Nov. 12, 1996

Off The Practice Field...Coach Lou Holtz

JOHN HEISLER: This is John Heisler here at the University of Notre Dame. A couple of reminders, kickoff this weekend is at 1:30. Our regular Sunday morning wrap-up with Coach Holtz will be 10:30 on Sunday. Coach Holtz will make some opening remarks then take some questions.

COACH HOLTZ: What is real difficult, I visited with some you have after practice. I look out and see people that haven't seen me for a week.

First of all, we will practice in the stadium tomorrow - practice in the stadium tomorrow afternoon. Be a first for us to practice in there. Even though it is going to be cold, they need to make sure the lights are adjusted properly and we would like to get used to the lights a little bit. I guess, we are a little bit different - I don't know what could be different about it. We will go even though it is going to be cold tomorrow, we are going to go outside and go under the lights.

Injury-wise, talked to A'Jani Sanders yesterday. The funeral is tomorrow. He might possibly be back here by Thursday. If he does, he would be available to play during the course of the game.

We have some people really play well last week. Of course, everybody knows, Alton Maiden, Renaldo Wynn, Melvin Dansby played his best game in several weeks. Kory Minor, Deke Cooper. Deke Cooper had an interception and a fumble recovery and six tackles. We did have too many mis-tackles in the secondary but overall, offensively, Mike Doughty is playing exceptionally well. We had many of our backs played awfully, awfully well, all of them.

But we had 31 special team opportunities during the game last week. In other words, like one out of every five plays in the game is some form of a kick. And as long as I have been coaching, the first time I had an individual play in all 31 plays in the special teams, without a minus. He played every play and every play was a plus, that was Kevin Carretta.

Our special teams were really playing well. But to play 31 plays in special teams without a minus; plus he played 22 plays as a tight end. He and Peter Chryplewicz are really playing awfully well at tight end, but when we looked at the film, we played well.

The fumbles, the penalties and the mis-tackles on the secondary were the three things. We made some mistakes, but, overall, we played very, very well. I feel very comfortable with the runnin of the football team is in at the present time 73. They come to practice Monday and come today realizing it is a workday. Doesn't seem like we started the season over. It doesn't seem like it is a long year, but I do dislike the weather that we will have to practice in right now. But just sort of falling into a rhythm.

Let me say a few things about the University of Pittsburgh.

I think Pittsburgh is probably as improved a football team as I have seen. I think Johnny Majors has done a tremendous job with his team since he played Ohio State.

They have changed offensively. They have changed defensively after they lost to Syracuse. They lost to Syracuse. They had an open date. Their last two games they played Virginia Tech at Virginia Tech and they were ahead of Virginia Tech 17-13 in the fourth quarter and then, of course, they beat Boston College.

They changed their offense and defense. They have had 16 days to prepare for the University of Notre Dame. I have never had a team have that long to prepare for us unless it was an opening ballgame. But, I am more concerned about our team and how well we play and what we do in the football game.

The guard situation will probably be Akers, Jeremy Akers and Tim Ridder. The defense has asked for Brett Williams back. We are going to look at him in a backup role at the present time in defense. I feel his best position is on defense. But, he did an awfully good job over there on offensive guard. I think that, you know, that is where his future is on defense. That is where I think he can be an excellent player.

Jason Ching - we recruited two defensive linemen last year that were outstanding according to all the reports. One was Brad Williams. And, the other one was Jason Ching.

Jason Ching has a back problem at the present time. I believe he is going to have surgery. It is a serious back injury. It could very possibly jeopardize his future. And, that is sad for all of us because you get a young man with his talent, his abilities, but we are just going to wait and see and say a prayer.

The reports on Scott Cengia are very, very positive. There is a difference of opinions with the doctors down there. We will keep you updated as we find more information, but talking to Scotty he is very upbeat and very, very positive.

Pittsburgh always plays us very difficult. I think Pittsburgh beat us down there in 1987. They beat us up here in 1986. I remember both games very, very vividly. We barely got by them in 1988. As you will recall, their quarterback was going in for a touchdown and fumbled just before the half. And six Pitt guys had a chance to recover it and our Blessed Lady kept pushing it until Stan Smagala fell on it. We fought for our lives there. But, it will be interesting. I look forward to seeing our football team play.

