SWC75
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The show was not at the Red Robin Restaurant and was not done live. There were no call-ins. It was just an interview with Matt Park, reviewing the season and looking to the future. They may do another show to preview the bowl game. That’s not been decided yet. As usual, I have combined statements made at different parts of the broadcast but on the same subject for continuity.
Coach: “I’m proud of the way the kids have played. It wasn’t as pretty as we wanted it to be. I was disappointed with the Penn State and Pittsburgh games. Boston College was one of the more exciting finishes I’ve been a part of.”
They discussed defensing Andre Williams, who had rushed for 200 yards or more in three straight games. “I’ve got to credit our staff. They did a great job in preparation. I told them that we’ve got to find a way to not let this guy beat us. We can’t allow him to make one cut- the goal is to make him go east-west, eliminate the inside gaps. They like to use lead blockers, pulling guards, extra linemen, fullbacks and tight ends. The linebackers, especially Davis and Hodge, made him go sideways. They only let him go once, when we didn’t get squared up. He had one carry for 29 yards and eight other carries for 3 yards. I always go into a game feeling good about our game plan. Then comes hindsight. We didn’t need it here. I told Chuck (Bullough), ‘Don’t’ worry about the slot routes’. They got a couple of big plays on us. We made it closer than it should have been. We sho9uld have won by at least 10 points.”
Matt said that the injury to Williams may have been a turning point. SS: “We all have injuries. There are no apologies. Marquis Spruill got injured on the same play and came back.” Matt asked if we might have some injured players back for the bowl. “We get those practices but kids need healing time. Spruill’s going to do some running. Sean Hickey has a nagging injury, an ankle sprain. It’s not a dangerous injury.”
The offense controlled the ball. “Coach MacDonald did a great job with the game plan. We went empty with an outside the box offense. Field position helped us after we came up short on those early drives.”
Terrel Hunt completed passes to 10 different players, although it should have been 9. Coach, who was a quarterback remembered doing the same thing- instinctively but unwisely catching a batted pass for a huge loss. Matt noted that Brett Favre completed his first NFL pass to himself on a similar play.
They talked about Ryan Norton, who had to take over for the injured Ross Krautman as the team’s placekicker. “He’s worked hard, had some tough misses. He made the big one. We were confident he was going to try to put it through.” I was confident he was going to try, too.
Alvin Cornelius and Josh Parris were players down in the depth chart at the beginning of the season who played big roles in the game. “At the beginning they were just happy to get reps. They had guys in front of them. They had high character and worked hard knowing they weren’t really part of the offense yet.”
Matt described Boston College’s score on the old throwback play as “a knife in the chest” but then “our version wins the game.” SS: “Their ball seemed to be in the air forever. In our play the tight end lines up on the same side of the ball where we throw it.”
Coach advocates playing a lot of players. “You never know when you might be the hero. I like to use a lot of guys. It sets up a kid’s confidence and also that of the staff and team in him. The mindset helps you prepare for a game because you know you could get in. There will be a true competition in the spring because both players will have played. The starters fight their buns off to keep their job and competition is always good. We’re never going to have a lot of walk-ons here- it’s too expensive. But a team gets better if the third guys on the depth chart get to play. You can also move guys around. I saw Chandler Jones playing n(defensive) guard for the Patriots. You find a way to get your best players on the field and be fluid in your approach. Be creative and stay creative.”
Matt asked about the importance of going to bowl games. “15 practices- it’s the same as spring ball. We can give the young kids reps, including Austin Wilson and Mitch Kimble and the young wide receivers. It also helps recruiting. Recruits can watch practice and check out the competition (or lack of it) for positions, the style of coaching, etc.”
We finished third in our division, behind Florida State and Clemson. “At least we know where the bar is…the ACC is one of the best conferences in the country and its where we want to be….Players are bigger and faster in the ACC. We had good speed in the Big East. But the down linemen are faster. Guards can run with linebackers they out-weigh by 80 pounds. There are multiple Heisman candidates and All-American candidates. We need to get on the road and steal some of those for Syracuse. The coaches were on airplanes last night, out recruiting.”
They didn’t say much about which bowl game we might be going to. “If we could have won a couple more games we’d be in a better bowl. At least the players will get to know more about us. Knowledge is powerful stuff.”
We had a heck of a year. You want 8-9 wins. But we lost a record setting quarterback and receiver, Justin Pugh, Shamarko Thomas, Deon Goggins. We had to win ugly at times. We had a rookie head coach and a new group of coaches You don’t want to beat yourself up too much but you have to be self-critical….I always knew when I was an assistant that you couldn’t appreciate being in the head coach’s chair until you are actually in there. I want to make our organization more proficient during the course of the day. I’m extremely an extremely emotional person. I don’t always use the best vocabulary. I want to me more clam and cool. I want to be more inventive and creative but being true to who we are and how we’ve recruited in the past. We want to get the best players for us, regardless of how many stars are next to their name. ”
“We always have to adjust to elements, have open ears. At the end of the day you’ve got to pull the trigger and make tough decisions. I want to lean on people who have done this job before. In the offseason. “ Meaning that he’s going to consult current and former head coaches he knows.
