McNeill's Weekly Press Conference
August 29, 2011 | Football
Aug. 29, 2011
Coach McNeill Press Conference
GREENVILLE, N.C. -Second-year East Carolina University Head Football Coach Ruffin McNeill addressed members of the media prior to this week's game against South Carolina. The following are selected comments:
On Hurricane Irene
"We have a little different circumstance this week. The entire area was hit by Hurricane Irene this weekend. I think I'd be remiss not to start this press conference without information on how this affected all of us. It affected us as eastern North Carolina and Erlene and me personally. We had 13 trees go down in our yard and one hit our house. I know there are a lot of families and people who are hurt worse than we are.
"Hurricane Irene affected all of us. Erlene and I send out heartfelt prayers and thoughts to the families who are still going through some things.
"This is a bump in the road for us and for Pirate Nation. Like we've always said, eastern North Carolina is all a part of Pirate Nation.
"I'd also be remiss to not thank all the emergency crews, the weather stations and crews for their coverage and Greenville Utilities in addition to other utility companies and teams who stayed in hotels during the storm and are out now restoring power and trying to restore power. Our law enforcement group, with all the wires and trees down, did a great job.
"The damage we saw was a little different from a Category 1 hurricane. I'm an eastern North Carolina guy who has seen hurricanes hit for a long time. I'd like to thank those folks for their diligent, courageous and professional effort during the hurricane and its aftermath."
On What It Means To Be A Pirate
"A dear friend and confidant of mine texted me during the storm before the power went out. It was very ironic. This person is very dear to me and we share a lot. She brought up the 1999 East Carolina football team, which dealt with Hurricane Floyd. Irene was not quite to the extremes of Floyd, which sent flood waters up to the 30-foot range.
"But I pulled up the video showing the 1999 East Carolina football team receive the Disney Spirit Award. Coaches don't cry, but my eye balls started to sweat a little bit. I showed that clip to our team yesterday.
"What you've seen happen here is what we've talked about since I arrived. It's about Pirates helping Pirates. We've talked about tradition. I've been asked by a few media outlets what East Carolina means to me. It was exemplified by the work done and is still continuing by everybody around.
"It's Pirates helping Pirates. It's pride. It's tradition. It's passion. It's a group facing adversity, looking it square in the eye, hitting it right in the jaw and saying, `Bring it on. Want some and get some.' That's East Carolina to me. That's what it's about.
"On behalf of the entire East Carolina family, our thoughts and prayers go out to everybody affected."
On South Carolina
"South Carolina is a really great football team. Coach [Steve] Spurrier has been there for seven years. You can tell by the team that the staff has been around for a while. Coach Spurrier has been able to recruit and get the folks he needs to fit his system. They fit what they want, not just on offense, which Coach Spurrier has always been known for, but on defense too. Ellis Johnson, a former Pirate coach and current defensive assistant coach, has some weapons on defense, too. They have a formidable group on that side of the ball.
"Offensively, you have to start with Stephen Garcia at quarterback. Coach Spurrier has always had fine quarterbacks. Garcia is that guy who can make the throws. Spurrier has adjusted his offense by adding in some designed quarterback runs now that he has a guy like Garcia. It's just like we've done with our offense. We never had designed runs until Dominique Davis. Garcia can also make all the throws, too. He can throw the hash to sideline ball, the seam route and the long pass.
"He has a great target in Alshon Jeffery. Jeffery is a great football player. He's not just a great receiver, but a strong football player. I remember watching film of him in high school when we were in Texas. He is a big young man who can run and catch the football. He'll no doubt be a top NFL Draft choice. We have to make sure we have our calls right and are focused on him.
"A lot of people know Marcus Lattimore. He's a great running back. Those three guys make up the skill positions you want.
"One thing you can't forget when you watch film, like I have this morning, is their offensive line. T.J. Johnson, the center, is up for numerous awards. He's the centerpiece of the offense, not just position wise, but in leadership. That group has been around each other for a while and does a great job. They have plenty of size and ability.
"Defensively, Devin Taylor is a guy who is mentioned quite a bit. That's fitting because he's very athletic. He'll be one of the top players in the conference. Stephon Gilmore is a corner with size. Those two guys are really good players.
