University of Connecticut Athletics
Head Coach Randy Edsall Quotes
11/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 17, 2009
Head Coach Randy Edsall
Opening Statement:
"This weekend against Notre Dame we're going to see a lot of skilled players that can make a difference offensively. (QB) Jimmy Clausen is as good of a quarterback as we'll face this year--he has a great arm, great pocket presence, and knows where to go with the football. (WR) Golden Tate is also someone you need to be concerned with all the time with where he is, not only on offense but also in the return game"..."Our biggest challenge defensively will be to stop the big plays. That's been our Achilles heal defensively this season, so we need to minimize those big plays. We're looking forward to the challenge of heading out to South Bend, and we look forward to a good week of practice."
On the importance of playing a game at Notre Dame:
"It really is just another game. It's the tenth game this season. But from the school's standpoint, it probably means more to the school and the people associated with UConn football from the beginning. I don't know if anybody ever thought that UConn football would have the opportunity to play such a storied program as Notre Dame. For the players, we have to treat it as just another game. The field is still 120 by 53 and a third, it's no different than the field that we play on."
On (QB) Zach Frazer playing against his former team at Notre Dame:
"I brought him in and I spoke to him as you can imagine. I told him what he needs to do is just play like he did against Cincinnati. He showed great composure, tremendous poise, and very good focus just going out and taking what the defense was giving him. I know he has good friends and good memories out there, but once he hits that field, it's just another game."
On how the Huskies plan on containing Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen:
"We just need to execute the game plan. We feel as if we have a good game plan in place, we just need to execute it. We know that (Jimmy Clausen) will make plays against us because he's very talented, but we hope to minimize the number of plays he can make."
On how the Freshman/Redshirt Freshmen are handling all of the playing time that they have been asked to contribute:
"They've learned from their mistakes already. The best teacher is experience. If you go through life without experiencing things, you're never going to be good at them. These guys are getting a baptism under fire but it's good for them. Usually with freshman there are growing pains and there are learning experiences that take place, but in the long run, all of those young men will be better for it. Darius Butler and a lot of other guys have gone through the same program."
