BullsVision: BJ Daniels Press Conference
BullsVision: Jim Leavitt Press Conference
BullsVision: Joe Tresey Press Conference
BullsVision: Mike Canales Press Conference
BullsVision: George Selvie
BullsVision: Jason Pierre-Paul
Photo Gallery
TAMPA – Since returning to the offices and the film room on Sunday afternoon, USF head coach Jim Leavitt has been focused squarely on Syracuse, and he wants the rest of the football program to put the glory of the Florida State win behind as well.
The media almost immediately wrote that the Bulls win over Florida State was great for instate bragging rights, but the Bulls needed to have success in the BIG EAST before they could make some national noise.
Leavitt doesn't disagree with the media.
He knows that Syracuse is a completely different team from the version USF defeated in 2008.
On Saturday in the postgame locker room, Coach Leavitt celebrated and congratulated the team for “changing history” with their defeat of FSU.
Then he used the opportunity to remind the players that Syracuse will be a great challenge, and the road in the BIG EAST will be very difficult. He preached a one-game-at-a-time approach to pursuing the BIG EAST Championship.
Freshman Steps Up: True freshman Sam Barrington played a huge role in the win on Saturday. The rookie linebacker not only filled in for a dinged-up Chris Robinson in the first half, but he also was in on the fourth-and-goal stop in the first half.
Barrington talked about it at media day today.
He said during the week of preparation, co-defensive coordinator David Blackwell told him that a “true linebacker would jump [over] the [offensive] guard and make the tackle from the backside."
That is exactly what Barrington did in assisting on the momentum-shifting tackle. You can watch the highlight from BullsVision Here.
His Turn To Shine: Jason Pierre-Paul was the undisputed star of media day this week. The junior defensive end was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week after forcing a fumble, recording a sack and piling up three tackles for loss against the Seminoles.
Pierre-Paul is a great story. Stay tuned to the local and national outlets for more scoop on the Deerfield Beach native.
We'll Remember the Florida State Game: Coach Leavitt might make us run sprints, but we'll do it to fulfill the fans desire for memorabilia from the Florida State game.
USF has produced a poster series commemorating the big win in Tallahassee. These are first class, high end posters that will be the focal point over your mantle or in your game room.
Learn More About The Exclusive Series Here
GoUSFBulls.com is also auctioning off a GAMEBALL from the historic win. The game-used ball was locked away by the football equipment staff after the game. That staff will get the ball painted with the score, team logos and date before shipping out the auction winner.
We also may have big news coming on a potential DVD from the USF win over Florida State. Stay tuned...
Coach Leavitt Quotes
Opening statement -
"The Florida State game was a big win for this program. In this state we have four BCS schools, and it just moves us closer to where we want to be. I thought the guys practiced well last night, and they worked hard. They are a little bit sore which is understandable. Most teams are when they lay it on the line. I imagine Florida State is as well.
"Today is going to be a very important practice. I thought it was important last week that we had a good week of practice, and I think it is going to be just as important this week. Syracuse is not what they have been in the past. It is a different deal. Paulus is outstanding, and I have watched him a lot. I am very impressed with his demeanor, leadership, and he has great feet. He has great accuracy and he is a winner. The offensive line does a great job. Williams is a tremendous receiver and both running backs are exceptional. Their defense plays extremely hard and they are very well coached. This is going to be a great challenge for us, and our guys know we need to play extremely well. Our guys understand that we need to remain focused on Syracuse."
On if it becomes more difficult for Daniels now that people have seen him on film -
"Well he has to improve with everything he does, like his management of the offense, his throws and certainly with his decision making. I think, yes, people will see him on film, and they will see what he can or cannot do. As the year goes on, people will try to do some things to defend those types of things, but also BJ has more reps to get better, and he will have to deal with more situations. Hopefully that makes him better, and that is the challenge of it all on both sides. BJ knows to be a great quarterback, it takes more than one game. It is how you do over time. It is very important that no matter if you win or lose that you move forward."
