Lloyd Carr Comments from Media Day
8/14/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
1998 Michigan Football Media Day Press Conference
On the season ahead
"I am excited about the unique challenge that this season presents. I am glad to have a great coaching staff back in place, which is rare after having the kind of season we had last year. When you are able to return your entire staff it adds to the continuity of the entire program and I am extremely pleased with our coaching staff. This season is a challenge and I don't think you can back off any challenge. I am not going to think about last year at all. There are things from last year that we learned however, that is over and in this business what you did yesterday means nothing. It is time to get over last year because it is done."
On the freshman who may contribute immediately
"I think our freshman group is a talented class with guys who can help us this season. Two of those guys are David Terrell and Marquise Walker at the receiver position because not only are they talented young men, but the receiver position lacked some depth last year. Drew Henson looks good and we will have to see how he does when we bring in the veterans and the speed of the game picks up. Dave Petruziello at defensive end is a lot like Glen Steele in the sense that we moved him from tight end to defensive end, a position we have some depth problems. He is another guy who could see time this season.
Freshman have to develop quickly because our fall practices are fast paced. I like to play young guys early because once a young guy gets in a game for the first time he settles down and plays much better after that. In addition, the Big Ten is as defensively oriented as any conference in the country. Given that and the weather conditions you encounter late in the year, you better be able to run the ball. Therefore, teams with the most depth at tailback are going to be in better shape at the end of the year. As a result we have a pair of freshman running backs who will play this year. Fargas is extremely quick with a great burst and Walter Cross, who reminds me of Chris Howard, is a good back who makes a shallow cut on the inside running game very well."
On the linebacker position
"The strength of our defense is the linebacker position, particularly if Clint Copenhaver can recover from his injuries. He is in a great frame of mind and is ready to go. In addition, Sam Sword and Dhani Jones are guys who have been there and have experience in the big games. They are also extremely motivated guys who have the confidence that comes with great experience. They are athletic players who can run and that is what sets the tone for our defense."
On the competition at the fullback position
"Chris Floyd will be as tough to replace as anyone on our football team. He was a tremendous blocker, great pass protector and made some plays out of the backfield as well. Ray Jackson came out of the spring as the number one fullback and we recruited a guy named Evan Coleman, who has a chance to be a good player. However, we have only two guys there instead of three with the injury to Demetrius Smith."
On the stadium renovations
"I am looking forward to seeing the new look for Michigan Stadium when it is completed. I think the changes are tremendous and when you see the stadium from the inside you will be amazed, because the addition of five rows to the top make much more of a difference than I ever thought they would. I have gotten a lot of calls about the color of the halo around the top of the stadium not being to pleasing. However, the halo will be the same color as our helmets, which is appropriate."
On the quarterback position
"I think quarterback is a position of strength with the guys we have. I am very confident in Tom Brady because of all the things he brings to the table. Scott Driesbach had a good summer and I think he will play an important role on this football team. He has gone through his ups and downs and that is part of college football, but he has been a tremendous leader. I admire the way he has handled the disappointment in his career. I hope when this year is over Driesbach will have made a strong contribution to this team. Jason Kapsner was injured in the spring and we will have to see how he responds. Drew Henson is extremely talented and mature and will be a factor in the competition. How that plays out nobody knows."
On Notre Dame entering the Big Ten
"It makes sense that Notre Dame would want to join the Big Ten. If they come in it will be could for them as well as our conference. Some people think a twelfth team will add another game as a conference title game. I am not in favor of that, when our season ends against Ohio State that is where it should end. However, I think that is the direction college football is going."
On replacing Charles Woodson at cornerback
"We have two guys in James Whitley and William Peterson that got great experience a year ago in nickel situations. Those guys played a lot in the Rose Bowl so they enter this season with a lot of experience in big games. Cato June and Todd Howard are the freshman at that position and have a lot of ability and have looked good in practice. We will have to see how they adjust to the speed of the game. Those two guys will be involved in the competition."
On the kicking game
"I would expect that Jay Feely will be much improved. He has a very strong leg and has worked the entire summer on his technique. I expect him to come in and have a tremendous year. Kraig Baker will go in as the place-kicker. I think Feely is important for us when you look at the Rose Bowl because all of his kicks went into the endzone and created great field position for our defense. I do anticipate our kicking game being stronger and it will have to be because we did some things at the end of last year that are unacceptable and could have cost us a victory down the road."
On the best aspect of last season
"We have all enjoyed it. What I relish is that we had a group of guys who were not expected to do great things, but to get a group of guys to stay together, maintain their composure and do something special is something I will never forget."
On the tight end position
"Part of our offensive scheme is the two tight ends and one back set. That may not be as much of a factor as it was a year ago. However, injuries sometimes dictate your scheme. Tight end is the strongest position on our team with guys like Jerame Tuman, Mark Campbell and Aaron Shea. Tuman is poised for the best year of his career. Aaron Shea and Mark Campbell are also excellent players who have significant experience. Shawn Thompson is another young guy who has shown a lot of potential and adds tremendous depth to an already strong position."
On where leadership of this team will come from
"The running in the heat of the summer and in winter conditioning is where leadership emerges. It is not something you posses, but is something that needs to develop. Jon Jansen is back and he was a great leader last year so he should be an even better leader this year. This is the senior's team and it is up to them to take over the leadership. What kind of leadership we get from our seniors and the type of chemistry we have will play a huge role in the success of this team. Will guys be willing to play a role That is an important factor in the success of any team."
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
