Sept. 23, 2008

In Attendance: Don Markus (Baltimore Sun), Camille Powell (Washington Post), Bill Wagner (Annapolis Capital, Mike Fratto (Washington Times)

Markus: You really don't have much time to enjoy the Rutgers win with Wake Forest coming up this week.

Niumatalolo: We already told our guys that as great a game as that was it is over. We have to move on. We will have our hands full this weekend, but we are going to go to work and we will see what happens.

Wagner: This might be Wake's best team.

Niumatalolo: They are good. They are good in all phases of the game. They have a good quarterback, they are well coached, they have good athletes, the players have bought into the system and they are very disciplined. Jim Grobe has a model program the way he has built it up. He did it right. He built it from the ground up and now they are enjoying the fruits of their labor. They have worked hard to get that program to where it is now.

Markus: They caused seven turnovers last week against Florida State. Is that an area of concern this week?

Niumatalolo: It is always our number one concern. The last couple of years if we lost the turnover battle we lost the game. That is always a concern. I am a big believer that you have to win the turnover battle.

Markus: Were they forcing the turnovers or was Florida State helping them?

Niumatalolo: They were making the plays. Alphonso Smith is a great corner. He is going to be playing on Sunday's. He is a very good cover guy. He has great eyes and instincts for the ball. He makes plays. He is a phenomenal football player.

Wagner: Wake Forest is more similar to you guys in size than some schools you play.

Niumatalolo: Wags, you have been covering us for a long time. Who have we looked like size wise?

Wagner: Air Force and Army. What I meant was they kind of use some misdirection and stuff like Navy does to move the ball.

Niumatalolo: They throw the ball a lot too. They get in the gun and do a lot of things. They have a nice scheme. They have the personnel where they can pretty much do whatever they want offensively.

Markus: Was Saturday the best Kaipo has looked since camp started?

Niumatalolo: Yes. We always have known that Kaipo knows what is going on and he always makes great decisions, but he hasn't been in game shape. I was very pleased with the way he played on Saturday. He did a great job of orchestrating the offense and getting us in the right plays. He didn't carry the ball as much as he usually does, but he got the ball in the hands of the right guys.

Markus: Do people underestimate him as a passer?

Niumatalolo: I think so. He has been very efficient throwing the ball and that is what we are looking for. Not quantity, but quality. When we throw the ball we want to make it count like we did on Saturday.

Markus: How key was that first drive of the second half on Saturday with you putting them back on their heels with the passing game?

Niumatalolo: It was huge. Tyree made a big play and got us out of a hole. Guys had to make plays and we had some guys step up and make those plays.

Powell: Have you noticed any differences in Harmon from last year to this year in terms of consistency or even confidence?

Niumatalolo: He has worked really hard. He paid the price on the field and has done a lot of kicking. What you are seeing now is because he worked his butt off.

Wagner: He is really kicking a lot better. It looks like his leg is a lot stronger.

Wagner: His leg is stronger and he is kicking with a lot more confidence. He, Jarod (Bryant, the holder) and Scott Reider (snapper) are all really good friends and they have a great chemistry.

Powell: After the Ball State game last year when he (Harmon) had that kick blocked, do you worry at all about a kicker's psyche?

Niumatalolo: We just moved forward and got ready for the next kick.

Markus: Did the fact that Kaipo played this system in high school really help him when he came here?

Niumatalolo: No doubt. He has been running this offense for a long time, since the 10th grade. He is very good at running this offense because he has been doing the same things over and over again for a long time. His position coach in high school, Michael Carter, played quarterback at Hawaii with Ivin (Jasper) and I so he knew all the terminology and knew what was going on when he got here.

Wagner: How about injuries from last week? I didn't know Deliz got hurt.

Niumatalolo: He will be OK.

Wagner: What about Walsh?

Niumatalolo: We are still waiting for his MRI. He is questionable right now.

Wagner: Kettani?

Niumatalolo: He is fine.