Nov. 1, 2000

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- "We're coming off what was an open week for us. We needed to get a few guys healed. We're a bit healthier than we've been in the last week and that's what we needed to play Duke this weekend. It's obviously an important game for both teams."

On TV game/exposure
"Anytime that you're on TV it's good for your program, there's no question about that. Particularly, it gives a fairly wide viewing range to see you and your team perform, so I think that's positive."

On the struggles of both teams
"I would not see it any different than any other game from our vantage point. We prepare every single week to play a tough hard-nosed game. It's the circumstances of such that we're both in a hole and trying to get out of it. Nevertheless, the intensity and preparation level - I hope we don't see a difference. We knew we'd struggle a little this year. Anytime you lose the number of guys we lost, it's going to be a struggle. I anticipated that we'd be able to get a little better as the season went on and become a competitive team. We've felt that we've gotten better in some areas, but not necessarily as a whole team."

On offensive production
"Looking at our football team, we anticipated that we'd get a little better. We found our rhythm. Earlier in the year we were missing some key guys. Now we're starting to get a little better rhythm. I contribute that to the majority of our team. Even some of the younger guys are becoming more experienced and playing better."

On injured secondary
"Right now, we're anticipating all those guys will be back. I'm assuming you're talking about Tehran Carpenter and Quintin Williams. Chukwumah will be back as well. We anticipate all three guys being back in our secondary, which I think will help us."

On D. Bryant and the Duke quarterbacks
"He looks dangerous; he's definitely a guy that has a lot of talent. Then too, it's still in the back of our minds what Spencer Romine did to us last year. They certainly have some firepower and we're trying to get prepared to deal with those two guys."

On Nick Burney
"He's still practicing with the teams, but can't play for us, obviously. He's playing on our service teams and giving a look to our defense from the running back position. I anticipate if all goes well, he'll be back in action in the spring."

On the two-quarterback system
"Anthony Young has started a few ball games and MacPherson would come in after the second or third series. We'd bounce back and forth depending on how they were playing. At Maryland, James played the great majority of the ballgame. I anticipate you'll see them both; both of them are working well together. We built our entire system around C.J. Leak and he was a guy that could do both the run and the pass. When he was injured we had to take two guys that had no experience whatsoever and we divided up the duties. As they get more experience, we're starting to add a little more to their arsenal."