I wish I knew a little bit more what Pitt was going to do with the big open date. But, a young man by the name of Billy West is from Buckeye Local High School, I think it is. He is having a tremendous year and their tailback, Dwayne Schulters, is playing awfully well.

Since they changed quarterbacks and went to Matt Lytle, their offense has really had a good spark. He is a good scrambler. He runs the ball well; runs a lot of play action passin. He is a big young man, 6 foot 4. Throws the ball, strong arm. He is really a good leader. I mean, their football team has just gotten better and better since they have gone with him. And, his screening ability bothers me.

Their offensive line is very well coached. They are a young football team in some respects. They have good speed at wide receiver. Defensively they are a little bit undersized at the linebacker position. They play hard. They have two excellent corners. The one young man, Brown will be back for our game. He has missed the last couple.

But, their other corner Rasshad Whitmill made two of the most incredible interceptions you have seen against Boston College.

We played Boston College in man-coverage much of the game and did a very, very good job on it.

Their punter, they think, is the best in the country. He is averaging about 45 yards a punt with tremendous height and tremendous hanging time. So their kicking game is good. They are averaging 24 yards a kickoff return which is one of the best in the country. So, you know, we know that we are going to have to play well. Everybody says, well, you are a prohibitive favorite. That means nothing. I am going to tell you: This is not the same Pitt team you saw earlier in the year. I told you that Boston College would play against us and the way they'd play and throw and catch the ball and they did.

I am going to tell you, you are going to see the same thing against Pitt. Pitt is a team that beat Boston College and could have very easily beat Virginia Tech.

Tennessee was a big favorite over Memphis. Michigan was a big favorite over Purdue. Vanderbilt lost by 7 to Florida and had a touchdown call back and missed a short field goal. So it's a crazy game. When we are turning the football over and having penalties and worrying about having some missed assignments, we approach every game the same way and that is with a tremendous focus on the game. That is all our focus is on.

Now, what questions can I answer for you?

Q. Barring anymore injuries, such as Edwards, do you feel reasonably good about the team's posture going into these three games running toward the Bowl, the hopeful Bowl?

COACH HOLTZ: Yeah, I really do. We are hopeful to be able to make the last Bowl. But, I feel comfortable. The loss of Edwards and Cikai Champion has been a big hamper. The receivers - we haven't thrown the ball the last two weeks and what little degree of success we had, we haven't been able to get the ball to the wide receivers on a consistent basis.

But, I think offensively, we are falling into a rhythm. We welcomed back Mike Rosenthal, obviously. He could possibly be back as early as Rutgers. But, Doughty and Clevinger and Chryplewicz are really playing well.

Our backs are playing well. Other than the fumbles and the penalties, and our inability to throw the ball on a consistent basis against man-coverage, defensively, I think we are getting better in the secondary. But, we still don't -- you know, we still have some problems there, although, Allen Rossum is playing well. Covington is playing well. Cooper is making plays. Benny Guilbeaux is playing hard. It would be nice to get A'Jani Sanders back and get him some practice time. And our front 7 is playing well. Yeah, I think our players are not a great football team, but, I think we are falling into a rhythm which, obviously, you heard me before, Jack, several weeks ago I commented we weren't into a rhythm. It was distressing. We seem to be in one now.

Q. You expressed some concern about the fact that Pitt has had 16 days to prepare for this. Can you just talk a little bit about those times when you have had that kind of time to prepare for somebody, and what kind of advantage that gives you?

COACH HOLTZ: Well, it gives you tremendous advantage. Let us talk, No. 1, that you can dictate what kind of physical condition your football team is going to be in. You give them a couple of days off or a day or two off; then you practice them physically for a while and get the game plan. Then you perfect it. Then you back off so that they are really anxious to hit. I mean, you have 16 days. You can really do that.

The second thing you can do; spend a lot of time with special teams. You get a lot of time with special teams.

Three, you get a lot of film study time. They get to watch us on film. Their coaches study us longer; decide exactly what they want to do. Their players get to see us longer. You just have longer to put something in; just like playing in a Bowl game. You play in Bowl Game, you may see something completely different.

