Transcript of Randy Shannon's Tuesday Press Conference
Aug. 28, 2007
University of Miami head football coach Randy Shannon met with the media Tuesday for his first weekly press conference of the 2007 season. Here’s what coach Shannon had to say:
OPENING STATEMENTS:
This first week we have been preparing for Marshall. We’re really excited about it. Everybody should have a depth chart with what we are starting off with now. I may make a change tomorrow – if something happens injury-wise – but this is what it would be if the game would start today. I am excited about this upcoming game, and I am focusing on Marshall and the types of things we have to get done. We are truly excited about going up against competition now. It’s going to be exciting Saturday at noon.
On the quarterback situation, Kirby Freeman will be our starting quarterback for the Marshall game. We are excited about both of the quarterbacks. We are fortunate to have two quality quarterbacks that can lead us in the right direction. Both of the guys worked well in the off-season. They did some things to try to win the job; but as a coach, you have to make tough decisions. We feel that Kirby will give us the best opportunity to win games. Kyle (Wright) has done a wonderful job preparing himself. He continues to try to make himself the best he can be. You always need two quarterbacks, because competition makes the other guy better. You need somebody to sit behind you and make sure they understand what you are trying to get done. They might be able to see another thing that you may not see.
ON THE POSSIBILITY OF USING TWO QUARTERBACKS:
Not right now. We are worried about Marshall right now. We will keep going on and try to focus on each game one at a time. We are not worried about that right now. Right now Kirby is going to give us the best opportunity to win.
ON SOPHOMORE WIDE RECEIVER Sam Shields:
Sam Shields will not be starting. He has been suspended for this game against Marshall for violation of team rules. He’s upbeat and positive about it. Sam accepts his role. We have Khalil (Jones), Darnell Jenkins, Lance Leggett and Ryan Hill as well as other guys that are getting ready.
ON WHEN THE QUARTERBACKS FOUND OUT:
[They found out] this morning. Myself and coach (Patrick) Nix sat down and talked to the quarterbacks this morning.
ON FRESHMAN CORNERBACK DeMarcus Van Dyke STARTING:
He just came out and competed. We’re not going to play a guy just because he is a veteran. We will play guys because they will give us the best opportunity to win games. We have confidence in him.
ON COMPETITION AT LEFT GUARD BETWEEN Andrew Bain AND FRESHMAN Orlando Franklin:
It was a unique position because he (freshman Orlando Franklin) was not supposed to be the starter when camp started, but that is what I mean about competition. (Andrew) Bain stepped up, kept pushing and kept fighting. The same happened with (Reggie) Youngblood. He is now starting on a three-man rotation.
ON THE EXPECTATIONS FROM MARSHALL:
They are going to try to take it out of the quarterback’s hands and run the football. They have a good pass-receiving tight end, and they have some guys returning. Defensively, I think they lost a big defensive end that was a phenomenal player. Coach (Mark) Snyder is a defensive minded guy. They are going to come out and try to cause confusion for us on offense and put us in negative plays.
ON EMOTIONS GOING INTO THE FIRST GAME:
You can ask me Friday night or the morning of the game. The first time I stepped foot on the field as a head coach out on the Greentree [Practice Fields], I was nervous. The first time that I interviewed here, I was nervous. But as time goes on and the adrenaline goes, I will get comfortable with it.
ON RUNNING OUT THE SMOKE FOR THE FIRST GAME AS HEAD COACH:
I won’t really be thinking about it. I’m just going to run out of that smoke. Hopefully, I won’t trip over anybody. Somebody always falls on the first one going out of that tunnel, I hope it isn’t me. There is always some wire. I’ll be on ESPNU, and I hope I don’t get tripped. It would be national news.
ON SUPRISES IN STARTING LINEUP AND THE COMPETITION TO START:
There is always competition. No matter what we do, we will get the best guys on that field. The more that we can push and get other guys to push the more successful we will be. We have competition in a lot of positions.