"In February they signed the top defensive player in the country in Jadeveon Clowney. By all reports, he's just what they thought. He has skill and range. One thing Ellis Johnson and Lorenzo Ward, the defensive coordinator, now have on defense is the range and speed you need.
"Jay Wooten will handle both placekicking and kickoff duties for the special teams. John Scribner-Howard will be the punter. They have skill kids returning who are fine athletes.
"We're facing a really good football team. They have all the pieces on the three sides of the ball. They're picked to win the division, which would mean they would go to Atlanta where the Southeastern Conference championship game is held. Looking at the last five years, the national champion has come out of this league and that game."
On What His Team Needs To Do
"What we have to do is first worry about East Carolina. We started that mentality about two weeks ago. What we can control is how we play and how we do what we do. I'm excited with where we are in that stage.
"We have to make sure we play smart on all three sides of the ball. We cannot commit penalties, especially selfish penalties. We've talked about and addressed that issue. I've seen improvement in practice. Coaches and players are doing a good job policing that. Saturday will be the first live-action test of this season. It's very important to make sure we're a smart football team the entire year. We can't do anything to beat ourselves. We have to help ourselves.
"One of the traits I'm very proud of is that we play very hard every game. That has to be an understood thing and not something that we shoot for. That has to be an everyday thing.
"Since the spring we've also emphasized turnover ratio on all three sides of the ball. On offense, we have to make sure we take care of the ball. We cannot give our defense extra possessions. On defense, we have to take the ball away. We have to give our offense extra possessions. On special teams and our coverage teams, we have to make sure we have positive yardage and take the ball away.
"We have to be a smart football team, playing with great effort, excelling in the turnover ratio and competing. We've gotten a lot better in all those areas since last season.
"The final thing we've talked about is our conditioning. I think that'll come into play. Having [Assistant Athletics Director for Strength and Conditioning] Coach Jeff Connors and his group here has been great. His group and my group are on the same page. Conditioning will be our weapon and friend."
On The Week Ahead
"I'm looking forward to the challenge and preparation this week. We still have a part of the process left, both mentally and physically. It's a normal week for us. It's an off day for our players. We're not practicing today. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be normal before leaving for Charlotte Friday. We're looking forward to the challenge and contest. Each day I'm trying to make sure I control my emotion and not get too excited."
On The Impact Of Hurricane Irene On The Team
"We had some guys have some water rise inside, but they were able to move. We had constant contact with them. [Athletic Director] Coach Holland and [Executive Associate Athletics Director] Nick Floyd already had a plan in place for all the athletic teams depending on the wind and weather.
"We cancelled everything on Saturday. The coaches and players were under the Greenville, East Carolina and Ruff curfew. They were not to leave their apartments but stay put. There were no injuries or anything like that. The players who had to move due to the water issue are now back."
On The Trees Falling At His House
"We were inside and saw one big one fall, then another big one and then a third one went boom. I was mad at the situation. Enough was enough. We just kept counting and were up to nine down before we went to bed. When we got up the next morning there were four more down.
"More importantly, we got out without injuries. Erlene was a trouper during that time. She had everything set up for us. It was Erlene, Samantha, my dog, and me at home. We heard the tree hit and it was tough that next morning. You saw the damage that was done to us and the whole neighborhood. I know there are a lot more families who have it a lot more difficult than we do. We felt it as we were in the house."
On Showing The 1999 Team Video To The Current Team
"When my friend told me to watch the video, I pulled it up before we lost power. It's amazing how things fit together. Things happen for a reason. Everything can be turned into a blessing. This was.
"I turned on the video last night and nobody knew what it was except for me and my graduate assistant. The whole team and staff watched it together. Coach Connors, Coach [Marc] Yellock and [Assistant Athletics Director for Medical Services] Mike Hanley were all part of that team. Watching it brought back some different memories for them. It was a great time.
"Young people today, you can tell them about the pride, tradition, passion and what East Carolina means, but it helps to show it. East Carolina is a major focus and heartbeat for everybody in eastern North Carolina.
