2003 Spring Game Quotes
Apr 26, 2003 | Football
April 26, 2003
KANSAS STATE HEAD COACH BILL SNYDER
On today's special events...
"It was really is significant about today and what I really appreciate about all of our fans and the way that they supported all the troops and families that were here from Fort Riley. I know they go through some hard times and they certainly have and I can appreciate that. The deal was to make it appropriate for them and at the same time recognize the families of Patrick and Jacob. I think it's a blessing that Patrick is back, but you take Jacob's family that was here and that's hard. That's really hard, I know that, you know that and obviously they know that. I was so pleased that our fans and the people that where here recognized them so readily. It made an impact on their lives, I can assure you that. I'm just honored and I think you are too and I know our team is that those people represent us and the people of Fort Riley. What an amazing group of people to do what they do and have done to make the sacrifices, to have the discipline, they are very special to us. I'm pleased in our own small way that we had an opportunity to recognize and display our affection and respect for what all of them have done and have gone through."
On the game...
"It was probably like any spring game we have had, probably like any practice. There were things we were pleased with and a lot of things we weren't. I just don't think the focus, the tempo, the concentration level, the emotion...
I don't think the intrinsic things were there. There were some guys with nice performances. I think all of you saw that Carlos Alsup is going to be a player for us and will run the ball aggressively and hard. I think you saw that Dan Davis is going to be a good athlete for us. He ran the ball well and as a wide receiver made a play or two. And obviously I think the guys you know about did okay, nothing to write home about, but they were not terrible. But there were some that played extremely well. We had a few penalties in the ballgame, not an inordinate amount, but we had some. We have to be better than that and in any respect."
On the quarterbacks...
"I thought under the circumstances Ell wasn't terrible, but not nearly what he is capable of. And I though Jeff Schwinn, after he settled down a little bit, really did a nice job. Some of the good things Jeff did really didn't show up. I thought he played well, made some good choices and good decisions, really threw some good balls that didn't get caught. He did a nice job just handling the offense. The same was true of Dylan Meier. Dylan's stats probably aren't that hot, he made a poor decision and throw an interception ball and probably made some inappropriate throws. But on the same token, for the first time out there, I was pleased with the progress he made."
On Ell Roberson...
"I think was probably ahead of where he was a year ago, but not near where he was when he finished the season...
We let the quarterbacks call all the plays, we just give them the parameters. That affects the performance level for a quarterback because a quarterback is focused on something now that normally he's not totally focused on. Normally he's in the huddle waiting for it (the play) to come in. He's got to make the decision, and he's not accustomed to making that. We don't put them in a position to be totally accustomed to that, so that can affect a performance as well.
On becoming a fourth-quarter team...
"There is now reason why he can't get better snap after snap and that was what the intent was. If you want to be a good fourth-quarter football team, and every team in the country does, you have to find a way to get yourself better throughout the course of the ballgame or your not going to be the type of fourth-quarter team that can win ballgames."
KANSAS STATE PLAYERS
Sr., FS Rashad Washington
On the game...
"We still know we need to get better at a lot of things. Basically, we were just trying to go out there and have fun."
On what he's going to work on over the summer...
"We're going to work on some real minor things. Stuff like tackling, knowledge of the offense and defense that we know we can improve on easily."
On the anticipation of the fall season...
"It's going to be here before we know it. I can't wait because it's my last time to step on the field and give it all I got. I'm going to be excited for it to get going."
On this being his last season...
"I think I want to work hard regardless, even though it's my last year. I want to give my best to the team and all the fans. We want to try and go for it all and win a national championship."
So., FB Victor Mann
On the game...
"I think it went okay. We're progressing through the spring. Coach gave everyone a chance to get out there and show what they could do and what they've been taught. I think it was a pretty good day all in all. We still need to get better. The main thing is to get better every day and we got a little better today."
On the anticipation of the fall season...
"We're ready to get rolling. We've got that early game August 23rd. We're just trying to prepare and take one day at a time."
On what he's going to work on over the summer...
"I'm going to work on my quickness. I'm trying to get faster and stronger. I'm trying to get prepared for the long season so I can be ready at the end."
Jr., DE Kevin Huntley
On the game...
"I think today went pretty well. The team has lots of things to work on. The defense has lots of things to work on. Overall I think the team played with excitement and played with effort. It was a pretty good day."
On anticipation of the fall...
"We've been practicing against each other for so long. We're excited about playing the University of California and starting the season."
On getting to play in the game...
"I was nervous because I've never played in a spring game before. I tried to calm myself down, I was nervous at first. As the spring game went on I settled down and treated it more like a normal game. I made more plays and relaxed more."Jr., DB Cedrick Williams
On the game...
"I thought today went really well. At the end of the spring, we just wanted to put everything together for the last day. We still have a long ways to go. I'm learning from the spring. It felt good to go out there and play in front of the fans and the people from Fort Riley who came and the families of those who helped out in the war. I just wanted to go out there and have a good time. Today had nothing to do with us. Today was a day for the fans and the people who came out for the ceremonies at halftime. It was a day for them."
On the attendance...
"I was surprised. I didn't know it was going to be this type of atmosphere. It was a nice day. It was the perfect thing to acknowledge the Fort Riley guys, giving acknowledgment to the ones that didn't make it back and the ones that did make it back from the war. It wasn't a day for us; it was a day of celebration for everyone in the war. That was the best part about today."
On the anticipation of the fall season...
"I am excited but at the same time I want to keep it at the same pace it's going right now. We need to continue to learn. I want to get better each day and use the workouts that we have to get ready for California. Summer will be a big part of our workouts. We're going to try to stay focused and keep pushing. Not to go back, but to keep going forward."
