Head Coach Doug Marrone Press Conference Transcript (August 27, 2011)
Coach Marrone's Opening Remarks At Wake Forest Press Conference (August 27, 2011):
“Welcome to the 2011 season. Obviously, I want to state what our goal is as a football program; to be able to compete for a BIG EAST championship. That is important that everyone realizes that. We also have to realize all these challenges that are in front of us I think are important. We have not produced back-to-back winning seasons since 2001. We have not played in back-to-back bowl games since 1999. We have not won a season opener two years in a row since 2000.
“One of the things we have talked about with this football team is the way we play at home. We have not had a winning record at home since 2004. What I think we forget sometimes, or take for granted, is that from 1983-2004 we never had a losing record at home. That is what we want to do with this football program is get back to that consistency that we had shown in the 80s and 90s with our program.
“We have a challenge right off the bat. This is a big game. We open up against an ACC opponent, one that is not too far removed from an ACC title. It is funny; I actually probably know a little bit more about Wake Forest than people may think because when I was with the New Orleans Saints (quarterbacks coach) Joe Lombardi, who played at Air Force, was with a lot of the coaches who are now at Wake Forest. I remember when they were going through their great run at Wake Forest there; he was always saying how a great staff they were and what they do. Obviously, it is a great challenge for us, as a coaching staff, to against their stuff.
“We have not fared well; we are 1-17 against ACC teams since 1996. We are 0-8 versus ACC teams in the Carrier Dome. The last time we beat an ACC team in the Carrier Dome was in 1994. So again since 1996 we have not beaten an ACC team in the Carrier Dome. These are great challenges. These are the challenges we accept. Wake Forest as a team, obviously they had a disappointing year last year. I was able to watch every single game and football is a funny game. They had some tough breaks early on in some of those games and the games got out of hand. Not to speak for them, but they will be ready. They are a good football team and well-coached.
“When you look at the offensive side of it, it is probably the most experienced biggest offensive line that we will face. You are talking about four seniors and one junior. Then when you look to quarterback, he has played before. What concerns me the most is obviously they have game-changing speed at running back and at wide receiver.
“On defense, you look at a football team that is very multiple. They are 3-4, but they give you a lot of different looks when you look throughout their season last year. Again, that is a great challenge for us. They run to the ball well. They hustle well. They hit. They tackle. They have speed, which is always a concern and they are solid on special teams.
“We are starting the season right off the bat with a great challenge and it is one we are looking forward to. I think there are two good football teams (in this game). I think the scenario of a team coming off a disappointing season; they will be ready to play. A team coming off a winning season, it really does not mean that much to us right now what we did last year. It is what we have been preparing for and how we have been preparing for Thursday night. That is what we have been trying to focus on with our players.”
You have (free safety) Phillip Thomas and (strong safety) Shamarko Thomas as starters and (cornerback) Keon Lyn behind (corner back) Ri’Shard Anderson. How are those guys?
“Ready to go. Ready to go.”
Can you talk about the challenge of the first game of the regular season?
“We have broken down 12 football games on Wake Forest. We have a lot of information. We cannot clutter our players with that amount of information. What goes on and what we try to prepare them for is the week, there are a lot of distractions that can occur for our players. We have done a good job to this point right now, if we put ourselves in a student-athlete’s position. We have all been there before. Just think about if you have gone through a preseason camp, which is strenuous, we went everyday and practiced. All of a sudden, probably around Friday, on campus you are starting to get a little bit more. My days are mixed up obviously because it’s not Monday. Six or seven days ago, campus was just starting to come along, people just starting to come on, a little bit more, a little bit more. Everyone is coming back. Everyone is seeing their friends who they have not seen. Who was at the Hamptons? Who may have been at the Jersey Shore? Who may have down in Maryland? Everyone is coming back then all of a sudden the anxiety of making sure I have this class added, or is my schedule right, I have to get my book slips, I have to go get my books, I have to be advised. A lot goes on. What shows up is a game on a Thursday night that is extremely important. Remember they are students first. We have to make sure their academics and everything is taken care of. There is a lot going on in their lives. Their parents are asking them about the people in their lives, how is football going, how is school going, how are your teachers, have you met any new friends. There is a lot of anxiety that goes on this week. It is very difficult to settle down like you are in a great routine. That is what we have been trying to do from the beginning, get everyone in a routine. It is difficult to get them in a routine of people back on campus.”
How has (wide receiver) Dorian Graham emerged as the third wide receiver?
