Fresno State Athletics
Pat Hill Quotes From Monday's Press Conference
8/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 25, 2003
On Tennessee
"I think they are a really good football team. They're 103-25 in the last 11 years. We've lost more games in six years than they have lost in 11, so they are a very solid football program. I think they have great speed and size, they have a four-year returning starting quarterback and they're coming off a sub-par year for that university -- eight wins and a bowl loss. I think we are going to be playing against a very hungry football team that many people are predicting to be very good this year."
"Since I've been here, I don't know what it was before me, I think this is the best football team we have played against to this date -- talent-wise, personnel-wise, facility-wise, they don't get much better."
On the progress of the offensive line
"It's getting better each day. We have to make sure we get a hat on a hat in this one. We've got to make sure we have all of our bases covered -- handling the noise, handling the fronts and making sure we are assignment perfect. If we do that, we will be fine. We can not blow assignments on the offensive line in this game. It would be too big an error. The main theme right now is that we make sure we have everything covered up. If we get beat physically, we get beat physically. But we can't get beat on mental errors, and we can't turn guys loose."
"Football has changed dramatically. It is a very difficult game to pick up. Tennessee is probably not as complex as we are. We probably are about as NFL-type a defensive structure as there can be, but I think a lot of that is initiated because we have to rely on a lack of size and quickness. Tennessee is playing with linebackers at 6-3, 235 in the middle that are as big as some of our defensive linemen. They've got big people that can come off the edges. They're a physical football team. It's going to be fun. It's going to be a great challenge."
On the strengths of Tennessee
"I think it has to be their athletic ability and size. They have very good-looking athletes that can really run and play. They've got big-time playmakers that can light you up in a hurry. We're going to have to play one heck of a football game -- very similar to the game we played at Colorado two years ago. We have to win in the kicking game, we cannot turn over the ball on offense like we did at Ohio State in 2000, and we have to get some takeaways. That's how you win games like that."
 | "We have to get him the ball. He's one of the better players in the country. If Tennessee takes him out of the game then the other guys have to step up." - Pat Hill on senior wide receiver Bernard Berrian |
On the team's preparation up until now
"I think our players have done an outstanding job. These players have taken it upon themselves to get themselves ready. We didn't have one case of heat stroke or anybody that had to go to the hospital for bags of fluid [during preseason practice]. Except for a couple of injuries to the offensive linemen and [running back] Matt Rivera's arm, it was an injury-free camp. They reported in good shape and mentally ahead of the game. The only dark spot from camp was the two injuries to the offensive linemen, and other than that it has been a great camp and a great preseason in preparation for the season. I couldn't ask for more than what they've done to get ready for the season."
On the heat -- and possible humidity -- playing a factor in the game
"I don't think heat and humidity will be a factor for us in this game. It comes down to execution. We have to make sure we do a good job with our liquids before the game. After the game, we have to make sure that during the plane flight back we keep getting them on their liquids and we have to take care of ourselves. I think these players have bought into knowing they could be going into an environment that can be very hot and humid. All you can do is prepare."
On the youth and inexperience of the offensive line
"This offensive line has a lot of pressure on them for this game. I brought up the offensive line I coached at Arizona in 1990 that started three true freshmen. That team ended up doing very well. It's all mental. You have to go out and execute and play. We can't let them think that there is any other expectation than executing and winning."
On how Fresno State's passing game has looked
"So much of camp is passing under pressure where it's all blitz. The big emphasis in scrimmages was running the football. I've been very pleased with our seven-on-seven drills, but we needed to emphasis the running game in camp and the play actions and the screens, and we've gotten a lot better in those areas. For three months we were throwing the ball down the field. What we needed to emphasize when we got them back was the play action, the screens and our first down passing game. So a lot of things we emphasized in camp were things we didn't do a lot in the summer. I think our passing game is going to fine."
On how Bernard Berrian has looked
"He's had a really good camp. Last scrimmage, he played about 32 plays and touched the ball about 13 times. We have to get him the ball. If they take him out of the game then the other guys have to step up. He's one of the better players in the country. Hopefully we can get him the ball. He's a guy that can score make big plays and create plays for other guys."