So., QB Allen Webb
On the game...
"Today went pretty well. Today was a day of executing your plays and having fun. For the most part I had fun. I was proud to see a big crowd."
On the best part of the day...
"Probably the last run I had before halftime. That really got me going."
On the anticipation of the fall...
"I'm excited about the fall because I get to learn more and get a good grasp of the offense. That's what I really need to do, get a good grasp on the offense. I want to go forward. This summer I'll be working out throwing a lot of balls to my receivers. Overall, today was a good day. And the best thing was that I had fun."
Sr., QB Ell Roberson
On getting back out on the field...
"It was great to be out there with the guys. They've been working out hard all spring. I wanted to see some guys step up and they really did. I think the offensive line stepped up and made some key blocks for us."
On calling the plays...
"It was fun for a while, but coach Snyder got on me a little bit because I was a little pass happy at times. But that's just a quarterback wanting to throw the ball more."
On the receivers dropping balls...
"They did but it just comes with the territory. We'll try to correct that this summer in two-a-days and when we get ready for the first game."
On preseason magazine polls...
"I'll try my best to avoid them but I'll hear about everything going on. Right now, I'm just trying to help this team get wins in the best way that I can."
On not having to deal with being the starter...
"It's relaxed a lot for me now. I know what I have to do and the coaches know what I have to do. We'll try to get it done."
On Nick Leckey...
"I'm real happy for him. He put in a lot of work as a true freshman. He put himself in a great position. My hat goes off to him."
Sr. Defensive End Andrew Shull
On making progress...
"I think we made some real good progress from the start of the spring. The guys are playing hard. It's been a productive spring and guys have gotten better. I really think that we set ourselves up for the fall. We're not exactly where we need to be, but over the course of the summer I think things will pan out."
On expectations for the fall...
"As a team we put great expectations on ourselves. We're just concentrating on the summer and getting better."
On his role as a captain...
"We'll try to get guys to stay in Manhattan over the summer and get the whole team working out. If we can do that and get everybody in drills I think we'll be pretty successful in the fall."
On Matt Butler...
"He played really good today. He had a couple good hits on some running backs. I was really impressed by his play and his emotions."
On who impressed him today...
"I think our corners did a good good defending the pass. Randy Jordan did a good job. Rashad (Washington) did a good job covering the receivers."
Wide Receiver Derrick Evans
On taking a leadership position...
"I've been confident ever since Lockett was here teaching me the "W" spot. Like Ell said, whoever steps into that W spot has got to step up. I'm just trying to get into a leader role for the wide receivers."
On how the team played today...
"I think we connected pretty good, but on some pass plays we could have connected better."
On playing in the BCA Classic...
"We didn't think we would play in it because we were declared ineligible to play at first, but all the guys are excited to play in the BCA game."
Junior Defensive Back Louis Lavender
On team's play without Terrance Newman...
"There is a big void in the secondary and we're all stepping up to try and make this year just as good. We are all getting better so I think all around the secondary is a lot stronger."
On new recruits...
"We have some really good athletes and they are working on learning our defense. We're trying to get them a lot of reps so they can understand the defense. Once they get that, there will be a real competition for the second corner. I think Randy (Jordan) is doing a good job, but there are a whole lot of people fighting for the second corner."
On the upcoming season...
"We're always going to have a lot of work to do. No matter how good we get, we can always get better. I really cannot call it because I've only been here for one season so I don't know how we'll do next year. We're looking just as good as last year, and hopefully we'll get better. We're hoping to do some things that Kansas State has never done, like win a National Championship."
Sophomore Linebacker Matt Butler
On expectations...
"I like to have high expectations for myself and I don't want to settle for anything less. It is exciting to play linebacker here with all the tradition. I hope that I can be part of it. "
On contributing...
"I think I still have a ways to go to improve a lot of aspects of my game. I think I successfully improved a lot during the spring but I have a ways to go. I am fairly happy with my play today, but I would like to be better. This summer I will try and get bigger, stronger and faster."
Senior Quarter Jeff Schwinn
On today's game...
"I felt pretty good today; I felt real comfortable with the ones. I was also comfortable with the twos, but there was a little more cohesion with the number ones and more maturity with the number ones. But the twos are learning, and that is where I am at right now. But we are running and getting better everyday. Just like today we have some good things, and there are some things we need to correct."
On improvements...
"We have to improve in every aspect of the game; you can't point at one thing and get good at it. It has to be every aspect of the game and try to get better everyday."
Senior running back Daniel Davis
On his duel role...
"I like it a lot. I can showcase my talent at running back and wide receiver. Right now we need people that can play more than one position to help our team out. I am willing to play anywhere as long as I can contribute my talents and help us win, then it doesn't matter."
On the new offensive coaches...
"There are changes in the offense with the different coaches stepping in for the ones we lost. Now, we seem more deadly because we can go short, mid-range, and long, all at the same time, with just one personnel. We are so diverse now; it is going to be hard for any defense to stop us."
On being a different kind of wide receiver...
"I weigh twenty pounds more then any wide receiver we have. I lost twenty-one pounds during spring ball just so I could play wide receiver. I have not lost any speed or strength. That is just another weapon we have on the outside. Once I catch the ball, I just run an outside play and I can do my own thing."
Senior Offensive lineman Nick Leckey
On entering the season being a top-ranked team...
"We've always got the mentality that we will be at the top. We just have to go out there and perform. It basically comes down to how we practice and how hard we work in the summer. That is going to pave the way for the rest of the season."
