Postgame Quotes: Boston College at Syracuse

POSTGAME QUOTES
Syracuse vs. Boston College
Saturday, November 25, 2017

BOSTON COLLEGE HEAD COACH STEVE ADDAZIO

Opening Statement:
"It was a great day for Boston College today. We played a great football team. Syracuse has certainly had their fair share of injuries, as all of us have. We were 10 guys down today, and I thought we came out and played great complementary football. Defense did a good job making them go one hard way. Our defense stopped them. I thought we played physical, we played relentlessly, and we played together for each other. That is what I really enjoy seeing the most. Guys like Davon Jones, who went from running back to linebacker, and then got activated as linebacker, having never really played the position in his life. He was very unselfish. He had to sit on that side of the ball, in hopes that he had an opportunity, and sure enough, an opportunity came. He had nine tackles in the game today.

"Our team had the mindset of seven wins. We came in here today, and it is a really tough place to play, I have coached here before and it is a tough place to come in (as the visitor). I am proud of our team effort and the unselfish play of everyone. I am just so grateful. We got seven and we have the chance to play for eight wins. It's not easy to get eight wins in the conference that we are in. We are doing that with a really young football team, with a tremendously bright future. We are going to enjoy the bowl prep, find out who we are going to play, and try to keep developing our program. The future is bright and that's not deniable. Everyone in the country can see that. We are going to enjoy this win, give the guys a little time off, and then we are going to get back to work."

On closing the season:
"It's not easy to do, but we have to give credit to our players. I said this last week, and I am going to say it again, in this world we are in today, faithfulness and loyalty – we got their back and they got ours. They had to overcome tremendous adversity from the injuries we have had and we just kept at it. I am so proud of them and I think it speaks volume for the kind of kids we have in our program. The fact that they represent our University, is such a way that they are first class with integrity."

On being bowl eligible:
"Now that we are official, I think that we are a very attractive and hot football team. We are playing at a high level and have some star players. I am hoping that we will have a great opportunity. But, wherever we go we will be great. We are going to have the chance to be together and compete for our eighth win. We are going to have that opportunity, and that is all you can ask for, is an opportunity. We are grateful for the opportunity to have the chance to win eight games."

WILL HARRIS, JUNIOR, DEFENSIVE BACK

Seemed like Steve Ishmael got on your guys back today, what was the key to shutting everyone else down?
"We came just to contest every catch and get in people's faces, try as hard as we can to make plays on the ball in the air. We made a couple of plays today that really worked in our favor."

As a team that is 7-5, what do you think was the turning point in your season?
"Well to be honest, this whole team is relentless. We know every week is a fight. We aren't always in the easiest of situations but we make the most of those situations. We do what we can to put ourselves in the best situations possible. I give a lot of credit to my teammates for pushing all year and having faith, keeping their heads down and just going to work every week."

Seemed like defensively you guys kind of rose up when it mattered like on that 3^rd-and-1 and 4^th-and-1 sequence where you stopped the fullback twice? And how did you guys step up when it counted?
"We had to. They came to the sideline and gave us our play-card, we pretty much said look guys this is a big turning point in the game; it could put the nail in the coffin. All attitude, guys up front pushed and second level back end just tried to make a play but it was all attitude."

LUKAS DENIS, JUNIOR, DEFENSIVE BACK

On his interception:
"We know the scheme they like to run, a vertical pass game so all week we've been practicing lining up the right depth, getting into the right spot. That exact play I saw two receivers on one side no receivers back side, so I shifted. On the snap he threw it right to me and I had great blocking by my teammates right down the field."

Some of those interceptions you got, are those just good reads before the ball is even snapped?
"I think most of them come from being in the right place pre-snap. I was just kind of aligned right already and it worked in my favor."

HAMP CHEEVERS, SOPHOMORE, DEFENSIVE BACK

On the Boston College defense today:
"It was a pretty tough job but we all train the same, go through the same drills during practice so we can be equally ready for game day. Pretty much when everyone hears next man up, they know the team can depend on them to get the job done."

