SU vs. Boston College - Coach Pasqualoni Quotes
Syracuse vs. Boston College
October 18, 2003
Carrier Dome • Syracuse, N.Y.
Syracuse Head Coach Paul Pasqualoni
On rebounding from last week's loss:
"We're proud of the kids in the fact that, it was disappointing last week in Blacksburg – we expected to go down there and play a good game. From the very outset – the first third-and-two – we run a defense to sack the quarterback, and he turns it into a 75-yard touchdown. Then they return two punts and it's 21-nothing like that. For the kids to be able to put that behind them and move on, and with all the other distractions that were around this week in regard to this game, I think you really have to give the kids a lot of credit. They prepared to play, and they played, probably, as well – I know it's as many points as we've scored on B.C. at least in the years I've been around here."
On the game:
"We got out of whack on three plays in the first half; we got out of whack on two plays in the second half. Otherwise, I'd say the defense turned in a pretty solid performance.
The drive by the offense – that one drive with about 20 plays – I think was just a thing of beauty and a classic, the way we controlled the ball. Other than the problems we had on kicking, I think it was a pretty solid team effort."
On R.J. Anderson's performance:
"Going into the game, (R.J.) knew that he had to keep everything in perspective, and that he was going to have to control the game, not so much with his emotion, but with what his mental approach to this game was going to be, because he had a lot on his plate here today - to keep the team in the right play and to keep the thing going in the right direction. I thought he did a fantastic job."
On winning the last BIG EAST game against B.C.:
"It's always nice to win. It's especially nice in a traditional game that you play to win. For me, and for this program, it's been a long affiliation with B.C., so this was, from our point of view, if the series is ending, this was a nice way to end it."
On Brendan Carney:
"I thought that he really matured. I think you have to give him a lot of credit. I think he gained a great appreciation for the guys in front of him who protect him. I'm not sure, last week, he was that confident that the protection would be as good as it was last week. All he needed to do was just settle down and punt the ball. Last week, he was worried about too many things; this week, he just took care of what he had to do, and I thought he punted the ball the way he's capable."
On blocking and tackling:
"We stressed blocking and tackling this week, because last week we missed too many blocks, and we missed too many tackles. So, we worked really hard. Those things were as much a part of the game plan as anything."
On Johnnie Morant:
"Johnnie's back healthy, and when Johnnie's healthy, I think that he's obviously a big-play threat. It's been tough on him the last few weeks because he hasn't been 100 percent. But, today, he made a couple of big plays and nearly made another one."
On Rashard Williams:
"Rashard has big-play capability – he's very quick. He really hasn't had this kind of game here yet. Last year, he didn't really have that kind of game. So far this year, he's shown glimpses of what he can do. He's a quick wide receiver. I thought today, you kind of saw what we've seen in practice for the last year-and-a-half. Hopefully, this is a day he can build on, and continue on with his career."
On controlling Derrick Knight:
"I thought the defensive line did an excellent job of controlling the line of scrimmage. That goes a long way into how you're able to play defense. Number one, we didn't get knocked off the ball. We put numbers on him, and I thought we did a better job of tackling. But I think you have to give a lot of credit to the guys up front."
