Offensive Coordinator Brian Pariani Press Conference Transcript
Introductory Press Conference
January 21, 2005
Opening Statement:
“We are excited to be a part of Syracuse University. My family is excited about what is going to go on here and the tradition that you all have. As Greg said, we have worked a long time throughout the NFL to try to get to this point. I would like to thank a lot of people I have met along the way. Coaches who have helped me very much along the way – Greg (Robinson), Mike Shanahan, George Seifert, Terry Donahue gave me my first Job along the way, and Gary Kubiak. And a lot of the players I have been involved with – Steve Young, Brent Jones, John Elway, Shannon Sharpe, they have been influential in me being here. I am excited to be part of a college community.”
On what he has learned from everyone he has worked with:
“I think what they give you is that they are all quality people and they all have a tradition behind them when they started coaching. They are about building foundations and Greg (Robinson) is the same way. He is about building a foundation and bringing a foundation back that has already been in existence. I see that here and I think those things can be accomplished with athletes at this level.”
Why this was the right time to become a coordinator:
“I think it is the right time because there becomes a point when you want to try to use the things you have learned over time and teach people. I think at a college you are able to do that with young kids. You are able to see them grow. It is a time where the situation was right and Greg has a plan.”
On what he has to offer:
“I will give the players here everything that I have. And I will work hard during the week so I can prepare them for Saturdays to use all their ability to try to win.”
On the Dome’s affect on offense:
“I don’t know if it is a ‘vehicle for offense.’ I am excited about the Dome because I know that it can create havoc for an offense that comes in here. I am excited to be an offensive coach with a defensive coach who can bring a lot of pressure. Domes are tough places to play. I think it is outstanding to have an advantage with the crowd.”
On what the Dome gives an offense:
“Greg (Robinson) talked about this too, the game is not won on offense, it is defense and special teams. What it does is it gives energy to your team. If something big happens in the Dome, then everybody is excited. And, hopefully, the offense can take control of what is going on. You can make plays off of that. The atmosphere can be created by playing in the Dome.”
On his plan for the offense:
“I can say that it is going to be exciting to watch. I am excited about the coaches that we have – with Major (Applewhite), Chris (White) and Desmond (Robinson). I think it is going to be fun. It will be fun for the kids to play. They are going to get great opportunities in a pro-style offense and defense. The seniors are going to get a year of this experience under their belts. And for the young guys the sky is the limit.”
On if he has plans to keep moving up the coaching ranks:
“I don’t think I look at those things. I have been very fortunate to go to UCLA and actually Greg (Robinson) was very influential in that. Just to give me a chance, that is all I ever ask any body to do. That is what happened in San Francisco and Denver. I don’t try to just put my name out there. It is just like here, Greg (Robinson) has given me an opportunity and I am coming full-speed. I would really like to raise my family and I think seeing this the other day that this is a great community to raise your family in, the schools are great. My wife had a great time on our trip and we have two young daughters, Jessica and Gianna. We are just excited to get out here and get going.”
On how he stayed at Denver for so long (10 years):
“I think if you are around good people, and I have been fortunate to be around good people, then you are all working towards the same goal. That is what is exciting about what has been accomplished and I think it can be accomplished here.”
On his relationship with Mike Shanahan:
“He is teaching me everyday. As an assistant for him, I was just trying to learn every day and just pull those things. He has been the most influential person. He brought me to Denver and in San Francisco he said he wanted me to coach the tight ends. He is a very high offensive-minded coach in the NFL, because he is a teacher and a motivator and he is not afraid to take chances. He has been successful in what he has done and he has a plan.”
On if coming here was ‘taking a chance’:
“No, it is not taking a chance. I think that Greg (Robinson) has a plan from what he did in the pros and also at Texas. It is exciting, there is a lot of energy. The plan is exciting, because he has always wanted to be a college coach and for him to call me and say ‘Hey, I would like you to be involved as my offensive coordinator.’ That was attractive to me because I know that he is going to be full-speed and ready to go.”
On if he has the players here to do what he wants:
“I believe that I do. I think that what you do is fit the players into what you do. I have not met the players. I am looking forward to meeting all of them. We will get this thing to work with the players that we have.”
On the sense of excitement at SU with a new athletic director and football staff:
“Daryl (Gross) has a great vision. We are excited about that. The thing about it is that it is not just football, the sports here are just huge. We were at the basketball game the other night and it was amazing. I had heard about it, but I had never really been in that atmosphere, that was something special.”
On his sense of the Syracuse community:
“I thought the community and the people were helpful, that was very interesting to me. It seemed that the people really go out of their way here. I like that, you drive around and you can see that everything is close. We wanted to do something where our families could get involved in the business that we do.”
On the outcry from fans to throw the ball:
“We are going to throw the ball, there is no question about that. You can control the ball even when you are throwing the ball, you don’t have to go 80 yards every time you throw it. I think balance is trying to keep a mixture of run and pass in the flow of the game. Some games you may have to throw more or run more depending on what is going on. You try to keep a balance.”
On what a wide-open offense is:
“It can be just throwing the ball on every down. You can be ‘wide-open’ and control the ball and the game too. We are going to take chances and we are going to have fun.”
On the cold weather in Syracuse:
“The weather doesn’t really affect me that way. We are just excited for the opportunity and it is going to be fun. I am really looking forward to getting with the kids and the staff.”
On the relationship between himself and Coach Robinson:
“It goes back to UCLA. When I was a graduate assistant, he gave me an opportunity as a young coach. He told coach (Terry) Donahue, ‘you have to hire this guy, I think he has something.’ I tried to return the favor for him once we were going to Denver. It doesn’t always mean someone is going to get the job.”
On the young staff:
“We have a young staff, especially on offense with Major (Applewhite) and Chris (White). And Desmond (Robinson) has been in college football for a long time but that is the point – there has to be a mixture. I think it is a positive for the kids. They will have to teach me about the emotions in the college game as opposed to the pro game. I think it will help me learn from them.”
