Boston College Athletics
Football Meets Media to Talk Pinstripe Bowl
December 17, 2014 | Football
VIDEOS: Coach Addazio | Tyler Murphy | Myles Willis | Andy Gallik | Dominique Williams | Sean Duggan | Bobby Vardaro
QUOTES:Addazio | Holtzman | Murphy | Bordner | Duggan | Vardaro | Gallik | Williams | Willis
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - The Boston College football is deep in preparation for the December 27 bout with Penn State in the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl that will be played at Yankees Stadium. Student-athletes, along with head coach Steve Addazio, took time on Tuesday afternoon to meet with members of the media to discuss playing in the historic venue, in front of many BC alumni and fans and against a similar Northeast opponent. The Eagles also welcomed Yankees executive director of non-baseball events Mark Holtzman to the event.
Head Coach Steve Addazio
Opening Statement...
We're deep in preparation for Penn State, and we're excited about it. Mark had the chance to speak with our team today and our kids came out of it all revved up. It's a great atmosphere, great environment, a lot of buzz surrounding the game. It's a sold out game, and we have a great opponent ahead in New York. We're a really excited football team.
Penn State is a very good football team. They're ranked second in total defense, 10th in passing defense and first in rushing defense. So, they've got a bunch of good football players there. Mike Hull, who is their linebacker, is outstanding. They've got some great pass-rushers. On offense, Christian Hackenberg is really an outstanding quarterback. He throws the ball well. They have a really balanced offense. These two teams are going to clash on December 27, and it's going to be a Northeast clash for the Lambert Trophy to see who is going to be the top team in the Northeast. There's a great history between the two teams playing each other, so we couldn't be more excited and more grateful to the Yankees, the Pinstripe Bowl, Mark Holtzman for this opportunity. It's the opportunity of a lifetime for our football program and we're bound and determined to put a great product on the field and for everyone to be proud of the matchup they have selected.
On wanting to play in the Pinstripe Bowl....
We're just passionate about wanting to be there. It's easy to do that when you feel it from the heart. I know what our kids wanted. I know what our program needed. I've been to that bowl two times now. It's a big-time atmosphere handled in a big-time fashion. Players of other teams who have been there rave about their experience. I could go down the list of reasons why. For me to go in and be passionate about our genuine desire to be there wasn't very hard. It's a natural fit. It's a great game with the two teams that are playing each other. Our alumni base was so fired up, as well as our students. It works on every front. So, we're honored to have the opportunity to represent there. You know when it feels good, and it's right. It fits. This is right, and that's why I think the response has been the way it's been. It still takes people like Mark and Randy and that committee to be able to see that and have that foresight. We're appreciative for it.
On the senior class...
They are a great group of guys. It's not a huge number. It's a resilient group that came here when things weren't so good. They stuck with it and hung in there. They rode through all the transition and bought in to the program. It's wonderful to see them experience success and they have a great deal of pride. BC guys they have a lot of pride in being here. There's a lot of tradition here in Boston College football. Being here when winning wasn't happening was not easy for them. Now, they want to leave this program better for the future. Last year being able to get bowl eligibility was great; now, this year going after that bowl win. It's a really important drive. Our practices are much more intense than they were a year ago at this time. What does all that mean? I guess we'll see. But these kids are loving practicing and the grind of preparation for this game, which I think tells you what you need to know. It's very important to them. We had a very emotional senior banquet on Sunday, a lot of guys spoke about their passion and feelings for Boston College: Where the program was, where it is, and where it's heading. I'm really happy and proud of those guys and we're grateful for what they've done.
On extending the season...
Good programs get better because they are able to extend their practices. When you think about it, spring football is 15 practices. Well, we have 15 practices preparing for the bowl game. So, it's like another spring. You don't get to play the game enough in football. It's not like basketball where you play pick-up games. So you have 15 more practices then spring footballand what you're doing is developing your football program. You're developing the culture of your team. Success breeds success. You're playing in a meaningful, big-time bowl game. The young players in our program right now are wide-eyed because they see the older guys getting all pumped up. That's a really important piece of it as well. You want them to understand the significance of playing these styles of games. It's all a positive. It's all good. It's an important and integral part of the program.
On the success the underclassmen have experienced the past two years...
What we try to do is keep reminding them of that. We demand of them in practice as well. That's a good problem to have. It's like anything else. Someone gives you a car, you take the car for granted: You don't wash and wax it. Whereas when you work for that car and you grind for that car, you take care of it. It's our job to make sure they appreciate the great things that are happening on the backs of a lot of people. Hopefully they pay that forward to the future classes and you develop a culture that's built on success. That's the goal. We're in the middle of that.
