Safties Coach Scott Spencer Press Conference Transcript
Introductory Press Conference
January 22, 2005
“I’m very humbled to be here today. I’m truly blessed to be a part of the Syracuse football family. I’d like to thank God. I’d like to thank my wife, my family, all the great coaches who I’ve worked with through the years to get here, and especially Coach Robinson for giving me this wonderful opportunity. This is a dream come true. He’s a wonderful man and I can’t believe I have the chance to work with such a great coaching staff. These are truly special guys we’re grouping up with and this is a special place. I felt it the minute I landed here. My wife is out hunting for houses today and we can’t wait to have a little New Yorker come July. I’m very excited to be here and I can’t wait to get started.”
On being hired by Coach Robinson
“I think a week after the Rose Bowl he was saying that things may happen, may not happen. But that it could. So the possibility was there and my excitement was building.”
On the city of Syracuse:
“I tell you what, the weather’s great here. We landed and I told coach, it kind of makes you feel frisky, this cold weather. It makes you want to work and get ready to go. My wife loves it here. It’s like a winter wonderland right now. I am excited that it happened so fast. It’s great, there’s a lot of buzz already. I pass people and they’re wearing their Syracuse shirts. They say, ‘Go Cuse!’ and I say, ‘Go Cuse!’ right back to them. It’s pretty cool. I’m excited about that.”
On bringing Texas to Syracuse:
“My wife cooks great Mexican food. We’ve already talked about that -- getting together once a month for the food.”
On returning safety Anthony Smith:
“I’ve already met him. He’s a specimen. He’s a hungry kid. He seems to be really excited to get going and I’m excited to start coaching him.”
On learning Coach Robinson’s system:
“The good thing about coming in last year was I’d been at Texas for two years before I left to go to high school ball in San Antonio for the fall. They called me right back and wanted me to come back, so I got there right when Coach Robinson got there. The good thing about that was being able to be there from the minute the defense was installed. I learned everything from the ground up, just like the players did, and that was valuable. We created the playbook for the players, so I was kind of that guy who did all of the putting together the information, getting it all in a book, sitting through all of the meetings, squaring away all of the coaches on what language we were going to use. So I’ve already been an assistant for a full year.”
On his family:
“The only thing I know is football. I love football, my family loves football. That’s crucial. My wife doesn’t want any distractions when the game is going on. She gets very into it and she doesn’t want anyone talking in her ear while she’s watching.”
On Syracuse’s football tradition:
“The tradition here, I think football is as important here as it is anywhere in the country. And that’s what’s really exciting, being able to work at a place where football has had such a tradition. So I’m expecting it to probably be just like where I’ve been, but I think the passion that these kids are going to have and that they’re going to show us coming in, they’re exciting things.”
On recruiting:
“Areas haven’t really been assigned, but I have been out on the road so far. We’re having another meeting about that tomorrow. We have to get back to New York and all of the surrounding states. There are plenty of terrific athletes here that we can get to come to Syracuse.”
On SU’s quarterbacks coach Major Applewhite:
“He was my nemesis at Texas becaus he’s the offensive guy and I’m the defensive guy. We had our fair share of wins and so did they. We had to work together closely. He’s a great guy and a great coach. He’s going to be a great addition to the program.”
On trading burnt orange for Syracuse orange:
“My wife bought me that tie last week I guess before I came in. They’re great colors, I love these colors. She’s already commented on how awesome the gear is, and she thinks I look good in it.”
