N.Y.'s College Classic Teleconference Transcript
Syracuse Football
New York's College Classic Teleconference
September 4, 2012
Head Coach Doug Marrone, quarterback Ryan Nassib and linebacker Marquis Spruill
On playing USC last year and how it affected them going into this year's game:
Nassib: "I would say so. Especially since now we are playing them on the east coast at a field that we're a little more familiar with. There is a little less intimidation in the fact that they are USC. There's no doubt about that. Playing in their coliseum was definitely a little intimidating but at the end of the day we are playing football. At any given day, the team can be beat regardless of who they are and how intimidating they can be."
Spruill: "I agree with Ryan right here. Playing them last year gives us a very familiar feel of their team and the players on their team. I think we are going to be very good and do very, very well. We are very prepared. We are going to practice hard and work towards beating this team."
On if the game is like a homecoming for Marquis Spruill:
Spruill: "I'm still getting calls. Everybody is asking me if they can get tickets to the game and I'm telling them that it's a limited amount. I want everybody there but unfortunately, unless they buy a ticket themselves, they are not going to be able to come.
On what Coach Marrone has worked on the most with the team to get them prepared for this weekend:
Marrone: "Like I told the team, I told them we were unhappy and we were disappointed. We didn't want to be discouraged. We are moving ahead, moving forward. Obviously we're correcting mistakes that we have made in the game. We are trying to put ourselves, meaning our players, in the best situation to go out there. Sometimes my experience has been that when you play teams, like USC which is a very explosive team and the top-ranked team at the time in the country, it's actually a little bit easier. From a motivational standpoint, I think the players are aware of the situation. The assistant coaches are aware of the situation. Obviously I'm aware of the situation. We are working hard and are looking forward to a good week of practice."
On what Coach Marrone takes from Ryan Nassib's leadership so far:
Marrone: "I was very impressed. Ryan has worked extremely hard to put himself in this situation. I couldn't ask for a better leader right now. He's doing everything he possibly can. We're just looking for other people to follow and step up and do the same types of things. He's not the only player that's doing it. There are other players on this team that are stepping up and making this team a better football team. Like I've told the team, I feel very, very good and very comfortable, better than I ever have with the character of this football team and the way they have worked on building that relationship with each other."
On what Syracuse gets out of playing this game in New York:
Marrone: "Again, we are an institution and our football team and our players and myself, we try to look at things in a positive prospective. We are also understanding of some of the challenges that some of the people may have or may bring up. We are excited. People like Marquis Spruill and a large part of our team have a lot of parents, a lot of family, a lot of friends that a lot of time can't make it even though it may seem like a short trip up to Syracuse. It's a great opportunity for them to see that. From a recruiting standpoint, obviously we are focused in on that area. A lot of people are available to come to the game. As far as some of our fans, we understand some of the challenges that they have. We hope that they can look forward to a good weekend. Maybe spending extra time down there and going to New York City. Our number one alumni base is in the tri-city area. I think they have the challenges like a lot of the players' families and friends. Four hours is a tough trip. They are able to come to the game and able to tailgate and are able to bring their friends for an alumni party, letterman parties and things like that. Everything that’s going on on the outside is very positive."
On enjoying the chemistry of the team:
Spruill: "I myself, I do. We have a lot of people that I can relate to. We have others that we can learn from. Together we have done a very good job. We are more like brothers, instead of a team. I think Fort Drum really helped bring that out in us. It really showed us that we are all we got. That's what we are going to win with."
Nassib: "I think the chemistry of this team is definitely a little bit different, a little bit stronger than what it has been in the past mainly because a lot of us have experienced the highs and the lows. We have gone from a winning season to a losing season. Going away for camp and really just focusing on building that chemistry and building those relationships as a team. I think right now the group of guys we have and the time that we have spent with each other is really going to help us out in the way that we can connect and communicate with each other. "
On what Coach Marrone told his players about playing in the Meadowlands region after he was a coach at the New York Jets:
Marrone: "I think the only people that were really concerned about the stadium were the kickers and the punters. Obviously, the old stadium, anyone that’s a fan or in that area knows of the conditions and how they used to get as far as the wind. Basically, with MetLife now, they have done a great job in designing this stadium where it's much higher than the old stadium meaning the way it's been designed. There's not as much of that wind factor that comes out. Both field goal posts, whichever way the flags are blowing, is a pretty good indication of which way the winds blowing. That necessarily wasn't the case before in the old stadium."
