University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Hosts Weekly Media Luncheon
9/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 30, 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 welcome Lehigh to Rentschler Field on Saturday. Here is a sampling of what was said.
HEAD COACH RANDY EDSALL
Opening remarks:
“We go into this week in a good frame of mind. I feel that our players are very focused into what we have to get done this week in order to go out and get ourselves a fourth win. We're going to see a team that has had a lot of success the last few years. The players are aware of this.”
On whether he'll play Cornell Brockington or Matt Lawrence more or equally:
“We'll probably end up playing both of them because I think that we have to develop both of them. I like the mix that we had last week with 16 (Brockington) and 18 (Lawrence) carries, and when you look at it, combined they ended up with over 100 yards rushing. I think they both will play to get them as much experience as we possibly can. They more they both can play, the better off we will be as a team. I don't think it helps us much as a team if I just play one guy and have the other standing on the sideline.”
On Tim Lassen's status:
“He started practicing yesterday but there's no contact on him. We're going to be very careful with him. We'll progressively pickup what we do with him towards the end of this week and into next week and the week after. We'll have to see how he gets through this week.”
On how Terry Caulley is doing:
“He's going great. I saw him this morning. He's in great spirits. He told me (in jest that) he'd be out there (practicing) for inside run today. He's in a great frame of mind. He's anxious to have the surgery and get it done. He wants to put it behind him and start rehabbing on Monday. He's talking about being at the game on Saturday. He's very upbeat and very positive. His dad told me to keep a cast on it as long as we can because otherwise he'll try to start rehabbing before we tell him to and he'll try to do too much. He's got the right attitude going in to this whole thing.”
JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER MATT CUTAIA
On how the team has reacted to the loss of Terry Caulley:
"I think we're going to be fine. We have two good backs in (Cornell Brockington) and Matt Lawrence. At practice they were hungry. They were running through the hole and making great cuts. I'm not worried at all and neither is the team. Terry is a good player but one player doesn't make a team. Brock's great. During spring ball he had some great runs in our scrimmages. Both of them have size too which is something that Terry doesn't offer. They'll be able to take a pounding. I have complete confidence in those two backs and so does the team. We're not going around talking like 'oh, our season's done' because Terry's out. The mentality of the team right now is that we can't wait to get back on the field and win again."
On whether he worried about his knee when it came back this fall:
“When I came to preseason, it didn't really. In spring ball I had run some routes and the knee felt really good and stabile. When it came to preseason, I was just a little nervous about taking hits. I was a little timid at first. Now, I don't even think about it.”
On if scoring the touchdown at Boston College helped mentally:
“That was the first time I ever scored. It was gratifying for a couple of reasons. I've been here for three years and last year, when I was playing more, I didn't even score. It seemed like every time I got the ball, it was always the four yard line that I'd get stopped at. When I got hurt last year, it was at the four yard line. This year against Army I got caught at the four yard line. When I got in, it felt great. After the knee injury and all that (rehabilitation) I had to go through last year, it just felt so good to finally get in the end zone.”
On his advice for Terry Caulley:
"After the game I told him that the main thing you have to do is to stay positive and stay hungry. That's what got me through this injury - that I wanted to come back as fast as I could. The day after I had my surgery I they already had me in a machine to bend my knee again. Terry is very determined. He works his butt off. This summer he put in numerous hours in training. I know he's going to come back at 100-percent. I have no doubt about that.”
On if the team is focused on Division I-AA Lehigh:
"None of the players are overlooking them. Two years ago when we played Eastern Washington everyone thought it would be a cake-walk and we got our butts kicked. We're trying to not let that happen again."
