Ken Dorsey Chat Wrap

August 5, 2002

Ken Dorsey: Hey everyone .. glad to be here! I’m ready for your questions!

Jason ( Portsmouth, NH): Do you like having a tough game so early into the season when youn play Florida on September 7th in the Swamp?

Ken Dorsey: We are very excited about that game. We are playing guys who we used to play with in high school so that will motivate our young guys.

Marc Lalley (Atlanta): Ken: I read that you put on 10 pounds of muscle wieght during the off-season. Great job on the hard work. Was is primarily to increase speed, arm strength, or both. Looking forward to the season, escpecially FSU! Go Canes!!that

Ken Dorsey: Thank you! I just wanted to become a better all around player. The best way to do that is to improve the weight, arm strength and speed.

Paul (Poteau, OK): You lost a huge weapon in tight end Jeremy Shockey (who just happens to be an Oklahoma :)product). It seems most teams, college or pro, look to the tight end as somewhat of a secret weapon. How do Shockey’s replacements look up to this point?

Ken Dorsey: Kellen Winslow Jr .. he looks really good. He might actually be a little more athletic than Jeremy but just doesn’t have the experience.

Norman Alvarez (Gainesville): Hello, Dorsey, I am really excited that you guys are coming to Gainesville to play the gators.I will be cheering for you guys, and I hope you can come out with a win. My question is last year Miami had a lot of leaders in the team, one of them was Ed Reed. Who do you think will be the leaders of this team, and can the young guns get the job done?Good luck guys, and go CANES!!!

Ken Dorsey: We’ve got a lot of great leaders. John Vilma has really stepped up this summer and has led the defense. Maurice Sykes is another guy in a young secondary who has really stepped up.

Potts(PA): How does it feel to have you own ice cream flavor?

Ken Dorsey: Well, that was the first time I heard about it, yesterday. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet.

Joe Gong (native UMer living in Seattle): Ken: What would you view as this year’s “biggest question mark?” And what’s your prognosis of the defensive changes? Thanks – you guys rock!

Ken Dorsey: It’s really hard to tell right now. We’ve got supposed question marks all over .. the OL and secondary .. but we feel comfortable with those guys and know they will do a great job for us.

Harvey (Melbourne): Hi Ken my question is, this year do you think you will throw down field a little more because you don’t have shockey? and how good is the other receivers excluding Mr andra

Ken Dorsey: I think again, with Kellan, it enables us to do the same type of things we were doing. But we will take advantage of our speed on the outsides.

Phil (Lincoln): Hey Ken, Just wanted to say, great game against Nebraska in the Rose Bowl, and congratulations on being National Champs. Just don’t do it again ok?

My question is this; From an outside perspective, do you think an option based offense can still remain competitive in todays college game?

Ken Dorsey: I think it’s very competitive .. it’s one of teh hardest things to prepare for. Esp. if you have a great passing game to compliment it. The option is very dangerous nowadays. The best example was Michael Vick who could hurt you both ways.

Mike Rooks New Smyrna Beach: Kenny,Gotta know if you have worked hard this offseason to improve your mobility and ability to throw on the move, as you probably know, the o-line will need some time to jell.

Ken Dorsey: Again, this summer I have worked on all aspects of my game. That is an area I focused on for sure.

Jason Gunter Chattanooga: Which defensive coordinators have given you the most problems over the last couple of years? I hope you have a great season.

Ken Dorsey: I think a lot of defenses gave us different looks. The BC game especially. They threw a great scheme at us and we didn’t make the adjustments we needed to.

Brett (Vienna, VA): Ken, we’re all glad you’re gonna be playing this season but we’re worried about next season! Do you think the ex-gator (Brock Berlin) will be able to handle the job once you’re gone?!?!

Ken Dorsey: It’s going to be a very intersting spring, to see the QB competition. We have a lot of great players. Crudup and Berlin are the two frontrunners.

Michael(MIA): How is the secondary looking? Who seems to be the best cover corner so far in your opinion?

Ken Dorsey: We feel very very confident in that area. They had a great summer. Our two starting guys are Jennings and Marshall. We feel great about those guys.

Tampa, FL: What is the most intimidating away stadium?

Steve Parkinson,Tampa, FL

Ken Dorsey: Intimidating? I wouldn’t say intimidating .. but Virginia Tech is very tough to play at.

David K.(Tn.): What do you think the atmosphere for the Tennnesse game will be like? You know there will be well over 100,000 crazy Vol fans there pulling against your team.

Ken Dorsey: We are very very aware of that! We have played in places like that before but we are very excited about that game.

A. Gall (Miami): Ken, how will you guys handle being on top and everyone gunning for you as champs vs. last year when you guys seemed to have a chip on your shoulder? Can you match last year’s focus and intensity?

Ken Dorsey: Oh yeah. We are very excited and can’t wait to start practicing. We are looking forward to that chance of proving ourselves. A lot of people don’t think we can do it and that is a huge motivator for us.

John (PA): Being such an experienced team leader, does the coaching staff sometimes treat you like a pseudo coach?

Ken Dorsey: I’d like to think so. They value my opinion and know I’m the guy who has to run things. I think they value what I have to say. I try to teach the young guys things that will help the team.

diehardcanefan: Where’s the after party for the fiesta bowl?

Ken Dorsey: I don’t know .. Las Vegas is pretty close so maybe we’ll swing by there!

Thanks very much for the questions and I hope to see you all the games!

Kirk Herbstreit says Go Canes!!!!!!!!!