Virginia Tech 26, Boston College 10: Eagles Postgame Quotables

Steve Addazio opening statement...

"I thought our team strained today and really competed. That's what I told them in the locker room. They were battling right through to the end. I thought the offense showed some life and energy especially in the second half. There were spots in the first half as well. I thought John Fadule came in and did a really good job. For a guy that was on the scout team two weeks ago, now having to run an offense other than off of cards. He had toughness. He had confidence. He ran people over. He threw the ball. He ran the ball. That was nice to see. The energy rippled through the team a little bit on both sides of the ball."

"We obviously had some big plays negatively. We had the fumble that was returned for a touchdown which we just can't have. But there were things in there that were very positive on both sides of the ball. We got depleted a little bit again, further... injuries are really starting to deplete us right now which is what happens."

"We're going to build off of this. We're going to build off of it with our team. I was disappointed in the field goal. We came back, kicked another one and got it. That was kind of a critical deal. Then of course at the end we would have really liked to see us score there but we're competing to make a play at the end of the game and I've got no issue with that."

"All in all, I respect our football team, the way they fight, their effort, especially given the amount of blows that they've taken right now. We're into our fourth quarterback right now but I'm excited about it. He did a really fine job today. We've got a long way to go. We've got a long way to go. Rome's not built in a day there but there was reason for excitement there. I thought some of the young lineman today played better. I saw some improvement. I'm sure I'm going to see some mistakes in there. I see our youth starting to gain a little bit of confidence and we'll grow. The receivers stepped up and made a couple of plays. I thought we went after it."

"Before the half we went after the block. We just wanted to make a play. They came back and were able to get three points out of that. Then we went to it on fourth and two. We threw that power pass... we just wanted to be aggressive."

"This team is going to grow and develop. The equity we're putting in right now, while its not paying right now, it's going to pay. It's going to pay dividends. Those are the facts. We're steadying the boat. We're going to keep grinding. That's what I told the team. Let's get ready to play North Carolina State."

Addazio on QB John Fadule...

"I saw what you saw. That's why we took him off the scout team two weeks ago. I saw him making plays against our defense. This isn't rocket science. I started little by little giving him a few reps before Jeff Smith got hurt at Louisville. I've seen this. This isn't just like all of a sudden. I've seen a little bit at a time this starting to happen. I like the way he carries himself. I like the way he works at it. I like what it means to him. I thought he had great energy on the field today. Now he's young, there are a lot of little issues out there. You don't know what they were. I know what they were. Like little things that didn't happen, motions, flips, things you have to do in the protect. But you know what? The foundation of that was a guy running, delivering, throwing on the move, eyes down the field, making plays. You've got to make plays. This game is about that. Everybody thinks it's about play calls. It's about making plays. A lot of plays work. You've got to make plays. The quarterback position is a huge position on any football team. The guy behind there has got to make plays. Then of course in a running offense the tailback has got to make some plays. The offensive line is central to all of those and we're really young there right now. That's just the way it is. That's going to take a little time and we're investing in that right now. It's a painful invest but we're investing in it. The thing is I know it's going to come back because I have the ability to evaluate whether they are the right guys. They are. They're just young. They need time to grow and saturate. They will. I say it each week and you get tired of me saying this- while that's all going on, we happen to be going against some of the most elite defenses in the country. That's a fact. So what's happening is that baptism is coming under a lot of duress. They're going to grow from that but it's a little severe right now because they are playing against some really good football players. There are two top round draft picks in the defensive front for Virginia Tech. That's the way that is. They've been good on defense for a long time."

Steven Daniels on the team now being bowl ineligible...

"It hurts, but at the same, we have games left. We have to stay on track and be positive and keep it going."

Daniels on making sure the team doesn't quit...

"That's not what we have on this program. It's just not instilled in the guys on this team to quit. We're going to keep going at this."

Myles Willis on John Fadule...

"He's a guy that comes to practice and works hard every day, so you could tell [playing today] means a lot to him. I was definitely impressed, but wasn't surprised. He really cares about this team and this University."

Willis on the struggles of the running game...

"I just focus on what I can do more. If they want to load eight or nine in the box, that's the same thing that Andre [Williams] faced and he managed to make plays. So I just need to focus in and figure out what I can do to get more production."

John Johnson on his interception in the end zone...

"We knew coming into the game that he was a red zone threat, so I kind of knew where the ball was going. So I just tried to use my technique to go up and make a play."

Johnson on the impact of John Fadule...

"Just seeing him out there [boosted the team]. He probably never thought he was never going to play and just seeing him out there energized us all."


John Fadule on his performance...

"My coaches, my offensive lineman and [my teammates] just had my back and I could feel them. So I just tried to play as hard as I could."

Fadule on his fumble in the third quarter...

"I haven't even thought about that. I made a whole lot of mistakes today and right now I'm just thinking, 'I can't wait to get into this building tomorrow and work on getting better."

Fadule on the benefits of playing the first team defense in practice...

"They're amazing. I feel like I'd go out to practice to play and when I drop back everything is covered. It's been great to work against them in practice."