Weekly Press Luncheon Quotes
October 09, 2006 | Football
Oct. 9, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina University Head Football Coach Skip Holtz addressed members of the media prior to this week's game against Tulsa. The following are selected comments:
On Saturday's Game Against Virginia:
"It was a huge win for a lot of reasons. To have the opportunity to play an ACC team and play them here was huge for our program. It was huge for this season for a number of reasons as well. It was a win that we needed very badly from a confidence standpoint. We really needed it as a football team with what we've gone through as a team in being so close. We really needed a win from a quality opponent to get over that hurdle.
"A lot of guys played really well. So many young players really stood up. Brandon Fractious stepped up and played hard, ran hard and physical and protected the football. He played his best game since he has been here. Brandon Simmons went in and made many contributions as a running back. He brings toughness to this football team. He is one of those bigger backs that we desperately need right now. I thought he added an awful lot of punch and firepower to the offense. I thought the running game was the difference with Corey Dowless, a true freshman that we moved to left guard, and the transition of Matt Butler to center.
"James Pinkney played exceptionally well. It was probably a breath of fresh air for James to be able to take a little bit of pressure of the quarterback position and let him just manage the game. I thought he played very well in those circumstances of just managing the game, running the ball, and using the play action pass. Bobby Good really stood up as a wide receiver and what he was able to do as a punt returner was very big for us. We finally caught a punt and that is so big from a field position. Booby really played an excellent game and made a difference.
"Ryan Dougherty had a 72-yard punt and if he can continues to take that out to the game field he has the chance to be not only one of the better punters in the conference but in the country. He has an extremely strong leg and he is very mature and poised. He doesn't let many things rattle him with his senior experience. From an offensive and special teams standpoint a lot of people really stood up. On the defensive side of the ball a lot of young players continue to develop. Scotty Robinson and C.J. Wilson played very well at the defensive end positions. Jay Ross is starting to come along as an inside guy. Mark Robinson has been just a warrior for us in the trenches. The linebackers continue to develop with Quentin Cotton and Van Eskridge. Overall our defense played very well."
On This Weekend's Game Against Tulsa:
"We have heck of a challenge this week with Tulsa. Last year they beat us 45-13 at their place and they are conference champs and Liberty Bowl champs, so I think this will be a great challenge for us. Coach Kragthorpe is going into his fourth season and has done a good job getting talent in there. Overall they are very talented and physical. On Offense their quarterback, Paul Smith, can make the wheels on the bus go `round. He can run it, throw it and he has some experience under his belt. The have a tailback (Courtney Tennial) that transferred from Oklahoma and is averaging over six yards a carry. Their offensive line is big, experienced and physical. They are a quality football team. They are averaging over 420 yards a game and 30 points on offense. On defense they are giving up only 268 yards a game. Their strength is in their secondary and it is the best secondary that we have played up to this point. They play a three down line front and their defense linemen are very big. It is a challenge that we are excited about and looking forward too."
On ECU's Offense Against Virginia:
"If you can run the ball it opens everything up for you as an offense. Your run game is working, your play action game is working and then your passing game is working. When your passing game is working then your screen game works. I think the running game is the start of it all. I think the running game worked for a combination of reasons. Moving Matt Butler to center was huge and the two running backs running extremely physical was the difference."
On Tulsa's Running Backs:
"They are very physical running backs. They run extremely hard. Courtney Tennial has really impressed me with averaging six yards a carry. He is a heck of a player. They are playing three right now that are very similar. They all have anywhere from six to ten catches."
On Injuries:
"Aundrae Allison did not practice last night. It is kind of a wait and see for him at this point. The trainers are not holding him back. He tried to practice on Tuesday of last week and went through with the light individual stuff. He could not practice Wednesday and Thursday and therefore did not dress or play Saturday. Everyday he is getting better but it is just going to take a little bit of time and we'll have to play it by ear. I expect Chris Johnson back this wee. After talking to the trainers and watching him practice on Sunday night, he should be ready to go."
On the Depth Of C-USA:
"Coach Hudson told me when we came to this league that Conference USA is kind of like NASCAR in that everybody has the same size engine, it's just who does the best job driving it that week. There is a lot of balance, talent and a lot of very good coaches in this league. Anybody can beat anybody."
On Brandon Simmons:
"Brandon brings a uniqueness, a toughness, a physical ness and a hard running style to the table. Since the loss of Dominique Lindsay, we don't have that big power back and that's what Brandon is able to give us. He will continue to play and get reps."
On Playing at Home:
"The atmosphere at home games have been unbelievable. I think you could do story itself on just the atmosphere. The student section has been awesome. It is the pulse, the lifeline and the heartbeat of any stadium. It creates that wild energetic, enthusiastic feeling in the stadium that our football team feeds off of."