“I want to challenge the staff. I want to see the kids succeed. The best interests of the individuals come first and foremost. Then there’s the community service, which we don’t talk about much. The staff is all on board. Football is a small part of the educational process.”
Coach: “I’m proud of the way the kids have played. It wasn’t as pretty as we wanted it to be. I was disappointed with the Penn State and Pittsburgh games. Boston College was one of the more exciting finishes I’ve been a part of.”
They discussed defensing Andre Williams, who had rushed for 200 yards or more in three straight games. “I’ve got to credit our staff. They did a great job in preparation. I told them that we’ve got to find a way to not let this guy beat us. We can’t allow him to make one cut- the goal is to make him go east-west, eliminate the inside gaps. They like to use lead blockers, pulling guards, extra linemen, fullbacks and tight ends. The linebackers, especially Davis and Hodge, made him go sideways. They only let him go once, when we didn’t get squared up. He had one carry for 29 yards and eight other carries for 3 yards. I always go into a game feeling good about our game plan. Then comes hindsight. We didn’t need it here. I told Chuck (Bullough), ‘Don’t’ worry about the slot routes’. They got a couple of big plays on us. We made it closer than it should have been. We sho9uld have won by at least 10 points.”
Matt said that the injury to Williams may have been a turning point. SS: “We all have injuries. There are no apologies. Marquis Spruill got injured on the same play and came back.” Matt asked if we might have some injured players back for the bowl. “We get those practices but kids need healing time. Spruill’s going to do some running. Sean Hickey has a nagging injury, an ankle sprain. It’s not a dangerous injury.”
The offense controlled the ball. “Coach MacDonald did a great job with the game plan. We went empty with an outside the box offense. Field position helped us after we came up short on those early drives.”
Terrel Hunt completed passes to 10 different players, although it should have been 9. Coach, who was a quarterback remembered doing the same thing- instinctively but unwisely catching a batted pass for a huge loss. Matt noted that Brett Favre completed his first NFL pass to himself on a similar play.
They talked about Ryan Norton, who had to take over for the injured Ross Krautman as the team’s placekicker. “He’s worked hard, had some tough misses. He made the big one. We were confident he was going to try to put it through.” I was confident he was going to try, too.
Alvin Cornelius and Josh Parris were players down in the depth chart at the beginning of the season who played big roles in the game. “At the beginning they were just happy to get reps. They had guys in front of them. They had high character and worked hard knowing they weren’t really part of the offense yet.”
Matt described Boston College’s score on the old throwback play as “a knife in the chest” but then “our version wins the game.” SS: “Their ball seemed to be in the air forever. In our play the tight end lines up on the same side of the ball where we throw it.”
Coach advocates playing a lot of players. “You never know when you might be the hero. I like to use a lot of guys. It sets up a kid’s confidence and also that of the staff and team in him. The mindset helps you prepare for a game because you know you could get in. There will be a true competition in the spring because both players will have played. The starters fight their buns off to keep their job and competition is always good. We’re never going to have a lot of walk-ons here- it’s too expensive. But a team gets better if the third guys on the depth chart get to play. You can also move guys around. I saw Chandler Jones playing n(defensive) guard for the Patriots. You find a way to get your best players on the field and be fluid in your approach. Be creative and stay creative.”
Matt asked about the importance of going to bowl games. “15 practices- it’s the same as spring ball. We can give the young kids reps, including Austin Wilson and Mitch Kimble and the young wide receivers. It also helps recruiting. Recruits can watch practice and check out the competition (or lack of it) for positions, the style of coaching, etc.”
We finished third in our division, behind Florida State and Clemson. “At least we know where the bar is…the ACC is one of the best conferences in the country and its where we want to be….Players are bigger and faster in the ACC. We had good speed in the Big East. But the down linemen are faster. Guards can run with linebackers they out-weigh by 80 pounds. There are multiple Heisman candidates and All-American candidates. We need to get on the road and steal some of those for Syracuse. The coaches were on airplanes last night, out recruiting.”
They didn’t say much about which bowl game we might be going to. “If we could have won a couple more games we’d be in a better bowl. At least the players will get to know more about us. Knowledge is powerful stuff.”
We had a heck of a year. You want 8-9 wins. But we lost a record setting quarterback and receiver, Justin Pugh, Shamarko Thomas, Deon Goggins. We had to win ugly at times. We had a rookie head coach and a new group of coaches You don’t want to beat yourself up too much but you have to be self-critical….I always knew when I was an assistant that you couldn’t appreciate being in the head coach’s chair until you are actually in there. I want to make our organization more proficient during the course of the day. I’m extremely an extremely emotional person. I don’t always use the best vocabulary. I want to me more clam and cool. I want to be more inventive and creative but being true to who we are and how we’ve recruited in the past. We want to get the best players for us, regardless of how many stars are next to their name. ”
“We always have to adjust to elements, have open ears. At the end of the day you’ve got to pull the trigger and make tough decisions. I want to lean on people who have done this job before. In the offseason. “ Meaning that he’s going to consult current and former head coaches he knows.
“I want to challenge the staff. I want to see the kids succeed. The best interests of the individuals come first and foremost. Then there’s the community service, which we don’t talk about much. The staff is all on board. Football is a small part of the educational process.”
