Coach Pasqualoni Quotes Prior to Virginia Tech Game
"We have to play better. We haven't played well there. We have to have a good week of practice and find a way to go play well."
On Virginia Tech strengths:
"Their running game is outstanding. Their running backs and wide receivers are outstanding. The quarterback, Grant Noel, reminds me of guys that we've had here. He comes in and just runs the offense to perfection, almost like a Todd Philcox kind of scenario where he's been around, he comes and they don't break stride with what they're doing. Defensively, their inside guys are excellent. Their defense is certainly the best in the country. They run to the ball very hard. They are very well coached. They do a very nice job on special teams. They are an excellent team."
On difference between Virginia Tech's offense this season without Michael Vick:
"I don't see it being very different. Grant Noel has come in and run the offense, and he's done a very good job. I don't see them missing Michael Vick as much as everybody thinks they miss him."
On Virginia Tech's offense without Lee Suggs:
"They have two great backs. Right now, after reviewing the Boston College game, I would say they don't miss Lee Suggs either. If there's a better freshman running back in the country than Kevin Jones, I'd like to see where he is. He's a man and he's only a freshman. That's pretty impressive."
On Virginia Tech's success running the ball:
"They do a great job up front of blocking. They are extremely well coached up front. They run good plays, they don't run bad plays. They've always been so productive regardless of who has been in there."
On Virginia Tech's defense No. 1 ranking in the nation:
"The kids inside are older kids, David Pugh is an older guy and he's an excellent player. The linebackers run very well, the safeties have played well. They are an excellent defense."
On opponents lack of success on third down against Virginia Tech's defense:
"When you get into third down, Virginia Tech does a great job of pressuring, and when they don't pressure, they do a great job of playing coverage. They play a variety of coverages. They play zone coverages, they play man coverages. It's a combination of third down and all of the above."
On kicker/punter Mike Shafer being named BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week:
"I think that is very appropriate. We feel really good for Mike. He's really kicking the ball and punting the ball well. Hopefully he can continue to do that."
On not being ranked in the Top 25:
"I don't pay much attention to that. Right now that doesn't mean much. I think it will mean a whole lot more a month from now so we'll see where we are then."
On whether Syracuse will punt the ball to Andre Davis:
"We have to kick it to somebody so if he's back there I guess we're going to kick it to him. He's very good. We're going to have to cover."
On importance of field position against Virginia Tech:
"On Saturday we were fortunate to get field position twice right off the bat. The fact that we were able to score touchdowns on those two possessions was big. The week before against Pittsburgh, you saw the same thing. It's a big issue with anybody you play. I don't care who you play in this day and age, if you can win the field position battle and you can win the takeaway battle, I think you have an excellent chance of being in the game and winning the game."
On Dwight Freeney:
"I think he has a huge impact on the defense. I don't think his job makes anybody else's easier. What happens when you have a player like Dwight Freeney, who is an impact player for us, it raises the level of everybody else's play. His energy, the standard and the tempo with which he plays, elevates the whole game. It causes the offense to make adjustments to him which then allows some other guys, if they execute, to be productive. It's not only what he does on the field, it's what he does off the field. He's tremendously unselfish. He roots hard for the other guys."
On team's confidence level:
"By the time you get to this point in the season you like to be playing real solid football in all three phases of the game. I thought we played well in all three phases on Saturday from the get go. I hope that helps us in practice this week. The trick is that you have to do it again next week. Hopefully we'll have a chance to play well."
On the importance of playing highly-ranked teams early in the season:
"Not only the fact who we played, I think that the amount of work the kids have put in since last January is important. It's probably contributing right now to how we're playing. I hope we can keep going, we don't have a lot of injuries right now. I think you have to go back and credit the kids and the off-season program and Coach (Will) Hicks and the strength and conditioning staff for the fabulous off-season job."
Player Quotes
Kyle Johnson, Fullback
On Temple victory and upcoming Virginia Tech game:
"We've won six in a row. I guess you could say we're riding an emotional high after beating Temple 45-3 and donning the orange jerseys for the first time in several years. We were ecstatic after going into the locker room after warm-ups and seeing that. It was an emotional boost even before the game started. We want to take this momentum and success into Blacksburg, a place where in the '90s, we've struggled."
On playing at Blacksburg:
"I think, in terms of the noise, it's something the younger guys are going to have to prepare for. I'm assuming that we'll do something to prepare for that environment. We usually do. It is loud - second only to the (Carrier) Dome of the places that I've played, and that includes the Big House (University of Michigan) and Tennessee."
On team's motivation after losing at Virginia Tech in 1999:
"I don't know if we'll be anymore motivated to go down there. I think we'll be more aware and just be more responsible in terms of preparation for the game. I don't know if we were prepared as we should've been in 1999. The coaches did a great job, but we, as players, have to take on a certain responsibility. When we're on the field, the game is in our hands. Understanding the intense nature of the game, I think we will be better prepared. It's a matter of executing and handling that environment."
On defense's success causing turnovers:
"It's put us in great field position. We can't complain. I can recall against Auburn getting the ball past the 50-yard line two or three times in the second half. We have no excuse as to not move the ball and not score points. We've been effective in the red zone. You can equate certain point-scoring totals to the fact that the defense has gotten turnovers and good field position and we've capitalized on those turnovers."
Josh Thomas, Defensive Lineman
On Temple victory and upcoming Virginia Tech game:
"We're coming off a six-game winning streak. That's big for this program right now. We're playing with a lot of pride. I haven't played against Virginia Tech yet, but I'm excited. It's a big rivalry, especially with the way that we played the last two years. I know we're looking forward to this game. It's really going to prove the character of our team."
On defense's success at causing turnovers this season:
"I think it's great. We have 23 turnovers right now and last year we had 16 at the end of the season. That's something we've really tried to focus on since spring ball. We said that's what we're going to do, that's what we're going to take pride in. It's great when you see film and see everybody going for the ball and doing what we are taught to do."