On the activities during the bowl week...
Mark does all that and he does an unbelievable job. That's a part of what makes the bowl special is the bowl experience. For these kids, it's a reward for having a great season. They get to experience a slice of New York. They have all kinds of things: from going to Little Italy, to the Radio City Rockettes on Christmas night, to the tour of Ground Zero on Christmas morning, to a welcoming dinner at Yankee Stadium on Christmas Eve--just so many great things. What's going to be more important to these kids than going to Ground Zero? What an unbelievable opportunity. Everything is so meticulously and professionally handled. The hospitality, the way they make you feel, the gifts--everything. It's first class. That's why people want to be in this bowl game.
On the Penn State offense...
Christian Hackenberg is a typical NFL quarterback. He's got a terrific arm; he's a big, strong guy; he's pretty athletic. The quarterback has to make it happen for you and he does. They've got good players. We all know their depth can be problematic because of the reduction they've had in scholarships, but they have really good football players. I remember playing them a couple years back when I was at Temple and they were outstanding. They're real. They have a real strong powerful front and a great linebacker unit. Good coverage skills. They're one of the better defenses in America. Those numbers don't lie. There's talent and they're well-coached and highly motivated. We're talking about a team that hasn't been to a bowl game for a while. They're a very proud program, rightfully so.
On how the schedule has prepared BC to play this defense...
We've played some really good defenses. The strength of the ACC has been its defenses. That's why when people start rattling off numbers and stats, they have to understand what goes behind them. We're a better, more sophisticated offense than we were a year ago, but maybe the numbers won't show that. That has a lot to do with who we have played. They're numbers will tell you what they're all about defensively. Good news: we've played these styles of defenses. We played Florida State, Clemson, Wake Forest had a really good defense. We're not getting anything new. We're not getting anything we haven't seen all season long. But what we've seen has been outstanding, and we're going to get another outstanding defense. We're going to have to work. It's going to be a big defensive struggle.
New Era Pinstripe Bowl Executive Director Mark Holtzman
Opening Statement...
On behalf of the New York Yankees and the Steinbrenner family, we are absolutely thrilled to be hosting Boston College at the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. The bowl is now going into its fifth year, and it's now recognized as one of the premier bowls beneath the top bowls in the country. We have had some of the best television ratings every year, and this year promises to be the biggest blockbuster of all. Once we announce these teams, Boston College and Penn State, we sold out in literally 36 hours, and Yankee Stadium is not a small place. That's a tribute to both the BC and the Penn State fans. It's going to be a great matchup. Talk about a classic, Northeast matchup: two renowned, historical programs playing in one of the great venues in America, Yankee Stadium. It's going to be a very special day. We looked at it very closely.
This is our first year with the Atlantic Coast Conference. We're thrilled to be associated with the ACC and the Big Ten. We believe those are the two right conferences for us. One of the major reasons we signed up to be with the ACC was the opportunity to have Boston College play at Yankee Stadium not only this year, but many years to come. We always root for Boston College to make one of the top bowls, we're right there. It's going to be a great opportunity for the kids. We have a week full of activities. Obviously the ultimate goal is to win the football game; we understand that. We know Coach and his team will be very focused. At the same time, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to sample some of the really unique parts of New York City during Christmas week, which is a very special week.
All in all, we're just thrilled. We wanted to have Boston College play at Yankee Stadium for a long time, and now our wish has come true. I got to meet with Coach last week when he came down with Brad Bates, and the enthusiasm and true sincerity of wanting to play in the New Era Pinstripe bowl at Yankee Stadium came right through to myself and Randy Levine. Judging by how quickly this game sold out and the enthusiasm it has generated, it is clear we've made the right choice.
On what factors went into the decision to include BC in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl...
I looked at the number of alumni Boston College has within a 60-mile radius of New York City and it's absolutely staggering. That and the amount of students will be home for break. It meant a lot to us that both Brad Bates and Coach came down. He [Bates] didn't bring another marketing person down with him; he brought Coach [Addazio] with him. Because the best marketing person you have for Boston College football is sitting right next to me. That made a huge statement to us. The passion shined right through. It was clear--he even knocked over his cup of coffee he was gesturing with his hands and you could see how passionate he was. I told people if he [Addazio] put on a Superman costume and jumped across the table and shook me and said, `You'd better sign up for BC to play here right now!' he would have. He wanted the commitment and he wanted to show that BC wanted to play at Yankee Stadium in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. It made the business decision very easy then.