You had a couple of great reads today, first on that speed option when you got a piece of Moe Neal and then next possession you ended up breaking up the pass and it ended up being a fumble. What were you looking at on those two reads and what were you going by on those plays?
"I just focus on my technique and keeping my eyes right. With that I got a good break on receivers so that was a key to making the plays. As long as the eyes and technique are right you can get a good feel for the play."

AJ DILLON, FRESHMAN, RUNNING BACK

How did it feel when you made it in the end-zone?
"I really wanted to jumpstart the game. Coach had been talking all week about not waiting to make a play, that everyone should go out and just make a play, offense, defense, and special teams. So, I was sitting back there and ran through and when I hit the end zone I saw my mom who I had been telling all week I would score for so it was a pretty great feeling."

SYRACUSE HEAD COACH DINO BABERS

Opening Statement:

"Obviously I'm disappointed about the loss and the seniors leaving in this manner, but hats off to Boston College. It was a physical football game, they handled the ball extremely well, and it was difficult to stop them. Their quarterback threw for an extremely high percentage. And obviously, with the turnovers the game can get away from you a little bit."

"I don't feel like that is the end of what we're going to do. I feel like this is the beginning. I really believe that the 2018 season is going to be something we'll talk about here for a long time. I think the seniors in the 2017 class are the corner stone; they're going to be the foundation that gets this thing started. When we have success next year and the years after that, I want everyone to think back to Zaire (Franklin), Parris (Bennett), Moo (Jamar McGloster), and Erv (Phillips), and Ish (Steve Ishmael), and any other seniors I failed to mention. They are the guys who got us started. I sat the team down and said some things, and I asked those seniors to get up and take one more lap around the Carrier Dome, and had them walk around and relive the two, three, four years of memories. That's going to be a tradition here from now on. In the game of football, it's not like any other game. If you're a baseball player, you play softball, and everybody knows you're a good baseball player. Or if you're a basketball player, you join a rec team, and everybody can see you can shoot a three and throw down a dunk. But, when a football player retires from college, there's nowhere to go. Twenty-two guys aren't out playing football with pads on, messing up their company's insurance because they got hurt, and there are no trainers taking care of them. So it's a special deal, and it's an emotional deal. I feel bad for them individually, but as a family I feel good for them because I know they are the foundation of what we're going to get started."

On long-term success, what's the benchmark for success?
"I'm not going to do it that way. I think that when you look at what we're doing, and what's going to happen next year, you're going to see drastic improvement. And what you're going to see is the growth and maturity of the young men. You thought they were big this year… wait until you see them next year. You thought the freshmen class was good last year… wait until you see them this year. And as the depth grows, and their bodies change, the team will change, and the performances will change. I think that's when everybody will appreciate it."

On the senior wide receivers -- what did they mean to your offense and can you speak on them off the field?
"The first person I think about is Erv (Phillips). When I first got here, I think Erv was playing some kind of "alphabet position," I'm not sure what it was called. He was the first person that really took in the techniques and fundamentals we were talking about, which allowed him to have success in 2016.
I though Ish (Steve Ishmael) really came after the 2016 season closed, and he saw the success Amba had. He wasn't going to let that go by again, and he really did his homework to get better and master the things we needed him to get done. Hard work pays off. Look at the year he had."

"Those are the things that when I look at those two guys it tells young men, "Hey, if you buy in you can have an Erv type career." But, even if you don't buy in initially, if you can change your mind and find some common ground, you can have an Ish type of year."

"I think as young men they are unbelievable. And off the field, they are fantastic friends, and they're going to have opportunities at the next level."

