April 25, 2001
Opening Statement
"I'm very pleased with where we are right now in our program. I think we've made strides offensively, defensively and on special teams. We've been able to put in a lot of situational stuff, from goal-line - short yardage, red zone, two-minute, our check system and our signal system - so from an organizational standpoint, I think we've got been able to get a lot done. I like our enthusiasm with our players, our effort. I think they understand what I expect from a practice. You hardly hear me yell anymore out there. They're working very hard and I'm looking for a good spring game."
On reaching the goals of spring camp
"If you look at it from a standpoint of where we are offensively, we didn't get in as much as I would have liked to have gotten in."
On where the team has struggled
"The difficulty seems to be in the system that we run. It's a little more complicated than what they are used to and I believe that you can't get too far ahead without making sure that you secure the basics. The positive thing is I think we've gotten enough in so that we can get better at it over the summer and come back in the fall and continue where we left off."
On the defense
"Defensively, we've made a lot of progress. We've got about everyone of our fronts and our coverages in that we're going to employ next year."
"Our defense has continued to improve as the spring has gone on. I like the play of our linebackers and our secondary and I think our defensive line has shown improvement over the last five practices. I think they have a good package and I think they're doing a good job of executing."
On the secondary
"They've done a good job. I like our corners. They are pressing some and doing a good job of playing off."
On the kicking game
"Our kicking game is going to be good. I think we're going to have to rely on it. Brooks Barnard is an outstanding punter. He can even improve on what he was able to do last year and he punted for a 45-yard average. Mechanically, he still does some things wrong and if he ever gets straight mechanically, I think he can be one of the outstanding kickers in college football."
"Our two place kickers are in close competition and we'll have to see how that works out in fall camp."
On the quarterback race
"In the quarterback situation, right now I'd say Shaun Hill is still the leader, but I don't think his lead is unsurpassable. Chris Kelley is making a move on him. For only having had 13 practices in his college career I'm pretty impressed by his poise. He doesn't know everything yet but he has great vision and he just seems to make plays and have pretty good leadership qualities. Latrez Harrison has a lot of athletic ability and a lot of tools but he just has to pick the system up a little better than what he's doing right now."
On injuries
"Some of the kids have missed spring who I'm hoping will come back and make an impact in the fall. Matt Crawford had a knee operation in the winter and is rehabilitating very well. He's added strength to his upper body, he hasn't been able to work out his lower body but he's running and everything looks like he'll be able to work out full tilt this summer. Tyrone Stewart pulled a hamstring the first week of practice and has not been back the whole spring. Leroy Ambush had surgery on his arm. He dislocated some bones in his hand and he'll be ready in about six weeks. Maurice Shanks had originally turned an ankle after the first week and made a lot of plays in the first scrimmage and then broke his toe just running on the turf so he'll be out for about six weeks. Lastly, Eric Dumas broke his foot last week and had a pin put in it. They say in six weeks that he'll be fine. Todd Wike has been in and out, but has had some problems with a groin strain and he hurt his foot."
On what has been the hardest part for him this spring
"They're not getting better fast enough. I have some faults, I'm impatient and I'm probably a perfectionist. When I look at isolated situations I see kids getting better and I have to keep reminding myself that as long as they're getting better -whether they get better on one thing each day - they're improving."
On the receivers
"They've struggled. I don't know if they've ever been where everything has to be so precise -- from where they line up to how deep they run the route, if it's a timed route, on what step they're breaking the route off or whether they have to sight adjust. They have to recognize coverage. I mean, I put a lot on them. That's one reason we've been successful, because I do ask a lot of them, so I think they're going through that adaptation."
On the offensive line
"Eric Dumas being out hurts us because I think he's really a talented kid. He's a pretty good athlete for 6-6, 300 pounds. I feel like we're pretty blessed in that area and if you have to blessed in one area, that's the place to be because it takes the longest to develop. C.J. Brooks is another kid who's a very athletic lineman. We have him playing the right side right now but I think he's athletic enough to play the left. Melvin has the chance to be one of the best, if not the best, centers in the ACC. He's a very athletic, very talented, very intelligent football player and once he learns better of what he's supposed to do, he'll be better. Todd Wike is kind of a battler, a fighter. Lamar Bryant probably needs a little more experience but I have great hopes for him. I see a lot of young kids who like to play football and they can only get better."
On student support
"A good turnout would do a lot [for the team]. Success next year depends a great deal on the support we get. If Byrd Stadium were like Cole Field House, it would do wonders for our season."
