Nov. 9, 2010
On an overall message to the team this week after a tough loss:
"I told the team yesterday that it was a very tough defeat. Our kids played extremely hard and it was a physical football game. Now that it's done we can't do anything about it. I think we need to learn and grow from it, onto the next game. When we go down to Virginia we need to play very well to win the football game."
On what he enjoys about the rivalry between Maryland and Virginia:
"I think it's a good rivalry between two schools who are both very competitive. I think we don't just compete for our students. I also think ¬that ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬border rivalries are good like what we have with Virginia Tech, Virginia, West Virginia and if we play frequently enough, Navy. I think rivalries are good for the program, the season, the fans and they are even better when we win."
On Maryland's great linebacker tradition:
"We have a tremendous linebacker tradition here at Maryland. It is something I am very proud of. We also have a very good tradition of quarterbacks as well. Alex Wujciak is the latest, and I think Adrian Moten can cross over into that category as well. I also think we have some young linebackers that could cross over into that category as well.
"I spoke with Alex today in my office; it has been a real pleasure to coach him. He's played a lot during his time here, a lot of the times he was hurt and I really appreciate all he has contributed to the program. As a lot of people know he's one of my favorites. He's a heck of a football player and one heck of a kid."
On the ACC race and bowl eligibility:
"At this point of the season we usually try to crank it up. But we need to slow it down, focusing on each of the remaining games. After watching the film from Saturday I can tell we're a little beat up. I really wanted to make sure we had our assignments down for running. I think that when you have the record we have, 6-3, we went after all of our goals this season. As of right now we are still in control of our own destiny. We haven't looked past our next game and we will not do that now.
"Right now we need to concentrate on Virginia and see what happens after that. I mentioned to the team last night, we need to jump back up on our feet. Last night I showed a power point on what each game means. Right now we're one of ten teams eligible for a bowl game. I told them that just because you are bowl eligible, does not mean you are going to make a bowl. So every win from here on out will determine which bowl we go to. That was not all that was mentioned, we also spoke about what Virginia is able to do that could jeopardize not jut our bowl contention but our conference championship."
On the differences with Virginia's new coach:
"They are playing with a lot of energy and playing with intensity. I have a lot of respect for Coach London. I think that he is a very good motivator, a very good recruiter. I think since he's come in, he has done a lot with their program and I think they will be very successful football team."
On performance Saturday at Miami:
"I think that we had a tough match up and the effort in which we fought was really encouraging to me. Every play was important. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose."
On defensive end Drew Gloster:
"I think he's been a major influence on the defense. I think he's had the season that I hoped he would. He played very well against Miami. He had one of his better games. I'm really happy for him. He's been a guy that's kind of been looking for a home to play. He's really matured as a person. I think he has a chance to do very well once he gets out of here.
"He's played very well for us and has given very good leadership. I'm hoping he can finish this thing out the right way, and graduate. He's really made a difference in our defense because some of the things he does are unselfish. There are a lot of times he has to take a block or give himself up to free up the linebackers. He does that very well and I think he's gotten better as a pass rusher. He runs well and is athletic and we're much more productive at that position than we were last year."
On bouncing back from the loss at Miami:
"It was a tough loss for us but we are over it now. Win or lose you have to get ready for the next opponent so we are all focused on Virginia this week. We have been good at bouncing back from losses so far this year and we get another chance to do that this week. It's back to the drawing board and we have to get ready for this one."
On controlling their own destiny:
"We have been fortunate with how crazy the Atlantic Division is this year that we still control our own destiny. If we can just win one week at a time things will be set up for us."
On the sense of urgency:
"The Miami loss has been tough on us but we have bounced back from it. We have to be optimistic and take it a week at a time. We have three games left so there is a sense of urgency knowing what's at stake."
Sophomore Offensive Lineman R.J. Dill
On Virginia's Defense:
"They are not a big blitz team but they do a lot of line movements which is something we haven't had in a little while. It's nothing we don't handle every day in spring ball with the craziness that is Coach Brown's defense. We are going to be prepared for it because they are a good defense and they play hard and do good things. They have a guy who has 6.5 sacks right now so we have to come to play and make sure that we give Danny (O'Brien) time. We have to give Danny, Torrey (Smith), Da'Rel (Scott) and Davin (Meggett) time to make plays, as long as we do that we are going to be alright."
On the Maryland-Virginia rivalry:
"It's something fun to play in but it doesn't make the game any bigger. It doesn't mean anything more than last week or next week, every game is just as big. That's the approach we are going to have to take to be successful. I'm going to work just as hard this week as last week and its going to be a little extra motivation. I'm going to continue to work hard and whether its Virginia or Morgan State I'm going to work hard and see where the chips fall at the end of the season."
On what playing at Maryland has meant to him:
"It has been awesome; Coach Friedgen has been an awesome head coach as well as my teammates and assistant coaches. It has been a blast. I'm thankful to Coach Sollazzo, who recruited me. I've had a great experience with football as well as socially and it's just been great."
On Virginia's offense:
"They do a lot of shifting and try to get us out of our comfort zone. They have a big back who is a downhill runner as well as a shiftier back to create a nice combination. I think the biggest thing for us is to stop the run."
On the Maryland-Virginia Rivalry:
"I like it because I see guys who I remember playing against in high school. I like playing against them and I'm sure that their Maryland guys like playing against us. It's a healthy rivalry; obviously neither team is going to get everyone from their state. They are two quality universities and whenever they get a chance to compete it's a good show."
On staying in the ACC race despite a loss:
"For us we want to continue to take it one game at a time. With us, Florida State and North Carolina State losing we are in the same position we were last week. We have to go out and take care of business against Virginia and let things take care of themselves."
Senior Defensive Lineman Drew Gloster
On Maryland's defense:
"It starts with Coach Brown, ever since he arrived last year it has been his whole mentality. He used to be a head coach so he knows how to relate to guys and get us fired up. We all look up to Coach Brown as our leader and the schemes he puts together are very successful and we all believe in that. If we do our `one-eleventh' as we say we can be successful with the talent that we have on defense."
On his relationship with the Linebackers:
"I love it, I know that we have one of the best linebacking corps in the ACC with (Alex) Wujciak in the middle, (Adrian) Moten on the outside and Demetrius Hartsfield behind me. My relationship with Demetrius has grown a lot this year. He calls me his Defensive End on the weak side and he is my Linebacker on the weak side. If I don't make a play I know that he is right behind me to make the play for me."
On Alex Wujciak's leadership:
"Alex Wujciak has a lot of personality, he jokes a lot and you always see him smiling and laughing. He is a good leader but we get our calls from the side line, but if we did have someone in the huddle calling the plays it would probably be Wujciak because he is our man and he always knows how to put things into the positive."