“I think Dorian Graham really started last year, he worked extremely hard to get into a position to play. I think he is really practicing well. All of that stuff started to pay off right after the season and as we were preparing for the bowl game, which was important to go to a bowl so you can get those practices. He continued with that work throughout the offseason. He is obviously one of our best performers in the weight room. He’s actually come onto the field and done a lot of good things. And, not just Dorian Graham, but the competition of some of the younger players who we brought in, people know what is around them. We all do. It has helped our football team become better. I am very excited about our younger players and the upperclassmen.”
How did (nose tackle) Deon Goggins earn his starting spot?
“The last scrimmage we had, the Ernie Davis scrimmage, he really played well. It is almost like that is when the light came on and you are hoping that light stays on. We are excited because we needed him to step up, but we will have a lot of people playing in that position until someone emerges or someone who deserves more playing time. We are excited where he is now and that is what you are getting ready for. There are a lot of things Thursday night that will go on that will be a first. The first time he is out there on the field and how is he going to respond. Those are things that you try to put them in as many situations as possible during camp, but it is still difficult. It is still very difficult to simulate that experience of playing in the Carrier Dome.”
Does it surprise you to have five true freshmen on the two-deep depth chart?
“You do not like that, I will tell you that. You would much rather be a team that has a lot of upperclassmen who are playing and in the two-deep. Then your freshmen are coming along. I think some of that is due to injury, some players being out. You get excited about it. You want to make sure that if they get in there and play, you want them to play. You do not want to put someone in there for one or two snaps and he may not get into a game for two weeks. We want to make sure when our players are getting in there, they are playing a significant amount of snaps. It may be on special teams. What happens for us, as coaches, I look at the player who plays on three or four special teams and he is playing a third of your game when you play on Thursday nights or Saturdays during the year. Then all of sudden, that player is backing up a senior on the defensive or offensive side and he keeps developing the way he should then he is going to play. That player has gone through the game experience, how to get ready for a game, how to prepare yourself. You feel comfortable and he gains experience not only as a special teams player, but the ability to take the position and be able to perform at a high level. It is less unknown with him.”
You mentioned (linebacker) Dyshwan Davis as someone who surprised you at the Ernie Davis scrimmage. Who else surprised you? Has anyone disappointed you?
“I just want to make sure; I do not think he surprised me. I do not like to use that term. I always wanted him to play well, like I do all of the other players. He just started playing well, like the light turned on. As far as disappointing, I was not disappointed. The competition went well. I thought we went after each other. Again, there were a lot of things we were looking for. We were looking for our halftime operation, our sideline operation, our substitutions, our 40-second clock, our signals, how we are handling penalties. There were a lot of good things that were going on. It is just unfortunate that we do not have more of those types of scrimmages because of the way the schedule is set.”
Practices were closed this week to media. How did practice go?
“We are getting ready for Wake Forest. Again, it is a challenge for us. They have multiple schemes. They are very well-coached, a lot of misdirection on offense and a lot of fronts on defense. Right now, our focus is on them. As far as our focus is concerned, I am very happy with that.”
(Punter) Shane Raupers earned the starting position at punter over Jonathan Fisher. How did he do that?
“It was probably as tight of a competition that I have ever been involved with in my life. You are talking about tenths of seconds and all of that. Basically, he is a little bit older, been around, been in the competition. I think that had given him the nod. If either of those two players went out there and punted for us, I really would not have a concern.”
You are going into your third year as the Syracuse head coach. Do you feel it has become old hat now going into the regular season?
“I do not think it ever gets that way. If anything it becomes a much greater responsibility, much greater accountability to be here. I will be honest, I spoke to this football team and we understand what our goals are. We understand that as we are going and competing for all of these goals, we have been down for so long that these challenges are a product of us being a poor football team in the past. For us, we are not going to have a lot things going our way, as far as (recent) history when we look back. It is a responsibility that I feel from myself to the coaches and the players to change that. That is what this program is trying to do. We are trying to change the culture of our football program so that a couple of years from now I am going to stand up and say we have done this and we have done that and recent history will be on our side. That is the greatest challenge we have as a program.”
Are there any updates on (wide receiver) Marcus Sales or (quarterback) Jonny Miller?
“Their status has not changed as far as their suspensions from the football team. When there is further information, I will let you know.”
How has walk-on Dom Anene progressed to earn the second-string linebacker spot?
“I think, right now, we would feel very comfortable if he went into a game. Anyone that is on that two-deep, we are telling everyone in this room that if that player went into a football game, we feel comfortable with him. If we did not, he would not be on the two-deep. He has worked hard. He is a tough kid. I have seen him down and get right back up. He is an engineering major. He is from the West Coast, very polite. We are very happy with him. Like I said before, everyone gets treated the same in this program. What I mean by that is that if you are the best player, you are going to play. As long as you are doing the right things, you will be treated like everyone else. If you are not doing the right things then, whether you are scholarship player or walk-on, you will not be a part of this program. I think it is very simple. He has done a nice job.”
