Dec. 10, 2005
The University of Notre Dame football team held an interview session for local and national media members on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, in the Isban Auditorium of the Guglielmino Athletics Complex. Head coach Charlie Weis spoke for approximately 40 minutes (transcript to follow later this afternoon), while several Irish players were also made available for both television and print-media interviews.
The Irish football team will break for finals over the next week. The team will return to practice on Dec. 19, run through four days of a training camp atmosphere, then break for the Christmas holiday. The team will arrive in Tempe, Ariz., to begin preparations for the 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 27.
Notre Dame player quotes:
- Junior DE Victor Abiamiri
- Senior TE Anthony Fasano
- Senior DT Derek Landri
- Junior DT Trevor Laws
- Junior QB Brady Quinn
- Senior OL Dan Stevenson
- Senior WR Maurice Stovall
- Sophomore RB Darius Walker
- Junior S Tom Zbikowski
Victor Abiamiri, Junior Defensive End
On Ohio State…
“We haven’t watched too much of them, but from watching a few games on TV, we know they’re a good football team.”
On the importance of winning the bowl game…
“This game is definitely very important to us. We’re trying to accomplish all of our goals this season and one of our goals is to win the bowl game. We want to end the season on a good note. We want to do it the right way for the seniors and let them leave with a win.”
On the seven-game bowl losing streak…
“(Coach Weis) has mentioned it a couple of times, and he won’t let us forget it for the next month until we play the game.”
On recovering from his shin injury in the offseason…
“It was rough to have an injury happen in the spring when you couldn’t practice with the team. Plus, with new coaches coming in, you want to do the best you can for them. To get hurt and to get injured, it’s one of the toughest things an athlete can deal with. I think that battling through the summer and coming back from that injury helped my development as an athlete – to be able to deal with those kind of things.”
On his performance at Stanford…
“I think in that game, things were tough with (Ronald) Talley and (Chris) Frome being out – we’ve been getting hit with a lot of injuries on the D-line. I realize that I had to step up my game and play better with those guys out. The rest of the D-line rose up to the challenge – it wasn’t just me. It was (Trevor) Laws and (Derek) Landri in the middle putting pressure on the quarterback.”
On handling a dual-threat quarterback like Ohio State’s Troy Smith…
“I think it will add a lot of pressure on the perimeter for the defensive line and linebackers to contain this quarterback who can hurt you in both ways. I think with our coaches, we will have a lot of time to scheme and come up with a way to contain Troy Smith. But Troy Smith isn’t the only playmaker on their team. They have a lot of guys who can make plays, like (Ted) Ginn, (Santonio) Holmes and (Antonio) Pittman.”
Senior Tight End Anthony Fasano
On the process on determining whether he will return for a fifth year of eligibility…
“Using my resources here, Coach Weis and my parents. I think that’s the best resources I can use to determine what is the best decision for my family and make a decision after the bowl. I can go back and talk to Jeff Faine and guys like Dan Stevenson and Mark LeVoir who stayed a fifth year.”
On the factors weighing on his decision…
“It’s a combination of (draft status and unfinished business at Notre Dame). I came here to win a National Championship and I think we have a great shot next year. That’s definitely factoring into my decision. But, also, once I get to this position, it’s almost a business decision for me and my family.”
Senior Defensive Lineman Derek Landri
On Ohio State’s offense…
“From what I’ve seen, they’re very athletic. They can hurt you in a lot of different ways, so that’s something you need to focus on. They never just run a couple plays. They can hurt you at any time and that’s something you need to be careful of.”
On Ohio State’s offensive line…
“They’re real big. They’re real fast. They’re real athletic. They’ve got speedy, talented guys in key positions that make big plays.”
On the versatility of Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith…
“We have to stay true to out gaps and our holes and not leave two wide seams for him up the middle.”
On having during on the bowl trip…
“It’s never easy (to have fun) when you’ve got the whole country waiting to watch you guys play in a BCS bowl, especially in an atmosphere like the Fiesta Bowl. There are lots of distractions down there but that’s part of the challenge.”
