Head Coach Greg Robinson Press Conference Transcript (Nov. 13, 2005)
Robinson on if the team took a step back in the loss against South Florida:
“Last week we were 1-7, so our win-loss record took a step back. I think there were some things in the game that were productive, and there were some things that need a lot of work.”
Robinson on the most disappointing part of the game:
“Well, we didn’t score, first of all. You need to score to win.”
Robinson on why Nick Santiago didn’t play against USF:
“His shoulder is banged up. He probably won’t be back.”
Robinson on if Santiago needs surgery:
“I think it’s late this week coming up.”
Robinson on how Santiago’s injury developed:
“I think it goes back to a high school thing. It’s the other shoulder, not the one that he had worked on last year. It just progressively got worse.”
Robinson on how the team will approach the last two games:
“We talked about it – we will approach it the same way we approached the first nine games, with focus, good work ethic and enthusiasm.”
Robinson on if he will change something in preparation of the last two games:
“I’m having fun right now (laughing). We find a way every week to do something that’s… we’re ready to go. We’ll be ready to play come Saturday. We have to work.”
Robinson on playing at Notre Dame:
“I think it will be special. We went down to Florida State this year, we’ve been to a number of places, but Notre Dame is a special place obviously. I think our players and coaches are all looking forward to it. We are going to go to the College Football Hall of Fame. There’s a lot of Syracuse history there and I want to be sure that our team has a chance to see that.”
Robinson on how they will attack the Notre Dame defense:
“They’re a quick defense, very quick and very sound. So you’re going to have to earn everything against them. Offensively, they’re quarterback, Brady Quinn, is very, very good. His efficiency rating is up there. He was the best in the country at one time, I think. Two wide receivers are very impressive. The tight end is a gifted athlete. I like their offensive line. Their center is an outstanding player. They’ve done a good job running the football. They have a nice offense and a well-balanced defense. They’re a good team, obviously.”
Robinson on how Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn has adapted to Charlie Weis’ schemes:
“I think that he was in a good system of offense for the last two years. (Former Notre Dame Head Coach) Tyrone’s (Willingham) a good quarterback coach. I think that Charlie has been able to take him to the next level. I don’t think that this is just something that happened overnight. This was a great player coming out of high school. I just think that he’s grown more and more comfortable. The things that Charlie does aren’t that much different from the things that Tyrone was doing, in some ways. They’re both good football coaches, and Brady is reaping the benefits of that.”
Robinson on what the team needs to do defensively against Notre Dame:
“We’re going to back to that 12th man that worked earlier in the year (laughing). We might have to revert back to that again.”
Robinson on the team’s injuries from the USF game:
“(linebacker) Luke Cain had an ankle problem. I don’t know if we’ll have him. First play he was in and he missed the rest of the game. That worries me when a guy can’t come back in. We’ll see. He might be a quick healer I don’t know.”
Robinson on wide receivers Landel Bembo and Lavar Lobdell:
“Landel is going to get to start going on the treadmill this week. He’s making progress. This will be the first time he’ll get to do some running. Lavar is still in the process of rehab with his shoulder. He’s been really working hard conditioning and working his lower body strength. Everything is stabilization right now in the shoulder. They say he is ahead of schedule. Doctors usually do say that.”
Robinson on running back Jeremy Sellers:
“They’re going to take a CT scan this week. They think he is doing better. It’s one of those small breaks in the foot. Sometimes, certain guys’ blood flow, it’s a little harder to get down there and it just doesn’t heal as quickly as you’d like it too.”
Robinson on the team’s chance to go out on a winning note:
“I think you have to ask them. I can tell you everything that sounds great, but you have a chance to talk to them and I’d be interested in what they have to say. I agree with everything you just said. There are a lot of great opportunities, and it’s a chance for us to get better as a football team. Another chance to go out and get a win. We have to keep working. I’ve been down this road before. That’s what we’re going to do. There’s no mystery to it. We just have to keep working and we have to make it work.”
Robinson on Bruce Williams’ performance as punt returner against USF:
“I thought he did a good job, I really do. The one ball he muffed, I thought that ball was going to hit the roof of the Dome. I don’t know if I’ve seen many punts that high, and it carried and everything. He told me that all of the sudden the ball just came straight down, so he misjudged it a little bit, the way it came down. But, he did get on it. One time, he was on the 10, and he moved up two yards to about the 12-yard line, and then realized the ball was carrying a little bit and went back to the eight. But you know something? I liked his confidence and I think Bruce is going to be just fine right there. You never know. Maybe we have a punt returner for the next four years, and that would be a good thing. He is a sold decision-maker now and he’ll only get better because he cares about all the little things. He has very good hand-eye coordination and he’s tough.”
