Some quick notes on what Fitz had to say at the podium today. These are real rough...I didn't have a chance to edit them before posting. Now I'm heading back home....
Tough opener without settled QB: We’ve handled it as well as anybody in college football. I don’t know if anybody’s done a better job than Mick.
Last time, same opponent. Stanford in the opener. We’ll work the plan.
Criteria for QB: Guy that can execute the offense, take care of the football. Be consistent. Help lead us to a championship. A guy the whole team believes in.
It was “a whisker’s difference” when Clayton beat Matt and Zack. You need more than one QB.
Create a bank in all three phases. Post spring, training camp…deposit the plays we want to run. Get through heavy mental install, then at ton of situational football. Lot of teaching. I like the way we do it. It gives everybody an opportunity. Brought up Alviti in the bowl game.
OL under Kurt Anderson: One guy’s a U of Chicago grad…the other guy is like a WWE wrestler. Kurt brings a different mindset, a different way because he’s a different guy. Big on relationship…borderline relentless in building relationships with the guys.
Low projections: It hasn’t affected guys outside of you can’t miss it. Winning 36 games the last four years – nationally, they define a team on a handful of games. Losses to Duke, Western, Illinois State, Akron. We can’t have those if we want to be a team that gets that national recognition and national respect. Gotta be more consistent in those games if you want to earn that respect.
Riley Lees: Biggest growth has been in his hair. He’s got a lot of salad. Took time to hone craft from QB to WR. He’s been relentless in that work. We have great trust in him as WR, PR, KR.
Hunter is starter: Reality is a battle. TJ and Aiden has a lot more reps than Hunter in our offense. He’s really grinding. Guys respect him for his humility and work. He’s playing catch-up in the playbook.
Larkin’s development as a coach: Heartbreaking he can’t play anymore… He’s phenomenal. He gets in early and stays late. Awesome resource for the players. Attacks each day as a coach the same way he did as a player.
Starting strong: Expectations externally isn’t nearly as high as those internally. Last couple years not starts we wanted. Previous 10 or 11 were outstanding. Six of first seven are ranked. What an unbelievable opportunity. You want to earn it by playing the best teams you possibly can. Last year Purdue in the opener was challenging. Handled it well a year ago.
OL health: The goal is to have at least eight. I wouldn’t say we’re there yet. Jared Thomas has done an absolutely phenomenal job leading that group.
Defense: Faster, longer, more explosive, more depth. More veterans back with big-time play ability than we’ve ever had. Mentors are awesome: Gaziano, Pace, Williams, LBs Chris, Gallagher and Fisher. Every year they’re becoming more and more selfless, sharing knowledge, creating a brotherhood.
Returning starters: You gotta go earn it. OL: Kurt has thrown a lot at them. Have been ebbs and flows, good days and bad days. Just have to focus on getting brother. Next two weeks are a grind of camp. Can’t control injuries. Last year, guys weren’t ready to step up when injuries happened early in the year. Didn’t prepare well enough. Prepared like they were backups. Got too comfortable.
Mayo: On to the real world.
Fox: Transferred to U of H.
Eshoo, Glackin, Kaiser, Tirmonia: Medically retired.
Reese: Real world.
DBs pressed into duty last year: Learned from it. Had to learn on the field, like Ray and Martin in ’94. Got a lot of work to do but likes the way the group is working now.
Kicking game: Hope we don’t have to go through what we did last year. Charlie’s back full speed. That really helps a lot. Dan Kubiuk is back full speed. Thought he was going to compete a year ago. Much healthier at this point.
Winning close games: We don’t flinch, we don’t panic as players in those close games. We’ve become much more consistent in winning those close games. No. 1, our guys are really well conditioned by Jay Hooten and his staff. We’re an incredibly disciplined football team. When the heats up, we don’t beat ourselves. If you beat us, we tip our hat because we know you beat us. Notre Dame, we made mistakes in execution. Plays into why we don’t get a lot of national recognition.
