University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Hosts Weekly Media Luncheon
9/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 23, 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 No. 5 Virginia Tech on Saturday. Here is a sampling of what was said.
HEAD COACH RANDY EDSALL
Opening remarks:
“You watch this team on film offensively and you try to find a weakness and you don't see a weakness. You watch them defensively and you try to find a weakness and you don't see a weakness. You watch them on special teams and you don't see any holes there either. It's a team that's very deserving of the number five ranking in the country and even better than that. You watch tem on tape and they're just an outstanding football team in all three phases. They have quality players on each side of the ball and also on special teams with their return and coverage people.”
On the importance of UConn's special teams play this week:
“If we don't (play well), they'll take advantage of it. You look through their media guide and notes and see all the blocked kicks and everything else they've done in that area. If we're not sharp with what we do special teams wise, we'll get exploited.”
On how you build great special teams:
“First and foremost, it starts with your specialists, your punter and your kicker. If you can do the things that you want to do hang time wise and depth, they can make the coverage teams better. Special teams is about attitude. It's about having speed, athletic ability and toughness. To me, that's what special teams is all about. It's about toughness. It's about attitude. Some of your fastest guys may not always be some of your best special teams players. Your guys that have a lot of want and a lot of 'want to' end up being those people. It's a matter of finding people that want to do those things and want to be a part of that. I think that's one of those things that we're still, as a developing program, in that phase of getting quality depth to play on special teams rather than having all of our starters play on special teams.”
On Virginia Tech running back Kevin Jones:
“He's fast. He's got strength. He can see the hole and accelerate to get through the hole. I've been very impressed by him, especially against Texas A&M. At 6-0, 221 pounds, he possesses the speed and strength to hit the holes quickly and also be able to hit people and knock them over.”
So how do you slow him down?
"I'm going to call Frank (Beamer) later today and see if we can play with Canadian Rules so we can have one extra guy and they still only have 11."
FRESHMAN TIGHT END DAN MURRAY
On his thoughts when he saw he'd be starting:
“I didn't expect on playing much this year. I was third deep but then Tim (Lassen) went down and Terry (McClowry) had an injury. I just had to step it up. It wasn't much of a thought process. I just had to go out there and get it done for the team.”
On moving from wide receiver to tight end after high school:
“I was resistant at first. I was a basketball player in high school so I'm not used to contact. Blocking wasn't something that crossed my head. It's something I had to get used to, but once I came to camp (last year), it's something I got used to pretty fast. It's something I actually enjoy now.”
On Virginia Tech's defense:
"It's a very strong defense. They have a real strong linebacking corps and good linemen. It will be a challenge but we'll be ready for it.”
On Terry Caulley's strong performance at Buffalo:
"When you're out there you don't really notice him. You just see him running by, doing his thing. On the offensive line you can't really notice what he's doing but after the game you notice it though when you see the numbers he put up. The stats are something else."
