Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Heading into an away game against Boston College, head coach Justin Fuente and select Virginia Tech football players met with the media for a press conference on Monday. Read what they had to say below.
HEAD COACH JUSTIN FUENTE
Opening Statement:
"Like I said after the game, just really proud of our kids. I just think it's a remarkable display of perseverance and togetherness, the way they continue to battle back from disappointment. Three games really came down to the last play in the game. They're a lot of fun to be around, really inspirational quite honestly. We can all learn a lot, myself, our coaching staff and everybody around them, about these kids. I've just been really fantastic. It was fun to get to see them celebrate. We've got a huge challenge this week on a short week coming off a road game going on the road, playing on a Friday against Boston College, incredibly well coached team like you would think from them. Tough physical, really sound on the defensive side of the ball. Zay Flowers on the offensive side of the ball is just special, really incredible wide out. They do a great job getting him getting him the football. Their defense starts with the defensive line, I think. I think there're as well coached a defensive line as I've ever seen, watching technique wise and effort wise, really impressive. Certainly, those guys have talent as well. Offensively, it starts with running the football and then find ways to get the ball to No. four, which I don't blame them. He's a pretty special kid. We did not work out on Sunday, we worked out, but we did not practice. We practiced today. Obviously, we'll practice the week leading up to the game Friday night."
On how the team is feeling after the win:
"They have a little more bounce in their step. I don't think it should change our approach in terms of what we try to correct. It's okay to feel happy and to feel good. It's pretty telling, we were basically in the exact same situation versus Georgia Tech that we were vs. Syracuse with approximately five minutes to go in the game with a two-score lead and kicking off. To see Jalen Stroman make that tackle, that was huge, and to see us finish the game off was impressive. To see the kids in the weight room, obviously they have more bounce in their step. Looking forward to this opportunity."
On Boston College's quarterback situation:
"I don't know what they're going to do. We've been in this situation before with various opponents. They put [Emmett] Morehead in there I think the third series of the game last week. I thought he played well. They started [Dennis Grosel] and played him quite a bit so I don't know what direction they'll go. I don't know that they change dramatically. They look to push the ball downfield and run the football. I don't know that there's a huge disparity between what their approach is between those two guys. We'll have to be ready for whatever we'll see."
On offensive lineman Parker Clements:
"I am happy, I think the thing that stands out for me with Parker is his competitiveness. He gets angry with himself when he's doesn't do something correctly and works to fix it. He's been a great worker, comes from a great family. Fantastic student and he has a chance to be a really good player. He's still in the developmental stages but was one of those guys that called upon was ready to step up to the challenge."
DEFENSIVE BACK DORIAN STRONG
On executing on defense:
"It starts at practice first. We practice a certain way. Like we make jokes here and there. But when it's time to lock in, we lock in. We make sure we run into the ball. That's a big emphasis. Just making sure we know all of our stuff, all of our adjustments, before we go out on Saturday or Friday."
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN JORDAN WILLIAMS
On Boston College's offensive line:
"They're big guys. They're very strong. Ultimately, their size is really a huge part of who they are up front and they stay on blocks for a long time. For us, it's just going to make us stay disciplined, stay in our gap, and make the play when it comes to our gap."
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN PARKER CLEMENTS
On your improvement in the first eight games:
"I would say just getting comfortable in there. When I got my first couple snaps against Middle Tennessee late in the game, there were definitely jitters going on in there and butterflies but once I got in, it was kind of just like practice and I just kind of calmed down. It has seemed to go like that ever since I've got more playing time. So, it's been it's been good."
RUNNING BACK MALACHI THOMAS
On the impact of the veteran players have had on and off the field:
"They have helped me grow tremendously. They just opened up beautiful holes for me to get through, even the ones I can't see. I just find a way to make my way through. They continue to help me and push me to be better."
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN LECITUS SMITH
On getting a win on the road:
"It feels good to get a W after a while. We lost three straight. It definitely hurt to lose those three back to back to back. But it felt really good to get a W with my guys. Coach Fuente was definitely happy about it. We were happy as a team about it. We understood what we did wrong and we understand what we did right and of course we have to correct those things but it felt really good to get a W and hopefully we can capitalize on that as well."