Student-Athlete Interview Transcript - Spring Practice
April 13, 2009
Delone Carter, Junior, Running Back
On Coach Marrone coming in and seeing the new plan for the offense…
“I was relieved, to be honest. A fresh start doing new things to build around and build upon. He wanted me to know that he was building a new program and establishing the old Syracuse traditions and he wanted me to be a part of it.”
On his role in the offense…
“ I play a role as a veteran and as a voice of encouragement to my teammates during these tough times we’re having in practice and I’m the type to pick them up and let them know we can beat them and we have nowhere to go but the top.”
On how the new running game fits his talents…
“There are so many things that I can do out of this offense. It’s even going to be surprising to me to see what I can do. There is so much we can do and so much we can show the fans and the people, you can really show your talents with this type of offense.”
On what kind of team will be on the field for the Minnesota Game…
“ A well oiled machine. Everybody that can produce and make plays is going to be on the field at some point in time and we’re going to be a producing offense.”
Averin Collier, Redshirt Freshman, Running Back
On being redshirted last year….
“At first it was real disappointing but looking back on it you just have to take it with stride. I had surgery over the summer and wasn’t fully recovered the first week of camp, so I was coming back from the healing process. Curtis had a great year, a really good year, so I can’t be mad at what he was doing. Looking back on it I wasn’t too disappointing. I accepted my role and got myself better and prepared for this spring.”
On pushing to be the starting tailback…
“I hope Delone and Antwon are doing the same thing. That’s just the competitiveness of all of us. We make each other better. That’s what makes our drive go even further and makes us develop even faster is our competitiveness with each other."
On there being room for three tailbacks…
“I don’t know you’d have to ask Coach Marrone and Coach Spence about that. They figure out all that stuff. If it’s possible I would love to be in that three back rotation. The new offense has us catching the ball going out on routes, just being active in finding other ways besides running the ball. I think that compliments all of our types of running backs. It’s suitable to fit three running backs."
On excelling at short yardage in practice…
“It’s something I’ve shown to coach and they see a niche in my game with the short yardage so if that’s my way of getting on the field, then I’ll accept my role and go with it. I just go and do what they ask me to do, If they ask me to score touchdowns, then I guess I’m scoring touchdowns.”
Antwon Bailey, Sophomore, Running Back
On how spring practice is going…
“Spring practice has been going well. It’s been a few weeks and the team is coming together. That’s good for all of us, offense, defense and special teams.”
On what he’s learned about Spring practice and himself going through spring practice for the first time….
“Toughness, probably. I think it's tough coming off a Spring break going right into spring practice, but we’re all getting it together and we’re all grinding trying to make this thing work. I did work out over break. I wasn’t too far out of shape, but there’s no substitute for being in football shape.”
On the competiveness and depth of the tailbacks…
“I think it’s going to work out real well. We all have complimentary styles. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem to spread the ball around. We’ll all get the job done. I think it definitely means something to win the starting job because it’s real competitive around here for all the running backs. At the same time, we all know that we’re going to have a real good offense because of that competitiveness.”
On carrying over his success from the Notre Dame game last season…
“That experience was great, playing in front of the crowd and having the success we did as a team at Notre Dame. it was a big confidence booster for me and, I think, also for my teammates. I think it carries over well because I’m more confident running the ball and more confident in my abilities and I’m not thinking as much as I did last year.”
On Coach Marrone not being too happy about practice…
“I don’t think there were too many of us who were too happy. It was clear. I don’t think the offense is ever really happy unless we’re perfect, I know in my eyes that’s how I feel. If it’s not a perfect day, then I’m not happy because we’re all here to work toward perfection. It wasn’t a terrible day, but it wasn’t our best. We need to do better.”
On what can be expected at the Spring game…
“It’s going to be real competitive. We’re going to be out there hitting, blocking, running, tackling. It’s going to be a real competitive attack mode game. I think it’s going to be competitive because nobody’s job is set in stone that and we all want to get this thing going in the right direction.”
