University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Hosts Weekly Media Luncheon
9/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 16, 2003
STORRS, CT - The University of Connecticut football team held the latest installment of its weekly media luncheons on Tuesday at the Hale Hall Lounge as the Huskies gear up to face Buffalo on Saturday. Here is a sampling of what was said.
Head coach Randy Edsall
Opening remarks:
“I thought that we improved from week one to week two and from week two to week three. Now we’ve got to improve from week three to week four. We need to give the same kind of effort and intensity that we’ve given in the first three weeks and concentrate on minimizing mistakes, You’re always going to have mistakes in football. It’s never going to be a perfect game. I’m probably as hard of a critic on our team as anybody. You’re always looking for perfection but you’re never going to get perfection. But if you don’t look for perfection and strive for perfection, then your team is not going to obtain the level that you want them to obtain. The mood has been very good. We had a good day of practice yesterday. I feel good about where we are from a health standpoint and we’re excited about going up there and playing.”
On Dan Orlovsky:
“He’s done some good and some bad. I think he’s better than what he’s been. I’m just concerned with the six interceptions. That’s the thing that bothers me. We can’t be turning the ball over that much. Overall I’m very pleased with his development and where he is at this point. He’s only going to get better. (Quarterbacks coach) Rob (Ambrose) is going a good job with him and he’s doing a good job of learning. He’s going to continue to get better as he plays each and every game.”
On Orlovsky’s three interceptions vs. BC:
“You can’t put that game on six dropped passes. It’s a team thing. I really don’t want to rehash Boston College, because that’s over and done with. We’re on to Buffalo, but what you have to understand is that it’s a team thing. We win as a team. We lose as a team. There’s things that we could have done in every phase – special teams, offense and defense – that would have allowed us to come out with a win. We didn’t do all of those things in all of those areas. I want to talk about the team and not individuals. The quarterback position is one that’s always going to be more scrutinized than any other position. There’s more pressure on being a quarterback than being an offensive lineman because that’s the position that everybody looks at. I think he’s done a lot of good things. Ten touchdown passes is very positive. But there’s other people who have contributed to that in the offensive linemen blocking and the receivers running the routes. Let’s give everybody credit on the good things, but let’s also understand that it might not be all Dan’s fault when he does throw an interception. We they win, quarterbacks get too much credit. When they lose, quarterbacks get too much blame. He’s doing fine.”
Will you alter your plans based on the hurricane?
“It looks like it’s supposed to hit Buffalo on Friday afternoon. I’m not a meteorologist, but I think when it goes inland, it’s not too bad. Right now we’re going to schedule what we normally do. Right now they’re calling for some showers in the morning (on Saturday) but nothing in the evening when we play at 6:00. We’ll just continue to do what we’re doing and prepare that way. We can’t control it. If we start doing a rain game plan here and then we don’t get that weather on Saturday then we’re in trouble. I think that we’re a balanced enough team that we’ll be able to adjust to certain situations that may arise unexpectedly.”
JUNIOR LINEBACKER ALFRED FINCHER
On UConn's reaction to the BC game:
“I think the biggest change from this year’s team to teams in the past is that teams in the past would go down in a game and start losing and feel terrible, like they can’t come back and win it. We all understand that we did not capitalize on some of the opportunities that we had against Boston College. But, we feel that we’re still a good football team and can come back this week.. Hopefully we will try and get a win (at Buffalo) and keep going on and on and on.”
On if BC will carry over to this week:
“We can’t wait to get back out there and play Buffalo this week. We just want to get back on a game field to see what we can do and to see if we can start winning again.”
On being a vocal presence on the field:
“If you can’t get excited about a game then you probably shouldn’t be playing. If this is something that you love to do and you can’t get excited for it, then there’s something wrong with you. I just look hard at every week of practice and every game that I get to play in. My emotions carry over as far as being a leader to the team. I just try to take the game and have fun and let my emotions take over. When I speak in front of the team, if the moment’s right, I’ll say what I feel. It makes me have to be perfect in a way. I know that if I say something, then that means that I have to be doing it. I have to hold my self up to a higher level of expectations to say the things that I do because they’re always watching once you say something. Sometimes I’ll say something just to get myself going.”
On being a defensive leader:
“When I first got here I was at Husky (strongside) backer but they switched me over to play (middle). As soon as I got in there with coach (Todd) Orlando we was telling me that I was the quarterback of the defense. I had to know everything. His attitude and his style of coaching makes me a better player. It makes me be that quarterback. I have to know every thing every week. Every little simple thing that you might not think of, I try to know every week. What ever knowledge I can get I’ll try and help the other defensive guys know too.”
