Quotes from Head Coach Larry Coker & Quarterback Brock Berlin
October 19, 2004
Coral Gables, Fla (www.hurricanesports.com) – Quotes from Hurricanes Head Coach Larry Coker
“We didn’t play our best defensive game against Louisville. It was an important learning game for us, because the offense was able to step up and come through in the clutch when they had to, to help us win. On the defensive side, we have to work on the basics such as lining up properly and tackling better. The team overall has gotten better as the season has progressed. I think the Georgia Tech game was a plus for us, and so was the second half against Louisville. We have got to continue to build upon those performances.”
“NC State is a very good football team and they are extremely good on defense. Reggie Herring, who is a friend of mine who coached with me at Oklahoma State on Jimmy Johnson’s staff, is an excellent football coach. He’s been around the league, including being at Clemson and with the Houston Texans last year. Their defense has been a big turnaround for them from last year, because statistically a year ago they were not very good on defense. This year they have a lot of players back who are playing very well. They have 28 Florida players, who are motivated to make a statement to their families back here in Florida. We definitely need to be ready for that.”
“Their quarterback, Jay Davis, has improved and has been playing really well for them. They lost a great player in Philip Rivers last year to the San Diego Chargers. It’s hard to replace a player like that. Without question T.A. McLendon is one of the better backs in the country. I really feel like he was a better back as a freshman than fellow freshman Maurice Clarrett. He is a big part of their offense and is a very good football player.”
On NC State Running Back Bobby Washington:
“Bobby is a very good football player and I do wish he were here and not at NC State. He has seen lots of playing time throughout the year. I think Bobby will be motivated regardless of its Miami or any other team. Being that it is the University of Miami and Miami is his home, he and the 27 other Florida guys will be motivated.”
On the BCS Ranking:”I don’t feel much different about our team than I did prior to noon on Monday when the rankings came out. I am surprised like most people that we moved up in the polls. We are in a great position, but we have a lot of tough football games left to play. We have six games left to play and as you know, anything can happen in those six games, but we are pleased where we are.”
On Devin Hester:
“He is a great talent with tremendous speed. I am not surprised with how he has performed. He is starting to come into his own and play with some confidence. He is one of the best special teams players I have been around. It will be interesting to see what other teams do the rest of the season against him. Most college punters and kickers aren’t good enough to kick away from players like they can do in the NFL, so it will be hard for them to do.”
On how he chooses a player to return punts:
“Fielding punts is a very tough job. The ball is high and you have lights to deal with. You have to have a player you can trust and whom you know will field the football and get the job done. Hopefully that person has running skills that can make other players miss tackles. We are fortunate that we have three outstanding players who can perform well in that position in Antrel Rolle, Roscoe Parrish and Devin Hester.”
On WR Darnell Jenkins:
“Darnell is a talent and has come a long way. He had a terrific week of practice last week. I see him getting better and understanding what it takes to play at this level. He is a smart kid and he understands the game of football very well. He is one of the guys like Devin Hester who are so talented that they go through high school at half speed and they are better than anyone else on the field. They come here and they have to learn how to play at this level.”
On QB Brock Berlin:
“Not many guys are able to come back and win games in the fourth quarter like he has been able to do here at Miami. I think he is playing with some more confidence and the receivers are also playing with more confidence.”
Hurricanes Quarterback Brock Berlin
“As a team we showed a lot against Louisville by coming back the way we did. It was a total team effort. We stayed together and got the job done. I was so proud of the guys after the win. We are ready for this week and we are excited about playing NC State. We know that NC State has a good defense so we have to be prepared for that.”
On the BCS rankings:
“We are not worried about the BCS right now. We are focused on NC State. We have to take it one game at a time and improve each week.”
