Boston College Athletics
Media Day: Player Quotes
August 13, 2015 | Football
Sophomore QB Darius Wade
On who he emulates as a quarterback…
“The biggest idol for kids my age was Mike Vick; he was one of the ones in the league that I gravitated toward because he was so exciting. The guy who I see myself playing as is the Steve Young type. Where he was a gritty type of guy, he was aggressive and was able to make all of the throws. He was just a winner and competitor and that is the type of person that I am.”
On the pressure of being a leader…
“Some of the pressure is taken off because of how young our team is and there really hasn’t been anyone who is established out there. Since we are all coming in on the same page - we are all young and out there for the first time. It makes it easier because we are all learning together. We are all getting used to each other together. It definitely takes some of the stress off but that’s your job as a quarterback: You signed up to be a quarterback it’s your job to be a leader and you have to drive the team some. I feel like I am taking steps and am gradually getting better with that. The team is starting to understand that I have that role.”
On the running back unit…
“It’s a great group of guys and they are very exciting. They have some of the best work ethic that I have seen. They all work hard. They are a good group of guys who love football. I just feel like they are in for another great season. I am excited for them and we are going to see how everything plays out. But it should be another great running season. They are all versatile players. So we will really see who steps up and who can really do all of the things for us.”
On having senior OL Harris Williams back on the field…
“I feel like he is pretty much the glue. He is showing all of the young guys how to prepare and how to be a good offensive lineman, how to go through film study and a lot of the different things that they wouldn’t have known. We don’t have anyone else with that type of experience. He’s definitely going to lead that group and he has definitely shown that he is our biggest leader for our team as a whole. We are really excited to have him back.”
Senior OL Harris Williams
On the upcoming season and returning from injury…
“It’s great to be back and playing with the guys. Sitting on the sideline is tough; it’s more fun being on the field getting yelled at by coaches. I missed it.”
On working with young players and being a leader…
“Working with them reassures confidence in me. I am teaching them and they are teaching me back. It’s been a great learning experience so far.”
On helping the growth of BC Football…
“I can see how, for the program, my being around today is helpful for the younger guys. I always have confidence in my coaches, so whether I’m here or not, the staff would have the guys ready. I’m just looking to make the best of this year.”
On the running back unit…
“We have a great stable of backs. I trust the coaches to put us in situations to win games this year.”
On the youth of the offensive line…
“We have three great offensive line coaches coaching us: Coach Addazio, Coach Frye and Coach Leonard; Because of this, we as a group, are held to a higher standard to be better and get better every day.”
Sophomore RB Jon Hilliman
On being a leader…
“It’s definitely a little different. Even though I’m a sophomore - still kind of a young guy - I feel like I’ve been around, with how my freshman experience was. Just being able to push past certain things and get the guys up. Be a little more vocal this year rather than just lead by example.
“I have a good relationship with everybody. I focus on myself first and then bring my best to the team. I have been working on getting better as a player and a leader.”
On the running back unit…
“I’ve always felt that you’re only as good as your last carry, as your last game. We have many guys capable of starting but the goal is to get better as a unit and to improve myself as a player every day.”
On the importance of Harris Williams returning…
“He’s a phenomenal leader and someone who can ultimately help the offense improve drastically throughout the year.”
Senior WR David Dudeck
On being a senior leader among a young receiving core…
“Everyone is out there every day giving their best effort. That’s all you can ask for as a senior leader on the team. I just try to be a helping hand wherever I can be, whether that be on the field in a drill or a team drill, or off the field with young guys. I just try to help wherever I can.”
On going against the BC defense every day in practice…
“It helps us tremendously. One of the things our coaches stress is competition, and every day we’re going out there to compete and compete against each other. As an offense, we’re going up against a very strong defensive unit that’s showing us different looks, it only helps us get better.”
On the team’s goals for the season…
“When Coach Addazio and his staff got here, we laid out some goals of becoming bowl eligible and going back to a bowl game. We’ve done that the last two years, but we’re really looking to take that next step this year and really have a successful season. It starts with game one so we’re really focused on beating Maine.”
On the opportunity to play football in Fenway Park this year…
“It’s definitely a dream come true for me. I played a lot of baseball in high school. When I was younger as a kid, I dreamt of playing baseball in those stadiums, but I never thought I’d be playing football in them. It’s going to be a great opportunity to play in Fenway, just like it was a great opportunity to play in Yankee Stadium.”
Junior DE Kevin Kavalec
On the defensive line’s depth this season…
“It’s been really nice having the depth and not being the only guy. My first spring here, we had six players and we were taking every single rep. Now we have 16 defensive linemen. It’s really fun; you get to fly around with your friends, not taking every rep. It’s good.”
On the defensive unit’s leadership…
“We play off each other. When the defense is playing really well, it pushes the offense to play well. And as the defense, we always feel like we have to lead the team and we’re the point of the spear. I think it’s working out really well that we’re pushing the offense along and they’re pushing us back.”
On facing one of the best running units in the country each day…
“They definitely push us. We have some great running backs. We have five of them who run really hard. It makes it harder for us. It’s fun though; it pushes us.”
On playing at Fenway Park…
“It’s really cool. We’re all really looking forward to that game. I never thought we’d get to play at Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park in my life. So it’s a really great experience.”
Senior K/P Alex Howell
On what his focus is on…
“My focus has been just excelling at everything I can. As a senior, I came here to play football. I’m trying to do everything the coaches ask me to do at my very best.”
On the kicking unit…
“Every day we are all competing. We are trying to drive each other and we are all competitive and want to beat each other and get better every day. We are all working as hard so we can get better.”
Sophomore WR Charlie Callinan
On new the coaches…
“Coach Fitch was a wide receivers coach before – he was our wide receivers coach before – and he always had our backs, was sticking up for us and always trying to get us the ball and put us in the position to make plays. Now that he’s the offensive coordinator, I feel like still really loves us a receiving corps and has faith in us. Coach White coming in – who’s a heck of a coach, a great football mind – has coached at a lot of great places. This was my first coaching change so it was a little different for me, but we got along real well. He’s been great. He’s a fantastic coach and knows a lot. He really coaches us up well. And everyone’s really excited about it.”
On being a young receiver with a lot of game action…
“We’ve got a couple of guys who played a lot as freshman, like Sherman [Alston] and even Thadd Smith played a little bit. It’s exciting for them and now that they’ve experienced that for one year, it’s unbelievable how much you grow after your first year. They’re getting a lot better mentally and physically – more mentally than anything. Just being able to read the defense and think like a quarterback when running your routes. It helps you so much and I’ve seen in these guys. It’s something they’ve learned and are trying to impress on the younger guys.”
On going against the BC defense every day in practice…
“It’s great. Coach Brown is a heck of a coach and he has those guys all riled up all the time. They’re always going hard; they’re always pushing. To know that we’re going to go against one of the best defenses we’ll see all season every day, it’s confidence boosting and it’s great for the season. When we come up to a defense that’s inferior to ours, it becomes second nature. So it’s something really fun.”
Sophomore DB Isaac Yiadom
On his sophomore campaign at BC…
“Enrolling early as a freshman helped me out. I have a high-level of comfort with the playbook and Coach Brown’s defensive system. I feel like I have fully adjusted to speed of the game as well.”
On his approach coming into this season…
“I worked hard all spring. I started at corner all spring. I am looking to make big plays and help the team out as a starter this year.”
On gaining muscle while maintaining speed…
“Our strength staff has helped prepare me very well. Physically, I’ve gained about 30 pounds since arriving to BC. I feel faster and stronger. I feel that I will be able to run with any receiver that comes to the line.”
