Hokie ClubVirginia Tech football met with the media Wednesday for a post-practice media availability ahead of the Duke game. Read below to see what Tech head coach Brent Pry and wide receiver Tucker Holloway had to say.
Head coach Brent Pry
On the emphasis on finishing practice Keli Lawson has implemented:
"He just did it. He was a great example. Every single play he finished at the ball. He finished every play, and he did it throughout the entire practice, so I was going to make a point of him to the defensive staff. That's exactly how it needs to be. He owned it today."
On how he feels about special teams this week versus Duke:
"We are going to try and present a little bit of different look because sometimes you can hold guys up a little bit. Duke is very good at punt returns. They have a dynamic guy back there. We have to, number one, our gunners got to win down the field, which is important. We've been pretty good though."
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Wide receiver Tucker Holloway
On what he saw on his punt return for a touchdown versus Georgia Tech:
"I would say that was probably the third or fourth punt I had been able to return in the game, so as it went on, my confidence kept growing. I've gotten a few returns before, but I didn't get to return any of them in the NC State game. So, catching those first few and getting the yards made me built up my confidence. I think that last one I knew it was into the half, so I had nothing to lose. I knew that this was going to be a good opportunity. He gave me a good ball. There's a reason I was able to get down there, I have to give credit to my blockers. I made one man miss. I got past the first level and then it was just wide open. As a punt returner's dream, they blocked great and I did what I was taught to do."
On his expectations coming into the season:
"Early, early in camp I was getting a lot of reps. I was getting a lot of reps as a receiver, not at punt returner. I didn't start getting reps in as a punt returner until later in the camp, but I thought I was going to play. The plan was to play. In my mind, I am a dedicated person, so I was going to do whatever it takes to play. I even told Coach [Fontel] Mines I was going to play this year, whatever it takes. As camp went on, they started rotating me in with one of the guys. That was not because I wasn't doing well, and they didn't want me to get reps. I wasn't prepared in some areas to play early in the season, and I know that. There's going to be some developments in certain areas. That's what the season gave me time to do. They did a really good job with me in the weight room to develop me. Then, off the field and in the wide receiver room, learning the plays. I wanted to play but I knew I needed to develop."