Junior DT Trevor Laws
On returning to play in Arizona where the team lost the Insight Bowl a year ago…
“I don’t think about that too much because it’s a whole new year this year. Last year we didn’t even have a head coach, so media day and being down at the bowl is going to be completely different.”
On the improvement of the defensive line over the course of the season…
“I think we have improved. There were some bumps and bruises along the way and we lost some players which is always difficult, but that’s part of football. I think our pressure on the quarterback has gone up a ton, and I think we’re really starting to play our best.”
On the role of the interior linemen in the defense…
“Our defense is not really built to showcase the interior guys. We are there to move blockers around so that linebackers have holes to get through. It can be frustrating but if it helps us win that’s all that matters.”
On teammate Tom Zbikowski…
“He’s just a great guy to have back there on the defense. When you’re in the huddle and you hear Zibby going crazy behind you, it always fires you up. He’s a good friend of mine and a great personality to have on your team.”
Junior QB Brady Quinn
On the program’s seven-game bowl losing streak…
“Obviously we weren’t here for all of that, but it’s just something that needs to stop. I think for our program, our University, our fans, and everyone else that’s been there and supported us, it’s been pretty misfortunate for them.”
On waiting so long to play the bowl game…
“The biggest thing is just not having a rusty feeling coming back. We have a lot of time off, especially during exam week, so we really need to keep things moving. Our coaches have done a good job of keeping us in the loop of football and practice.”
On playing in a bowl game so long after the regular season has ended…
“It kind of feels like the first game of the year because all of our preparation kind of dates back to fall camp. The warm weather climate that we’ll be in plays a different part in that too.”
On the atmosphere for this year’s bowl game…
“I stayed in Arizona for a few days after last year’s bowl game and seeing the different in magnitude between both bowls is crazy. Seeing how excited the fans were was really cool and I’m really excited to have the opportunity go down there and hopefully pick up a win.”
On how Coach Weis has helped him improve as a quarterback…
“There are a lot of physical things you can work on to get better as a quarterback, but I think his approach to the mental aspect of the game has probably been the biggest change. He has taught our team a lot about how to prepare, how to know your opponent, and how to face different forms of adversity. Coach has taught me a lot about having a short-term memory and working through bad plays and times of adversity. I think part of the mental aspect comes from the type of system he has put in on offense. It places a lot of responsibility on the quarterback and it deals with a lot more mental things coming up to the line of scrimmage and playing in the game. I learned that there was a lot more to playing quarterback in different systems and in our particular offense than I had realized before.”
On Coach Weis’ approach to motivating the team…
“It’s pretty obvious with Coach Weis’ attitude and the way he rides his quarterback that he knows exactly what he wants from him. The quarterback has to be an extension of him out there on the field, and while it’s tough, I’ve got to be somewhat of an extension of what he wants in terms of leadership and making decisions as the quarterback.”
On not being invited to the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York…
“I wouldn’t say that I am surprised, but I am disappointed. At the same time, I have the opportunity now to practice and prepare for the bowl game which to me is more important than being somewhere where you’re probably not going to end up receiving the award. I think we all know who is going to win that.”
On the Heisman Trophy finalists…
“It’s not for me to decide, but I think that the players that are there have had tremendous seasons. Everyone who is there is undefeated and playing in the national championship, so it’s hard to argue that you should be there when you’re 9-2 and playing in the Fiesta Bowl instead of the Rose Bowl.”
On his schedule the past week…
“We’ve done a lot of traveling in a short amount of time, and being out there they pull you in a lot of different directions to talk with different people. It was a great experience but it was also a tiring experience.”
On the high-profile status of being quarterback at Notre Dame…
“People build it up to be so much more than it really is. When you look at it, I’m 21 years old and playing the game I love to play. It’s not a life or death situation, and I believe there are a lot of other people out there doing more extreme and more special things than what I’m doing.”
On playing Ohio State in the bowl game…
“Based on the situation that ended the season, you couldn’t have scripted a better bowl game for me personally but also for our team. Ohio State is a great team and a great program and they have a lot of different strengths that we’ll have to face and overcome.”
On his connections to the Ohio State team…
“I know a good amount of their players. I’ve played against a few and I’ve played with a few and just being around the Columbus area you get to know a lot of the guys. It will be fun to see some familiar faces, and even see the coaching staff which I grew pretty close to through the recruiting process.”