Tough opener without settled QB: We’ve handled it as well as anybody in college football. I don’t know if anybody’s done a better job than Mick.
Last time, same opponent. Stanford in the opener. We’ll work the plan.
Criteria for QB: Guy that can execute the offense, take care of the football. Be consistent. Help lead us to a championship. A guy the whole team believes in.
It was “a whisker’s difference” when Clayton beat Matt and Zack. You need more than one QB.
Create a bank in all three phases. Post spring, training camp…deposit the plays we want to run. Get through heavy mental install, then at ton of situational football. Lot of teaching. I like the way we do it. It gives everybody an opportunity. Brought up Alviti in the bowl game.
OL under Kurt Anderson: One guy’s a U of Chicago grad…the other guy is like a WWE wrestler. Kurt brings a different mindset, a different way because he’s a different guy. Big on relationship…borderline relentless in building relationships with the guys.
Low projections: It hasn’t affected guys outside of you can’t miss it. Winning 36 games the last four years – nationally, they define a team on a handful of games. Losses to Duke, Western, Illinois State, Akron. We can’t have those if we want to be a team that gets that national recognition and national respect. Gotta be more consistent in those games if you want to earn that respect.
Riley Lees: Biggest growth has been in his hair. He’s got a lot of salad. Took time to hone craft from QB to WR. He’s been relentless in that work. We have great trust in him as WR, PR, KR.
Hunter is starter: Reality is a battle. TJ and Aiden has a lot more reps than Hunter in our offense. He’s really grinding. Guys respect him for his humility and work. He’s playing catch-up in the playbook.
Larkin’s development as a coach: Heartbreaking he can’t play anymore… He’s phenomenal. He gets in early and stays late. Awesome resource for the players. Attacks each day as a coach the same way he did as a player.
Starting strong: Expectations externally isn’t nearly as high as those internally. Last couple years not starts we wanted. Previous 10 or 11 were outstanding. Six of first seven are ranked. What an unbelievable opportunity. You want to earn it by playing the best teams you possibly can. Last year Purdue in the opener was challenging. Handled it well a year ago.
OL health: The goal is to have at least eight. I wouldn’t say we’re there yet. Jared Thomas has done an absolutely phenomenal job leading that group.
Defense: Faster, longer, more explosive, more depth. More veterans back with big-time play ability than we’ve ever had. Mentors are awesome: Gaziano, Pace, Williams, LBs Chris, Gallagher and Fisher. Every year they’re becoming more and more selfless, sharing knowledge, creating a brotherhood.
Returning starters: You gotta go earn it. OL: Kurt has thrown a lot at them. Have been ebbs and flows, good days and bad days. Just have to focus on getting brother. Next two weeks are a grind of camp. Can’t control injuries. Last year, guys weren’t ready to step up when injuries happened early in the year. Didn’t prepare well enough. Prepared like they were backups. Got too comfortable.
Mayo: On to the real world.
Fox: Transferred to U of H.
Eshoo, Glackin, Kaiser, Tirmonia: Medically retired.
Reese: Real world.
DBs pressed into duty last year: Learned from it. Had to learn on the field, like Ray and Martin in ’94. Got a lot of work to do but likes the way the group is working now.
Kicking game: Hope we don’t have to go through what we did last year. Charlie’s back full speed. That really helps a lot. Dan Kubiuk is back full speed. Thought he was going to compete a year ago. Much healthier at this point.
Winning close games: We don’t flinch, we don’t panic as players in those close games. We’ve become much more consistent in winning those close games. No. 1, our guys are really well conditioned by Jay Hooten and his staff. We’re an incredibly disciplined football team. When the heats up, we don’t beat ourselves. If you beat us, we tip our hat because we know you beat us. Notre Dame, we made mistakes in execution. Plays into why we don’t get a lot of national recognition.
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