"We're finding out through Coach Holland and our staff that East Carolina extends to Raleigh, Charlotte and the Piedmont area. We are a heartbeat for a lot of people. The players realized that yesterday. It dawned on them.
"At the end, I told the team that it was not a made-up movie. It did not have directors or actors. These were Pirates like you are. Maybe they didn't sit in this same room, but they donned the purple and gold and played inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
"It's ironic they played South Carolina and got stuck in Columbia for a week before going to Raleigh to play Miami. That Hurricane team had 30 NFL Draft choices and 11 first-round picks on the squad. That's amazing when you think about it.
"Watching what the East Carolina team did that year struck nerves with our players. I know it. The room got really quiet. They could identify with the people. It was them because they were Pirates."
On Reaching His Players
"[Director of Football Administration] Cary Godette and I talk about this a lot. If Coach [Pat] Dye had told me to run to Ayden and back, I would have gone and been scared to death about not making it back in the time he wanted me to. I'd never ask why.
"It's a different change for our players today. You ask them to have big eyes and ears, which we have two of. But we only have one mouth for a reason.
"To see a whole room, not just players, but coaches, too, was powerful. It was quiet. You could hear them breathing. That was very rare and a little bit eerie because they could identify with the video. The fact that Coach Connors had worked out with that team, our players understood that mental approach to the game.
"They also saw Marc Yellock, who played and got injured in that game. He refused to come off the field with a broken leg. It was the real deal."
On The Impact Of East Carolina Football On The Region
"When I first took the job, that's one of the things I understand having played here. Back in 1976 with Coach Dye, Leo Jenkins and Bill Cane, Coach Dye emphasized to us that we weren't just playing for our teammates. We were, in his words, playing for, `your mommas and daddies.' We were playing for all of eastern North Carolina.
"When I first came, I wanted to make sure that was a part of our message. My message to the players was that it's not just about them. It never will be. It's about everybody. That video, when you see the fans in the stands with the signs, you know. You see it when Jeff Carr talks about this woman whose eyes swelled with tears. She had lost everything. But it wasn't about losing everything. She was happy because she lived through those ECU players. That's about as real as it gets.
"When I was rehabbing from my surgeries, I was working out in the pool and there was a lady there. She's a mission worker and a great lady. She said she had a lot of people depending on her and that's what got her up in the morning.
"That same message goes for us. I told our kids this. We have a lot of people depending on us. If you get tired, frustrated while we're getting on you about going to class, doing the right thing off the field, practicing with all you have, doing everything with the best you have, think about that. You have a lot of people depending on you.
"That video was only nine minutes and two seconds long, but I know they saw it and understood it. They had just gone through it. It's not even close to the devastation of Hurricane Floyd, but they saw some of it. I hope that message of dependence was conveyed.
"When you put the jersey on, wear the colors and represent East Carolina, you represent a lot of people. A lot of people live through you. Wear the jersey with pride. Remember the tradition and passion. You represent a group that faces adversity head on and doesn't back down."
On East Carolina Fans In Charlotte
"It will not surprise me when I see how our fans react or carry themselves. I know we'll be a first-class and professional group. When the world sees Pirate Nation in Charlotte, everybody will be able to see a group that is very enthusiastic and pulling for their team. Everybody will be able to see what we have here. This team is their team. This school is their school. These players are their players. These coaches are their coaches. I'm their coach."
On The Defense Starting Strong
"We want to make sure we improve every game. We're getting a great test this week. [Offensive coordinator] Lincoln Riley has tested us every day in practice by stretching us vertically and horizontally. North Carolina transfer Hunter Furr, a running back, can give us that size and speed look that we'll see.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge for the defense. I like our preparation, thought process and schematic installation progress. The biggest thing I've told them is that this week's offensive, defensive and special teams schemes all come down to who blocks and tackles the best. That's the `old-school' part of me coming out.
"We emphasized those points last night. Saturday, game speed will be something both teams have to get used to. The key to this game is the fundamental aspect. The scheme will be great and tested. We hope to test their schemes on offense and defense, too. I'm looking forward to the challenge and I know our coaches are."