On what they have to do on Saturday facing Matt Barkley and Silas Reed
Coach Marrone: "Both players are very good football players. Again, you mentioned two players but there are a lot of other players on that field for an opponent that can really make plays. Basically, containment because those players are going to make some plays during the game we just have to make sure that they don’t make enough plays were we are out of that game quickly."
On whether that SU defense has to contain the USC passing or running game first:
Marrone: "I think it’s a balance. They are a well balanced team. They can beat you in both areas. Everyone knows in the magazines that they talk about their skill players being a top skilled unit in the country with their receiver core. I think their running back core with Silas Reed has picked up quite a bit, as far as the depth they have back there. Their offensive line is probably underrated from a standpoint of the top teams in the country. I think they do a good job. Again, it's almost like pick your poison. If you decide to defend one thing, they'll beat you in the other. They have the type of quarterback that knows what he wants to do. They have very good coaches on that staff. They are very balanced. They are not a one dimensional team. In that balance, for them it becomes a balance on us. Sometimes it comes down to hoping we have the right call on the right play."
On his performance last week and his comfort level with the offense:
Nassib: "I feel the same way a little bit like I did going into last week's game. I knew what our offense could do and what it was capable of and what the skill players and the o-line are capable of. It was no shock to me the performance that we did on Saturday. Going back and looking at the tape and learning from those mistakes can only make us more confident going into this next game."
On what word comes to mind when they think about this USC team:
Nassib: "I would probably say speed."
Spruill: "From a defensive standpoint, I'd say playmakers."
On looking at the receiving corps and what Nassib has seen from them:
Nassib: "You can't imitate practicing game and how guys are going to perform in games because it’s a whole different atmosphere. I was really happy to see how some guys showed up and really played up to their potential. They still made some mistakes and they could still do better in some areas but I was really happy to see them doing things well and making my job a little easier."
On Sean Hickey's performance against Northwestern:
Nassib: "I felt very confident with Sean. Ever since he came in there at the beginning of camp, I had a lot of trust in him. My confidence in him kept growing as I saw him get better and better. I think on Saturday, he did a pretty good job."
On what it would mean for the Syracuse team to walk off the field on Saturday with a win:
Spruill: "It would mean a great start to something even greater. We have been working on getting this program back on the top and that would be a very, very great way to start."
Nassib: "As you know, we are looking for our first win. Going against USC, this is definitely a game that if you win, it's something that you are going to remember for a lifetime. Coach Marrone still talks about his win over Nebraska so fortunately for us we have an opportunity where we can have similar stories for us when we are his age."
On how Ryan Nassib felt on Sunday morning and how feels about this new running role:
Nassib: "I have no problem with it. That's the reason why we trained. That’s the reason why we work hard in the off season for games like that. I think with our strength and conditioning staff and our training room staff, they do a good job of getting us as close to 100 perfect as they can and get us back to healthy. Sunday morning was a little painful but I have had worse. As long as you can wake up than it's a good day."
On if beating a top-ranked team in 1984 gives Coach Marrone something to talk about with his team:
Marrone: "I think Ryan probably said it best. I probably bragged on myself early on in my coaching career here. I don't know. Teams are different. When I was sitting there as a player, some of the things the coaches were telling me I didn't really understand when you play a game like this. I just wanted to go out there and play. I don’t think our players are much different. I think they want to go out there and compete. I think what people are trying to find out is that because of the experience I've had, does that give anyone extra motivation. I think our players understand the situation. They know who we're playing. They know the type of stage that we're playing them on. I think that they might not understand the benefits long term down the road when you get older and you look back because football is such a short career for everyone. But again, I'm excited I don’t think I really have to say a lot to get these players ready to play.
