VT's Frank Beamer Press Conference on Clemson

by Press Release - Wed Oct 25 09:05:04 GMT-04:00 2006

Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer:

Opening Statement:

"I'm really pleased with our football game against Southern Mississippi. I think our kicking game really helped us field position-wise. I was really pleased with that part. I thought offensively, the offensive coaches did a good job of mixing things up. Players certainly did a good job getting a running game going and getting some balls caught. Defensively, playing a good, solid football game. In the first couple of series, they kind of adjusted a little bit, and then did a good job in that regard. I think the fact we only had five penalties, too. That's the way to win football games and we know that. We certainly want to continue in that direction."

On Clemson:

"Clemson is one of the great teams in the league this year. The two running backs, (James) Davis and (C.J.) Spiller, are just exceptional talents. Defensively, they have a very big, athletic front four and then the linebackers are active. [They're] just a solid, really good football team. Both kickers have kicked for them a couple of years, and they are just a bit scary. They played a great game against Georgia Tech over the weekend, so this is a challenge for the football program."

On the Virginia Tech quarterbacks:

"Sean (Glennon) is definitely the starter. He's done a good job for us and did a good job for us the other night. We're trying to figure out whether we can get Ike (Whitaker) in there and do some things with him. And do enough things with him to keep everybody honest, because Ike brings something to the table. We haven't figured it out yet, we're trying to figure out Clemson."

On the offensive line:

"We had five of them make the Chain Gang, which is a winning grade. That was Duane Brown, Sergio Render, Danny McGrath, Ryan Shuman and Brandon Frye. They played better (against Southern Miss). I think what will happen is in those young guys you'll see improvement. Once you've had enough starts, and you kind of establish a level, you expect a guy to play that way. But when you're young and inexperienced, every film that you watch and every game that you play you can learn from. Every team you play against, you get better. That's what I feel like you see with our offensive line."

On the comparisons between C.J. Spiller and Reggie Bush:

"I think you can make that comparison, and people would think you know what you're talking about. He can stop on a dime, he has a burst to him and he's really explosive."

On Thursday games after a Saturday game:

"It's tough. We came in here early Sunday morning and tried to get Southern Miss out of the way. We had a 9 o'clock staff meeting and got our awards and so forth, then went right to work on Clemson. We had a meeting Sunday night with our team that started at 8:30 [at night]. It's tough. You play a physical football game on Saturday and now you're right back at it and getting ready to play on Thursday. Now, in the past we've played Thursday night games and had the Saturday night game before it open. I like that. But when you play the Saturday before, then you play Thursday, that's a tough situation."

On what he told his players on behavior:

"I mean it's pretty simple. Play the play, get back in the huddle and get ready to play the next play. We don't need to be talking. If it goes toward helpings us win the football game, that's great. If it's not going to help us win the game then we shouldn't be doing it. If you do that, then you're playing football and that's what we want at Virginia Tech."