But, also what I have found is great when you have a lot of time in between a game, you can sit down and visit with the players individually. You can visit with them. You can talk to them. You can listen to them. You can go back to fundamentals. It is just -- there is a lot of things you can do. And, I say this, one thing we take pride in, we have come out of almost every open date a better football team than what we were. I don't think I can ever recall an open date that we didn't do that. But, gee, you ought to be able to do that.

Q. I realize this is an issue that has been going on for a while, but this is Pitt's fourth game on grass. Last year they only had one. I am curious as to what your stance is on the turf versus grass?

COACH HOLTZ: I think it is easier to go from turf to grass than it is from grass to turf. The games play quicker. People make better cuts. A team that goes from grass to astroturf normally will not tackle as well as they do when they are on grass because the backs make cuts you just can't believe that you can make that on regular grass. I think it is easier to go from astroturf to grass. That is why most teams that play on astroturf, when they play on grass will not practice on grass very, very much because the adjustment is very, very easy. Whereas, teams used to playing on grass make a tremendous adjustment going to astroturf, so, I don't think it will affect them at all.

Q. What is the situation at the receiver spots with Cikai out, what kind of rotation are you looking at and what is the status of Raki Nelson and Shannon Stephens?

COACH HOLTZ: Well, good question. I really can't tell you what rotation.

Cikai Champion really played well this year. He has been a real pleasant surprise - played well without the football.

Raki Nelson did not make the trip; nor did Shannon Stephens. I visited with both of them yesterday. I think Raki is going to have excellent week. I think he is going to step up to the forefront. I am hopeful Shannon Stephens will do exactly the same thing. If they step up, our split end would be Malcolm Johnson and Raki Nelson. That would be 1, 2.

And, the flanker would be Emmett Mosley and either Brown or Stephens. But, depends what happens in practice. Raki had a very good practice yesterday.

Q. How would you assess Malcolm Johnson's progress as a guy that didn't play at all, a freshman, and barely played last year, how has he progressed from August to now?

COACH HOLTZ: I think Urban Meyer has done a tremendous job with our receivers in general. A lot of things that our receivers do don't show up in the stats. You don't see them. But their blocking downfield has been excellent. That is one of the reasons we have been able to break some big plays. I think Malcolm's best football-- what is Malcolm, 17 or 18? Malcolm was a 16-year old when he came here, I think it was. He is very, very young, but he has got a lot of talent. I think he is getting quicker. I think he is going to be an excellent receiver next year. He is getting better in receiving the ball. And, what I want to see him do is get comfortable catching the ball and run with it. He is averaging about 1.21 after the catch. And, a guy that big, I think, is going to become a big player. He just has to mature. Right now he is so conscious about catching the football and he doesn't have a lot of experience there prior to this year; I think he has done a wonderful job. But, I definitely think that he is only 50% of the receiver he is going to be next year.

Q. Last thing on Raki and Shannon, did either one or both of them indicate dissatisfaction with being here and indicate that they were looking elsewhere?

COACH HOLTZ: No. No, not at all. Not at all. They may be. But none whatsoever. None whatsoever. And I tell you, we made a decision and I felt it was the right decision.

Q. Realizing Boston College is behind you, one of the things that came out of that week was this knowledge of how pervasive gambling is on campuses all over the country. And my question is, because of that, have you thought about re-examining how you monitor your own players as to how they may or may not be exposed to this sort of thing here at Notre Dame?

COACH HOLTZ: I think that is an excellent question and I wish I could give you an intelligent answer, but I can't. But I want to say this: Gambling is part of our society. I mean, you get behind a wheel, you gamble. You gamble every time you drive on the snow here to a certain extent.

But, you know, we talk about what the odds are, all the time. You pick up USA TODAY and there is what the odds are. I think that you turn on TV and you get all these - "call this number, be a guaranteed winner," you know. I see you on that station - not on that show - but I see you on that station. You know, it is all around you. I never think twice about it because I don't gamble. And none of our family gambles that I know of. So, it has never really been the top priority in my mind. But when it, happens somewhere else, you say, well, that is something we have to address. Obviously if it happened there, it could happen here. And, we have addressed it.