New York's College Classic Teleconference
September 4, 2012
Head Coach Doug Marrone, quarterback Ryan Nassib and linebacker Marquis Spruill
On playing USC last year and how it affected them going into this year's game:
Nassib: "I would say so. Especially since now we are playing them on the east coast at a field that we're a little more familiar with. There is a little less intimidation in the fact that they are USC. There's no doubt about that. Playing in their coliseum was definitely a little intimidating but at the end of the day we are playing football. At any given day, the team can be beat regardless of who they are and how intimidating they can be."
Spruill: "I agree with Ryan right here. Playing them last year gives us a very familiar feel of their team and the players on their team. I think we are going to be very good and do very, very well. We are very prepared. We are going to practice hard and work towards beating this team."
On if the game is like a homecoming for Marquis Spruill:
Spruill: "I'm still getting calls. Everybody is asking me if they can get tickets to the game and I'm telling them that it's a limited amount. I want everybody there but unfortunately, unless they buy a ticket themselves, they are not going to be able to come.
On what Coach Marrone has worked on the most with the team to get them prepared for this weekend:
Marrone: "Like I told the team, I told them we were unhappy and we were disappointed. We didn't want to be discouraged. We are moving ahead, moving forward. Obviously we're correcting mistakes that we have made in the game. We are trying to put ourselves, meaning our players, in the best situation to go out there. Sometimes my experience has been that when you play teams, like USC which is a very explosive team and the top-ranked team at the time in the country, it's actually a little bit easier. From a motivational standpoint, I think the players are aware of the situation. The assistant coaches are aware of the situation. Obviously I'm aware of the situation. We are working hard and are looking forward to a good week of practice."
On what Coach Marrone takes from Ryan Nassib's leadership so far:
Marrone: "I was very impressed. Ryan has worked extremely hard to put himself in this situation. I couldn't ask for a better leader right now. He's doing everything he possibly can. We're just looking for other people to follow and step up and do the same types of things. He's not the only player that's doing it. There are other players on this team that are stepping up and making this team a better football team. Like I've told the team, I feel very, very good and very comfortable, better than I ever have with the character of this football team and the way they have worked on building that relationship with each other."
On what Syracuse gets out of playing this game in New York:
Marrone: "Again, we are an institution and our football team and our players and myself, we try to look at things in a positive prospective. We are also understanding of some of the challenges that some of the people may have or may bring up. We are excited. People like Marquis Spruill and a large part of our team have a lot of parents, a lot of family, a lot of friends that a lot of time can't make it even though it may seem like a short trip up to Syracuse. It's a great opportunity for them to see that. From a recruiting standpoint, obviously we are focused in on that area. A lot of people are available to come to the game. As far as some of our fans, we understand some of the challenges that they have. We hope that they can look forward to a good weekend. Maybe spending extra time down there and going to New York City. Our number one alumni base is in the tri-city area. I think they have the challenges like a lot of the players' families and friends. Four hours is a tough trip. They are able to come to the game and able to tailgate and are able to bring their friends for an alumni party, letterman parties and things like that. Everything that’s going on on the outside is very positive."
On enjoying the chemistry of the team:
Spruill: "I myself, I do. We have a lot of people that I can relate to. We have others that we can learn from. Together we have done a very good job. We are more like brothers, instead of a team. I think Fort Drum really helped bring that out in us. It really showed us that we are all we got. That's what we are going to win with."
Nassib: "I think the chemistry of this team is definitely a little bit different, a little bit stronger than what it has been in the past mainly because a lot of us have experienced the highs and the lows. We have gone from a winning season to a losing season. Going away for camp and really just focusing on building that chemistry and building those relationships as a team. I think right now the group of guys we have and the time that we have spent with each other is really going to help us out in the way that we can connect and communicate with each other. "
On what Coach Marrone told his players about playing in the Meadowlands region after he was a coach at the New York Jets:
Marrone: "I think the only people that were really concerned about the stadium were the kickers and the punters. Obviously, the old stadium, anyone that’s a fan or in that area knows of the conditions and how they used to get as far as the wind. Basically, with MetLife now, they have done a great job in designing this stadium where it's much higher than the old stadium meaning the way it's been designed. There's not as much of that wind factor that comes out. Both field goal posts, whichever way the flags are blowing, is a pretty good indication of which way the winds blowing. That necessarily wasn't the case before in the old stadium."
