Boston College Athletics
Football Prepares for Bout with Louisville
November 05, 2014 | Football
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - The Boston College football team is hard at work preparing for a battle with Louisville on Saturday. The game, slated to start at 7:15 p.m., will air on ESPN2. It will be the first time the Eagles (6-3, 3-2 ACC) and Cardinals (6-3, 4-3 ACC) have met since 1998.
Graduates quarterback Tyler Murphy and offensive lineman Bobby Vardaro spoke to the media after practice.
QB Tyler Murphy
On Louisville's defense...
"They have a very athletic defense, especially out front. They have a lot of team speed so we're going to have to be physical with them and wear them down and take their speed away. We'll have to play big. And they've done a good job of tackling and playing big. We're going to have to take some shots; I'll put them up a little bit, get them on their heels, and keep attacking."
On using previous experiences against tough defenses...
"We've faced some good defenses and when we do well against those good defenses, we have to execute to high level and everybody has done a good job so that's what we need to focus on this week. We'll make sure everybody's footing is sound and we also have to make sure everybody is doing their job. Defenses like this, come to play, and we're going to have to play. We are at the point in the season where people are not going to sleep on BC. I think teams are starting to respect us a little bit and they are going to come to play so we have to come to play but we are not going to be able to surprise them. We'll be ready to go and be on our [game]."
On acclimating to the speed of elite defenses and raising his level of play...
"You try and get a good feel from watching film. Sometimes it's tough to get a feel for it; to do that you have to [take] one or two reps and then you can start to feel how fast they are or how they are going to play. That's what we're trying to do with those first two plays is to get a feel for what they're going to be like and how they'll attack us and go from there. We need to make sure that we cut their playing and get our passes so we aren't caught off guard and they don't come by surprise."
On closing in on the 1,000-yard rushing mark...
"I didn't think I would rush this many yards but whenever the coaches call my number I just try to step up and do what I can. And guys have done a great job blocking to make it easy for me. It's kind of cool I guess to surpass somebody like Doug Flutie who means so much to this place and has done so much. I don't think my name will stay number one for much longer but it is cool and it is fun while I'm on top so, I can't say I don't enjoy it."
On how he is feeling physically...
"I'm doing alright. At this point you really have to take care of your body and get your training going and get your legs back, just because it's so late in the season. You have to be careful not to do too much where you hurt yourself. You have to make sure you take on a lot of mental reps and watch film and mentally make sure you are on point and on top of your game. You know what you have to do physically and know the footwork and stuff like that, so then you have to make sure you're well rested and 100 percent ready to go on Saturday."
OL Bobby Vardaro
On becoming bowl eligible...
"It's incredible; that's what you're looking for every single year. There was a big stride for us last year because we hadn't been in two years and just to get it was a good milestone, but we want more."
On going from missing bowl games to going in back-to-back years...
"It's a hundred percent different. Going 2-10 [in 2012] really crushes you a little bit, especially because all of us are competitors at the highest level. It takes something out of you, losing that many games again, and again. But coming back and being bowl eligible last year and already being bowl eligible this year is a completely new experience."
On being surprised with the turnaround...
"I'm not actually. The way our coaches coach us - I knew there was something different about the team once we came out last year and especially this year. We're firing off the ball and we are just doing everything a lot better. So much more technique and focus and they've done a great job getting us prepared."
On preparing for great offenses each week...
"I think it's kind of awesome. It's a challenge every single week. It's never a defense that you're going to kill or run all over, it's always, `They've got these four or five players that are NFL prospects and are going to get drafted first or second round.' It's a great challenge. You have to love it as a competitor."
