Oct. 31, 2000

HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL

On the jokes being made about the Duke game:
I don't pay any attention to any of the jokes that are made about this game because this game is very important for us. We're preparing hard for it and we're trying to get ready to play a good, tough team.

On the week off:
We tried to focus in on some of the things that we've been having problems with and one was our effectiveness in the red zone, stopping teams in that area and also scoring. We've worked a lot with our offense versus our defense and those critical areas. The best thing about the week off was getting our guys some rest and some added time to get healthy. If we would have played last Saturday, we would have probably been without the services of about six or seven guys, so it came at a good time in that regard. We wanted to give them the weekend off so that they could get a break, kind of back away from it a little bit and get a look at it from a different perspective. They've always been a group that will come out and work hard so that didn't change; and they've been a pretty enthusiastic group as well. I think it did do them so good, but we'll see how much throughout the rest of this week.

On the health of freshman quarterback Anthony Young:
He practiced Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday so he looks okay. It was actually a bruise on his knee.

On Duke:
It is one of those things where we prepare for a team, we don't necessarily look at a team in relationship to it's record, but just in terms of players that they have and things that they do on the field. In terms of that they are a good, solid team. They have a defense that will give you as many problems as any team you face and I think you can see that with some of the teams that they've played. Against Maryland it was 3-0 at halftime so they're real steady. Offensively they have weapons. Darius Bryant is a good player and fine athlete. Epperson the tailback, along with a couple guys, can run the ball extremely well and they can throw it as well as anyone also. They give you enough problems with so many things that they do that they are a very difficult team. Then you match that up with one of the best punters in our entire league and they have a good return game. They are a good, solid team.

On teammates getting down on each other following the Maryland loss:
After that ballgame there was some frustration, which is good I think. You get tired of losing and you want to do something about it, but it wasn't negative. It was more of a way that they handled it amongst the family and tried to encourage one another to do better and that's what it takes. There are not to many days that I come off the practice field thinking that we were dogging it, that guys weren't working hard or haven't been putting for enough enthusiasm. We just don't have those type of guys that will do that. They will come out and give you a good days work every single time we go out and practice. I can't say that, and it happens in spurts, that something internal is happening that creates a little bit more intensity and I think that's happened. I think that what a lot of people don't understand about teams that play well is that there is as much internal coaching going on than there is from the staff. That's why a lot of times people will refer to a player as a coach on the field. When you have that type of atmosphere - that is really where you get the kind of intensity and consistent play that you need. We're getting some of that, which is good and that is healthy.

On going through a winless season:
It doesn't matter if you've ever been through this before, it still isn't easy. There is difficulty there. In terms of leadership qualities and capabilities it is a time that you have to be at your best. It will certainly challenge you. As Martin Luther King said, it doesn't measure a person where they stand in times of convenience and comfort, and I'm paraphrasing here, but they're measured where they stand in times of challenge and controversy. The challenge is a good thing because we get a chance to go through some things that other people don't. I consider my self very fortunate. I don't feel sorry for myself or our situation. All we've got to do is find a way to get better. It makes you come up with some answers and you have to solve problems. It challenges you from a managerial standpoint and a motivational standpoint and all those factors. You have to try to hold it together and keep them focused in on getting a job done. There's difficulty there.

JUNIOR LINEBACKER ED KARGBOOKOROGIE

On the results of practice:
We have focused in on the fundamentals, making sure that the basics were taken care of ö positioning, footwork and stuff like that. We're just making sure that everything is ready to go when we play.

On the winless season:
Beyond the fact that we have not won a game yet, each game taken by itself is a challenge and one that we concentrate all our attention to. We're just looking forward to playing again. I think we get up to play every week and having the week off just gets us even more ready. The challenge is play well and win the game. All the jokes about the bagel bowl and stuff doesn't really affect us because we're so hungry right now.

SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK JAMES MACPHERSON

On the 0-7 start this season:
If you had told me before the season that we would be 0-7 going into the Duke game I wouldn't have believed you for a bit. That is the reality that we're facing going into this game, but more so is the reality that this is a good possibility for us to get a win and also an opportunity to beat Duke. They've beaten us the last two years and so we want to beat Duke pretty bad. I know I want to Duke pretty bad because we haven't beaten them since I've been here.

On the week off:
Getting healthy was probably the biggest factor that helped us. I know that me and couple of other guys got away for the weekend to go to a former teammate's wedding, so that was nice to kind of get away and get rejuvenated. I'm feeling pretty good. Coming off this past week, which we had a really good practice week and I feel good going into practice today.

JUNIOR CENTER VINCE AZZOLINA

On the past week of practice:
We went back to the basics and worked on the fundamentals of the game. We actually took a little time off too. We had Friday and Saturday off, which was nice, to get away from the game a little bit. I think everybody was so tensed up and tired. You get tired from losing and so the time off really helped.

On the sense of urgency to get a win:
I think there is a sense of urgency for both teams. I know they want to win and I know that we really want to win, so it will be pretty fierce on both sides. It will be very intense on Saturday. We've heard all the jokes and you just have to take it in stride. We've got to have thick skin and broad shoulders. We'll just keep working hard, that is all you can do.