Watch Today's Football Press Conference
Oct. 2, 2007
Coral Gables, Fla. (www. hurricanesports.com) – – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, former University of Miami linebacker, actor and former pro wrestler, Dany Johnson, Founder JDM Partners, and University of Miami President Donna Shalala joined Head Football Coach Randy Shannon for an announcement of a major gift to the Athletic Department from the Johnsons at 11:30 am.
Following the annoucenemnt, Coach Shannon will address the media prior to this week’s football game at North Carolina.
Click Here To Watch the Press Conference on All-Access.
FOOTBALL PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
10/2/07
Head Coach Randy Shannon:
OPENING STATEMENTS:
“North Carolina this week is going to be a challenge for us. They played tough last week at Virginia Tech. We have to go out there and establish what we want to do, because as a team, we have to get better and correct the mistakes we made last week. We cannot give up big pass plays. We have to bear down as a defense and on offense and keep the rhythm going. We started off fast, and then went into a lull in the third quarter and came back in the last six minutes of the game. We can’t afford to do that as a team.”
“There is no Randy Shannon against Butch Davis. I worked with him as a coach and he coached me as a player. He is a great guy who wants to win and will compete at every level. He will be very energetic, enthusiastic and get his guys to be ready to play against us. I have much respect for his coaching staff. Some of those guys, I coached with and worked with. They are good guys. It is the North Carolina football team versus the University of Miami football team.”
ON BIG PLAYS GIVEN UP BY THE DEFENSIVE SECONDARY:
“Guys are not playing the technique. Everything in this defense, you have help at. You have to just know your responsibilities. We stress it at practice. We have to be more consistent.”
ON WR Kayne Farquharson:
“He had a great game (against Duke), but Kayne has to produce in practice as well. If he stays to what he needs to get done, then that is it. He did everything that we wanted him to do [on Saturday]”
ON BALANCE IN THE ACC & THE DIVISION RACES:
“It’s our second game. Virginia and Boston College have played some games early, but we just started in the ACC. We have to stay focused on what we’re doing. I can’t think that far ahead. I don’t want to lose focus. I have to focus on North Carolina. I think that it was a great weekend for the ACC. We did a great job out of conference.”
ON UNC PLAYING IN CLOSE GAMES:
“They are not a bad football team. They play hard and they keep games close. They play hard and keep fighting down to the wire. It is a totally different team [than 2004]. The game won’t be at night and the atmosphere may be different.”
ON THE MOST IMPROVED PLAYER THIS YEAR:
“Vegas [Franklin] is the best one right now. My expectations are always high, but for what Vegas has done, he has played different positions and made the plays. He improved as a football player, and he doesn’t mind what you tell him to do, he’ll just do it. And [John] Rochford is the other one. He has also done a great job for us. Both of those guys are kind of the unsung heroes. They have always helped the team but now they have more of a spotlight.”
ON TEAM CONFIDENCE:
“I think that these last couple of games have been a confidence booster for this team. This year they say they have the confidence that we can win these tough games. They believe in each other.”
ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE BIG EAST AND THE ACC:
“There are a lot of different offenses in the ACC. In the Big East, Boston College, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Syracuse were going to pound you. In this conference, the teams may throw it one week and run it the next. You have to prepare differently every week. You can’t get in a set scheme because everyone is different.”
ON COACHING AGAINST SOMEONE FAMILIAR:
“There is no difference. They have a scheme on offense, defense and special teams. We just have to do what we do in practice. We have to just keep playing.”
