Boston College Athletics
Eagles Discuss 2009 Season On Media Day
August 14, 2009 | Football
Aug. 14, 2009
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The media suite inside Conte Forum was standing room only on Friday as the football team welcomed members of the press to its annual Media Day. From quarterbacks to defensive backs, the cameras and tape recorders were out in full force to get a sneak peak on what to expect from BC this season.
The day started with first-year head coach Frank Spaziani addressing the nearly thirty members of the media regarding the status of the team, leading up to the season opener on September 5.
"We have our fifth practice today, our first day in full pads, so we're finally into real football," Spaziani said. "I'm really happy with the work ethic and coaching. We're just going to see where it goes."
When asked about where he stood in terms of finally getting the head coaching job but also inheriting some problems, he said, "There are going to be problems with any job and no one needs to feel sorry for us. What I inherited was a great job at a great university with great people."
Coach Spaziani admitted the team certainly had a tough road ahead but was ready to move forward with an upbeat attitude.
"There are a lot of positive things even though the problems are always there," he said. "Winning minimizes the problems and losing magnifies them but the problems are always there. We have to manage them and we will do the best we can."
After Coach Spaz was finished, the players became available for the media, talking at length about their roles with the squad and the excitement that is mounting very quickly for the upcoming year.
"Preseason is going really well," sophomore linebacker Will Thompson said. "I can definitely see that the defensive guys are really excited and the offense seems to be going really well. Everyone's just really excited because we've had a long offseason and now it's time to play football."
Freshman quarterback Dave Shinskie was a popular target for questions regarding his age and was more than willing to share his experience at the Heights.
"It's very exciting," he said. "It's a great school, I have a great opportunity and I'm having the time of my life so far."
No matter how many times Shinskie may try to avoid it, the common theme in questions always returns to his previous years on the baseball diamond and his future on the gridiron.
"(The transition is) not that hard," he said. "Lifting and running has been a little rough but I'm getting better. The enthusiasm from the other guys gets me through it."
One important face was missing was that of senior linebacker Mark Herzlich. Even without him on the field at practice or answering questions for the media, he was still very much present in the hearts of his teammates.
"Mark is a special kid, he really is," senior linebacker Mike McLaughlin said. "I'm sure he has a million people calling him and asking how everything is going. He is such an optimistic kid. He's been one of the greats here and he's a good friend of mine on top of that."
The Eagles will have their first practice in full pads this afternoon and face off against one another during the first intra-squad scrimmage of the season tomorrow night.
Senior LB Mike McLaughlin
On when he will return this year:
"Right now it is in my hands to get the strength back in my calves and my legs. As far as playing this year, there's no question, I will be back out on the field. What game? I really don't know. When? I really don't know, but it will be at some point this season without a doubt."
On how much he has spoken with Mark Herzlich:
"Mark is a special kid, he really is. I'm sure he has a million people calling him and asking how everything is going. I just spoke to him Sunday night, the first night we reported, so I'm probably going to give him a call as soon as I can. It's great to hear his voice. He is such an optimistic kid, he's been one of the greats here and he's a good friend of mine on top of that."
On what it would mean to have Herzlich on the sidelines:
"It makes a world of difference. He and I have talked about that and I think that would only benefit the whole team. You're talking about a big-time player and a big-time person, that's who he is. I think it would do nothing but great things to have him around."
On who has stood out in the linebacking corps this offseason:
"There are six guys who are working real hard. We are taking it one step at a time. I know its cliché, but when you have young guys like that who really haven't had game experience, it's really crucial to take things one step at a time. It really is - meeting to meeting, hour to hour, workout to workout. We have to focus on one thing at a time. Eventually we are going to get there."
On Will Thompson, who may begin the season at middle linebacker:
"I think he is handling it really well. The mental aspect of the position is by far the hardest. You have to set the defense, you have to call the defense, you're the quarterback of the defense. He's handled that really well and physically he has all the attributes he needs. He's fast, he's quick and he's strong."
Senior DE Alex Albright:
On the expectations for this year:
"A lot of people don't expect a lot from us. There was a report on ESPN that predicted us to go 2-10. Mike McLaughlin brought that up in a team meeting and that really lit a fire under us. For the defense, we're setting our own goals and we're setting the bar real high. Just because we lost a lot doesn't mean we have to lose any steps. We still want to go for the championship. We still want to be the best just like every other year."