What is hard for me is they get up and they go to class all day. From the minute class is over they run over there and get taped and go to a meeting. And, they go to practice; get done from practice, they run to eat. And they run to Study Hall. And, then if they can find sometime to sleep, so I just never thought that you had much time here. Plus, we have a special situation because our athletes are located in all the dorms. The dorm's rectors, that is their life. I think that is what makes Notre Dame special - all the rectors there because I lived in a dorm while I was in college for part of the time and the whole think was don't bother me and I won't bother you, I am here to get a Masters Degree. And, just don't blow up the building and I won't say anything and so -- I am serious. This is the attitude it was. Whereas here, there isn't much that can go on in the dorm without the students and without the dorm rector knowing. And, I probably rely on the University of Notre Dame and the dorm rectors are probably more aware of what is going on. And, I have never heard anything along that line. And one thing about Notre Dame: It is hard to keep a secret at Notre Dame.

So, that is all I can tell you, is we do address it. But, I think we have some built-in reflectors that other schools may not have. Now, does that mean that we have no problems? No, I can't sit here and say I promise you, we have no problems. I can sit here and say I firmly believe in my heart we don't. I can't guarantee it.

Q. How much more do you worry about keepin team's concentration level near the end of the week before a home game rather than when you travel together?

COACH HOLTZ: Oh, boy, oh, boy, I will tell you what, as soon as I get done here, we are going to pass out pencils and papers; I will take all suggestions everybody wishes to give us on playing at home.

We have a much easier time playing on the road than we do at home. We play pretty well on the road. At home, it is difficult. We have looked at everything.

Now, why is it different? One, we don't spend much time together during the week, period. We just don't. We get on the airplane and they are laughing and joking. You are together in the hotel; you are grinning with one another. You have meetings and whatever lounge time, they are there.

We don't have that on the weekend. One, there isn't an awful lot of time. You have so many people coming in; people from their home and everything else to occupy them. So you have a meeting and then you come back and you have the pep rally. And, the pep rally is great. But when we are on the road we leave after classes. Like we left for BC, the buses left 2:45, the plane left 3:30. We got at BC at about 5:30. Got to the motel at 6. Ate at 6:15. Had a kicking game meeting. Had a long position meeting. Had a long offensive, defensive meeting. Had a long team meeting. Went to bed.

With the pep rally, because we have to go down to Plymouth, we don't have long meetings. We have meetings on Friday afternoon at 3:15. We usually have a kicking game meeting, but this week, I think, Mr. Tagliabue is going to be on campus and we have asked him to speak to our team. I don't know whether he is going to agree or consent. But, I think it will be nice to have him talk to our team.

But, then we have a kicking game meeting, you have a offensive, defensive meeting. Then they eat. Then you got the pep rally. And, my meeting can't be real long because of the long bus ride. Then you get up Saturday and you come up here and you eat up here and then you get on their coat and tied and you go to church. Then did you to the stadium. And, that is our schedule. I have looked at it. It is hard. But, would I change the luncheon? No. I love the hamburgers. Would I change the pep rally? Absolutely not. Do I think we need to get away from campus? Absolutely. We don't go to a movie and do -- we don't have time. Time is a problem at home and I don't know, but I can assure you, we are looking at it and if anybody has any suggestions, instead of all the alumni saying put in this pattern and pass rush, show me a schedule for a weekend at home.

I will tell you right now. The stadium expansion is coming along great. I have asked the University of Notre Dame to look at doming it. I think if we put a dome on it, it is applicable and needed. We need a dome stadium.

Q. Going along with the schedule at home, you talked earlier in the season about November being the toughest month because of the five straight games. This will be the middle one. How do you keep the team focused through that and especially injury-wise, how do you deal with this long month and how are you doing with that?

COACH HOLTZ: Injury-wise really starts cropping up on you. And, we knew that coming in that when we came out here the open date and going to Navy and then coming back and the jet lag and going to BC and now, you know, cold weather, etcetera, we have made our plans. For example, I told the players last week we will only be in full gear today. Today will be a good physical practice. Whereas, Tuesday and Wednesday have always been physical practices. Tomorrow we will be in head gears and shoulder pads. I know that the players will be excited; then they will ask to wear pants because we are going outside. But, we are trying to cut it back. We are trying to cut back on our work time; on what we do. We are trying to cut back on the things we change, add. And, just trying to keep simplifying from this point forward. We have the nucleus of our offense and just trying to keep it simplified.

