THE BRONX, N.Y. – Leading up to the Maryland game in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, interim head coach J.C. Price held a press conference on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium addressing the media. Read what he had to say below.
HEAD COACH J.C. PRICE
Opening statement:
"It's definitely an honor to represent Virginia Tech and the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. I can't say enough of how we have been treated. The Yankees and everyone have been gracious hosts. Everything has been so first class. This has been one of the best-run bowls I've been to in my 20 years of coaching and as a player. We are looking forward to facing Maryland tomorrow and am really excited we are getting this game in."
On being the interim head coach the last month and if he's enjoyed it or if it has been a burden:
"It's never felt like a burden. Some days have been harder than others and some responsibilities have been easier than others. But it's been a guilty pleasure. Once again, I was humbled to be given the chance to run the team and be the face of Virginia Tech for a few weeks. I didn't like the way it was handed to me, but I really have enjoyed it. There have been several things about it that I have really enjoyed and one of those things has been getting to know the other side of the ball (offense) a little bit better. It's been fun being able to watch the players more at practice day-to-day, rather than just being with the D-line. But getting to know all of the guys and being able to talk more intimately about their lives and getting to know these kids better on the offensive side of the ball on a personal level that you sometimes wouldn't get if you were just a position coach."
On if anything has been more challenging than anticipated:
"Just the time that your brain doesn't shut off. I now I realize why some coaches are thinner than others, because there were a couple of days there when we were trying to finish the recruiting class and get ready for the bowl game that I totally forgot to eat. So, the days would just fly by and you wonder how you could everything accomplished in the day. But, it's been rewarding and it's been fun."
On if there's anything he can take away from the interim head coaching role and bring that to his D-line assignment once he returns to that role:
"I will definitely leave this and go back to the D-line role with a greater understanding of there's a difference in making suggestions and decisions. I think sometimes as an assistant coach, everyone has ideas. And from the smallest details, including which colored socks the team is going to wear for the game. Just all the details and all the decisions the head coach is involved in, which I didn't realize while as an assistant. I'll have a greater appreciation for the time and effort that a head coach takes in for every aspect of the program."
On being intentional of not running the players into the ground practice-wise with there being a good amount of rest:
"There's a fine line between not being ready and banging them too much. It is late in the year. I've placed a high importance of good-on-good. We gave them some time off at the beginning for finals, then we got after it pretty good. We did Tuesday-type practice that was a little more physical and then we tapered that off as we got towards Christmas. Then they had two days off (Dec. 23, 24) then a travel day (Dec. 25), so three days off without practice. So, I thought it was important that we put shoulder pads on our first practice down here, then we did our normal schedule with a Thursday-type practice yesterday. It's also important to keep the routine together. Coaches and players are all creatures of habit, so there was no need to change things quite a bit. You have to maintain a balance of getting the work done, but also keeping the same type of schedule for them."
