Coach Pasqualoni Quotes at Media Day
"It feels great to be back. It feels good to have the kids in. I think as a staff, you always worry about getting everyone into camp safely, and you hope that everyone is back in good physical and mental and emotional condition. We've got a good group and everyone is ready to go."
On quarterbacks R.J. Anderson:
"I'm very excited about the situation. Last year at this time we didn't know what was going to happen. What a difference a year makes. At least going in, we know what we've got. Robin has 12 starts under his belt. He has worked very hard. Robin is a little bit more confident than he was a year ago. I think that in itself will help the leadership end of things. Robin has been pretty good from the leadership standpoint. He's a real positive influence. He's very steady, he's emotionally stable. You can count on him all of the time. He has tremendous relationships with the kids on the team. He works at it."
On running backs Walter Reyes, Barry Baker and Damien Rhodes:
"Walter (Reyes) had a pretty good spring. We would expect Walter to be the frontrunner (for the starting running back position). Barry Baker has been a tailback for one and a half years. He has a really good understanding of what the job description is. He's very talented. He'd be next. Damien Rhodes did a really good job of working out with the team. NCAA rules this year allowed Damien to lift in our weight room with the team and run with our players. Damien reported in really good physical condition which is a prerequisite. You're going to have a hard job of making any kind of contribution if you don't show up around here in shape. He did that."
On what he considers the No. 1 question going into preseason practice: "My No. 1 question is the long snapper ? replacing Kwazi Leverette. Chris Davis is doing an excellent job, Lenny Cusumano is doing an excellent job. A couple of young guys are looking good. My No. 1 concern is getting them practice so that we can kick the ball against BYU."
On whether the inexperience at the running back position will change the offensive mindset:
"I've think we've got backs who can run with the ball. We have to run our offense. We would like, every game, to run for 200 yards and pass for 200 yards. Those young guys at the running back position are just going to have to get ready to do it. I think they are capable of doing it."
On what he would like to accomplish in the next two weeks:
"They can expect to be pushed very hard. They can expect to be introduced to the entire playbook on offense and defense. So it not only becomes a battle of physical toughness, it becomes a battle of your mental toughness as well. They are going to have to be both physically and mentally tough kids from now until August 22 when we break camp."
On Clifton Smith and the rest of the Syracuse defense:
"Clifton (Smith) is a big part of the leadership of the defense. He's a two-time all-conference player. He was hurt last year and really sucked it up and did a good job. I think he's going to get some help from Jamel Dumas and Rich Scanlon. I think we're going to be strong inside with (Christian) Ferrara and (Louis) Gachlin. I like Josh (Thomas). Keeon (Walker) is the returning safety. The other big issue is the free safety. With Maurice McClain getting hurt, it's O'Neil Scott. Scott is a real good student of the game."
On defensive line's attitude about replacing Dwight Freeney
"They know that it's going to be a tremendous challenge for them. They've worked their butts off. Maybe from a scheme standpoint, we might have to blitz a little bit more. Hopefully one of those guys will develop a knack like Dwight Freeney. We've got some fast guys over there."