On what he shared with the team at practice...
First of all, when I spoke with them, they were so focused and their eyes were transfixed. I look at those little things, being in marketing and making presentations all the time. They were taking in every word I was saying to them. All I wanted to let them know was that they're all young men, and I'm sure they're going to go on and be very successful, but this is a very special moment for them. I want them to savor every moment of playing in this bowl. Obviously the ultimate objective is to win, but this is so much more than a football game. This is a celebration about everything that is good about football and this is also a celebration that is good about two great American cities here: Boston and New York. It's a rivalry, but it's a friendly rivalry. It's great that we're coming together for such a very special game. I just wanted the kids to take a step back for a second and really understand the magnitude of what's going to happen over the next few weeks, but also to enjoy it, because who knows when you get to have another opportunity like this. We have a great television audience; we have a great time slot on ESPN, 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. It has generated tremendous local interest because we have two schools that can drive, and two schools that have wanted to play in New York for a long time. It's going to be a special day. We've done a lot of events at Yankee Stadium, but this is going to be right at the top.
On football games in Yankee Stadium...
What also makes it special is that some of the greatest football games every played have been played at Yankee Stadium. Let's not forget those great Army vs. Notre Dame football games going back to the 20s. Those two teams were the top two college teams in the country. Of course professionally, the New York Football Giants played at Yankee Stadium for years and probably had the most famous game played there against the Colts that ushered in the modern era of professional football. There's a lot of football history there, and for those of you who are going to be at the game, there's a lot of pictures that commemorate that. Football, especially college football, is a major part of New York Yankee tradition. This is not something that we came up upon recently.
On what he's looking forward to on December 27...
I'm looking forward to a great game. I'd like to see a few points put up on the board, that wouldn't hurt. But if it's a classic Northeast game and it's a defensive struggle, then so be it. I'm looking forward to the whole atmosphere really. We couldn't have two better opponents for us this year. I always put a few teams in a fortune cookie each year and hope it comes true. It came true this year. And it's pretty neat.
Graduate QB Tyler Murphy
On the Penn State defense...
It starts with the defensive line; they do a good job of getting penetration, forcing the running backs, runners and quarterbacks to cut it inside to the linebackers. Obviously, they have a really good linebacker; he's an All-American. I believe he leads the country in tackles. They do a good job of freeing linebackers up and a lot of them make plays. We have to make sure we prevent them from getting penetration and get hat on hat each play. We feel like we if we do that we'll be successful. It's very difficult to do, obviously, because they are one of the best defenses in the country against the run. We are looking forward to the challenge.
On the BC offensive line helping to keep possession of the ball...
They have been doing it all year long. We have faced a lot of good defenses whether it's USC, Clemson, Florida State and Syracuse was a top notch defense. [The offensive line] has done a good job handling what teams have thrown at them. We've done a pretty good job with possession of the ball. So we feel like we can do some things especially up front. We are going to ride on them and lead the way. They are looking forward to it and they are hungry.
On his expectations for the game ...
I think it will be a great environment ... one of the best atmospheres of any bowl game especially outside the [New Year's Day] to watch. I'm just looking forward to just playing; hopefully I play well. I have had a good week of preparation so far, so I'm looking forward to playing well and helping this team get the eighth win and get some momentum into the off season so that way this team has something to look forward to and improve on next year.
Graduate WR Josh Bordner
On Penn State's run defense...
"We're going to stick to what we know and however we think we can move the ball on them; that's what we're going to do. As far as passing game, if we need to pass it, we're going to pass it. If the run game is working, we're just going to stick with what is working.
On what it means to be leaving the program in a good state...
It's definitely huge. Last year's seniors did a good job of building a foundation. Our class and the upperclassmen this year just want to continue that and really build this program because we feel that with this coaching staff and the players that we have, we can be really successful in the future.
On taking the next step from making a bowl game to winning one...
It would mean a lot. That's all we've been talking about, is taking that next step. It felt like last year we were more satisfied with getting back to a bowl game, but this year we're excited to be going to New York City and playing in the Pinstripe Bowl and we're looking forward to having an opportunity to win the game.
On finishing his collegiate career at Yankee Stadium...
It's going to be incredible. The Yankees are one of the greatest organizations in all of sports, so playing there, I'm definitely going to have a lot of fun and enjoy it. It will be a great way to send out the seniors.
