Oct. 14, 2008

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EASTON, Pa.
- Head Coach Frank Tavani
On Columbia win: "We went up there and played as a good a defense as we could possibly play, turning then away twice in the red zone. Certainly inside the one-yard line was huge and getting a block on their field goal. Our defense continues to play the kind of football we expect and need them to do. Offensively, it's pretty well-documented I have some frustrations there and it's the things we're doing to ourselves and continuing not to execute particularly in critical situations. We get two big third down plays and then they're turned back by calls being changed, particularly the one well after the fact. All in all, the good news is we're still very capable of playing better and having an offensive explosion and we will need to do that this week against what is certainly by far the toughest team on the schedule in an undefeated Liberty team."

On offensive struggles: "I think we're very close and that's what's so frustrating. If we were so far away or you could zero in on just one aspect you can correct those things. It's kind of everybody taking their turn right down the line, doesn't matter who it is. One guy taking turns it seems in critical situations. We're in a two-point stance and you can see the safety blitz coming and twice the guys comes through there and we have five guys and not one guys sees it. That's probably going to get Coach Heffner to come down to the sideline. And then you have the dropped balls. Those things frustrate me and the staff. Some of the things we go over and over again all week long and then you go in the game and make mistakes. Win or not, people say you should never complain about a win and I'm not complaining, but when I see continued mistakes I know what's coming down the road and I know it's not going to be good enough so I'm not going to be Mr. Happy."

On Heffner going to the sideline: "That's not an issue. You see everybody in the free world calling the game from the sideline. I've done it. You'd rather be sitting up there in peace and quiet but when you have the experience we do with our staff and you have the ability to put Mickey (Fein) up who's coordinating the passing game, we actually feel that it will be a benefit on both sides. Those five guys need their guy in their face on the bench. I can go over and do it but they're probably immune to it because I do it all week long. Again, I can't be over there all the time because I'm still trying to manage and talk with the defense, special teams. I can't really do both things. I think it'll be a little bit of a better situation and I have no problem. Bob's been doing a great job mixing up play selection and we're doing a variety of new things that are helping us. If we could run the ball three straight times and get a first down, you best believe that would be the direction from the head coach."

On Liberty: "In terms of structure, defensively we have seen that defense. In fact, they're very much like us. They're a 3-4 defense with a multitude of zone blitzes, so really, in that regard we can practice against ourselves. Coach Loose can get a lot of extra practice running all those things, which we will do some of. Offensively, you got a back that's 6-0, 230 pounds who's pounding people, so we have to hope to get some hits on him and slow him down. Then you got a 6-3, 240 pound quarterback, a left hander that's throwing the ball all over the place. They're leading the country in scoring. It's a huge game for them because their conference does not have an automatic bid, therefore they can't afford to stub their toe. As I told our kids, they don't just want to beat us, they want to beat you 40, 50 points so that in the event we would be in the Patriot League hunt they're going to be sitting there screaming for an at-large. This is a huge game for them. I think it's Family Weekend by design. The place will be sold out and from what I understand, it's a very loud and hostile gathering but we're really excited. To me, this is a playoff game. This is playoff atmosphere right in the middle of your season. To me, it couldn't be better, heading into the league thereafter. What better preparation could you have than going against one of the top 15 teams in the country? It's a tremendous opportunity that we have in front of us and I hope the kids are excited as I am because I'm very excited to play this game."

On whether beating Liberty is one of team's goals: "It's not a specific goal. Our goals are offense and defense oriented. At the top of it is certainly to win every game, but going into the season, our team goal is to win the conference and go to the playoffs. That's the number one goal and everything else we know goes into it. There's no specific goal about how many Ivy games because we say hey, we are a scholarship program we just do it a little differently, we do it need-based. We think our players are scholarship players and we can play at that level and that's what I told the kids. You all think you're scholarship players and you all think we're a championship caliber team and we have to go out and play like that in a big game that's in somebody else's hostile environment. To me, doesn't get any better than that in terms of getting ready for what's ahead."

On keys to winning vs. Liberty: "Certainly protecting the football. The one thing, as much as I was not particularly happy offensively, we didn't turn the ball over. Now, you're going to need to get some takeaways, protect the ball. Special teams--that is right now I think our weakest area where we're not performing certainly anywhere near we what need to do, particularly in kickoff return to get field position, getting Shaun (Adair) some room to do some things and make an impact on the game. When you're in a game like this, there's going to be some momentum and you're going to have to be able to turn back the tide a little bit. They're going to come after us with a vengeance. We got to be able to hang in there and make some plays on special teams. We talk about our defense and our defense wants to just shut everybody out, but you got to realize you're going to play the top-scoring team in the country at this level and it's not about shutting them out or shutting them down, it's slowing them down and then we have to pick up in the other phases."

