TarHeelIllustrated.com - Williams, Michel talk with the press

September 22, 2008

Matt Carter and Jacey Zembal
TheWolfpacker.com

Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jarvis Williams and redshirt junior linebacker Ray Michel represented the players today as part of Monday's press conference. Click on the links to listen to their respective sit downs with the media.

Linebacker Ray Michel PC (7:28)

Wide receiver Jarvis Williams PC (6:41)

Ray Michel transcribed:

What does Nate Irving do for the defense?

"Nate Irving means a great deal to the team. He's a well experienced player. It is going to be, I'm not going to say it's hard to replace him, but it is going to be a little drought without him there."

What kind of job has Dwayne Maddox been doing?

"Dwayne, like I've said before in past interviews, Dwayne Maddox and Sterling Lucas, they've come in as true freshmen. They've really stepped it up since they've been here. They are in their playbooks and watching film. So, right now, if I were to go down, I'd have no problem with Sterling Lucas going in. He'd play just like a first-stringer, just like Dwayne Maddox."

How will your style change with Irving's injury?

"I will say that I have to step it up just a little bit more because he went down, whatever."

Any particular area you have to be more cognizant of with Irving not playing?

"It will be no different. As I've said before, I believe in Dwayne Maddox, and he can complete all the plays that he can run."

How much did the goal line stands against ECU help the defense's confidence?

"That was a big key to the day. It really got the defense up to the level where we can stop anything that they ran at us from now on."

How will it be like to go against a quarterback like USF's Matt Grothe who can run?

"I wouldn't say it will be that difficult. We've been playing against good teams with good running quarterbacks just like ECU. I believe that our D-Line will be able to contain him."

Did you want ECU to go for it or kick a field goal?

"It doesn't matter. Whatever they threw at us, I believe that we would have stop them."

Did you feel you had more energy in the fourth quarter?

"Yeah, we did. I really did. I know that we did a lot of conditioning to prepare for this game."

Were you on the sideline when Andre Brown got everyone fired up, running up and down the sidelines after the second touchdown?

"Yes, I was on the sideline. He was saying 'I believe.' That was something we said every day in practice when we broke all our huddles. He was just saying that he believed in us, and the offense believed in us and the special teams believed in us. We just said it back to him when he left."

Is Brown becoming a leader for the team?

"Yes. Andre Brown and most of the running backs are very, very quiet and into themselves. But in practice, he was screaming like a mad man. He scared me. So, he showed leadership last week and throughout the game."

Do you think it meant more to Brown because he went to high school in Greenville?

"No, I don't think it meant more to him. I think it meant a lot to the team to win."

Do you think Brown has emerged as a leader that way?

"I think a lot of the seniors are. They are our leaders. We look up to them and they have been here longer. They've been like leaders since I've been here, the older guys."

Is it good to see Brown breakout?

"He was like a mad man or something. They've been showing leadership. We have Jeremy Gray, and he has his own meetings outside to watch and break down on Wednesday nights, when all the DBs get together. They watch our opponents."

How many of the South Florida players do you know?

"About eight or nine of them."

Did they recruit you?

"Yeah, they did, but I didn't consider them."

What was the perception of that program around your hometown a few years ago?

"When they was recruiting me out of high school, I didn't look their way. I was looking for big-time name schools, whatever. To see them where they are at, it's surprising. I'm happy for them."

How do you keep the spirits up?

"We just keep our spirits up. Our spirits have been up, and I don't think they'd ever go down if a player goes down. We have so many talented players that they can come in and play as a first-string player. Like for instance, Dwayne Maddox. When he came in there, he played like Nate was playing. He was still there."

•••

Jarvis Williams transcribed:

How has the mood changed after the ECU win?

"The mood is going good. Everybody is more enthusiastic and everyone is more determined to make more wins, and look forward to next week. We'll have more energy and do better than we did last week to top it off."

When did you know you were going to win that game?

"We started after our loss last week, we came in the next day, knowing that after Saturday's game against ECU we knew we would be 2-2. We practiced hard. Everybody came out with a lot of energy throughout the whole week of practice and we came out with the win. We played a hard, full 60 minutes and a little bit more in overtime. We knew we were going to come out with a win."

What kind of job did Russell Wilson do and what he means to the team?

"Russell means a lot to the team. He used all what we thought he had, all his potential. He played a good game. He came out there and did his thing. He kept the team up through adversity and kept us hyped to play and win, and get this win. It was believable. He's a real good player and inspiration."

Did Boston College recruit you out of high school?

"Yes."

Did this staff recruit you?

"Yes."

How important was Saturday's game vs. ECU in your development?

"After hearing the critics about the offense not making plays or scoring touchdowns against D-I teams the past 200-some plays, I just felt that I had to go out there, and since I feel like the leaders of the wide receivers, I felt like I had to go out there and make some plays and do what I was supposed to do. That's my job. Help put points on the offensive side. That is what we are here for, to put up points. That was a big plus, coming out here and making plays, and putting up more points than ECU did."

How did Jamelle Eugene spark the team?

"Jamelle Eugene brought a lot of energy to the team. A lot more people got excited because we know he is going to play, give all he can and do what he is going to do to help the team win. Jamelle gave a good lift when he came back."

What kind of leadership has Andre Brown brought?

"Andre had a lot of energy through the whole week preparing for this game. He was at practice, leading us on, being a great leader and keeping us enthused. We practiced hard, and it's going to pay off on game day. It ended up all his hard work and enthusiasm that he gave to the team, paid of last Saturday."

How does playing four wide receiver sets pay off against a team with a lot of zone coverage?

"It opens up a lot and it's more easier for a wide receiver to get past a linebacker and a safety. They are a little bit heavier and not as light on their feet. That's how I scored my touchdown. I was at a stand-up tight end spot and went down the middle and beat the linebacker. Russell saw it and threw it. Playing four-wide in the tight end spot is more easier to get balls to and help us win the game."

As long as you don't have to block anybody or a linebacker?

"I've blocked a linebacker a couple of times during the game. He wasn't worried about me too much, just looking into the hole while I was trying to block him. It wasn't very tough."

What did it mean to score touchdowns in a variety of different means?

"It was what we are supposed to do, to make plays by any means. It felt great just going out there and keeping the offense on the field long by giving the defense a break. It let the other team defend us and get tired. We just stood on the field longer, driving when we want, doing what we want to do against them was a plus for us."

How is playing against your third nationally ranked team in five weeks?

"I love it. I love playing against the best and that is all I want, is to play the best. It's great exposure, it's fun and very competitive. It is very challenging at the same time. We just are always looking forward to playing bigger and better teams."

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