The first game week is here and so were the ACC teleconference calls as the coaches previewed this weekend’s games.
In this edition of What we heard we bring you some of the highlights from today’s interviews with the ACC head coaches.
Q. Off the subject a bit. An issue atGeorgia and Georgia Tech and you’ve dealt with at Clemson. Is it tough to balance your obvious religious faith, very vocal about that,and football? Do you worry or do you understand there are concerns when people say maybe those shouldn’t be mixed togetherat a public university?
COACH SWINNEY: No, it’s not tough to balance at all. I think people just got to be who they are. It’s that simple. We’ve never tried to force anything on anybody. Everybody who comes to Clemson, they know who we are as people.
There’s no surprises in that regard. But we don’t make our players do anything. There’s nobody disciplined if they don’t go to church on Sundays or go to chapel or things like that, but those things are available for anybody
who wants to go. But we play the best football players, that’s what we do. As far as me personally having a hard
time, I don’t have a hard time at all. I am who I am. I don’t apologize for that.
Q. Talk about Dalvin Cook. How is he doing in practice?
COACH FISHER: He’s actually had a realgood summer, conditioning, physicality. Practicing extremely well. Very pleased with his demeanor, mindset, kept himself in great condition. Looked outstanding in practice, really outstanding. Hopefully he’ll continue to do that when Saturday comes.
Q. What is going to be the determining factor in who is going to get to start with quarterback?
COACH PETRINO: Well, you know, it’s the whole body of work throughout camp. Everything that they did as far as how they went about their business in the meeting room, how they lead the team, how they are reliable with the play calls, understanding exactly what we’re striving for as an offensive staff. Everything that they’ve done leading up to this point.
Q. Last year you came out of nowhere and finished strong. Are you comfortable starting the season with the expectations of top 20, favorite in the Coastal Division? Is that a good position to be in?
COACH JOHNSON: Doesn’t matter. I don’t think I pay any attention to it. We’ve been in the championship game three of the seven years we’ve been here. I think we’ve won the fourth most games of anybody in our league since we’ve been here. Maybe we didn’t come out of nowhere. Maybe people weren’t paying attention.
Q. What kind of an impact has GeneChizik meant so far in camp?
COACH FEDORA: Gene is changing the culture on that side of the ball with what we want to do offensively. He’s implementing his style, his philosophy on that side. I think it’s had a big impact on us because it’s made us different. We’re different than we were. Again, you have no way of knowing until we get out there and play a football game. But I’m excited about the opportunities that are coming.
Q. You’ve talked about how this game is the most anticipated one you guys have ever had in Blacksburg. I guess what would you have considered the second most anticipated that you guys have hosted there in Lane Stadium?
FRANK BEAMER: This may be the first and second. You know, we’ve been fortunate — when you go back and think about it, all those Miami teams that came in here and Texas A&M and Nebraska, I mean, you kind of go on and on
about all the big games that’ve happened here in the last few years. But this is one where, hey, never before
has there been a unanimous No. 1, I believe I’m correct in saying that, to start the year, never to
come to our place and open the season. That’s special.
But again, you know, the game is big. There’s no question about that. The whole country will be watching. People will have an opinion of Virginia Tech after that game, so we’re going to determine whether it’s a good opinion or not, so you know, there’s a lot riding on it, but again, as I mentioned earlier, it’s still the first ballgame, find
out where we are, let’s get better from there.