University Southern California Trojans
Hackett Quotes From Conference Call
August 21, 2000 | Football
Aug. 21, 2000
LOS ANGELES - USC Head Coach Paul Hackett
Good morning. I am thrilled to be here and as you can tell I have lost my voice a little bit. We are into week three down here at UC Irvine in our training camp and we are really honored and excited about having the chance to play in the Kickoff Classic. I think that any chance that a university gets to play in the Classic and then to have an opponent such as Penn State I think is a marvelous opportunity for our young men and a great opportunity for the University of Southern California. We are thrilled. Our training camp I think has gone well. You always feels it goes pretty well when you don't have too many injuries and our situation has been that we've got a lot of bumps and bruises, but nothing that is going to really be long term, which is marvelous. First, a little bit about our team. I think that we remain a strong team on the defensive side. With all the experience that we have and the blend of some new players that we look to be strong. On the offensive side, we continue to have a lot of uncertainty because consistency has haunted us, but we do have a healthy quarterback and we do have an interesting competition at the running back position which has probably been the highlight of our camp offensively because we have three players in Petros Papadakis, Malaefou MacKenzie and Sultan McCullough who have really been in a battle to see who gets the playing time.
As far as Penn State is concerned, when you watch them on tape, all I can tell you is that I'm glad we are not playing them last year when we look at that defense because it was really spectacular. The only way we can determine anything defensively is the way we look at Jimmy Kennedy and No. 37, who are clearly all over the place. No. 6 and No. 10, there are some people from last year's team who did have a chance to play and in Joe Paterno fashion, the new defense is also a veteran defense with a lot of fifth-year seniors even though they weren't starters, they had a chance to play. The offense, quite frankly, takes your breath away. We don't play against any offense like the Penn State offense. When you're talking about power running, smash mouth football as we call it, it's just sensational. Mr. McCoo anytime you average five yards a carry, but what's interesting is how he averages it. He does it by running over people and breaking tackles...he's sensational. I think No. 20, Drummond, is an excellent receiver. The hookup against Texas A&M between him and Casey gives you an idea of what he can do there. We are very concerned about the offense of Penn State and wary about the defense just knowing the history and the reputation of Coach Paterno. I think both of us are a little uncertain about our kicking games simply because we have new kickers, people who are untested or kickers who have really been less than what we would have expected.
This is a game about two outstanding football teams, two great histories and traditions of universities. It's once again an honor for us to be coming to New York in Coach Paterno's backyard, but an opportunity to showcase our football team in the 2000 season. We got one more week of practice here in Los Angeles. We are going to leave on Thursday and flying to New York. We are trying to get as much of our game planning and hard work done today, tomorrow and Wednesday and look forward to finally kicking off this season.
(on chances of winning at Pitt)
The important thing about this call and this game is about USC football. I will say that the University of Pittsburgh was in a transitional time when I was there with a new president and athletic director. I am a great fan of Walt Harris and I think he has got it back on track and I look for a real turn up there.
(on running back situation in first game)
It is our hope that over the first part of the season that one of the three men emerge as our tailback. At this point it is way too early and premature to make that decision. Our feeling is that we want to get as much action as we can out of all three. Whether we use them all in the backfield at the same time, I'm not sure of that. We have some excellent fullbacks as well. It will be a matter of rotating them. In a game like this with the humidity as an issue, having a rotation at tailback can be very good for us, particularly in the fourth quarter. As we begin the season, there will be a lot of different people there. I think what we are trying to find out in the first few games is whose going to be the USC tailback in 2000 and like I said, it's just too early to tell.
(on Carson Palmer)
He has a very strong arm and a tremendous release. He's a very gifted passer. When he has been able to play, which as we all know has not been very much, he has been able to be very accurate and of course that's the true measure of a quarterback. He's got a lot of things to learn and fortunately we were able to get last year's season back from an eligibility standpoint so we have three full years to work with him. He's just a magnificent passer and learning to be a quarterback and he's going to be a fine one.
(on West Coast teams handling flying east to play Penn State)
There's a couple of issues. One of them is the time change and there is the humidity issue. We are coming into an environment that is hostile because a lot of our fans will travel, but not as many as Penn State. I understand the summer has been a little cooler than normal, maybe we can catch a break there. More than that is the style of football, Penn State plays a physical, running game type football. Their ability to stop the run has been tremendous over the years, maybe best in the country. Their ability to run the ball with the powerful offensive line has been tremendous. There has been a little more passing in recent years than there was historically, but I think it's the power game that quite frankly is not played as much on the West Coast. You have this atmosphere that you have to face, you've got this tough running situation you have to face, there are great athletes always at Penn State. The style has a lot to do with it. We are aware of those problems. Arizona (last year) was aware of those problems and USC was aware of those problems that last time we came out here. It's a matter of understanding the speed and the power of Penn State and be able to practice it. Can we this week be able to give our players the correct picture and that's nearly impossible to do. You do the best you can and you try to play as many people as you can play to keep our team fresh for the fourth quarter because I think it's the kind of game that certainly can go late into the fourth quarter.
