UM Player Comments - Tues., Oct. 8
Oct. 9, 2002
MIAMI PLAYER QUOTES – TUESDAY, OCT. 8, 2002
Miami offensive tackle Vernon Carey
On the rivalry between Dade County players on Miami’s team and Dade County players for Florida State
“Personally, it’s not really a rivalry to me. I don’t really have no rivalries with anybody. I’m just going to have fun playing a football game against a good team. Hopefully, we’re going to do our best to win.”
On whether or not south Florida athletes are moving toward UM since it began winning the series against Florida State
“This game, right here, will bring in a lot of recruits like it did the last time. In Florida, (athletes) lean toward Florida State and Miami and whoever wins this game gets the best recruiting class.”
Miami offensive guard Chris Myers
On Florida State’s pass rush
“Considering a lot of those past games … they have good athletes. They might not have had a good pass rush against Louisville. But with these types of games you think FSU/Florida, they’re going to come out and play no matter what, past games don’t matter. We just look at the films to see what they’re going to do games-wise and blitz-wise. We know that they’re going to come out and play and be ready to do whatever and it’s a dogfight.”
On growing up in Miami and anticipating the game against Florida State”Ever since I started watching UM football (I’ve looked forward to this game). My uncle (Dennis Kelleher) played here from ’85 to ’89 and I was going to all those games and saw those championship years. Coming to those games you always dream about wanting to play in those games and now finally I’m getting that chance so I’m going to go out and perform.”
Miami running backs coach Don Soldinger
On whether or not Florida State is “down” this season
“I don’t think that at all. I don’t believe that at all. I don’t believe that at all. I’ve known a lot of these guys on that staff for years and years when I was coaching high-school ball, I’ve talked up there at clinics. Those guys are good coaches and they’ve got good players. Something’s broken, they know how to fix it. You’re talking about the best in the business. You’re playing the best in the business and I think we are too. Right now, we’re at the top of our game too. This is a heck of a team. I don’t know that we’re the best in the business, but we’re a heck of a team.”
Miami linebacker Jonathan Vilma
On Greg Jones
“He’s a big back. Probably the biggest back we’ve played. He’s a tough runner. Doesn’t shy away from contact. Likes the contact actually. We’re going to have to run our feet and gang tackle him.”
On whether or not Florida State is the litmus test for Miami
“This is like the benchmark for our team (in terms of) seeing how we are and where we’re at no matter what the record is for us and Florida State. (It shows) how far we’ve come this season.”
On whether or not Florida State is in decline
“Offensively, I don’t think so. Defensively, they probably have. But offensively, they still score 30 points a game running for 100 yards a game and passing putting up 200 yards a game, so I wouldn’t say (a let up) is on the offensive side of the ball.”
Miami offensive line coach Art Kehoe
On Miami’s winning streak
“In football, you’ve got to work your tail off to play one three-hour game, winning’s got to the ultimate thing about football. I don’t care about what level you’re at, if you’re playing football and you’re working your butt off to seven days a week to play one time for three hours, if winning isn’t important then you’re in the wrong game. And we’re winning and we’re winning a lot and it’s fun and we want to keep it going. This week is going to be interesting to say the least.”
On playing Florida State
“For me it’s Christmas and New Year’s and your birthday to the whole nine yards. There ain’t nothing that’s going to get me as excited as playing Florida State…They’re as good as it gets and we better bring as a good a game as we got. The film verifies it. I think they’ve got 19 sacks and 19 turnovers in six games. They’re fast, they’re big, they’re experienced. They have seven juniors and two seniors on their defense. That’s what I’m looking at. I’m looking at a team that looks explosive and dynamic and fast and good. And I know we’re going to have to play as good as we can play to win.”
Miami cornerback Glenn Sharpe
On quarterback Chris Rix
“To me, he’s a great quarterback. He’s got a lot of talent, a lot of ability. He’s fast. He can throw the ball and throw the ball well. So I think he’s a great quarterback.”
On how to deal with Florida State’s offense
“We just have to stay focused and listen to what our coaches have taught us and try to pick out the little things that we’ve seen on film and try to make those an advantage for us.”
On Florida State’s receivers
“Right now we haven’t been talking about keying on a specific receiver. Every one is important. But their big-play receiver probably would be (senior Anquan) Boldin…All of them have a lot of talent. Maybe Boldin is the most talented. We’re just going to have to go out there and prepare ourselves for anything.”
On the Hurricanes’ secondary
“Well, we’re doing very well. We’re fortunate enough to come out every weekend and continue to win. We’re proud, as a unit. We’re very young, but we get the job done and we work hard. So we’re proud.”
On the defensive front
“When we substitute, it’s like there’s no difference at all. I know a lot of people realize that and I also I realize that, but sometimes I find myself on the sideline and I see (Jerome McDougle) and I say, “What are you doing here, I thought you were starting.” All of the guys have the same talent and the same ability and they make plays so. I don’t really see a difference between the first team and the second team.”
On how the defensive line impacts the secondary”Obviously, it’s always good to have a good D-line to rush the quarterback because all that does is make the quarterback make bad decisions because they have to hurry everything. That’s very good for the secondary.”
On playing as a true freshman in the Florida State/Miami game
“I’m very excited. I watched the games on TV growing up. I know it’s a big rivalry game and I’m very excited. I’m just glad to be here.”
On getting playing time as a true freshman
“When (Miami) was recruiting me, they told me that there was a good possibility that I would play so I really looked forward to coming here and playing. I knew I had the talent, but I really didn’t think I would be playing this much.”
###