Q. You said that you are hopeful to make an Alliance Bowl. Mike Doughty was in here earlier and said that at the (inaudible) yesterday a coach basically told the linemen, it is up to you guys to decide if you want to play in a January 1st bowl game. Have you addressed at all the situation with the bowls with your players and if you continue to win these next three, would you start talking post-season on what they may have an opportunity to maybe do?

COACH HOLTZ: I always try to praise the situation with them. I do try to cover it. I explained to them if we did win and it was possible to go to a January 1st bowl, if we went to a January 1st bowl, we would play a very, very good opponent. We could possibly, the maximum we can do, is playing in two and -- but that is the very best.

Now, what is important now, is Pittsburgh. What is the best way that you can do it - is to stay focused on what you have at the present time. But, I always talk to our football team, not in great depth or detail, about polls or Bowls or anything else, but about winning and going from there and they understand -- remember, last year you all do a good job of it. You talked about the 8 million dollar game last year, I think. I hope we get to the point where you write about it again this year. But they understand. Contrary to what you might think Notre Dame is a good academic school. Everybody that comes here come has pretty good intelligence far greater than I have and I mentioned it on Friday night briefly. Just -- I don't mean to have you stand up there, but, just one second, my whole preparation with the team focuses on two things.

If anybody said, "what do you say to them Friday night; what do you say to them during the game?" One, I say to them is "why is this game important." The second thing I say to them then "how do we win it." Here is why this game is important; here is what we have to do to win it and everything falls into those two categories.

Q. Kind of expand on what was just talked about with the current Bowl Alliance with only two at large slots open, it is conceivable that Notre Dame could win out; go 9 and 2 and be aced out of all the bowls whatsoever. Is there a need for the University to kind of re-examine that and maybe had a fall-back position in the future?

COACH HOLTZ: I really don't know. If we go 9 and 2 and don't end up in a bowl game then there is nothing I can do. That would not be the biggest disappointment in life because we have had some other votes that we felt were a little bit unfair and we survived those. I don't recall what they are exactly, but, I am sure there were.

I think that, you know, the different conferences set up their own deals with the different bowls and I don't even know how it works. The Outback Bowl has the fourth team from this conference and the second from this and this conference; this bowl tie one this conference -- I really don't know. You would have to ask somebody far more aware of it. Only thing I want to do is I want to be 7 and 2. Come Saturday night when I go home and sit down, just before I do the dishes and scrub the floor I want to be able to look in the mirror and say "we are 7 and 2."

Q. There has been a number of firings and resignations in the midwest, and you can throw Kentucky into that. Do you see this as a disturbing trend especially since most of them are at schools that traditionally have been middle of the pack or bottom of the pack and have had trouble no matter who the head coach is; what is your perspective on the whole thing?

COACH HOLTZ: I don't think there is any job that is a dead end. I don't believe there is any job that is a dead end. I believe that in the bottom tomorrow of my heart. I think when Bill Mallory first went to Indiana, they did a nice job there. Lee Corso had some very competitive football teams. I think -- let me ask Mr. Historian, what was Ara's record against Purdue when he was here?

What I am saying is it wasn't because they didn't have great football teams or have the team well prepared, but in '68 I was at Ohio State. We played Purdue. I mean, they had Ohio State 35-nothing at halftime the year before in '67 and in '68 we played them when they were No. 1 in the country. So, Purdue had some outstanding teams.

Now, Minnesota at one time had some outstanding teams. Illinois. I have always felt Illinois does an excellent job. I really do. I think they are good athletes.

I think Indiana does a good job. You are close to Ohio. You have athletes in Indiana. You can recruit Chicago. I think the same thing with Purdue. Purdue can recruit Ohio. Purdue had a lot of good Ohio football players. Two of the best quarterbacks were Len Dawson and Bernie Allen (phonetic).

I played with Bernie and they had Barnett, the great tailback. I want to tell you, my last game in high school, I was the middle linebacker assigned to Barnett. He was a Junior, 1953, season of 1953, everywhere he went, I was to go. He scored 5 touchdowns. (LAUGHTER).