“Welcome to the 2011 season. Obviously, I want to state what our goal is as a football program; to be able to compete for a BIG EAST championship. That is important that everyone realizes that. We also have to realize all these challenges that are in front of us I think are important. We have not produced back-to-back winning seasons since 2001. We have not played in back-to-back bowl games since 1999. We have not won a season opener two years in a row since 2000.
“One of the things we have talked about with this football team is the way we play at home. We have not had a winning record at home since 2004. What I think we forget sometimes, or take for granted, is that from 1983-2004 we never had a losing record at home. That is what we want to do with this football program is get back to that consistency that we had shown in the 80s and 90s with our program.
“We have a challenge right off the bat. This is a big game. We open up against an ACC opponent, one that is not too far removed from an ACC title. It is funny; I actually probably know a little bit more about Wake Forest than people may think because when I was with the New Orleans Saints (quarterbacks coach) Joe Lombardi, who played at Air Force, was with a lot of the coaches who are now at Wake Forest. I remember when they were going through their great run at Wake Forest there; he was always saying how a great staff they were and what they do. Obviously, it is a great challenge for us, as a coaching staff, to against their stuff.
“We have not fared well; we are 1-17 against ACC teams since 1996. We are 0-8 versus ACC teams in the Carrier Dome. The last time we beat an ACC team in the Carrier Dome was in 1994. So again since 1996 we have not beaten an ACC team in the Carrier Dome. These are great challenges. These are the challenges we accept. Wake Forest as a team, obviously they had a disappointing year last year. I was able to watch every single game and football is a funny game. They had some tough breaks early on in some of those games and the games got out of hand. Not to speak for them, but they will be ready. They are a good football team and well-coached.
“When you look at the offensive side of it, it is probably the most experienced biggest offensive line that we will face. You are talking about four seniors and one junior. Then when you look to quarterback, he has played before. What concerns me the most is obviously they have game-changing speed at running back and at wide receiver.
“On defense, you look at a football team that is very multiple. They are 3-4, but they give you a lot of different looks when you look throughout their season last year. Again, that is a great challenge for us. They run to the ball well. They hustle well. They hit. They tackle. They have speed, which is always a concern and they are solid on special teams.
“We are starting the season right off the bat with a great challenge and it is one we are looking forward to. I think there are two good football teams (in this game). I think the scenario of a team coming off a disappointing season; they will be ready to play. A team coming off a winning season, it really does not mean that much to us right now what we did last year. It is what we have been preparing for and how we have been preparing for Thursday night. That is what we have been trying to focus on with our players.”
You have (free safety) Phillip Thomas and (strong safety) Shamarko Thomas as starters and (cornerback) Keon Lyn behind (corner back) Ri’Shard Anderson. How are those guys?
“Ready to go. Ready to go.”
Can you talk about the challenge of the first game of the regular season?
“We have broken down 12 football games on Wake Forest. We have a lot of information. We cannot clutter our players with that amount of information. What goes on and what we try to prepare them for is the week, there are a lot of distractions that can occur for our players. We have done a good job to this point right now, if we put ourselves in a student-athlete’s position. We have all been there before. Just think about if you have gone through a preseason camp, which is strenuous, we went everyday and practiced. All of a sudden, probably around Friday, on campus you are starting to get a little bit more. My days are mixed up obviously because it’s not Monday. Six or seven days ago, campus was just starting to come along, people just starting to come on, a little bit more, a little bit more. Everyone is coming back. Everyone is seeing their friends who they have not seen. Who was at the Hamptons? Who may have been at the Jersey Shore? Who may have down in Maryland? Everyone is coming back then all of a sudden the anxiety of making sure I have this class added, or is my schedule right, I have to get my book slips, I have to go get my books, I have to be advised. A lot goes on. What shows up is a game on a Thursday night that is extremely important. Remember they are students first. We have to make sure their academics and everything is taken care of. There is a lot going on in their lives. Their parents are asking them about the people in their lives, how is football going, how is school going, how are your teachers, have you met any new friends. There is a lot of anxiety that goes on this week. It is very difficult to settle down like you are in a great routine. That is what we have been trying to do from the beginning, get everyone in a routine. It is difficult to get them in a routine of people back on campus.”
How has (wide receiver) Dorian Graham emerged as the third wide receiver?
“I think Dorian Graham really started last year, he worked extremely hard to get into a position to play. I think he is really practicing well. All of that stuff started to pay off right after the season and as we were preparing for the bowl game, which was important to go to a bowl so you can get those practices. He continued with that work throughout the offseason. He is obviously one of our best performers in the weight room. He’s actually come onto the field and done a lot of good things. And, not just Dorian Graham, but the competition of some of the younger players who we brought in, people know what is around them. We all do. It has helped our football team become better. I am very excited about our younger players and the upperclassmen.”
