Miami Player Comments - Tuesday, Sept. 3
Sept. 4, 2002
MORE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI PLAYER COMMENTS – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2002
Jonathan Vilma, Middle Linebacker
Q: Do you think the whole aura of The “Swamp” might be kind of overrated? You guys have played in tons of big places and in big games before.
A: I’m sure The “Swamp” is a definite college atmosphere up there, but we’ve been to Penn State. We went to Florida State last year, those are some rowdy crowds. West Virginia is definitely a rowdy crowd. We can’t really worry about the crowd. We just have to worry about the game and who we’re playing against.
Q: You guys are the defending national champions, but you’re underdogs in this game. Do you guys take that personally?
A: I didn’t know we were underdogs. That’s another reason to be motivated, I guess.
Q:How difficult is it going to be as you guys don’t have a lot of game film on Florida?
A: I don’t know. We’ve got one clip on them that we can watch from the previous game that was played. Other than that, we’re just going with what we know about them, what we can expect from them, and the assets that they have.
Q: So what’s the key here? Is the key stopping Grossman? Is the key stopping Earnest Graham?
A: Stopping Florida. That’s the key right there. That’s how we get the “W.”
Q: What’s your take on the matchup between your defensive front and their offensive line?
A: I think our defensive front is the best in the nation. I said that last year, I said that in the spring, and I’m going to stick with it. I mean anybody that goes against our D-line is going to have a problem, whether it’s Florida or whoever.
Q: Do you feel you can play with anybody if you measure up with these guys?
A: Definitely, because they have athletes and they’ve been there. They have experienced receivers, number six, Jacobs I think it is, he’s a pretty good receiver so if we can match up with them we can match up with anybody.
Q: As regards stopping the run, after seeking what (Florida running back) Earnest Graham did last week, have you been preparing any differently in practice this week?
A: Not any differently, but we know who we’re facing. He had like 150 yards in the Sugar Bowl, he’s a real sleeper running back who doesn’t get a lot of hype. We’re not taking their passing game for granted, but we know that we have to stop the run first and foremost.
Q: What do you remember from that game, the Sugar Bowl?
A: I just remember that we didn’t really do anything and that there was a lot of hype around that game. They didn’t do anything really spectacular and we didn’t come out there showboating or anything like that, we just won the game.
On the UM secondary
A: I don’t think they need any more support than they did during spring or two-a-days when they faced Dorsey. (Dorsey)’s good. He was putting in passes during two-a-days that shouldn’t have been there. They didn’t need much support then, they handled their own and they took care of business.
Q: In the dime package, you’re the only linebacker. Do you feel any extra pressure when you’re caught between the pass and the run and they decide to hand it off, which they could do?
A: A little bit. We do some things to offset it, to offset the running game, to offset the fact that there’s only one linebacker in the game. I have a little bit of support from the secondary, but I do wish my linebackers were still in there with me. I mean, we do have things to offset the running game when we do go into the dime package.
On the rivalry
A: If we let the hype get to us about it being a rivalry or anything like that, we’ve lost our focus and then the game’s already over and we’ve lost the game by that time.
Roscoe Parrish, Receiver and Return Specialist
Q: Do you think that you could be a secret weapon or do you think that with the way you played this last weekend the secret is kind of out of the bag?
A: Well, I’m just going to come out and play.
Q: You’re wearing a New York Knicks jersey and that has Florida colors?
A: I just like watching basketball. I like them because I like Sprewell.
Q: Talk a little about that reverse (for a touchdown against FAMU) when they told you in the huddle, “Come on now, let’s see what you can do.” Did you see that play developing?
A: When Ken Dorsey came in the huddle he said, “Come on now Roscoe, this is your play, here.” So I went to the line and I looked at the defense and I thought about what I was going to do when I got the ball. As I got the ball I ran like five yards and then I saw a man in front of me and I thought, “I can’t get just five yards on this play,” so I tried all I could to get out and get that touchdown.
Q: When you look at tape on Florida, do you look at players or do you look at schemes?
A: Well, we watch film, we look at every little thing they do. Their weak parts, their strong parts, their coverage, how they check out their coverage, how they audible and everything. We check out everything. You can’t take anything for granted.
Q: What are your personal goals?
A: Just come out and play hard. Just get another victory. That would be good for the whole team.
Q: What do you think about all the comparisons that people make between you and Santana Moss?
A: Santana Moss is a really good player, so when people compare me to him then that’s a really good privilege. He’s a hard working player. I’ve been watching him since he was at the University of Miami so I’ve just got to play hard like he plays hard.
Q: Have you ever talked to him?
A: Yeah, I’ve talked to him. He just said that I’ve got to keep my head up and do my thing.
Mo Sikes, Defensive Back
Q: How do you think it went in the first game?
A: We handled a lot of things really well. It could have been better. Me and Sean (Taylor) … we both dropped interceptions and we definitely don’t want to do that, but it went well for the first game. FAMU threw a lot of different schemes and stuff at us, but I’d say it was a pretty good showing for us for the first game.
Q: The differences between FAMU and Florida
A: Defenitely, the receivers will be a lot better. The quarterback will be 100 times better. They’re going to run their offense and the whole scheme will be a lot different than Florida A&M’s, but the speed will be a lot different in this game from that game.
Q: Is it hard going from a game against FAMU to a game against Florida? It must be like going to a fastball pitcher from a knuckle-ball pitcher back to back?
A: Honestly, when we get up for a game, we’re not really playing against the teams. In actuality we are, but we get up for ourselves. We play technique, tackle, and run to the ball. No matter what, we’re playing ourselves. If you don’t make any mistakes then you don’t have anything to worry about.
Q: Have you heard any of the horror stories about Florida?
A: I’ve heard some of them. I really don’t listen to any, honestly, because they’re different from everybody. Everybody has a different. We’re just going to go up there, play the football game, and come home. I’m really excited for the game, but I’m not really anxious. We’re just going to play them hard no matter what. We’ re just going to go out there and have fun and take it as it comes.
