Dec. 27, 2006

Q. How was the team's focus today?

A. I thought today was a little better. We did a lot of team stuff and a lot of mental stuff and I thought it went pretty good.

Q. Did everyone arrive on time? I heard Caldwell was delayed in getting here.

A. We had a couple of guys. Sean Kearney got sick and came a day late and Caldwell and Reider had a flight delay so they didn't get in until last night, but all in all, when you consider the number of people coming in from different places, it wasn't bad.

Q. Is there a point, with all this bad weather going on around the country and you have guys scattered all over the place, that you worry about who is going to be here on time and ready to roll because it's out of your hands?

A. You just can't worry about it. You do what you can do.

Q. Last week you said the focus was lacking a little bit in practice do you think the fact that the game is almost upon them that the focus is better?

A. I hope so. I think so. This group has a pretty good history of showing up on game day. The team we are playing is awfully good so we better be ready to play.

Q. Can you talk about the way your secondary has progressed this year and what they need to do to be successful this weekend?

A. They are like everybody else. They have done well at times. It's more than the secondary when you play a team that can throw the ball. You have to get heat on the passer too. We can't give up big plays over our head. If we do that we will have a chance.

Q. There has been so much talk about your offense, at least from a Boston College perspective, is there a defense that you have not seen tried against you guys?

A. I think we've probably seen all the possible alignments, but I don't know if we've seen one with as many big and fast people as what they have. The problem isn't the way they line up it's the guys they line up with. I don't think it will be a big surprise for us the way they line up, but who they line up with might be a problem.

Q. How is Kaipo as you swing into the heart of preparation?

A. He's fine. He's just like always.

Q. Paul, as a side note to this game, we have the two smartest teams in the country going against each other in terms of graduation rate.

A. I think it's great. I think that any time two teams that have the academic reputation that these two schools have can play is a big deal. I'm proud of our guys and we have a great deal of respect for Boston College and what they've done not only on the field but in the classroom as well.

Q. Is this the biggest team you've faced this year or is Notre Dame bigger?

A. They are bigger than Notre Dame. This is the biggest team we've played.

Q. How do you compensate for the size differential?

A. I don't know. We will find out on Saturday if we can.