With the same record as last year, how have you seen your team progress between last year and this year?
"I think the biggest thing was going on and recruiting. Last year I think everyone thought it was nice and a blip on the radar. But now that we've done it two years in a row, they know that we are capable of doing things and that the missing ingredient is players. And if we can get the right type of players from the recruiting standpoint, and develop the players within the program, we're going to have the opportunity to do big things. The one thing that's really difficult is the ACC, and the ACC Atlantic is a grown person's league. But we wouldn't have it any other way. Because when we are successful, what we don't want is to miss our opportunity. And as you can see now, even with the final four voting, it's hard not to respect the ACC, and it's really hard not to respect the ACC Atlantic. That's what we want to be. We want to be in the toughest conference so that when we are successful no one can take that away from us. And if they do try to, I expect all of you guys (media) to stand up and cause some ruckus (smiling)."

Why did you start quarterback Rex Culpepper today?
"First, Zach (Mahoney) was not fully healthy. But what we wanted to do was see what Rex can do. He's going to be with us in this program next year, and we wanted to give him a good, long look. He gives us the opportunity to do some things with our offense. He does some things better than Zach, and Zach does some things better than him. But we wanted him to do some of those other things against Boston College to see if it can be successful. So that's why we started him."

What is priority number one in the off-season?
"My number one word is faith. My number two word is humble. My number three word is meek. This is humbling. It really is, not to be involved with post-season. But, as iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another. So, all we're doing is gaining strength. We're on the route to get strong beneath the ground. It's going to have to be thick and deep because when this tree starts growing it's got to be able to support what we're doing. That's what's going to be going on in the off-season. The foundation that we're going to be laying here with these young men who are in the program and the new ones who are going to be coming so we can get the things done that we need to get done."

PARRIS BENNETT, SENIOR, LINEBACKER

On his time at Syracuse and what is next for him:
"So, basically the last four years I've learned to count on my brothers, you know what I'm saying. When times are bad you've got some people that you can see who are really with you. And Coach (Dino) Babers really teaches that family/ohana thing. I already felt like these were my brothers before he came, but I feel even closer."

On the defense playing a high amount of snaps during the season:
"Of course the guys would like to be able to rotate, but you want to have your best level on the field as often as you can. All you have to do is get in the training room and take care of your body."

On the feeling of receiving a curtain call before the final play of the game:
"It was definitely emotional. You don't really realize it's your last moment at the Carrier Dome until it's over."

ERVIN PHILIPS, SENIOR, WIDE RECEIVER

On his time at Syracuse and what is next for him:
"For me, I feel like the biggest thing that I learned from Coach Babers and his staff is just being never too high, never too low. When the moment is big just staying composed. Like Parris (Bennett) said family and brotherhood is a big thing that they preach and I was able to rely on my brothers. And just to be a leader and just cherish family."

On how the program has progressed in his time at Syracuse:
"I just feel like we've come a long way just as a program and as a family. I think we did some great things this year and hopefully it carries on to next year and we'll be able to finish some things. But overall, four years, it has been a great experience. I grew up a lot as a player and off the field as well. I would definitely say it was a great experience, these four years.

REX CULPEPPER, REDSHIRT-FRESHMAN, QUARTERBACK

On his first collegiate start at quarterback:
"I created a foundation for myself to be a leader on this team and it was a beautiful opportunity to get the chance to step up and play. Definitely didn't get the result we wanted, but you can't replicate that experience in any way. Just being on the field is going to make you a better football player."

On working his way up to getting a start:
"Obviously, with Eric Dungey, we have a heck of a starting quarterback and that's someone that I really look up to and can learn a lot from. Right behind him was Zack (Mahoney) and there's no one with more knowledge of the game. I owe a lot of the success that I had on the field to Zack for being there on the sideline and really coaching me through it all. I'm just so happy that I got to play and upset that we didn't get the result that we wanted."

STEVE ISHMAEL, SENIOR, WIDE RECEIVER

On working his time at Syracuse:
"Just brotherhood man. I built so many great relationships over here – you know, Erv (Philips) even Julian (Whigham) – I built so many good relationships. So, just knowing that I had a chance to experience that with a couple of cool guys, it is going to always be in my heart. I am always going to play with that 'S'."

Postgame Quotes: Boston College at Syracuse

Players Mentioned

Davon Jones

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