North Carolina State University Athletics
Here's What Amato Has To Say
9/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
On play calling:?
"Norm Chow did all the play calling Saturday night. I did interject some
things. I am learning and I am enjoying. But you can not have coached
defense for years to know what offenses can do to hurt people. Coach
Bowden would have been proud of me to know that I went for it six times.
However, some of those were no brainers. We went for it three times in
the first half. I thought we were playing good defensive in the first
half and I was not going to get too crazy on a couple of those fourth
down plays."
What did you learn from your team
"I learned they have character. I learned they would not quit. They
(ASU) had first and goal on the four-yard line and you are down by three
points and you have not really slowed them down. You have a goal-line
stand. It reminded me of 1993 when Florida Statestopped Kansas 10 times
inside the five-yard line. There were three offsides on that one. On
second down we cause a fumble. It would have really been something if
that fumble would have been taken by Clayton the other way for a
touchdown. It would have been easy to quit. When we get on the goal line,
I really do get cranked up. It is a place you have to play good goal line
offense and defense."
On first game
"I have never been in a game that so may things happened. If it was able
to happen, it happened. There was an awful lot that happened between the
rain and the fumble when we are going in for a score. A new rule change
in a kick situtation when you jump into the line and its a dead ball
situtation. THat was a 10-point swing because we made the field goal. The
first half we killed ourselves with penalties and fumbles."
What are your concerns this week?
"I am going to tell the kids that look in the stands and see all the Red
and White and we are really in Carter -Finley Stadium. We are going to
learn a lot this week going on the road and see how they react. It is
going to be a big game up there because they have finished the season up
scoring a lot of points. Their QB has done something that no quarterback
in the Big Ten has ever done and that have over 5,000 yards of total
offense. You think how long the Big Ten has gone along and some of the
players they have had in that league. They say you make most of your
improvements between your first game and your second game. Indiana has
not played a game and we have. We are playing two first games. They have
new coordinators on both sides of the ball so we can only go with what
they did last season."
Playing against a running QB?
"You have to be more disciplined. You have to keep good rush lanes and
have good speed. With the option, which is something else they run, it
becomes assignment football. You have to do what you are suppossed to do.
Anytime the quarterback runs the football, that means the offense is
playing with 11 people. When a quarterback hands the ball off, they are
playing with 10 people and that is how defenses ganp up on the running
game. When the quarterback runs, you have to shed blockers and go make
plays. That is why I feel the option will come back."
On Indiana quarterback Randle El
"He has all the characteristics. He is bigger than Charlie Ward and
faster than Joe Hamilton. I hate to use the words, but he is as dangerous
as the Vick kid. He throws well and has that type of athletic ability."
What advantages do you have playing a game and IU has not
They have an advantage because they know what we are trying to do. We
have an advantage because we have played especially because we have a
young team.. We know what kind of mistakes we made last week. We are at a
disadvantage because we do not know what they are going to do. If we did
not play, Keegan Weir would still be our center and if Indiana played
last week they may have to play with a secon
