Oct. 25, 2006

Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis and team members talk about Notre Dame’s all-star candidate and senior defensive end Victor Abiamiri…

Q. How would you compare Victor Abiamiri him to some of the ends that you have faced?

Brady Quinn: Physically, he’s by far the best. I don’t know of any other that we have faced that I’ve kind of looked at and say, this guy is pretty close. I don’t know anybody with his ability as far as size, speed and strength all wrapped into one.

Q. Victor seems like a fun guy off the field, what is he like to hang out with?

Brady Quinn: It’s tough to put into words. You guys have obviously talked to Vic and seen Vic. He’s one of those big, mean guys that really doesn’t like to be mean. I think that’s why he kind of likes playing football because he’s able to go out there on the field and dish it out on the field and be happy. He’s a lot of fun to be around. I’m not sure if it’s ?? grew up playing with Ambrose (Wooden) and Ambrose is a happy, cheery guy or what, but one of those guys that’s a lot of fun to be around. He really is a great guy.

Q. When you get on the practice field is there any back and forth, does he ever joke with you or anything?

Brady Quinn: Oh, yeah, any time one is going against one, I’m making sure I’m saying something to Victor, he’s an easy target and he has horrible comebacks. Two, I want to pressure our line, go against Sam (Young) and Ryan (Harris), make sure you test them out, I want to make sure they are getting their best shot against one of the best defensive ends in the country.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about what you see out of Victor so far this year and where he’s heading, and kind of compare that to what you saw when he first got here?

COACH Charlie Weis: Victor has put himself in a position now where teams ?? when we go against anybody, they know where Victor is. I think that he’s drawn some special attention, but at the same time the one thing I do know about him that I didn’t know when I got here is that he has a very, very, very high motor that goes with his athletic ability. There are a lot of people with athletic ability that don’t have a high motor and he goes high on every play. It presents a problem week in and weak out for any defense that we go against.