How did (nose tackle) Deon Goggins earn his starting spot?
“The last scrimmage we had, the Ernie Davis scrimmage, he really played well. It is almost like that is when the light came on and you are hoping that light stays on. We are excited because we needed him to step up, but we will have a lot of people playing in that position until someone emerges or someone who deserves more playing time. We are excited where he is now and that is what you are getting ready for. There are a lot of things Thursday night that will go on that will be a first. The first time he is out there on the field and how is he going to respond. Those are things that you try to put them in as many situations as possible during camp, but it is still difficult. It is still very difficult to simulate that experience of playing in the Carrier Dome.”
Does it surprise you to have five true freshmen on the two-deep depth chart?
“You do not like that, I will tell you that. You would much rather be a team that has a lot of upperclassmen who are playing and in the two-deep. Then your freshmen are coming along. I think some of that is due to injury, some players being out. You get excited about it. You want to make sure that if they get in there and play, you want them to play. You do not want to put someone in there for one or two snaps and he may not get into a game for two weeks. We want to make sure when our players are getting in there, they are playing a significant amount of snaps. It may be on special teams. What happens for us, as coaches, I look at the player who plays on three or four special teams and he is playing a third of your game when you play on Thursday nights or Saturdays during the year. Then all of sudden, that player is backing up a senior on the defensive or offensive side and he keeps developing the way he should then he is going to play. That player has gone through the game experience, how to get ready for a game, how to prepare yourself. You feel comfortable and he gains experience not only as a special teams player, but the ability to take the position and be able to perform at a high level. It is less unknown with him.”
You mentioned (linebacker) Dyshwan Davis as someone who surprised you at the Ernie Davis scrimmage. Who else surprised you? Has anyone disappointed you?
“I just want to make sure; I do not think he surprised me. I do not like to use that term. I always wanted him to play well, like I do all of the other players. He just started playing well, like the light turned on. As far as disappointing, I was not disappointed. The competition went well. I thought we went after each other. Again, there were a lot of things we were looking for. We were looking for our halftime operation, our sideline operation, our substitutions, our 40-second clock, our signals, how we are handling penalties. There were a lot of good things that were going on. It is just unfortunate that we do not have more of those types of scrimmages because of the way the schedule is set.”
Practices were closed this week to media. How did practice go?
“We are getting ready for Wake Forest. Again, it is a challenge for us. They have multiple schemes. They are very well-coached, a lot of misdirection on offense and a lot of fronts on defense. Right now, our focus is on them. As far as our focus is concerned, I am very happy with that.”
(Punter) Shane Raupers earned the starting position at punter over Jonathan Fisher. How did he do that?
“It was probably as tight of a competition that I have ever been involved with in my life. You are talking about tenths of seconds and all of that. Basically, he is a little bit older, been around, been in the competition. I think that had given him the nod. If either of those two players went out there and punted for us, I really would not have a concern.”
You are going into your third year as the Syracuse head coach. Do you feel it has become old hat now going into the regular season?
“I do not think it ever gets that way. If anything it becomes a much greater responsibility, much greater accountability to be here. I will be honest, I spoke to this football team and we understand what our goals are. We understand that as we are going and competing for all of these goals, we have been down for so long that these challenges are a product of us being a poor football team in the past. For us, we are not going to have a lot things going our way, as far as (recent) history when we look back. It is a responsibility that I feel from myself to the coaches and the players to change that. That is what this program is trying to do. We are trying to change the culture of our football program so that a couple of years from now I am going to stand up and say we have done this and we have done that and recent history will be on our side. That is the greatest challenge we have as a program.”
Are there any updates on (wide receiver) Marcus Sales or (quarterback) Jonny Miller?
“Their status has not changed as far as their suspensions from the football team. When there is further information, I will let you know.”
How has walk-on Dom Anene progressed to earn the second-string linebacker spot?
“I think, right now, we would feel very comfortable if he went into a game. Anyone that is on that two-deep, we are telling everyone in this room that if that player went into a football game, we feel comfortable with him. If we did not, he would not be on the two-deep. He has worked hard. He is a tough kid. I have seen him down and get right back up. He is an engineering major. He is from the West Coast, very polite. We are very happy with him. Like I said before, everyone gets treated the same in this program. What I mean by that is that if you are the best player, you are going to play. As long as you are doing the right things, you will be treated like everyone else. If you are not doing the right things then, whether you are scholarship player or walk-on, you will not be a part of this program. I think it is very simple. He has done a nice job.”
