Aug. 11, 2004
SAN DIEGO - Senior linebacker Kirk Morrison
On the upcoming season:
"As a player, I'm really excited for this year. Sitting out in spring (football) and being away from the game this long was hard. I learned a big life lesson, and I was able to sit back and realize that I really enjoy playing football. Watching the guys play in spring, having fun and really playing together, that's what I wanted. So one my biggest goal was to get healthy as fast as I could, so I can be out there with the guys.
"I'm more excited right now because at the end of the season, you reflect how things went. You start to talk to coach and think about what we've accomplished since he's been here. The first year he was here, we had the best passing offense in the nation, and the second year, we had the best defense. So what I'm thinking is what will happen when we combine the two? I believe this is the year that things will coincide with each other and create great things."
On fall camp:
"This camp is really going to see what type of defense we have. Last year, we had a lot of question marks. I didn't think we were going to do as well as we did. That was because a lot of people look at our team on paper and say, "Oh, you can't do it, you don't have enough returning starters or your D-lines are too light." Last year we proved them all wrong. We graduated some good D-linemen, Brandon Rager, Ryan Iata, Brook Miller-and guys that were unproven. The job that they did last year for us was big. Those were key components to this defense and seeing how we replace those guys and work together we will see at camp."
On the expectations of this year's defensive squad:
"Playing defense, especially here, you want to be out on that football field and any time coach gives us an opportunity to get back on the field, we love that opportunity. The defense feels like we are ready, because we feel our job is to keep the opposing team out of the endzone whether they are on the one-yard line, the twenty-yard line or on the other side of the field, we are going to make sure they don't go into the endzone. We told coach, whatever is in your heart, just do it, because we've got your back on defense."
Junior Linebacker Matt McCoy
On the 2004 defense:
"I am pretty excited about the defense. We have some people back, and even though we lost some depth, I think we will be okay."
On the Aztec linebackers:
"We feel confident, but it's when you start feeling too confident that you need to watch out. We have never stopped learning. This game is so complicated that we are learning something new everyday. We are a lot smarter this year, which will help us be the best."
On the 2004 team:
"I think this is the best team that I have been on since I have been here. The talent level is extremely high and I am hoping that we have a solid year."
Senior Offensive Tackle Mike Kracalik
On moving from right tackle to the left tackle spot:
"It's not going to be too bad. This is my fifth year, I am used to the system. It's just going to be a matter of getting my footwork right."
On the 2004 offensive line:
"I think right now the most important thing this preseason is developing five starters. That way we know who we will be playing with. You have to know the guy you are playing next to; you want to know what he is going to do. If we get five solid starters at the end of this camp, then we are going to be fine this season."
On the trip to Michigan:
"Of course it is a challenge, but as we said with Ohio State last year-they eat dinner, we eat dinner, they go to Michigan, and we go to San Diego State."