Oct. 13, 2009
On his strategy with this team:
"I think we've got to try to help our young guys, especially up front. We haven't had the continuity and Lamar Young was injured last game, too. That's a situation where we have to try to get guys better and do everything we can. I do think we've gotten better. We only had one turnover on Saturday, but it was a costly one. We've got to continue to secure the ball better. We've had less penalties (vs. Wake Forest). What we've got to do is get our execution down. We'll try to put our guys in the best situation where they can be successful."
On if this game is special because of the Virginia rivalry:
"I think if you'd ask the Virginia players, they would say the same thing. The kids all know each other. A lot of them have gone to school with each other. We have Virginia kids, they have D.C. and Maryland kids. I think, over the years, and even since Al Groh and I played, it's always been a rivalry. They have Virginia Tech also, but I think Maryland's a rivalry to them and I think it's a rivalry for our guys too."
On how Chris Turner has adjusted to being used more in the running game:
"I think it adds a dimension to his game. Not only is Chris doing a good job with that, but I think he's taking the runs when he can. I don't think in the past he would do that as frequently as he's doing now. He's come up with some big first downs for us. Chris is a battler. I think he's battled very well. I thought he played very hard in the second half of last game. Sometimes he doesn't get the best protection. I think he's hanging in there and doing a pretty good job."
On his feelings toward the team after a rough few weeks:
"I haven't changed how I feel about these guys. They came out and practiced hard last night. If anything, I'm proud of them. We've got some guys that are nicked up and I'm trying to take it easy on them a little bit so we can get them well, but yet they still want to go. That's a thing I appreciate very much and kind of love them for it."
On the similarities between Virginia's season and Maryland's:
"I think they've had two good games (in a row). I was just reading Al's comments from his press conference yesterday. I think he had a valid point. They're smart people and they have eyes and ears too. That's one of the reasons I was really trying to point out some of the positives in what we do. We showed them what we did wrong and we also show them what we did right. He has a young football team also, so there are some similarities there."
On his memories of this rivalry:
"I've got some special memories, good and bad. Last year was a bad one. There have been some good ones, though, too. Hopefully Saturday will be a good one.
On the importance of Bruce Campbell on the offensive line:
"Your left tackle is a pretty important guy. He's usually matched up against their best pass-rusher. Plus, he's a guy that has some experience and leadership qualities, too. We're playing R.J. Dill (at right tackle) and he's going to be a good player. He did okay last week. He made some mistakes, but he's a redshirt freshman. Paul Pinegar goes in there and battles. He got beat a couple times last week, but overall, at least you know what you're going to get from him. Anytime you lose your left tackle, that's a situation. He's pretty important to us. We've lost some of our veteran guys which doesn't help when you have a young team. Hopefully, they'll get better and we'll have Bruce back and Travis back."
On wide receiver Torrey Smith:
"He comes from a pretty good sized-family. His mom is there and it's a pretty good family. Torrey is kind of the head of the household. It's not unusual for Torrey to go home on a weekend and take five offensive linemen with him. They go back to his house and his mom cooks for them. I've talked about Torrey before. He's just an unbelievable person. He's a great football player and he's going to get better and better and better. The type of individual he is, I would be proud to have him as my son. He's just a great human being. He's very popular on the team. He's a very caring person. Last week in the locker room, in the second half and also after the game, he just refused to quit. He's very special to me."
On last week's performance vs. Wake Forest:
"I had an opportunity and just took it. The first touchdown was a fade route. Second touchdown was a hitch and I just made the play."
On the standings in the ACC:
"As you can see, some teams lost. A couple teams, like Florida State, have three losses. I think we are number two in the ACC on our side. We just have to take advantage of the opportunity. I really don't follow too many teams but I might follow Florida State because I've got a couple of good friends that play for that team. That's about it, but I'm just focused on us and getting better every day. Limiting our mistakes and taking advantage of opportunities."
Senior Offensive Lineman Phil Costa
On the team's mindset right now:
"We're 1-1 right now in the division. We still think we can compete with every team we are going to play against this season. It's great that we've still got that opportunity alive."
"We know we have to win four games to go to the bowl game, but you have to go one game at a time and just focus on Virginia right now."
On trying to get a win this Saturday:
"This is a must-have. It's a big rivalry game against Virginia and its homecoming so it's going to mean everything to us right now."
Senior Defensive Lineman Travis Ivey
On the importance of the Virginia game:
"I think it's just getting back on the right foot. Obviously it's a rivalry game and we want to win this game just because what it means to the program, but I think that just the step in the right direction is what means the most. Try and get back on the right foot and try and win games."
On the team's confidence:
"The confidence is in the effort we put in everyday. I don't think you can see someone put as much effort from Monday to Thursday [as] we do. We practice extremely hard. Some of the things that we have to overcome in this season is cut down on the turnovers and cut down on missed assignments. I think it's just a matter of time before we get everything together."
On playing rival Virginia:
"It's exciting. I've got a bunch of friends on the team. Of course, I'm from there so whenever you go against your home team it's a big thing. I'm from Virginia, but I was a Hokies fan growing up, so UVA wasn't really in my mind too much. Just to have the opportunity to play them every year and being on the other side is something I look forward to."
On his reaction to be being praised by Coach Friedgen for his play:
"It's big that coach looks at me in that way. He's a big reason why I came here, him and Coach Brattan. It was tough to pull me out of the state, but I believe in everything that he's preaching. With him as a coach I've become a better person."
On the UMD/UVA Rivalry:
"It means a lot because it's really the only rivalry that we have. I know Virginia has other in-state rivals, Virginia Tech and all. So for us it's a big game every year, regardless of records. It's a rivalry game and both sides come out pretty fired up."
On Virginia's defense:
"Up front, the three guys they have are big, they're strong, and they get underneath your linemen and throw them down. They make plays and stuff holes. Their secondary is very talented. Defensively as a unit, they are very good this year. They were pretty good last year, too. We've got a pretty good challenge this week."
On similarities from Cal game and Wake Forest game:
"I think there were some similarities in the fact that we did have breakdowns, [which led to] two of their touchdowns. (Cameron) Chism slipped on one play where he probably would have had an interception. I know another play (Adrian) Moten slipped and fell down and (Riley) Skinner was able to get outside and score a touchdown. Those are plays that we've been making the past two weeks so that's what makes it really upsetting for us."
On the UMD/UVA rivalry:
"It's definitely a rivalry. Since I've been here, all of the older players have taken it as a rivalry. We played some really close games with them. I think there is definitely a rivalry between recruits in Virginia and Maryland."
