Coach Pasqualoni's Quotes Prior to Miami Game
"All the motivation you need is that, number one, it's a BIG EAST Conference game, it's our final regular-season game, the final game for these seniors, and obviously it's against the top-ranked team in the country. I don't know how much more you need than that."
On Miami's winning streak:
"In this day and age with the 85 scholarship limit and the fact that they were on probation in 1997 and 1998 and in 1999 started working their way back, it's remarkable. Not only is it remarkable, when you look at who they play makes it more remarkable. I don't know how many teams in one year play Florida, Florida State and Tennessee. It's really impressive. They are an outstanding team."
On whether Syracuse can sneak up on Miami:
"I don't know if you sneak up on anybody. It's a conference game. We both know each other well over the years. We would expect that they will be ready to play their best game of the year. I'm sure that's the way they are looking at it."
On whether there would be any change in strategy this week:
"Not really. Last week we tried to give the guys a chance to recover. It's been eight weeks of very intense preparation. We've had very physical games for two straight months. That's a long time to be going and going. We would like to have just a plain old simple week of great preparation. That's what we need."
On what it would take to beat Miami:
"The only way that you have a chance to win this game is if you have a great week of preparation. I don't think you fool players. Players know when they have had a great week and they practiced well and they are right on top of things. Regardless of who you are playing, there's an air of confidence that you go into the game with. If you're fortunate enough to play well early in the game, then you have that opportunity."
On what has been the difference in SU's games against Miami in the past:
"Number one is talent, number two is talent and number three is talent. It's just players making plays. Players win games. You have to execute every single play. You have to play hard. You have to be able to do it on every single play for 60 minutes. If you don't do it every single play, there is a big play coming."
On Syracuse's defense:
"Our defense has given up big runs and big passes. We are capable of executing better. I am optimistic that we'll get prepared to play this week and focus on not giving up the big play."
On struggles of the defensive secondary:
"We started off the year banged up. We had a corner playing safety. The Rutgers week we finally got everybody back and from that point we started to play with more consistency. Those guys haven't been together back there the whole year."
On motivation for this game:
"All the motivation you need is that, number one, it's a BIG EAST Conference game, it's our final regular-season game, the final game for these seniors, and obviously it's against the top-ranked team in the country. I don't know how much more you need than that."
On Syracuse's seniors:
"This group has done a great job being positive. They have come in here every single day with a great attitude. They have prepared well every single week. You have to give them credit for keeping that attitude under a difficult set of circumstances. When you are 1-6 it's easy to have a bad attitude."
Player Quotes
Maurice McClain
Senior, Safety
On playing Miami:
"The defense has to focus on not giving up the big play. We haven't played a complete game on defense this year."
On what he thinks his emotions will be before his last game:
"I want to play it like it's any other game. I'm going to try not to get too emotional."
Thump Belton
Junior, Fullback
On playing Miami:
"Offensively, we want to focus on executing every single play to the fullest extent. Miami is a fast defensive team. They are physical. We have to match their intensity. We have to practice at the speed of Miami. We have to play every play 100 percent."
On whether the team will prepare differently for Miami:
"No matter who you play, you have to go out and practice 100 percent. You have to expect that from yourself. We have to do the best we can do. Miami has a 32-game winning streak. People don't ever win on reputation. We have to prepare accordingly."
