Sept. 4, 2010
SAN DIEGO - Marshall Faulk News Conference
Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, Calif.)
On his reaction to being named the first honorary Warrior:
"It was good. I've actually been talking to Coach Hoke and his coaching staff about what they're trying to do and what they're trying to give back and how they are requiring the student-athletes to embellish into the culture of what it is to be an Aztec. In talking to him about that, even before they approached me about it, I was like, `That's a good idea.' Then they approached me about today and about participating, it was easy. I was like, `I'd love to do that.'"
On how involved he has been with this year's fall camp:
"I've spoken to the team. I've talked to Coach Hoke about various things. I've talked to several players about what camp is about and how you get through the struggles. (I've been) involved, but not like the coaches are. I'm not doing the due diligence like a Brian Sipe."
On the program:
"First of all, I like the tradition. I like what they are doing. I like what Coach Hoke is bringing forward to the student-athletes. I think in recruiting when you're selling your program to a kid, you have to have some tradition. When you think about the programs that set themselves apart, let's be honest, Notre Dame hasn't won a lot in how long, but you think about the tradition of Notre Dame and that's how you convince kids to come to school whether your program is top-10 or top-25 program, you have the tradition to sell them on."
On rebuilding the program:
"If you're starting fresh, it's difficult, but fortunately here at San Diego State, we have a rich tradition. It's not like you don't have people who have played at this university or coached at this university that you can point to and say, `That person was an Aztec. They were here at some point in time. Their footprints were left on this campus or on this field or on this court wherever it may be.' We have that."
On if he has seen progress in how Coach Hoke has handled football alumni:
"Most definitely. I have guys who I run into and not even met Coach Hoke and they're like, `You know we have a pretty good ball coach,' and I'm like, `Have you met him?' (and they say) `No, I just hear from people.' So word starts to travel when you have good coaching. I think that's where it starts, good coaching, good players, good alumni, all those things you build a program on."
On whether he could predict how the season would go for the 2010 Aztecs:
"I wish could. I'm just as anxious as probably those players, those coaches and everyone in here, to see what kind of product is going to be out on the field. Last year, I remember watching them against UCLA and although the game was a loss, I was amazed in just from one year, these same kids, how competitive they were on the field. Now you add two years in the same system, some bigger, stronger, faster kids. ... I'm excited to see."