On his mother’s influence on the family…
“She grew up with two brothers who both played college football, so growing up around two boys who were pretty physical had a big effect on her. I’m sure she’d like to say that she got in a few shots here and there too, but I think she really grew up with a tough mentality and that you should never feel sorry for yourself. Her great attitude is something that she has instilled in me and the rest of my family. That’s obviously been good for sports and in a competitive family where you kind of thrive off of success.”
On living so close to Ohio State growing up…
“I would go to a few Ohio State games every season. That started to slow down when high school football and recruiting began to pick up. That would have been a great situation for me, being so close to home and everything that comes with it, but when it came down to it, it wasn’t the place that I would best fit in.”
Senior Offensive Lineman Dan Stevenson
On leaving the Notre Dame program after the bowl game…
“It’s tough because we’ve had such a great season. We’re proud that we’ve helped form the building block for Notre Dame and what it will become. It’s going to become something special again. I’ve got absolute, total confidence that the players that are still here, the coaches, Coach Weis, they’re all going to keep this team on a positive. To be a part of that is really something special.”
On Coach Weis using Notre Dame’s bowl game losing streak as motivation…
“It’s always motivation. Coach Weis, week-in and week-out will find something. You could be playing a team that hasn’t won a game in one hundred years and they could have a record of zero and eight thousand and he will find a way to motivate you and let you know that you could lose this game. He always keeps us level. I think that’s part of what’s special here, you always want more and you always want to get better. This team has gotten better.”
On what a victory would mean for the program…
“It’s going to put them back on top. It’s Notre Dame Football. It’s America’s pastime, the team of all teams. It’s been an honor playing for them. It’s the coaching staff, they’ve gotten this team back where it needs to be, and a lot of players and a lot of fans have been waiting for that.”
On Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk…
“He’s a great player. You really can’t pinpoint one thing. He makes plays. Where ever he is on the field or whatever you try to do, he’s always there. He has a natural path to the ball. He’s a great player, along with the whole defense. They all kind of feed off of each other, which makes not only him good, but it makes their defense good.”
On awareness of outstanding players on an opponent’s defense…
“You always have to know where he is. Whether it’s me knowing where he is or Brady (Quinn) knowing where he is, somebody has got to know where he is. (Hawk) is a special talent and hopefully he’ll be a good match up for us.”
On the talent level at Ohio State compared to previous Irish opponents…
“They’re right up there. They gave Texas a run for their money and they’ve played tough all year long. They’ve got a great defense. Their offense has gotten better week-in and week-out.”
On the close losses Notre Dame and Ohio State had this year, and what could have been…
“I guess it could have (been the National Championship). But you can’t focus on the what-ifs. You’ve got to focus on what you can do and building on that for next year. You really can’t (look back). When you start to look back, you’re not as well prepared for the game at hand. If after the USC game and the Michigan State game, we’d have said `What if?’ we wouldn’t have been prepared for the next game and we wouldn’t be where we are right now. We’re 9-2, playing Ohio State, a great team with a lot of tradition, on one of those great stages in the Fiesta Bowl. You just have to look at what you have. You can’t change the past, so you’ve just got to work towards the future.”
On his feelings going into his last game at Notre Dame…
“I don’t think it’s really hit me yet that this is my last time playing for Notre Dame. It always felt like I had another year. It’s sort of my big hurrah and final showdown putting on my Notre Dame uniform. It’s obviously somewhat of a different feeling, but I’m trying not to focus too much on that, just really worrying about this game.”
Maurice Stovall, Senior Wide Receiver
On Brady Quinn’s improvement…
“He’s more vocal in the huddle. He’s taking charge more and being more aggressive. He has improved in terms of the mental aspect of the game by watching a lot of film and reading defenses. He’s changed all across the board – his preparation for the games, his approach to the practice and reading defenses on the field and in the meeting room.”
On playing against taller cornerbacks…
“I think you have to use technique. Our wide receivers coach, Rob Ianello, always talks about using technique, whether a guy is 5-8 or 6-2. Basically, you just have to use your body position and run good routes when you’re going against anybody in order to get open.”
