Student-Athlete Interviews - Spring Practice
March 23, 2009
Mike Williams, Junior, Wide Receiver
On being back on the field:
“It feels good. There’s nothing like it. It’s everything like I expected. Being back with my teammates, it’s like being back with my family again.”
On being rusty on his return to the field:
“I thought I was in the best shape of my life. It was like my first practice ever. I felt rusty at the beginning, but I started getting it at the end.”
On dealing with the cold:
“This is Syracuse. You’ve got to deal with that.”
On walking through the gates again:
“I actually walked in with Coach Marrone and he said, ‘It’s been a long time huh? You’ve been waiting for this.’ I said, ‘I have to see how it is.’ He said ‘Is this everything you’ve been waiting for?’ I said ‘Yep, and I ran out there.’"
Cam Dantley, Senior, Quarterback
On the differences between the coaching situation this year and last year:
“It’s good to have a good idea of what we know is going to be around us. The fact that they came in, we know that they’re in this for the long haul. We see that they’re putting in the same amount of work that we’re putting in, so that’s good for us to know that we have coaches who are really in it just for us right now. There was a lot of stuff going on last year, in terms of all the drama and stuff at the end of the season, but to know that we have a new coaching staff in here and they’re all about preaching hard work and the right things, discipline will make us even better. To have a good structure of coaches for all the guys shows a lot of loyalty and that we can trust them."
On what has been different:
"A lot of discipline, and I can tell it has been good for us. At first, you can tell people weren’t sure. It was different for them. Last year we maybe could get away with things that maybe we can’t get away with this year. Players have to adjust and know that we attack this like a job. Every day we have to come here and get things done and do what we have to do to get better. The coaches are just preaching a lot of discipline and attention to detail."
Lavar Lobdell, Senior, Wide Receiver
On practice today:
“It’s been a lot of fun. Obviously, today is the first day of real football we’ve had in a while with the new system. A lot of learning, but we’re just taking it in stride and follow Coach’s lead.”
On having Mike Williams back:
“It was fun seeing him out there again. He was excited to finally be back and to have a helmet on again. It’s been a while since we’ve seen him, so it was pretty exciting.”
Delone Carter, Junior, Running Back
On start of the season:
“It’s just like a new year, we’re done rebuilding, and we’re here now. The coaching staff is incredible, they’re perfectionists. It’s being run professionally and in a business-like manner.”
On working with (running backs) Coach Drayton:
“He’s a perfectionist to the fullest, no time for errors, no flaws. He wants to clean us up, polish us, and make us the best we can be."
On having a more disciplined coaching staff:
“It’s a little hard of an adjustment with no facial hair, just a mustache, collared shirts, but it’s all for the best. We’re buying in because we want to win and we’re going to win."
On knowing that Coach Marrone will be around for the rest of the time he’s here:
“You get the feeling that it means so much to him since he’s an alumnus. He played football and he did a lot of things here. You feel his spirit that he has for the school. It’s just so hard not to buy in, so we’re all in with him.”
On his first impression of Coach Marrone:
“He’s a very professional man, so when you first meet him you're a little tense, but you have to relax and realize, he’s just a man, and he’ll let you know that. He’s able to be approached and you can talk to him. You know he’s going to be honest and forthcoming with you.”