This year he got 6. I did a heck of a job on him. But they have had good athletes from Purdue. They had them from Florida. I feel Illinois could do an excellent job. So there is -- people make choices or make decisions. Last year there weren't any. Weren't hardly any vacancies open, so, you know, coaches come and coaches go.

Q. Curiosity question on this subject. Are you surprised to see some of these coaches resigning? It used to be when there was a coaching change, it was a firing. We are seeing so many are resigning before the end of season now. Does that surprise you, Lou?

COACH HOLTZ: I think that the way coaching is today it is a little bit different in this respect: As soon as the last game is over, you got recruiting. And, so, recruiting makes it very, very difficult and puts a premium on it. And, then you have the academics, the finals. You are getting ready for winter program; getting your staff together. So, I think the people that resign earlier are the ones that are looking at the best interest of the university.

Q. Off the subject. Actually this is in response to a letter that we got. But, you have gotten away from the full house backfield completely. You used to like that. You favor that once you got in the red zone. Is that because that is not Ron's forte or are there other reasons behind getting away from it completely?

COACH HOLTZ: No, I think that is not Ron's strong point on that in the wishbone. I think we had some quarterbacks, you know, that did a nice job with the -- Paul Fallon did a nice job with it. Tony Rice, obviously, did. Rick Mirer did a pretty good job with it. And, that is the reason we got away from it. Plus it was -- you needed about five plays and you need to rep them and you had the full house backfield and I have always felt that is the best goal line offense in the world but you need to rep it and you need the quarterback to be the trigger man on it. Whereas, I think -- you know, our red zone offense has been pretty good this year. But, we are in the straight T, it was unbelievable. Where I miss a straight T is short yardage. That has been the most disappointing thing as what we have done on short yardage. We have been stopped more on third and 2 than any time that I could possibly remember.

Q. And next year Jarious Jackson quarterback, that would be something that you will reinsert --

COACH HOLTZ: I think that is something you look at, absolutely. You need the fullback No. 1. You need the quarterback also. Marc Edwards is a pretty good fullback and Jamie Spencer and Joey Goodspeed is going to be an excellent fullback. He has got some quickness. And Jarious Jackson. And, what people do not realize is our freshman quarterback Eric Shappel - he is 4.5. He had been timed just under 4.5, he doesn't look quick, but he can run. So, we will look at that as a possibility of going back to it.

I also would not rule out the possibility of Ron Powlus coming back. And I certainly would welcome him back. But, I think that I like it. I like the straight T down on the goal line.

See, goal line offense is attitude. It's attitude. You get in a straight T, you are not fooling anybody. Here we are. Here we come. Just your attitude and the way you got to coach it and where you put -- where you -- well, we got this guy to go low and run a fade..... And, I will never forget -- I forget -- might have been my first year here. But, we are in a scrimmage and we were pounded. One of the offensive lineman said, "can't we throw it? Can't we get one easy?" You know, I lost my mind. Now, our offensive linemen, they don't want to throw. They want to go run the ball. And, we have that mentality now what we didn't have for a while. We got that mentality now where they sort of like running it.

Q. What does Jarious run 40 in?

COACH HOLTZ: I imagine Jarious would be 4.55. -- just under 4.6. He has got very, very good speed. Excellent quickness; has surprising strength. So, both those quarterbacks are sub 4.6 and Eric may even be sub 4.5, although, Jarious is probably a little quicker than Eric. But, they are both excellent, excellent quarterbacks.

Q. You just brought up the subject of Ron. Has he given you any indication that he is thinking more seriously about coming back?

COACH HOLTZ: No. And I haven't talk to him about it. Somebody said he is thinking about it. I will talk to him at the right time. What is important for Ron Powlus is what is in his best interest. I don't think he can make that decision now. I think he can only make that decision when you have all the facts and everything else. That is something that he will have to look and way and evaluate at that time. I wouldn't even consider talking to him at the present time. Wouldn't even consider it.

Q. Going back to the coaching thing, in the last couple of weeks you, yourself, have used the retirement word a couple of times. Is that supposed to be a hint or anything like that?

COACH HOLTZ: I want to tell you, there have been rumors about me forever. I just want to win the last three football games and I tell you, I still have a strong desire to coach and have more enthusiasm than I ever had and really looking forward to the future.

