Tarullo on What "Matt-ers"
3/12/2004 3:23:24 PM | Football
Our Relationship with Coaching Staff
The coaches are there to set a standard for us. It is not that we do not set a standard for ourselves, because we do. The coaches are there to fundamentally ground us and make sure that we are going to be players who are fundamentally sound on and off the field. That is why if we can take care of the small things, there will be such a difference this coming season. We are not going to point fingers at anyone, but we want this year to be different. That is what makes us really take a second look at the film and say, 'You know what, we had the players to win.' We just now have to execute and execute more consistently to win more games.
With Coach Pasqualoni you get a fundamental attitude. He has a traditional, hard-nosed, come to work everyday and do your best attitude. That is the kind of attitude that young guys need in this day-and-age. I remember when I came in, it was such a competitive and tough atmosphere and that is what we want. We have to re-establish it by adapting to some of the NCAA rule changes such as no more double-sessions and a shortened off-season conditioning program.
The coaches want the players in this program to be tough, hard-nosed kids and I believe that we are. I am excited to see what is going to happen in the Spring. I am really excited to see how competitive it is going to be, because I think it is going to be a really good Spring. I have seen some tough Spring's before, but I don't think any of them have been as tough as this one will be because I am going to set the tone. I am going to be a player this year who is going to set the tone. No one else is going to tell me I can't do something, unless, obviously, it is the wrong thing or it is out of line. I am speaking purely out of a sense of want to and getting in people's faces and making sure that they are doing what they need to do. Especially myself. To be able to do that and to be able to control the tempo of practice really makes me excited because I know that people on the team, the seniors, we are going to really be able to get the high-tempo practice that we need to win. That is what it comes down to – how you practice is how you play. That is what I am excited about.
As players we have to let the comments about the coaches go. Everybody is going to have their opinion, and that is what is great about this country. People can say whatever they want to say and have their own opinions. They are not necessarily true, they are not right. Sometimes people get mad and they say things they don’t mean. Some people say hurtful things. But I know that as a unit, the offensive line, and as a team, we are very happy with the coaches we have. I am very excited about the coach we just added, Coach Reid. I had the chance to visit with him and he is a very passionate guy. He is a very passionate coach. My coach for the offensive line, Coach DeLeone, he is a very passionate coach. Not many people see him like that. Not many people are going to see him in the kind of environment that I see him in. You can take it from me, the coaches we have are very passionate and they are very determined men. Their attitude and goals and values influence us. We need that, especially the young guys, because they don't know what college football is all about. We need that kind of attitude because then we understand this is what we need to do to win. And, that is what is going to help us win next year.