On Ohio State…
“I haven’t seen any of them – I haven’t watched any film of them yet. I’ve been pretty busy with writing papers and studying for finals. We’ll get ready for them today in meetings and prepare for them next week in terms of watching film. From what I know, their defense has pretty big guys across the board. USC had pretty big defensive backs also. Their linebackers are very aggressive and they have a big front seven. They have guys with size and speed all across the board and I think that’s made a difference in their record this year and how they’ve played.”
On being a receiver in Notre Dame’s offense…
“It definitely is (enjoyable). We also have to block. A lot of games we’ll catch the ball a lot, and a lot of times we’ll run the ball a lot, depending on what type of defense we’re playing. It allows wide receivers to have more opportunities to make plays. I think that’s why (Jeff) Samardzija was up for the Blietnikoff (Award) and why we have a two 1,000-yard receivers on this team. Playing under Coach Weis is very exciting, but at the same time, we are called to block also. I like blocking. I enjoy playing wide receiver and being a wide receiver, you’re called to block and make plays downfield.”
On the communication between the receivers and Brady Quinn during the game…
“Brady might ask us on the sideline (if we can beat our guy) and we definitely let him know. We’re always communicating when we’re coming off of the field after the series whether we’re three-and-out or converting on third down or just got done scoring. We’re constantly communicating both on and off the field.”
On Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk…
“I haven’t had the chance to watch him much since I’ve been busy with finals. From what I know from him, I think he has a good ability to run sideline from sideline and is very aggressive. Second of all, he’s obviously a big hitter.”
On dealing with the positive response towards this year’s team…
“It hasn’t been easy in terms of trying to stay focused and keeping the same mentality day in and day out. Especially coming off of losses to Michigan State and USC, it’s been pretty hard. I think at the same time, it says a lot about the character of the guys we have in this program. We get a lot of people saying, `We’re proud of you guys this year.’ But we’re actually disappointed with the way we’ve played this year. We wanted to do better than 9-2 but the guys that are here obviously have the chance to do it next year. We have the chance in a couple of weeks to finish with a win and , at the same time, win a bowl game, which Notre Dame hasn’t done in a quite a few years.”
Sophomore RB Darius Walker
On how he has improved his game this season…
“I always remember Coach Weis and Coach Haywood telling me that they can read where a play is going go before it actually happens by reading where the defense is lined up. I don’t think I really grasped that at first, but after playing the game a little longer, growing up a little bit and receiving the coaching that I have, I can now understand where they were coming from. I don’t know when it started to click but I just know that it has clicked. It comes from reading linebackers and reading the line of scrimmage before the play. Sometimes coming out of the huddle you can tell what kinds of schemes and what kind of coverages they’re going to run so it becomes one of those things where if you play the game enough and understand the game you learn what’s going on.”
On rushing for 1,000 yards this season…
“It feels really good to get that behind me. When they play most running backs have that goal to achieve 1,000 yards, so it feels great to get that mark. Hopefully I’ll be able to add to that total with another game to play.”
Junior Defensive Back Tom Zbikowski
On Notre Dame’s improvement since last year’s Insight Bowl appearance…
“I think this is a BCS team, not an Insight Bowl team. It’s another team, with a different atmosphere, different mindset. I don’t care where we play the game, we’re going in there to win.”
On assistant head coach (defense) and defensive backs coach Bill Lewis…
“With my (position coach) coming from nine years in the NFL with the Dolphins, there’s no stone that’s unturned. We look at every single angle. I feel really prepared this year with him as coach.”
On Ohio State’s receivers…
“We’ve gone against a lot of good receiving corps. With the speed of their receivers and their playmaking ability, it’s going to be a challenge.”
On Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith…
“Any time you go against a dual threat quarterback it’s tough to stop. There’s always those plays on third and six, third and seven, where you’ve got great coverage and then he takes off and it’s a first down and that’s tough on the defense emotionally. We’ve just got to make sure we do our job.”
On Ohio state tailback Antonio Pittman…
“He’s a tough back. He’s got some moves and he’s very impressive. He’s a good back. With the quarterback and the receiving corps, he seems a little over-looked, but he’s a great back.”