Delone Carter Press Conference Transcript (Aug. 10, 2010)
Opening Statement:
“I’d just like to say that I’m grateful and looking forward to the opportunity to come back to Syracuse and earn my degree, to rejoin my teammates. As far as what happened, that is a personal matter and I’d like to put it behind me. As far as decisions about playing time, that will be handled by Coach Marrone.”
On how quickly he got back:
“I felt like I was away for a while and I appreciate Judicial Affairs keeping up with what they said and allowing me to return on time.”
On the reception from teammates:
“It is just a warm welcome. This is family out here, this team. It hurt being away from them and I’m just glad to rejoin them.”
On how he learned of his reinstatement:
“It was just a call from Judicial Affairs telling me my time was served.”
On the emotion of being able to practice:
“It is a joyous feeling. I’m just happy to be back.”
On how he spent the past four months:
“I was back home in Akron spending time with my son and working out.”
On being away from the program during the summer:
“I bleed Orange and I just felt like they were working without me so I gave 110 percent while I was away.”
On what he was doing to stay ready for football:
“I would go out and run every day and tried to keep the schedule I had when I was out here working out. I just tried to do a little bit more and stay up on what I knew of the past plays. I just studied and stayed sharp on my game.”
On keeping in touch with teammates:
“I like to keep tabs on them, keep in touch. I called in and they returned my calls just letting me know what was going on and that everybody was working hard.”
On what he has taken from being suspended:
“It is just a maturing situation, I learned a lot from it.”
On whether he had doubts about being able to return:
“I left it in God’s hands and I just prayed about it. I left it up to Judicial Affairs.”
On whether he still felt like part of the team despite being away:
“Absolutely, when I got reunited with them it was like I never left. Those relationships are still the same.”
On what the reaction from teammates was:
“I walked in and saw a couple players who really didn’t notice it was me, they did a double-take. It was a good welcome.”
On what kind of shape he is in:
“I felt pretty good. Like I said I stayed on top of my running and conditioning so I felt pretty good today.”
On what kind of player he is going to be this year:
“The same, I’m always trying to evolve and take my game to the next level. I feel like I’m much more mature this season and confident in what I do. I’m just trying to get better and make my teammates better.”
On whether he put the situation behind him today:
“When I’m doing football, I’m doing football. This is my release and I enjoy doing it.”
On how much he is motivated by the season opener being at Akron:
“It definitely drove me a lot just to be home and hear what they’re saying. It’s exciting, I can’t wait.”
On whether he thinks he is the starter at running back:
“I’m always going to be confident, but I’m just trying to work. I don’t know if I’m the starter or not, that is up to Coach Marrone.”