Q. You mentioned several times about the pre-game meetings. Could you briefly take us through what happens there? You mentioned the kicking pre-game meeting. Other than the obvious, who is there, what do you discuss?

COACH HOLTZ: You talk about when you meet with the team, you mean?

Q. Yes.

COACH HOLTZ: With the kicking team?

Q. Right.

COACH HOLTZ: What we do is usually we have kicking game meetings during two-a-days and during the season, etcetera, but, basically what we do is we talk about each phase of it. We take our punt team. We talk about what our goals are; what our objectives are; what they do. We will look at a short bit of film on the opposition.

We then take the same thing with the punt return, what our goals and objectives. On our punt return, there are six basic fundamental principles.

No. 1:  You hold up and you hold up with your hips. You got to keep your hips squared. 
No. 2:  You (inaudible) release away.
No. 3:  You keep separation and distance at a minimum.
No. 4:  You do not touch him until he breaks down in the football position.
No. 5:  You hit the play side number.
No. 6:  You never lose them back cross your tail.  That is basic.

Everybody does the same thing. We will talk about that. We reinforce it. We show it on film and then we talk about and that will work if the guy fields the ball. If he doesn't field the ball, then let him know and you are wasting your time. But we will talk about our goals, objectives; look at film, etcetera. Then I will talk to them in general about the importance of the kicking game and challenge them. I think we have done very well in the kicking game in the last three weeks. I think we have had enthusiasm there. We have played well there.

Pitt has the best punter in the country. That is what Hunter Smith says - not really, but I'd say to Hunter, geez, this guy is all-America, unbelievable. He is averaging 43,9. Hunter Smith, oh, 43,8, you know, it is interesting. Same thing with -- you jab them a little bit. You know, whatever, you try to have some fun with them. But, then on Sunday we look at the film and I give them the grades. This person played 26 plays on special teams, got 23 pluses, three minuses. This person played 7, got three pluses, three minuses. Would you please stand up so the teammates can see you. Because they aren't going to see you on the kicking game again and I just want them to have a good picture of what you look like. Nothing real strong. (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER)

Q. If Ron were to come back, is he your starter or does Jarious get a shot at competing to the job?

COACH HOLTZ: I think you have to give Jarious a chance, but Ron is an excellent quarterback. I keep waiting to put Jarious in and what we have said is if an individual fouls up and has a turnover, that is his fault, or a penalty, then they are going to be replaced for how long, I don't know. If somebody has a penalty they are coming out of the game unless it is me.

I know I defy sometimes, I will say to the official, give me a 15-yard penalty and they won't do it. That tells me something. Next time I may get one, now that I said it. But if somebody has a penalty, they are coming out of the game; if somebody has a turnover. Ron Powlus had two turnovers Saturday. First penalty was an out and up; it was intercepted by the safety man.

That is not Ron Powlus' fault and I say it this way: Because he is not supposed to read the free safety. I am supposed to read the free safety and not call it if there is a chance, you follow me?

Now, if the corner intercepted it then that is different. His job is to make sure the corner doesn't intercept it. When he fumbles the football, he felt his arm was coming forward, but he set up. He focused on the read. He was getting ready to throw it and he gets hit from the blind side. I don't consider that his fault. Now, if he is running with the ball here and gets hit and tackled or something like that, then we will see other people - you will see other people during the course of the football game.

Q. Have you considered a leash or anything for Robert Farmer so you can find him?

COACH HOLTZ: Robert Farmer, you mean on the sideline?

Q. Yeah.

COACH HOLTZ: That sucker is impossible. I didn't even know he made the trip 'til about the second -- "where is Robert Farmer; anybody seen Farmer?"

"He is getting a hot dog." It is incredible. I can't find him and Kinder, but they need to get the ball more. Farmer is unbelievable. Where are the stats? I wanted to look this up myself. What is the average that --

JOHN HEISLER: Farmer carried 172 yards in the last -- 10.

COACH HOLTZ: He is averaging 10 yards. Got 34 carries, 349 yards. That is rather impressive. What are we doing giving the ball to Jarious Jackson at 1.4.