On South Carolina's Offensive Threats
"Their offensive line concerns me. It always starts there. They do a great job up front working together as a unit. Garcia understands which Coach Spurrier wants, just like Dominique understands what Lincoln and we want. Garcia understands the concepts, when to audible to a run and where and when to deliver the football.
"Garcia has a great target in Jeffery, as we do in Lance Lewis. Both will be wearing No. 1 in the game.
"When you have a running back like Marcus Lattimore, you can always check into a run. They have that weapon. He has size. I watched him this morning on film versus Georgia and Florida. He shows vision and the ability to break tackles. We have to make sure we get a lot of people around him. But it all starts with the line, then goes to the quarterback, the skill players and running back."
On Rio Johnson
"Rio has done a great job as has Brad Wornick. Lincoln is basing the decision on fall training and Rio has done a great job. He is maturing quickly. We have a lot of confidence in Brad, too. Brad is a football player who can come in and get it done.
"Now as we get into game mode, I shorten and speed up practice. Tempo is the key word. We're not quantity anymore. In camp it was quality and quantity. It's strictly quality now. Reps are precious and limited. You have to determine who gets the most reps and so on down. Those are hard decisions. The third guy has to be a mental guy who can get his reps in his mind. He has to be able to get his reps during other group periods in practice like our routes-on-air segment. Brad is able to do that.
"I feel good about that group. Dominique, Rio, Brad and Shane Carden are all good players. I have a lot of confidence in them. I watch them on film and how they perform. The quarterback position is key. They're all intelligent and excel at making the correct audible. They can all make the throws this offense requires. That's a group that as a coach you have confidence in."
On Freshmen Debuting Saturday
"I think those guys will be wide eyed like a mountain lion. There will be mistakes made by everybody, young and old. Receivers Danny Webster and Justin Hardy will do a great job for us. I have a lot of confidence in those guys. Danny joined us in January and Justin was a part of our team last year and went against our defense on the scout team. Justin was one of those guys who did it all, even playing as quarterback when we faced an option team. I look for those guys to get adjusted to the game and have strong performances Saturday. I know South Carolina has a great defense, but I look for our guys to do their jobs.
"With both young and old players, we have to get them to focus on just a few things. In addition to competing and playing smart, you have to make sure the whole team is learning to play the next play when something good or bad happens and doing your job. If a tough thing happens, don't worry about it. If a great thing happens, play the next play. With those young guys, we've made sure we emphasized that.
"It's not about the opponent. We have to make sure we watch film on them and study their tendencies. But the one thing we can control is how we prepare and work. I've said that numerous times. I was walking up with Justin last night and asked if he was ready to go. He said yes sir without any hesitation. He looked right into my eyes and I told him to keep working hard. He said, `Yes Sir I am. I'm worried about myself.' It caught on. We'll continue to emphasize that."
On Recruiting Advantages Of Playing In Charlotte
"One thing is how we play. The other thing that any possible recruit, or recruit's parent, who watches our game will see, is our fan support and how great Pirate Nation is. Every radio show I get on I say Greenville is the place to be. I say if you want to watch a football game, head east to Greenville. Come to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on a Saturday night. Recruits will be able to see that support.
"We have gotten some exposure in Charlotte in the past. We've played there four times before. I'm sure that helped extend our brand out that region. It's a chance to push the ECU brand west again. We've already hit that market pretty well in terms of television ratings and support so I think this will just add to that."
On Injuries
"The injured players are working hard and continuing to get better each day. Justin Jones is looking good and he should be back soon. Kyle Tudor had a nick and hopefully he'll be back. He was moving well last night. Mack Helms is still a little down, but he'll be back. John Lattimore and Leroy Vick are the only ones who are out for the season at this point."
On The Schedule
"I think we have the toughest schedule in the country. I'm excited about it. I compare it to any non-automatic-qualifying Bowl Championship Series team and it's not even close. That's our deal.
"Our players and coaches know that. We work hard for it and look forward to it. We have South Carolina and Virginia Tech who are 12th and 13th in the preseason polls. We also face North Carolina and Navy.
"People might forget about this, but our conference will be one of the most competitive and exciting in the country in both divisions. It'll be exciting to dive into the conference schedule. I'm looking forward to the challenge and mental and physical preparation part. It's here now and ready to go."