On winning the Scanlan Award...
It means so much to me. We had a banquet and I was awarded it. Looking at some of the past winners - Matt Hasselbeck, Tim Hasselbeck, Bill Romanowski, Mike Mayock, Matt Ryan - it means a lot to me. It's just an award where you don't really understand what it means until you have people come up to you and talk to you about it. It really humbles me and I'm extremely honored to be the recipient of the award.
Senior LB Sean Duggan
On going to New York City...
I've never been there. A bunch of the guys on the team are from that area and they say it's awesome; I can't wait. It's going to be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to visiting Ground Zero. I heard the museum there is really amazing. I think it will be a cool experience, going down to where so many people lost and gave their lives for our country. And having the connection with Welles Crowther to BC and having met his parents earlier this season is really inspirational. He was a true hero; it will be emotional for the team.
On the progress of this team...
We take a lot of pride in where we are. A lot of people were doubting us, saying it would be a rebuilding year, and it's pretty awesome to be a part of the turnaround and lay the next brick which Coach Addazio started here. The program is going in a great direction now. You always want to leave the program better than where it started. I think we all take a lot of pride in continuing the winning tradition that Coach Addazio started here.
On playing in Yankee Stadium...
It's going to be really cool. When I was getting recruited by BC, they played a couple games in San Francisco at the Giants Stadium so I got to see how they did the set up there. Yankee Stadium is such a historical place. It's hard to grow up in America and not know about the Yankee and the history. It's going to be amazing to play there.
On taking the next step and winning the game this year...
To win eight games this year is taking the next step for the program. I think everyone remembers the feeling of losing to Arizona. The feeling in that locker room, you never want to send the seniors out with a loss, so winning this game would be a big step for this program and continuing in the upward direction.
On Penn State...
They're very talented. They're big up front, and fast on the edge, which is something that we've seen a lot this year. They're talented guys. Their quarterback is first-class, he's a top-notch kid. He's a great passer, so we're going to have to get to him and overall their offense is pretty good across the board, so it's going to be a tough match up. We're looking forward to the challenge. They don't remind me of any team in particular. They can do it all, they run power at you, then they can spread you out on the edge and they do the best of any team we have seen, but not one team in particular. Their O-line is big up front, so we're going to have to block well and execute the scheme that Coach Brown is going to put forward for us. Getting to the quarterback has been a nice a staple of our defense since Coach Brown got here, so we're definitely going to need to do that.
On Coach Brown and stopping the run...
When Coach Brown got here , he said two of the things we're going to do on this offense is we're going to stop the run to make them one dimensional and then when they have to pass, we're going to get out to the quarterback. As a defensive player, you take a lot of pride in run defense. When the offense can run the ball on you, it's pretty demoralizing, so we take a lot of pride in being able to stop the run and it's become a big part of our defense this year. Every game we want to go in and prove that we're the number four rush defense in the country.
On the student turnout at the Pinstripe Bowl....
I actually just saw the video that Coach Addazio did yesterday, with all the dudes, that was pretty cool. But we're expecting a great turnout, I've talked to a lot of students here and they're excited. They all say it's the perfect bowl game for us because we're in the Northeast. A representative from the Pinstripe Bowl came to practice today and said it sold out in a day and a half. It's going to be pretty cool to play in a somewhat home field game for the bowl game.
Graduate OL Bobby Vardaro
On playing Penn State...
It's a lot we've seen before. This is kind of a similar defense to what Coach McGovern used to run, so they linebackers really make the line up front right, the linebackers will fill the empty gaps. It's definitely a tough defense, and I'm excited to run against it again.
On the makeup of the offensive line...
It's definitely been a long journey, three different offensive line coaches, four different coordinators. I think the biggest thing for us was that our group really stuck together. We had five o-lines that came in freshman year and have been here ever since. These are my best friends, and I think that was the biggest thing for us. Coach said at our banquet yesterday, that we were really a team this year, building off of last year's team. We came together and we emphasized what team is.
On playing his final game in Yankee Stadium...
I hate thinking about it. I'm moving out of my dorm this week actually, for the last time. Even after the Syracuse game, knowing that we had the bowl game after was kind of refreshing I guess. It's going to hit me real hard after I go home after the bowl game, that's kind of it for BC football.
On WR Josh Bordner...
