BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech football spoke with the local media following its huge conference over Syracuse. Brent Pry ecstatically stepped to the podium for his opening statement and Stu Holt emphasized the impact of the players in the return game. Antwaun Powell-Ryland concluded the media availability after another strong performance.
Read below to see what they had to say.
Head Coach Brent Prey
Opening statement:
"Obviously, a good performance by the crew tonight. Coaches, players. I know you guys got tired of me talking about complimentary ball, but that's the goal, that's the team we need to be. And I thought we did that tonight again. We built on that. We started fast, which was something we emphasized this entire off-period."
On building momentum as the season progressed:
"First of all, I'd say the strength of character in this football team and its coaches. Those guys never wavered. They poured it in every day, they were consistent, they were hungry, they trusted the process. That's where it starts. We got great kids. We surrounded them with good people and they're getting better all the time. That's what you're supposed to do over the course of a season, improve. We've been able to do that even if it didn't show up in the win-loss column. We were getting better each week with some important things."
Special Teams Coordinator Stu Holt
On Holloway's production as a returner:
"It starts with good blocking. He's getting guys up front that are understanding what we're trying to do and they're giving him a chance to get it started. And then for him as a skill set, I think probably his best attribute is he's got a lot of guts. He's got a lot of courage and it takes a lot of courage to play that position. You know, I just heard coach say, he's got his eyes on the end zone and he wants to make a big play, he wants to help the team. A very selfless player. He'd be the first to tell you that those other 10 guys are doing a great job for him. He certainly, gets that thing north quick. Sticks his foot in the ground and makes guys miss. It was always fun to see, man. I'm always excited when he gets an opportunity."
Defensive lineman Antwaun Powell-Ryland
On the defensive line's continual improvement in pass rush:
"I feel like we all have improved on being able to just rush four. Even with the back end being able to do their job for us to get the quarterback off his first read to give us more time to rush."