On Jason Pierre-Paul's development -
"He is getting better, but he is certainly not there. He has a lot of things to work on. The best thing about Jason is his attitude and how he has approached everything. You have a guy from junior college, so you don't know how he is going to take coaching, how he is going to take being pressed, how he is going to do with his coursework and with time management. There are a lot of variables, and he has really been focused. I think the other guys around him have been helping him."
On if the play of the defensive line will open up more opportunities for Selvie -
"I think the people are really going to pay attention to George Selvie. I don't think the guys have done quite enough yet to merit that kind of attention. It is really important for Terrell McClain, Aaron Harris, Craig Marshall, (Patrick) Hampton, and all those guys to play extremely hard. We talked about how we needed depth at the D-line, and we are getting closer"
B.J. Daniels
On his best congratulatory message -
"The one I got from my Mom and Dad. My parents were pretty excited for me and I got to spend some time with my Dad after the game."
On if he has been able to put the win in the rearview mirror -
"It was just another game. Saturday and Sunday I enjoyed it, then Sunday night was the first time I actually watched film of Syracuse. We definitely have to move on and focus on the next game."
On if playing a BIG EAST opponent is just another game -
"Well the BIG EAST is more important. The BIG EAST is what we talk about all spring and all summer, and that is our focus now."
On who stood out in the Florida State game -
"I think in our game against Florida State we all stepped up as a team. The defense did a great job and the players on offense really helped out. Overall I was happy with our performance."
Joe Tresey
On if he's excited to get to BIG EAST play -
"Yes I am really excited. Every game counts but these ones really count because now you are talking about a BCS Bowl and a BIG EAST Championship."
On what allowed the team to force so many fumbles -
"Jon Lejiste of course had a big hit, and with most people the ball is going to come out with a hit like that. Kion put his helmet on the ball, and he just tackled the ball with his helmet and it came out. Sabbath just had two strips, and they were legitimate strips. We are working on striping the ball during the week, and we emphasize the importance of turnovers. We are trying to get that mindset going."
On how much they stressed playing aggressive against Florida State -
"We stress it every week and every day. I am sure every defensive coordinator in America stresses the same thing. We have really tried to stress to our players about being physical, playing with your face in your hands, tackling with your feet running and little points like that."
On Kion Wilson -
"If you ever go to battle you want that guy in your fox hole. He is a coach's dream. He jogs to the practice field, practices and then jogs back. He is a hundred miles an hour, every rep, and every second. You tell him jump, he will say how high? You tell him to run through a wall, and he will say how fast? He has just gotten better every week because he a focused kid, and it is very important to him. When it is important to you and you are very focused, then your opportunity of getting better every day increases tremendously."
Mike Canales
On if he was surprised Daniels played so well -
"No, I wasn't surprised. His preparation was great and he spent a lot of hours in the film room. He has been preparing since spring, and we gave him a lot of reps. We knew Matt Grothe was going to be our starter, so we had the opportunity to give BJ and Evan a lot of reps in the spring. Then going into the fall camp when Matt had a little bit of a hamstring (injury), I think BJ took six straight practices with the first group. So you think about all those things now and you say, wow that was invaluable. BJ has prepared extremely well. He was poised and confident. Confidence is something he doesn't lack, but it is a quiet confidence."
On the challenges of having BJ compete in his first conference game on the road -
"You have to step it up another level because this means everything to us. This means BCS opportunities, and BJ understands that he needs to be humble in this whole thing. He said it right last night that the Florida State game is over and we need to move on. We know the challenge we have at hand, and we have to go up and play in a hostile environment. Every game on the road in the BIG EAST is a hostile environment. It's a whole different mindset when you go and play. I think BJ has that quiet confidence, and he understands what is at hand. I think he will handle himself very well."
On if he's ever coached a basketball player -
"I have had opportunities to coach some baseball players but never a basketball player. You can just see his quickness on the field and how he handles himself with the ball. I saw that, though, when I was recruiting him and he was on the basketball floor. How he handled the basketball on the court just showed some of the things he could do on the field with the football, and it was quite exciting. In my 24 years of recruiting, he is probably the best quarterback I have ever recruited."