Everyone always said that Josh probably should have played a different position. Linebacker was the one that everyone said, because he's extremely athletic, he's a big body and right now, as you can see, he's doing really well - catching, blocking, whatever he needs to do, he's getting the job done. I'd rate him pretty high. He embodies everything that the award is about. He's a great player and athlete on and off the field. The funniest thing was - I think it was in game three - when he figured out that he could cut. He made a lot of great blocks in that game. After the game he came up to us and was like, ` Wow I never knew how much fun blocking was! I can actually go and cut people.' You can see him on film just laying people out all over the field. He's a great player, great athlete and a great friend.
Graduate C Andy Gallik
On taking the next step from making a bowl game to winning one...
We are really proud on building on the foundation that the guys built last year. It took a lot of mental toughness with the culture changing that we had last year, there were a lot of guys who didn't stick around and didn't buy into what Coach Addazio wanted for this program. But those seniors last year made things right. We didn't finish off the season the way we wanted to, but going into the season this year, it's awesome that we're able to get back into a bowl. Especially with it being in New York, on this big stage, against a great team like Penn State. I think that now is the time to establish the tradition that they started last year and close it out with a bowl win so that the younger guys can go into next year with a brighter perspective and up the goals a little bit.
On playing his last game at the Pinstripe Bowl...
It's a sad week for all of the fifth year guys. I'm moving out of my apartment on Thursday and it flew by. Looking back to freshman year, it feels like yesterday that we were going through all of those growing pains. It's bittersweet I guess you could say. It's a great way to close out my career here at BC, but at the same time, it's the last time I'm going to suit up with all of these guys and we want to go out on a good note.
On WR Josh Bordner...
Like Bob said, I've been impressed. Every Sunday morning we'd come in and watch highlights of the big plays from Saturday's game and most often it's highlighting Josh making a huge block down the field. It's something that's not really talked about and I'm glad you asked us, but he's always making big cuts down field and making wider lanes for Tyler and the running backs. He's always making blocks and doing whatever he can to get his blockers down, it helped us tremendously. He was the hands down, clear favorite to win that award. When I think of the Scanlan Award, I think of Josh Bordner. There's nobody that should have won that besides him.
Graduate DB Dominique Williams
On Penn State's offense...
They run the ball sort of like us, so that's one thing our offense is helping us with. Penn State likes to run the ball. They've got two good backs in Caleb and Bill Belton. They also have good receivers in No. 5 (DJ Hamilton) and No. 7 (Eugene Lewis). If we can help stop the run it will help us in defending the pass and hopefully get them off on third down.
On playing better defensively down the stretch...
It's just the grind of the season ... you build confidence week to week. This whole unit is so close to each other. We are playing our best games right now in the last few games. It's us working hard every day trying to get better.
On tackling issues at the start of the season ...
(Coach Addazio) tries to keep his players healthy. He doesn't try to run us into the dirt. That's one thing I admire him about him. He really does take care of his players. When it came to the Pitt game, we really didn't focus on it that much. But after the game, it wasn't the coaches, it was the players who stepped forward and said `we want to tackle at practice'. That's the only way to get better.
On the results of adding tackling to practice ...
At the beginning of the season we were missing a lot of tackles. As the season progressed, you could definitely see our numbers in tackling improve and less missed tackles in each game, more tackles for losses and being more aggressive.
On going to New York and Yankee Stadium as a homegrown Boston boy ...
No, it won't be awkward. I'm just thankful for being able to try and go out and get this eighth win. It's just a great opportunity. As a kid growing up in Boston, you hear about Yankee Stadium, but I've never been there. It will be a great opportunity.
Sophomore RB Myles Willis
On getting to the next level...
Last year we started slow and we didn't finish off in the bowl game. We have been practicing harder and paid more attention to detail to get the eighth win because it means a lot and also we are playing at Yankee Stadium.
On playing at Yankees Stadium this season and Fenway Park next season...
It's a crazy experience... I've got a lot of friends at my high school who wish they had the opportunity to play at or see the game. I get to play at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. It's a great thing to go home and tell people about.
On his first two years at Boston College and making bowl games...
We definitely have had it good. First two years bowl games ... When they went 2-10, I was still playing my high school games but I was still representing Boston College. I know where we came from and we have great senior leaders that remind us that where we came from and remind us that these things are not given and you have to work hard on them. As long as you remember the past, we need to make sure we don't repeat it.
What have he's learned about Coach Addazio...
He definitely gives you a lot of confidence. He challenges you. This is my second year here and I've done things I've never done before- whether it's the kickoff team or kickoff return...I had never returned a kick before I got here. I never even played running back before. You play and you don't want to let him down.