(on telling players about differences in style of play)
I'm a great believer that preparing is the most important value of coaching. We have to teach young people how to prepare for what's ahead of themselves and in this particular case, it's a clear cut game. If I put the figure 240 up in front of our team, they know that's what Penn State rushed for the last time that we played. There's history here, people know what has happened before. Penn State has taken it to the West Coast and again, it's because of the style. To try and hide that there's a difference and to hide that the power rushing is not an issue is a mistake. We address and we try to structure practices around preparing for that sort of thing. We have tried to practice in the heat of the day the best that we can. It boils down to Coach Paterno has an outstanding football team and what we got to do is hope he doesn't get one of those seven victories that he needs against us.
(on getting respect for Pac-10 Conference)
When we had our conference and coaches' meeting, they all turned to me and said it was in my hands. Every year is a new year and I think that's particularly true in college football. I know it's a clich?, but I think it's true. The chemistry of your football team is developed in training camp and in the early part of the season. Our focus at USC is the Rose Bowl and we have not been a contender the last few years. We've got to address the issue and that's the goal. To prepare to run for the roses as we call it, you play the best opponents in the most difficult situation that you possibly can because our players will learn from the situation. In the last couple of years, we haven't done real well and from a bowl standpoint last year we didn't do well. There's no question that we are carrying the banner for the Pac-10 in a sense much like Arizona did a year ago because that is a responsibility. The big picture at USC and in the Pac-10 is the Rose Bowl. That's the goal of all of us.
(on Penn State's Rashard Casey)
I don't think many people have had a quarterback like Rashard Casey. He is an extraordinary athlete. When we go out and recruit, we would all like to find an athlete like that, who also has the ability to pass. The thing about him that is underrated is his ability as a passer. I think that was indicated last year in his passing efficiency and how he throws the deep ball. Particularly, it's evident when he gets outside the pocket...this is not a runner. When he gets outside the pocket, he has the ability to calm himself and throw the ball on the run and throw it very accurately. We have a whole bunch of problems with this guy. The biggest issue is his escapability. You remember the great run against Illinois. He has running back skills from a balance standpoint. What you have to do is contain him and I would love to tell you that we have someone on our team that can put on No. 12 and run around and give us a picture that Casey's going to give us, but I can't. He brings the best of both. The interesting thing is that they are a power running team so Casey does not have to be the premier guy. The running game is going to carry the team and McCoo is going to carry the team.
(on facing Penn State after playing against them at Pitt)
Well I think as it relates to Penn State you try to keep them off the schedule if you possibly can, that's one thing I learned. The experience at Happy Valley and at Pitt, it's a great rivalry and it's a lot like USC and UCLA out here. Everyone knows everybody and you have recruited the same guys and have played in high school against the same guys so I learned about the rivalry and the respect we need to have for Penn State. From a coaching standpoint, the University of Pittsburgh was in a state of flux. That made it difficult for me, but I learned that you need to be somewhere where's there is great support and tradition. When Mike Garrett called me and asked me to come back to USC, it was an easy decision for me. My heart has been in California, I had a great experience here as an assistant coach and to come back and have the support that I have from Dr. Steven Sample and from Mike Garrett probably has been the thing I have learned the most. You must have that and if you do, you have the opportunity to build a program the right way from the ground floor with a strong foundation.
(on playing an early game in the season)
This was not a clear cut decision for us. There was some concern about if you fall flat early like Arizona did last year, how long does it take to bounce back. There are a lot of positives. The first is that it gave our team an opportunity to come together and prepare for a top-notch opponent. What happens in training camp is that you have the focus of the team and we really had an outstanding camp because everyone is zeroed in, understanding how serious this trip to New York is and this team we are going to play. The fact that we have a bye next week allows us to throw everything into the first game. It's good to get our camp preparation out of the way. The other thing is our football team feels very good about itself right now. We are very proud of what we do and with Carson Palmer back and all those seniors on defense, it's a team that has confidence and having a chance to showcase that confidence is really a challenge that this team is looking forward to and we didn't want to turn that down. We could have played our opening game in the Coliseum, but this is like an adventure for us and our team is up to it. There is a strong feeling on our team that this is the kind of challenge that we want to have at USC.
(on concerns about kicking game)
You worry so much about establishing your defense and establishing your offense that it falls through the cracks. In this case, the fact that we have a new coordinator in Dan Ferrigno, we have tried very hard to give the kicking game its just due in terms of time. We are working on some new schemes, we are doing things differently because it's a new coach in addition to try to solidify our placekicking situation. We feel we have spent enough time on it. This week when we get to New York and practice near the end of the week at Giants Stadium. We will use that as polishing time for the kicking game because I'm a great believer that in the first three or four games of the season that the kicking game can clearly and easily make the difference in a ballgame, particularly a close one.
