HokieHaven.com - Coaches look ahead following ECU victory

November 5, 2009

Hokiehaven.com Staff
HokieHaven.com Staff

Virginia Tech's coaches met with the media following the Hokies 16-3 victory at East Carolina on Thursday night. Bud Foster, Bryan Stinespring and Frank Beamer discussed what went right, the struggles, Lyndell Gibson starting and more inside.

Defensive coordinator Bud Foster

Opening statement?

"I don't know if I like these games or not. They make my stomach hurt. I'm proud of our kids they came back after two tough losses, came in here to a hostile environment and beat a good football team. I'm proud of the way they kids played for 60 minutes. They played with a lot of emotion and played hard. They made big plays down the stretch and it's a good victory against a good football team."

On containing Patrick Pinkney?

"That was part of our game plan. Hopefully to also take out No. 17, we didn't want to allow them to have success running the ball, their running backs are dynamic players. Pinkney is an outstanding player and he can create things out there, we tried to bottle him up and he can scramble and throw on the run. We contained him for the most part."

On East Carolina finding their most success just before the end of the first half?

"We kept them out of the end zone and anytime you do that, that's big. We missed a couple tackles and they made a nice throw and catch down the sideline. All in all I'm proud of our kids. After two tough weeks, the thing I like about this group of kids is when people start doubting they are relentless. I challenged our kids to be who we are and there was so much pressure on these kids. I thought they have played uptight and I wanted to turn them loose and have fun. I want us to play well and have fun again and it looked like we did again tonight."

On the offense gaining the advantage in time of possession and the defense then being fresh in the fourth quarter?

"That's big. I don't know on third down, but we got off the field for the most part. Offensively we kept drives going especially late. Ryan's knocking nine-yards a pop and if we eliminate penalties, we kept shooting ourselves in the foot. We have to eliminate that part; the game shouldn't have been as close as it was when it was said and done. They are a really good quality football team and they'll probably win Conference USA, that wouldn't surprise me. It's a quality win and I'm proud of the way our kids played."

On Rashad Carmichael?

"Rock's been the guy for us. He's been a pleasant surprise and the most consistent player from game one to now. That was a position of concern after spring practice. He and Cris Hill were going back and forth and one week consistent and next week he was inconsistent. He stepped up to the plate and did a great job. I'm proud of him, he plays very, very well and improves every week."

On the crowd?

"We had a great crowd tonight. I appreciate them coming down for a Thursday night and I hope they'll be up at Maryland next week. I know those Northern Virginia alums are looking forward to that game. That contest is big a big ACC game to get us back on track."

On starting November with a win?

"That sets the tone for November. It makes you who you are in November with bowl alliances and now we're bowl eligible for the 17th straight year in a row. We're very, very proud of that and want to continue to build on it."

Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring

Opening statement?

"It's great to get back in the win column. Coming into this environment and knowing how pumped East Carolina is about this game and how much they were looking forward to this. Rebounding from a couple losses and we battled four quarters to find a way to win.

"It wasn't pretty all the time, but we found a way to win. A couple times we had to get better finishing drives and maintaining drives. That's been disappointing. Sometimes we're our own worst enemy. Then we were a victim of circumstance, they hadn't blitzed a corner all year and they did on the reverse. We've got to take advantage of our opportunities better and make sure we're not pressing. We misread two signals and a had a couple penalties and those things add up."

On Ryan Williams?

"I had a question earlier this week about how Ryan Williams would respond. I didn't think there would be any doubt. He told me, 'Coach I want to run the ball, run it hard.' I told him you'll get the ball, don't misinterpret me the plan is to get the ball in your hands. He had some phenomenal runs and we had nice blocking for the most part. The moving front that they couldn't beat worked to our advantage a couple times and he did a great job moving angles and if you can't square up Ryan it's almost impossible to tackle him."

On ready to hit the conference again?

"It's a great start to November and I'm proud of our football team and the way they battled in this football game. It was great to see a lot of Hokies up here. Now I'll sit around on Saturday with my kids and probably get away and enjoy it a bit."

Head coach Frank Beamer

Opening statement?

"I'm so proud of our coaches and players. They hung in there and were relentless, that's what this team is all about. It was a tough week this past week. We went back to work and had a good week of practices. I'm impressed with East Carolina. They look the part and I think are a good football team. They certainly played their best and put a lot into this with ESPN and they were jacked up. To win in the fashion we did with a great defense and the offense moved the ball. We left points out there, but special teams did well. We almost had a block on a guy and kicking, Matt Waldron made his field goals and Bowden kicked fairly well. Our headhunters need to get the ball better, but it's a good overall team win and I'm pleased and proud of our football program."

On leaving points off the board and East Carolina having a chance to score quickly?

"They've got that ability, we left points out there when we had a chance to get them. The offense I felt was good, we had some success and we functioned well I thought. It was a pleasing sign tonight."

On winning the time of possession?

"Against that time, they've got some good guys and that tailback can run and wide receivers are fast and the quarterback is a dangerous guy. We want to win the time of possession."

On Ryan Williams?

"He carried a lot in the dressing room after that game last week. He felt like he let people down and was doing everything to help Virginia Tech win. He helped his teammates get the victory and I'm proud of him and who he is and what he is, a terrific football player."

On Tyrod Taylor outside of the fumble?

"You're talking about a guy that kept some plays alive. He did tremendous things for this football team. You've got to be careful and we'll look at it. He was trying to get the ball in the endzone and fumbled just before he crossed the plain, before he was down. That was a tough deal right there. He played great and did tremendous things for us."

On the defense only giving up big plays right before the half?

"They hit a couple nice passes and we missed a couple. It shows how explosive East Carolina is. I thought they were impressive on that drive and we held them to a field goal. The defense did a good job to fight like heck to hold them to a field goal. I don't know how many times they've done that this year."

On Cody Grimm?

"That strip and fumble recovery was big. I told Cody, you are just all football player. He's just got a good football sense and it is fun coaching guys like that."

On Lyndell Gibson and his recovery?

"I think Lyndell played really well tonight. One time he bit on a screenplay, but he's a football player and it makes sense to him. He likes to play the game."

On the defense not giving up a big play?

"That's the key to it. You make them keep snapping the ball and you can come up with something eventually."

On Danny Coale?

"He's been a terrific player. Watching his development, he's as steady as a rock. I thought he made big plays."

On the team having a sense of urgency?

"I thought it was a good week of practice. We had good meetings before coming over here. I told the team they were a relentless group of football players."

On Rashad Carmichael's play?

"He's got some quickness and speed. He's having a really good year."

On the fans?

"I appreciate the Tech people coming down here. I hope they all get up to Maryland. We have a chance to win the next three and get a bowl win and that'll be 10 wins again. I care where we stand, but if we can get 10 wins after this season and the heartache we'll be happy regardless of whatever happens."

Final thoughts?

"I can't tell you how pleased I am of this football team. To play the way they did tonight, we're going to celebrate going home and we need it."

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