Hokie ClubATLANTA – After a 26-17 victory at Georgia Tech on Saturday, Virginia Tech football head coach Justin Fuente and select players met with the media for a press conference. Read what they had to say below.
HEAD COACH JUSTIN FUENTE
Opening statement:
"I just wanted say again, and I've said this in victory and I've said it in defeat, but I'm really proud of those kids in that locker room. You learn a lot about people when things don't go well, and football's a great opportunity to reveal who we really are. I think everybody got to see today, as they've seen through every week we've played, what are kids really are. I've really enjoyed being around them. What a special group of kids. It's a lot of fun coming to work every day and being around them. Their resiliency, toughness, care and work ethic are things that are going to last them far beyond their football days. Just really proud of them."
On the improvement in the ground game:
"It starts with running the football. We made some plays in the passing game, as a byproduct of people selling out to stop the run. Malachi [Thomas] certainly played well and Raheem [Blackshear] may disagree, but I think Raheem is playing better because Malachi is playing better. You just see a conversated effort to be a tough, physical group. It hasn't been a magic wand, but have just bared down and found ways to run the ball and made some plays in the passing game. It's the second week in a row we basically got the imposing defense out of what they wanted to do. That's how I felt watching the game this week and last week. We forced them into changing some things and really selling out to prevent us from running the ball."
LINEBACKER ALAN TISDALE
On the defense playing better than the Syracuse game:
"We all put in extra work this week so we could've known the passing game well and get familiar with their quarterbacks and running backs. So that paid off."
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN JAYLEN GRIFFIN
On his strip-sack:
"I came pretty close a couple of times during the game and I just kept telling myself that I was going to get one. So, I then finally got one and it worked in my favor. It just so happened that when I got it, it was in front of all my folks and my family. I got super emotional. It was like an out-of-body experience. Like, I didn't realize I did it. It was crazy."
RECEIVER TRÉ TURNER
On watching film this week heading into the game and if he thought he had a favorable matchup against Georgia Tech:
"I kind of think that every week and every game I kind of look at the film and am kind of experienced. So, with that experience, I feel like I like every matchup that I see. So, I wouldn't say that I was more favorable for this game. But I knew we could've done it and we went out there and did it."
QUARTERBACK BRAXTON BURMEISTER
On some of his longer throws finally connecting and if he knew there would be more long balls in the passing game today:
"It felt good for sure and gave us some momentum throughout the game. We just repped those all week and knew that was how we were going to attack them. So, that's what we did and it felt really good."