On whether former players in the NFL give the current players advice:
"B.J. Raji was here two days ago and he came to just observe practice and see how things are going. He had a few tips for me and Damik (Scafe) when he was watching the defensive line, just saying, `This is what some of the guys in the NFL do.' They are showing that they have already learned a lot of things from the veterans in the NFL and they're not hesitating to pass it on to us."
On the transition of switching defensive coordinators:
"Coach McGovern and Coach Spaz have been together so long, it's pretty much the same person. They make the same kinds of jokes and they stress the same issues. They are both very critical and very comical. There isn't much change in their personalities but the faces have changed."
On a potential breakout star on defense:
"I think Marcellus Bowman is going to establish himself as one of the more dominant players in our league. He's a big, tough guy - an outstanding physical specimen. I think this year is going to be his year to break out."
Sophomore RB Montel Harris
On his personal goals:
"Personal goals? I want to win the ACC Championship. I have that bad taste in my mouth from last year when we went down there and lost. Like Coach Spaz says, `We have to take it one game at a time.' We don't want to look ahead; beating Northeastern is my main goal."
On possibly getting a higher work load this season:
"I have given it a lot of thought. We have young quarterbacks so most likely, defenses are going to try and stack the box. If we can establish a running game, it will help the quarterbacks out a lot."
On working towards becoming an all-time great BC running back:
"William Green and Mike Cloud are the two running backs I see the most in the weight room and the locker room. I've seen how many yards they put up and someday I want my picture up there saying I was one of the great backs at BC. I work hard and try to do the best that I can in the offseason to get better for the fall."
On how being picked last in the ACC Atlantic motivates him:
"That motivates the whole team. As soon as we heard 2-10 on ESPN, it made everybody mad. I think it's good. No one expects us to do anything. Every year, no one picks us to do anything in the ACC and we end up doing really well. It's a motivator to go out and prove to a lot of people that we are able to compete in the ACC."
On the difference with Spaziani as head coach:
"Last year, I talked to Coach Spaz on game days. He would give me a handshake and tell me to have a good game, but I really didn't talk to him. This year, I talk to him a lot. Anytime I have a problem or if I want to talk about anything, I can just go to his office. He leaves his door open for all of the players. He is a great coach."
Junior OL Anthony Castonzo
On how he feels about the offense:
"Last year, we were in zone all the time. We ran a pro-style offense. This year, we have a little bit of everything. We'll come at you from one angle and on the other angle we have zone. We have a little bit of everything. We definitely have a lot more plays this year."
On the outlook for the season:
"The thing with football is that people graduate and people get hurt. Somebody always has to step it up. Our team is no different."
Junior QB Codi Boek
On working with the other quarterbacks:
"I think we all get along really well. We spend a lot of time together, we eat together and just help each other out as best we can."
On the competition for the starting job:
"That's the position that we're in. It's good to push yourself with something like that. It's something that definitely helps us. Everyone likes to compete and it just makes us better."
On the expectations for the season:
"Who knows? We're going to play hard and do the best that we can. I think we are going to shock some people. We've looked really well the last few days but we've got three weeks before the first game so you've got to go out there and play some good football."
Sophomore LB Will Thompson
On preseason thus far:
"Preseason is going really well. Today will be the fifth practice and things are starting to pick up. I can definitely see how the defensive guys are really excited and the offense seems to be going really well. Everyone's just really excited because we've had a long offseason and now it's time to play football."
On moving into a primary role on the defense:
"I think I'm doing a pretty good job but I still have a lot of learning to do. Mike McLaughlin has been helping me a lot. I've been texting Mark Herzlich back and forth and he's been helping me too. In the spring, I was focused more on the things I had to do and the confidence level wasn't really up there. Now that we are into preseason camp, the confidence level is definitely there and now it's just trying to build the defense as a unit."
On the leadership required to play linebacker:
"The middle linebacker position is a natural leadership position and everything is on you. The defense is waiting for you to call the plays and the checks so you're the quarterback of the defense and with that, comes a lot of responsibilities."
On Coach Spaziani as the new head coach:
"I feel like Spaz is, and always will be, a defensive guy. Now it's a little different because he is looking at the defense and the offense but he's still interacting with the defense. He hasn't changed."
On the one thing he is looking forward to most in 2009:
"To tell you the truth, I'm just looking forward to this first game. When you're in preseason camp, you have a lot of built up energy from playing against the same guys. Getting to go out and play and see all that hard work pay off is very exciting."
