SEC Media Days: Bobby Petrino Kicks Off Day Two

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(That’s me, crossing my fingers while typing.)

Opening remarks:

Start practice in two weeks. Most excited about great competition every day in practice, building depth.

Had a very good offseason; great work ethic; great attitude, leadership.

Expectations are very high. Players’ are, too. Coaches’, too. Fans, etc. We’re fired up to get started. Embracing the expectations.

What questions are you wanting answers to.

You don’t approach camp with questions; you approach it with “what do you want to get done” (which, I would point out is a question.)

SPAM? ARE YOU SERIOUS!

Comparisons start off the field; they love the game; studying; great understanding of the scheme; tremendous leaders; very competitive.

Different styles, a bit. Brian was about timing; Ryan has better arm strength. Brian’s tough in pocket; Ryan throws it hard and has done a good job mixing it up lately.

Start w/ leadership abilities and competitiveness. Do need arm strength, accuracy, toughness (ability to stand in pocket and get hit in the chin). Mobility is huge now with all of the great DL in the league. Must be a willing runner to get four-six yards on broken plays.

Need to gain an idea of what their knowledge is. D fronts, secondaries. How well does he understand the whole game.

Alabama’s great, great players, well-coached. LSU’s a great team. Games going down to the last play. MSU, UM, it’s just a very competitive league.

A: We have a lot of returning starters. On the road, you have to expect to win the game. AGainst AL, we didn’t executed as well as we’d like and deep down didn’t feel like we could win. Against FL, did well.

A: Yes, you’re better on third down b/c of shorter distances. We’re not going to be a ball control team; I like to go down the field. How well you can run in the second half and how well you can stop it makes all the difference. Do want to wear down defenses. 3-5 yard gains in 1st half turn into longer TDs in the 2nd half. Safeties make all the tackles now.

A: Not sure it does a whole lot. And what does it really mean? What’s an offer? “You know we can’t offer scholarships right now, but if we could . . . .”

Likes the process of recruiting. Likes the old calendar, and if this rule helps that, great.

A: We just worry about ourselves and haven’t used them as an examples. We want expectations. It’s taken us awhile to get expectations. I think it’s a good thing. CAn’t shy away from it. Let’s embrace it; let it motivate us, make it come true.

A: Just wanted to make sure it didn’t have me on it. It’s a great picture. He’s our leader.

A: Thought I was going to get through w/out being asked. [silence] Not true, thought I’d try to make a joke. [laughter]

Education. We’ve brought agents on campus for seniors. [?!!] They end up working for you, players. Don’t want some slimy guy. Let’s put it all out in the open. What do they do? How do you choose? If parents are involved, that helps. Not all of them have that. We help.

A: Preseason, there’s always questions. How’d that guy get on? How’d that guy get left off? Our guys will take it personal and use it for motivation.

A: We’ve learned to pay a lot of attention to. Educate the players; understand what the repercussions can be for doing something stupid on it. Director of Football Operations is “friends” with everyone. “Has to allow everybody to be their ’friend.”" [laughter]

Had an incident last year, a guy mentioned something about his thumb, and he got a call that night about the thumb surgery. No big deal, but that probably shouldn’t have been on there.

A: Had a really good spring. Really understands the game. Picked up the offense as quickly as anyone he’s coached. Uses his legs well. Unfortunate he had an injury, but we were going to redshirt him anyway. He’s done a nice job of keeping his mind and spirits up.

A: Excited about Isaac coming back. Got injured a couple of years ago. Done well w/ rehab. Held him out a bit just for precaution.

MLB, want to keep him at the Will. [I lost the train of thought]

A: We missed that, didn’t we? Is it an advantage? Yes. Refresh the team. Get a couple of days away from everybody for a breather. Three extra practices preparing; extra video time. No question there’s an advantage.

When does the bye come on your schedule? I like where it is; having it after the first game isn’t so helpful.

A: All four receivers will determine where they fit in. Reports we get from weight room; they’re talented, fast, strong. (He’s talking about the freshmen.)

Need a punt returner we have confidence in, not just catching, but running after catching. Going after punters, even if we don’t block it, it’s generally a better return. [hmm, really?]

A: We’ll be better. We’re going to miss Mitch. We return basically five starters (some shared time). Plus, we have young guys who’ve put pressure on the guys ahead of them. Alvin Bailey’s going to be a very good guard. [others] Competition in practice is going to be better. New OL coach is high energy, about being physical. Have made strides.

He’s done.

Opening statement: My foot’s fine, right on schedule, will be ready to go at camp. Didn’t find it ethical to play one year and then leave. Have the greatest AD in the nation, and he’s got the program “going right.”

A: Going to try out for the Olympics in 2014. Kidding. Alt exercise with foot problem.

A: Yeah, I took out an insurance policy.

A: They’re high. We have even higher for ourselves. Defense is going to be better; new guys coming in will make the offense better. Closest team I’ve ever played on.

A: Can’t answer that until the season’s over. Expectations are high. Not a fair assumption; have to wait for y’all to decide that.

A: When team runs, try to be there. Other leaders are there to step up.

A: “I don’t know if I ever had sprinter speed.” My conditioning will be fine. Must learn how to run again. Right on schedule. Can job a bit. Will be there first day of camp ready to go.

A: Some call it the “Mallett arm” or the “Family Arm.”

A: Missed some throws that were uncharacteristic, easy throws. It really didn’t set well with me.

A: No,l I have two years left, and I’m going to enjoy it. Will look at everything, but I’m going to enjoy it.

A: [reminded everyone that he was on the Michigan team that got beat by Appalachian State.]

A: Have to be aware. I’m not talking to any. If they contact me, I tell them we’ll talk about it after the season. It’s unfortunate it’s happening; obviously a problem.

A: No, it’s technique.

A: I’ve been throwing it to them. They’re good; playmakers; fast; track guys who play football; have great moves and football instincts. They’re not there yet; they’re new; but they’re going to be a pretty good group.

That I still associate Petrino with Louisville first and foremost?