On running back situation: "DeAndre' is going to get the start and he certainly earned that opportunity now that Maurice (White) is out. It's a hard situation. There was a real fine line between the three of them and unfortunately DeAndre' was in a situation where he was in that third spot. In the meantime, he's been outstanding on our special teams and it's hard now because I'm telling our special teams coach you can't have him on all those things because we have to keep him fresh. The key now is keeping guys fresh out there and the two of them will rotate and we'll begin to see a little bit of Matt Ferber finally in some situations, short yardage goal line we can use him. Matt's also had to learn and be practicing the fullback position because of the situation with Joe Russo is so shaky. We're in a little bit of a tough spot and we may take a look at another guy this week to have four tailbacks ready to go. The idea now is to keep them fresh and healthy and ready to go. We'll have four guys at least ready to go in that situation."

On the running backs' injuries and similarity to last season: "Not really. It's easy to do that but again we have prided ourselves on our recruiting and structuring the program so you're ready for that by having depth and talent. It's one thing to just have numbers lined up, but it's another thing to have talent level and we have tremendous talent and you have to utilize it. It's a tough position. These things happen and you have to be able to overcome it and I think that's the sign of a good football program."

On Liberty's QB: "He does a little bit of everything. He's certainly standing back there whipping it around but they sprint a little bit, do a little play action, some of the same stuff we have in our formations and actually the same type of plays will enable us to do a little bit more work against each other in practice so we get a little higher level of intensity this week in preparation. He'll take off. He's a big, strong kid. He's having a heck of a year. He's right up there with Harvard's quarterback but probably more physical."

On Allan Whitesell waiting for his opportunity: "You talk about guys waiting their turn, this guy waited until his junior year. Such a great example to our young people that patience, perseverance, hard work and you get your opportunity and as both of these young men did, make great on it. And we depend on that happening. At the beginning of the year we always say it's the guys that aren't starting now that are going to make big contributions to the success down the road."

On players stepping in mid-season and making an impact: "When you look at a football team, you have guys on your roster and it's probably the same 35 guys or so while the rest of the guys are putting on the gear every day, pounding and getting a headache and then hopefully wait for the opportunity and when you see that, it's very satisfying for kids. You know how hard they've worked and to finally get an opportunity and succeed and have the thrill of being out there. I'm sure Allan was a little nervous but probably pretty pumped up in his first start. He never said a word; he does everything the right way and just keeps working. Never complained about not having an opportunity to play, just continued to work extremely hard and wait for the opportunity and now have some fun with it."

Junior Tailback DeAndre' Morrow
On major, classes: "I'm a History major. I'm taking a literary history class and oddly enough a computer science class which is probably my most interesting class because it has nothing to do with my major but I wanted to broaden my horizons and see if I liked it."

On not make a position switch to defense: "I just wanted to try to get on the field and help the team out however I could. I felt that if that needed to be done, that's what had to be done."

On his getting his chance to play on Saturday: "That's on my mind whenever I get on the field or touch the ball or on special teams. Just get after it as hard as you can. Coach Harry Gamble said just play every play like it's your last play, play the game like it's your last game. That's the mentality I try to take into games. Just have to play as hard as you can every play."

On breaking tackles: "It's not fear. It's the exact opposite of fear. Just run hard. You don't think about how big anybody is or how many yards you have to go, you just put your head down and run with all you have and hope everything turns out well."

Junior Defensive Lineman Allan Whitesell
On major, classes: "My major is Economics and Business. I'm taking Financial Accounting, Foundations of Education, Political Theory and Constitutional History."

On his two sacks vs. Columbia: "The last play of the game when I had the sack it was just kind of a stunt, inside move. I just made a move on the tackle and the quarterback kind of flushed out, I saw him and made the best of the opportunity. We have a lot of stunts to try and free us and get to the quarterback."

On playing alongside Mark Leggiero and Andy Romans: "They bring a lot of energy. Last week was my first start and just being out there with those guys, you can't help but play hard because they show so much energy on the field. They are great leaders and pump me up to play even harder."