(on Zeke Moreno)
It's clear that when he started as a sophomore that he made an immediate impact and last year, he was the leader of our defense. Now going into his senior year, this is the guy that plays with confidence. He's a steady player, the guy that's always going to the right things, the guy that does the extra things in preparation. He does all the things that you quietly need to do to be a middle linebacker to affect your teammates is what he does. He does it very naturally. He's at ease and confident. There is a feeling of confidence. We know we have the ability and Zeke and the senior class are about trying to make a difference and I think they have a chance to do that this year. Zeke is the leader of the group.
USC senior linebacker Zeke Moreno
(on USC program)
USC has a lot of tradition. You see a lot of national championships and we lost a lot of close games last year. We are leaning towards turning things around again and heading back to the Rose Bowl. The 2000 team is our opportunity to go out there and do that.
(on Markus Steele)
Markus is the kind of guy that relaxes you. He is all over the field, he is a great athlete and a great person. He's a leader on and off the field and he's there for you if you need help. He's a great piece of this puzzle on defense.
(on playing this game) When I first heard we were playing Penn State, I was very happy. People asked why take a game like this so early, but I think this is the kind of game you need if you want to turn things around. In a nationally televised game, this is what's going to do it for us. We have a lot of key returners coming back and with the experience, I feel the publicity that both teams are getting will not affect us.
(on early USC players who were role models)
Growing up, Junior Seau was the man. Being from San Diego and he was from there, I always looked up to him. I was lucky that I was able to talk to him before I came to USC and he gave me a lot of pointers. It was a great honor to come to USC and play along side Chris Claiborne. Chris is another great athlete, who taught me a lot of things besides an extension to what the coaches taught me as well, like how to carry yourself on and off the field.
I talked to Junior every once in a while when I'm down in San Diego (to see his brother, Moses, who is a quarterback for the San Diego Chargers). When we go to Junior's restaurant, he comes down and says hello to me and my family and is a great all-around guy.
(on tone setter for USC and Pac-10)
That is one of the reasons that we are looking forward to this game, we want to go out there and get the respect, not only for the university, but for the Pac-10. It has lost the respect that we deserve. The Pac-10 is one of the most difficult conferences. This game will show that we are capable for being contenders for the national championship, as well as the Rose Bowl.
(on Penn State's physical style)
It doesn't concern me. We prepare hard every week and each team is different. We just have to go out there and adjust to what is different on the field.
(on his mother)
My mom has done foster care for over 15 years. These kids were a part of my life. She did long-term, which is you have these kids for extended periods of time. A lot of them we had for three or four years, they were like brothers and sisters. It's hard to keep track of them when I was young. When I grew up, I had an extra big heart for the love for children. I think that's why I chose an education major because I want to help kids and help to prevent these things from happening. I think I have had some motivational teachers and I think I can do that for others.
USC sophomore quarterback Carson Palmer
Camp is going well and we are excited. We have been here for awhile, but we are very excited to have the chance to go to New York and play in the Kickoff Classic.
(on effect of last year's injury prior to the game)
I'm a little nervous because I haven't been in a game. I'm starting to feel more confident with the more reps I get and scrimmage opportunities I get. I learned a lot last year having to go through meetings and stay on the sidelines. It was tough to watch us play, it made it more difficult as things started to slip away as we lost a couple of games. I'm just excited about having the chance to come back and play again.
(on bringing prestige to Pac-10)
The Pac-10 has lost a lot of respect in the past couple of years. I think it's a chance for us to get it back. Penn State is a big time program and hopefully, we can come back and get some respect back.
(on play last year where he injured collarbone and how he charges up the field)
I learned from Coach Hackett that you have to pick your spots. There is a time to do it and times to not do it and that was definitely the time not to do it. I started working drills with Coach Jackson where he throws a big crash pad in the middle of the field and putting some water on it and having to work on sliding and diving head first.
(on toughest moment last season)
The toughest part was watching the UCLA game because that game meant a lot to me with the rivalry. The year before in my freshman year, we got beat pretty badly so I was really looking forward to that game. The positive thing is that I learned a lot being injured and now that going into my sophomore season, I'm ready to be a sophomore. Looking back, I think it was a good thing, I'm not glad it happened, but I learned a lot from it so I'm pretty excited.
(on new outlook after injury)
Every day that I have a chance to go onto the field, it's a chance to get better and a chance to improve skills. In the past I was kind of going through the motions and taking football for granted. Now, you have to play football and I have to take every snap as if it was my last one.
(on Coach Paul Hackett)
His experience in coaching since he has coached so many great quarterbacks in the past. His knowledge of the offense and this game brings so much, especially to college players coming out of high school. His detail on every little fundamental and aspect of the game brings a lot.
