North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State and Duke Coaches Quotes
11/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Franks on who played well vs. Wake Forest:
"Seth Carter is doing an
outstanding job as our long snapper and short snapper and Brian Morton
had a
good day punting the ball. Mike Hart played very well and is our leading
receiver. Robert Fleming and Wes White had one of their better days."
Franks on the defensive effort vs. Wake Forest:
"We were a very poor
tackling football team at times on Saturday. Our defense played well
enough
to give the offense a chance until they hit a 72-yard run on us."
Franks on his team moving onto the next game:
"We are moving on and
trying
to play N.C. State who is having a phenominal year until the last two
games.
I am sure N.C. State will be concentrating on getting back on the
winning
track."
Franks on Duke's first half woes:
"I don't know what causes our
sputtering
around early besides poor decisions and some lack of execution."
Franks on quarterback Phillip Rivers:
"He has great poise under
pressure. He
makes a lot of smart decisions and does not make a lot of bad ones. He
gets
rid of the ball and dumps it under neath. He takes what the defense
gives
him. It is certainly one of the best performances that I have seen out
of a
freshman quarterback."
Franks on linebacker Levar Fisher:
"He is so strong physically that he
is
able to wart off blockers. He is aggressive and can time up your snap
count
and get through the line of scrimmage and be on your quarterback before
the
running back has a chance to block him. He is a very special football
player."
NC State Head Coach Chuck Amato
On Philip Rivers
Philip has a Grade 1 AC shoulder separation. He got hurt on
the
second series of the game. There are two names for it. Sprained AC and
a
Grade 1 AC separation. It is on his throwing shoulder. We will know
more
on Wednesday. He will not throw until Wednesday. Since he is not
practicing until Wednesday, we will list him as probable. He was not in
as much pain. He was sore, but he did not have as much pain as
anticipated.
As the game progressed, did you think something was wrong? We kept talking to him each series and we checked him out. The deep balls were the ones that you noticed because they were just getting tipped. There was not the zing on it. If we would have known, we might have come out with Olin Hannum in the second half with the score being 21-6. It happened early in the game and if he did not have that on the last play of regulation,he might have gotten the first down. The kid is amazing. I was to blame. It was me. I should have asked for a measurement. It would have been interesting. The officials did a good job. I should have asked for one. It is over. It is history. It was a tough loss, but we have to get over it.
Is Philip Rivers too tough?
Yes and no. He loves the game. If we had 85 people that loved the play
the game like him, we would be tough. He loves to play the game. That
is
why he is such a good leader. He knew what he was doing. If he did not
have his shoulder, he would have went air born to get the first down.
On Levar Fisher His motor never stops. He is another one. He is like Philip. He loves to play football. There were two NC State player laying on the ground. One gets up and one doesn't. He went right back out and never missed a beat. If we can get more players like that, then we can get things going.
On Levar Fisher playing every play
We would like to get him out a few plays. He plays on the punt team,
the
punt block team. He would be on all of them, but you just can't. The
kicking game is so important. We have to draw the line on some of them.
He asked me the other day, " what is the record for the most tackles."
Is Levar Fisher having an All-American season
Yes. Anything that moves he hits even if its his own colored jersey. I
told Coach Pate that every player that goes in motion and crosses his
face, he widens. He is good. Last year in the first scrimmage we were
on
the goal line. Things were drab. There was one hit on the goal line.
The
ball carrier was Ray Robinson. The tacklers were Adrian Wilson and
Levar.
It was a big hit. It was a Marvin Jones type hit.
On playing Duke
Look at the last couple of games. In the 1990's, the average number of
points in the game has been 60. They have all been shoot outs. They
have
all been close. It's a rival. When you are that close, they are all
rivals. Coach Franks had a mentor who knows how to throw the football.
It
is a simple, but complex offense. We have to get a pass rush and we
have
to stop the run. When you play a team that throws the football, you
must
stop the run. If you play a pass team and don't stop the run, you are
in
trouble.
Does your team play down to the compeition
That might be. We have played and found a way to win. Georgia Tech is
thinking how they lost that game. That is life and that is what the
season is all about. For everyone you win like that, you lose one.
