Indiana University Athletics
Quotes from BT Media Day
8/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Head Coach Gerry DiNardo at Big Ten Media Day
Chicago, Ill. - Head coach Gerry DiNardo answered questions from the media during Big Ten Media Day at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago on Wednesday afternoon.
Opening Statement:
GD: "Our biggest change from a year ago is our numbers. This year our numbers our stabilized. Last year we started the year with 69 scholarship players. We only had four graduate, so this year we had and opportunity to sign a full class to put on top of our 60 number. This will be the first year that we have a compliment of 85 full scholarship players.
"This is a major step, in our opinion, in trying to rebuild the program. This allows you to go in a positive direction in recruiting, where you can try to upgrade your roster by signing a better player as opposed to trying to balance your roster by numbers, and that is really one of the things that we feel we have accomplished the first two years."
On the new instant replay system for Big Ten games:
GD: "My feeling is that it can overturn a major mistake. It was not intended to be modeled after the NFL, but I think we have all been at home watching a game on television and seen a major officiating error that was conclusive by the television that we wished could be turned around. I think that's the Big Ten's intent, and I applaud them on it. I'm in favor of it."
On the attitude of the players coming into the season:
GD: "The attitude has been good, and it always is. This is the day I stand in front of you with the same record as everyone else. The same defense, the same offense, so this time of year our attitude has been terrific. I believe an important part of us is momentum early, making something happen early, because teams like ours need to be reinforced in a positive way early. That's why our non-conference schedule is so important."
On new recruiting rules:
GD: "It's been my experience during the whole time that most families and most young people have honored the process of recruiting. More and more parents are now involved in recruiting and over the last 10 or 15 years, I believe that recruiting has gotten better and not worse. I think that it's really unfortunate, and we overreact to what happened at one university. Because my experience has been with more parental involvement, the experience is positive."
On the strengths of the team:
GD: "I think we are starting to build some depth at certain positions. Wide receiver, I believe that we have some players out there that can really make some plays, and I believe us, as coaches, need to put players in a position to make an explosive play. We, as coaches, need to make the right call for our players to be explosive and make big plays."
On having a full allotment of players (85 scholarships and 20 walk-ons):
GD: "The first thing that comes to mind is practice. You can have more efficient practices. When are numbers are low, the guys that are playing in the games on Saturdays, the first and second team, have to simulate the opponents. Once you build your depth, you take the pressure off them and you can practice in a more efficient way."
On the goals for this season:
GD: "We'll be a better team, I think that obviously is our first goal. I believe we are a better team presently. I watch tape constantly from a year previous, or from last year's spring practice, that proves to me that we are a better football team."
On the early portion of the schedule:
GD: "We open up at Central Michigan then we fly to Oregon, then to Kentucky and play Michigan State and Michigan. With those first opponents, we need to gain some momentum. That will be the most difficult thing that we are confronted with heading into the 2004 season."
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11
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