Offensive Coordinator Brian White Press Conference Transcript (Feb. 13, 2006)
Opening Statement:
“Thank you. Obviously this is a very exciting day for me, to be named the offensive coordinator. I’m looking forward to the challenges of building on the foundation that’s been laid in the past year. One analogy that I’d like to make sure that everyone here understands is that when you implement a new offense, particularly one that is as intricate and complicated as the west coast offense, it takes time. You will see tremendous progress from year one to year two, and that’s the intent. I feel very comfortable with the staff members I’ve been spending time with in meetings. Their knowledge and depth has been critical for me in terms of learning to speak a new language. A lot of the concepts and plays are very similar but may have been worded with different conceptual thoughts. I can’t tell you how excited I am. I know we have a solid foundation. I can tell you that with Coach Earley right here, it was a very elaborate process in terms of researching a quarterbacks coach. He was just outstanding from a fundamentals standpoint. His background is exceptional, which I’m sure Coach Robinson will go over. As we went through it, we knew he’d be a great fit chemistry-wise, technically and fundamentally in teaching our quarterbacks in allowing Perry (Patterson), Joe (Fields) and the other quarterbacks coming in to really make the steps forward that are going to be necessary for us to be an effective offense. I’m really looking forward to it.”
On when he was offered the job:
“This morning.”
On if he intended to become the coordinator when he took the quarterbacks coach job (in January):
“Honestly, no, there wasn’t and I’m not trying to be coy. You hear things about what was going on with Brian (Pariani), but when I accepted the position here it was to coach the quarterbacks. It wasn’t to be the coordinator in hire, or the person in the wings. Coach Robinson was very up front with me and that wasn’t part of the deal at all.”
On how he will alter the offense:
“First of all I don’t think the offense is going to change from the language perspective in terms of what they’re going to see formationally and play-wise. What I hope to change and what I believe will happen is that the execution will be better. I think that should be significant. One of the things that I was very emphatic about, and know will be a thumb print, will be the attention to really good fundamental coaching at all positions. The greatest compliment you can get as a coach is when an opposing coach going into the week is saying this is a good fundamental football team. If that can be said, we are going to have a chance to win the majority of our games.”
On whether he wants to go down field more…
“We’d certainly like to take multiple shots downfield every game. You want to test the defensive secondary. I hope we don’t have to scramble too much because there’s an inherent problem with protection if you’re scrambling too much. I do believe that Perry and Joe and some of our other quarterbacks are capable of running the football and, if they have to, they will. We’re going to accentuate the assets our players have. For me to tell you the extent of that right now I don’t know. I’m looking forward to putting them in the position to make plays.”
On similarities between Wisconsin and Syracuse offense:
“Contrary to public opinion, there are a lot of similarities. We studied the Denver Broncos and it’s very consistent to what we did at Wisconsin. Most of the three step passing game is similar and a lot of the play-action pass game is similar. There are a lot of consistencies. If you really studied how we played and what we did, you’d see that. We’re going to narrow things down and get a core based on what we (Syracuse) set as the foundation last year. I believe that you’re going to like the product that you’re going to see.”
On the pressure of taking over as the offensive coordinator:
“I remember in 1982, I was reading Sports Illustrated and they were talking about Dan Marino and about pressure about going into the season as a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate. They kept asking him how he’s going to handle the pressure. His dad finally told him, ‘Do you know what pressure is?’ And he (Marino) said, ‘What.’ His dad told him, ‘When you’re a parent and have four mouths to feed and you’re unemployed, that’s pressure. Playing football is not pressure.’ (smiling) Well I’m coaching football and I’m employed so ask me at the end of the year. If Coach Robinson fires me, that’ll be pressure, this won’t be.”
On if he’d like to cut down on third and long situations:
“You always want to cut down on third and long situations. One of the greatest determinants to success is your first down success rate. So if we can get four yards on first down 60 percent of the time, we’re going to win a lot of football games. First down determines third down. Football is a tremendous game of statistics. You don’t want to be in third and long. You want the majority of your third downs to be third and short because now the percentages of getting a first down swing to your favor. That’s one of the beauties of the west coast offense is the ball control both running and passing. The whole goal is four yards, however you can get four yards as many times as you can, then you keep moving the chains and you score points. That’s what we’re going to try and do.”
On his experience:
“I think experience is great in anything you do. You can understand the rhythm of a week and pull from your prior experiences, and we will, and it’ll be beneficial, but I wouldn’t put too much into that.”
On adjustments needing to be made…
“We have a lot to work with from a playbook standpoint and we have players who are very eager and enthusiastic to get better. If you have that combination you’re going to get better. You coach with heart and coach with some passion and give them some tools that they can achieve some success with then they’ll get better.”
On going from Wisconsin to SU quarterbacks coach and now to SU offensive coordinator:
“Well it’s been a whirlwind I can tell you that. I’ve been away from my family and that’s never great. There has been a lot of studying and learning new names, faces, plays and new language. Those sorts of challenges motivate me and get my blood flowing early in the morning.”
On what he sees in the quarterbacks who are at SU now:
“I can tell you this – Perry is a good strong athlete who has shown his leadership skills and is working hard; Joe’s a tremendous athlete. They are good guys and are eager and looking forward to getting better.”
On being named offensive coordinator:
“I’m looking forward to coming here and having a great amount of success with these guys and relying on Bob Wylie and my brother, Chris, Phil Earley, Desmond Robinson, to be able to put together good game plans and communicate throughout a game well.”
