Nov. 8, 2004

Derek Curry – senior – linebacker

On how the victory at Tennessee helps the team after coming off the Boston College loss …

It helps a lot. It definitely doesn’t make up for the loss we had against B.C. but it definitely felt good to go down there and get a win and get the morale of the team back up. We know what we can do and it’s just a matter of going out there and getting it done. It definitely gives us a lot of positive energy going into this week.

On the Pittsburgh game …

We watched a little bit of film yesterday. They actually have a really good team. Their record doesn’t show how good they have been playing at times. They have a really mobile quarterback, he moves around really well. They definitely have the ability to run the ball. They are going to do some of the same things that we saw this past week in terms of personnel and the types of runs that they are going to use.

Justin Tuck – senior – defensive end

On playing at Neyland Stadium in Tennessee …

It was great. As a defensive player you like noise and it really didn’t bother us. I know our offense really didn’t like it that much because it really got loud at times. It was great for me. Our mentality and one of the things we were talking about on the sidelines as a defense was to silence the crowd for our offense. It was like a boost for our defense.

On the reasons for his success against Pittsburgh throughout his career …

Who knows? I just try to come out every week and be focused and know the things that they want to do. I watch the film on them and study them. It gives you a lot of leeway in just knowing what to expect. That’s all I’m trying to do.

Ryan Grant – senior- running back

On playing his last game at Notre Dame Stadium this weekend against Pittsburgh …

I’m going to lay it on the line for my boys. It went fast. We have to get the win. I definitely don’t want to lose so I’m going to do everything I can to get the win.

On if he’s ready to move on following this season, or if he has any regrets …

I’d always like to have an opportunity to play with these guys. But I feel like with everything that I’ve gone through that it’s gone fast. I still feel like I’m mature and ready to move on and take that next step. I feel like I have taken advantage of the time that I’ve spent with these guys, with the good and bad. Working hard and competing every day I appreciate the times that I’ve had with them and I lay it on the line and they know that they are my brothers for life. But eventually with everything you have to move on.

Brady Quinn – sophomore – quarterback

On what he’s seen from Pittsburgh on tape …

So far I think they give us a look a little more similar to the game two years ago. I think with the personal that they have some young guys. I think they have like three returners. We’re looking to keep things rolling off of the momentum we got from this game (against Tennessee). And we want to keep working on getting this offense as good as it can be.

On the differences of the Michigan and Tennessee games compared to the BYU and Boston College games …

Everyone is going to compare those games just because they were highly ranked teams and teams that weren’t so highly ranked. It really comes down to the fact that the teams we play every week. It doesn’t get any easier just because they aren’t ranked and it doesn’t mean necessarily they aren’t a good team. It all comes down to the fact that we get everyone’s best shot. I said it before, a lot of times when we make a few mistakes it ends up catching up with us because we don’t have those easy games or a blow off game where you can make mistakes and still come away with a victory. Against BYU and B.C. I just don’t think we played well enough to come away with the win in either of those games.

Dan Stevenson – senior – guard

On Pittsburgh’s up and down season …

They’ve been struggling a little bit but obviously they’ve beaten Boston College and they’ve won some good games. You can’t always look at who they’ve lost to or who’s played them tough like Furman. When you’re Notre Dame you have to expect everyone’s best game. We can’t expect them to come out and play us like they played Furman. You have to expect them to come out and play their best game of their year. When they do that and they do play well they have a great team and they are someone we can’t look past. We have to take a good approach and go out there and play our best game.

On using the Tennessee game as a stepping stone for the rest of the season …

It kind of helps us to show other people that we can be a great team. We beat Michigan, we beat Tennessee both of them top-10 ranked teams when of course all the experts told us that we had no chance. So things like that you definitely have to build on. It gives you that edge to want to go out there and keep the momentum going.

Anthony Fasano – junior – tight end

On the leadership he has received from Jared Clark …

Yeah, him along with Billy Palmer are great senior leaders. He did a lot for me especially the first two years of my career. He helped me along and showed me the ropes along the way.

On the frustrations of having an up and down season …

Even with the big win that we had on Saturday I think that there still were some inconsistencies and we really didn’t play as an offense like we can or we wanted to. It’s frustrating but it’s something that we have to work on and it’s something that we continue to work on.

Kyle Budinscak – senior – defensive end

On approaching his last game at Notre Dame Stadium this Saturday versus Pittsburgh …

I haven’t had a lot of time to think about that because of the demands of the season. It’s going to be something and I think it’s going to be emotional for me. It’s really hard to talk about. It’s my last chance to play for this place that’s given me so much. It’s going to be huge.

On what memories and images stand out over his five years at Notre Dame …

I think the football moments are probably the best ones and the ones that I’ll really remember 30 years from now. Some of the victories that we’ve had in our stadium, beating Michigan a couple times will standout. And even the victories in other places like Florida State and this Tennessee one will be one that I’m going to remember. Those are really going to be the best memories that I’m going to have.

Mike Goolsby – senior – linebacker

On possibly overlooking Pittsburgh and looking ahead to USC …

I suppose as an outsider looking in you could think that. But we are mature enough where we haven’t overlooked anybody. People say we overlooked BYU but we just got beat and people say we overlooked B.C. but we just got beat. There is none of that going on around here. We know how important these next two games are for us.

On being named National Defensive Player of the Week …

It’s awesome. I like winning awards. Coach Willingham says the same thing that he likes trinkets. I don’t know if I’ll get a little plaque or something but whatever it is I’ll take it. It’s a heck of an honor just to be a part of that defense and everything else to just have a great game out there. I’m very proud to have received that.