Farmer does need to get the ball more because you consider this year and you consider -- add the Orange Bowl to it, add his Orange Bowl stats, 9 carries, 90 something yards on it.

Q. So does he go in second series?

COACH HOLTZ: We are going to get a little bit more fair distribution on the tailback. What we have done and I tell you what, (inaudible) We are going to be a little bit better organized on it.

I thought what we did at the end of the game of the last quarter, you carry the ball one or two times and the next guy goes in carries it one or two. But, they are also playing well without the ball.

Robert Farmer's attitude is unbelievable. We now have to put him on our punt return team. He is excited about it. We are going to put Jarious Jackson on the punt return team also.

Q. What about Randy Kinder? He has started a couple of times and then come out and Denson has handled it. Has it been mistakes on his part or --

COACH HOLTZ: No, it is a case where Autry Denson is going to run out on the field unless you got a leash on him. Talk about leash on Robert Farmer - and Autry, I tell what you what, the last two weeks Autry has played well with the ball and without the well. But so has Kinder and Farmer. They are playing well without the football. They are doing things that you don't notice. But, I notice that when I stand up here and say this is probably the best set of backs we have had as a group, I am saying that not because of what you see with them with the ball. I am talking about the way they are blocking; the way they are picking up blitzes; the way they are doing things - other than protecting the football, which is not real minor, I might add, but other than that, they are doing very well.

Q. I guess it is always assumed that the head coach makes every decision. But, do you decide which tailback is in the game all the time; part of the time?

COACH HOLTZ: No. This is one thing that, you know, it is like all substitutions used to go through me. Now you got a receiver running a go-route and he is tired, so this guy goes in his place. And that is not necessarily real good because sometimes you end up with the wrong combination of what you want to do.

As a coach, you try to look at the assets an individual has and try to utilize those assets during the game and not ask him to do something they are not capable of doing. But, we are going to have a little bit better control over it in the future than what we have had.

Q. How is your ham strings after that sprint?

COACH HOLTZ: Oh, down to the corner of the end zone. I don't think I did the 40 in about two days? You think 4,8. I went down there, but because I just wanted to go.

Q. You didn't go to Chryplewicz at Boston College. You ran the rocket screen a couple of times; appeared to be open and well set up. Dan O'Leary, are we going to get a chance to see him? As the season progresses, if you do get a chance against Pittsburgh and Rutgers. And obviously, we don't take anything for granted. But if you had a chance for some minutes for somebody else to get in there, would it be a time maybe to give a freshman a minute or two of playing time seeing that you got a lot of games in a short period of time?

COACH HOLTZ: Is there a lawyer in the house? I have got a splinter. And, if you look at this table there is no wonder I do. That has cause me mental anguish.

Q. Just be careful of the soup, it may be hot.

COACH HOLTZ: I think that -- I really don't want to play Dan O'Leary. But, if he could help us win, I certainly would. But, I would not want to play him in a makeup role.

He and Gandy. Gandy didn't make the trip to BC. He had some academic requirements he felt he -- they are going to be two fine tight ends. You take those two along with Cerasani, I think if we lose Chryplewicz and Carretta but I think O'Leary and Gandy are going to be fine, fine tight ends. And not looking for a fifth year or anything else, it is just that if something happens, I don't want to, you know, playing a few plays will not make a difference, but maybe his fifth year or something, you know, he may need it to get in grad school or something. But, I like O'Leary and Gandy. I think they are good two tight ends and Cerasani.

We did not throw the ball to Peter Chryplewicz. We could have. We should have. That is one of the few times we didn't. We brought out the rocket screen. We haven't had it out for awhile. And you know what? Sometimes your old things are best. I mean, that thing -- we practiced it for a couple of weeks before I felt it was ready to go. We got the ball ten seconds to go. We ran a draw play. And, then called timeout. I know everybody thought that was crazy, but he might pop the draw play and then you see where you are. Taking the timeouts to the locker room doesn't help you. It ain't like you get four the second half. Then we ran the rocket screen and he could have gotten in there -- did get in there or could have if it just not left any doubt. But, I think Peter Chryplewicz was very, very instrumental in that football game. I don't think I have had a tightend block better than he did last Saturday. That is why one of the reasons we are able to run the ball.

I appreciate your coming. Have a good day.