On what they have to do on Saturday facing Matt Barkley and Silas Reed
Coach Marrone: "Both players are very good football players. Again, you mentioned two players but there are a lot of other players on that field for an opponent that can really make plays. Basically, containment because those players are going to make some plays during the game we just have to make sure that they don’t make enough plays were we are out of that game quickly."
On whether that SU defense has to contain the USC passing or running game first:
Marrone: "I think it’s a balance. They are a well balanced team. They can beat you in both areas. Everyone knows in the magazines that they talk about their skill players being a top skilled unit in the country with their receiver core. I think their running back core with Silas Reed has picked up quite a bit, as far as the depth they have back there. Their offensive line is probably underrated from a standpoint of the top teams in the country. I think they do a good job. Again, it's almost like pick your poison. If you decide to defend one thing, they'll beat you in the other. They have the type of quarterback that knows what he wants to do. They have very good coaches on that staff. They are very balanced. They are not a one dimensional team. In that balance, for them it becomes a balance on us. Sometimes it comes down to hoping we have the right call on the right play."
On his performance last week and his comfort level with the offense:
Nassib: "I feel the same way a little bit like I did going into last week's game. I knew what our offense could do and what it was capable of and what the skill players and the o-line are capable of. It was no shock to me the performance that we did on Saturday. Going back and looking at the tape and learning from those mistakes can only make us more confident going into this next game."
On what word comes to mind when they think about this USC team:
Nassib: "I would probably say speed."
Spruill: "From a defensive standpoint, I'd say playmakers."
On looking at the receiving corps and what Nassib has seen from them:
Nassib: "You can't imitate practicing game and how guys are going to perform in games because it’s a whole different atmosphere. I was really happy to see how some guys showed up and really played up to their potential. They still made some mistakes and they could still do better in some areas but I was really happy to see them doing things well and making my job a little easier."
On Sean Hickey's performance against Northwestern:
Nassib: "I felt very confident with Sean. Ever since he came in there at the beginning of camp, I had a lot of trust in him. My confidence in him kept growing as I saw him get better and better. I think on Saturday, he did a pretty good job."
On what it would mean for the Syracuse team to walk off the field on Saturday with a win:
Spruill: "It would mean a great start to something even greater. We have been working on getting this program back on the top and that would be a very, very great way to start."
Nassib: "As you know, we are looking for our first win. Going against USC, this is definitely a game that if you win, it's something that you are going to remember for a lifetime. Coach Marrone still talks about his win over Nebraska so fortunately for us we have an opportunity where we can have similar stories for us when we are his age."
On how Ryan Nassib felt on Sunday morning and how feels about this new running role:
Nassib: "I have no problem with it. That's the reason why we trained. That’s the reason why we work hard in the off season for games like that. I think with our strength and conditioning staff and our training room staff, they do a good job of getting us as close to 100 perfect as they can and get us back to healthy. Sunday morning was a little painful but I have had worse. As long as you can wake up than it's a good day."
On if beating a top-ranked team in 1984 gives Coach Marrone something to talk about with his team:
Marrone: "I think Ryan probably said it best. I probably bragged on myself early on in my coaching career here. I don't know. Teams are different. When I was sitting there as a player, some of the things the coaches were telling me I didn't really understand when you play a game like this. I just wanted to go out there and play. I don’t think our players are much different. I think they want to go out there and compete. I think what people are trying to find out is that because of the experience I've had, does that give anyone extra motivation. I think our players understand the situation. They know who we're playing. They know the type of stage that we're playing them on. I think that they might not understand the benefits long term down the road when you get older and you look back because football is such a short career for everyone. But again, I'm excited I don’t think I really have to say a lot to get these players ready to play.
