play this week; he had a screw put in his foot and they tell me he should be available in two weeks."
On Maryland's rivalry with West Virginia: "I think it's very important; the relationship and rivalry we have with West Virginia is great for both programs. I had a choice not to play West Virginia when I first got here and I didn't want that. I wanted to play West Virginia so we would have that rivalry. It's a great college football game, it always is. It's good, tough, hard-nosed football from both teams. Hopefully we can go in there and get a win."
On the difference between West Virginia's team last year and this year: "Confidence. Some of the guys they're playing with right now didn't play last year, but things can happen. They won the Sugar Bowl this year and they have an aura about them; that's where we would like to be."
On the team's excitement level going into West Virginia: "They're more excited, but that's just how they are. I will say that when I watch the tapes, they're pretty excited when they play, and that's what counts."
On Darrius Heyward-Bey: "He gets better every practice. I remember telling Darrius this spring that he had to give more effort or he wasn't going to play. A lot of young kids have trouble making the transition from what they think is `going hard' to actually going how hard they need to go. He's just getting better; it's only going to be a matter of time until he's there. What I need is more, that's my biggest concern."
On having a senior quarterback: "Last time we went up there we had a redshirt freshman quarterback who hadn't played. He turned it over five times and we went into overtime. Hollenbach has been in the big games and he's played on Thursday night before. I'm hoping that this is going to be one of our staples."
On this week's practices: "Practices have been good. In a normal week you get to see them recover so today will be a big day, but I've been pleased with the past few days of practice."
On the team's development: "I really believe this is going to be a good football team. I don't know when it's going to come, but it will happen. I watch these kids and we're doing pretty good things, we just have to be more consistent and eventually that will happen."
