Blog: ACC Media Day at Pinehurst
PINEHURST, N.C. (WTVD) -- Student-athletes from the ACC chatted with media members Monday about the upcoming season, and below are some of the more colorful and off-topic moments from this year's ACC Kickoff.
UNC
Marquise Williams opened up his media roundtable with a smile, saying "I haven't felt this good since sophomore year of high school."
Gone are the issues of team chemistry that WR Ryan Switzer alluded to at the end of last year's disappointing season. Williams said that the "chemistry is back" with the Tar Heels this season, and that last year there were too many guys that were "all about themselves," and that "those guys have all graduated."
Williams first noticed improvements in his teammates' current work ethic, noting that he hadn't seen so many guys come in on the weekends for extra work in a while. Off the field, Williams also said that all of the players hung out with each other during the offseason and that there wasn't a divide, despite certain players havnig more success than others. Williams said teammates saw movies together and enjoyed hanging out and that, in turn, it's helped build trust on the field.
In terms of the team's disappointing defense last season, senior LB Jeff Schoettmer said the changes in coaching staff have brought about a new energy. Schoettmer described new defensive coordinator Gene Chizik as a "really positive guy," and that last year, the defense and particular coaches' "personalities didn't mesh."
Schoettmer also pointed out the head-scratching nature of the Tar Heels' defense being at its most extreme between the Duke and NC State games. Schoettmer said UNC played its best defense of the season during the win over the Blue Devils and just seven days later hit "a new low" during that NC State loss.
"For the Duke game, we were hype, and then for the NC State game, before we went out, I looked out across the field and they [NC State] were more pumped."
Schoettmer said this year the defense is retooled, running an improved 4-3 scheme under Chizik, and with the team's newer, young faces, he said don't be surprised to see these players perform more maturely beyond their years.
As for the Tar Heels' performance this season? Marquise Williams said with a smile, "We'll be back."
NC State
The Wolfpack are coming off of a successful 8-5 season, a Bitcoin Bowl win and plenty of momentum entering head coach Dave Doeren's third season. With these wins, come more confidence -- especially in one another, and that means leadership will need to remain high to help players achieve continued success. The Pack's most visible player, quarterback Jacoby Brissett, was asked about his leadership style in comparison to UNC QB Marquise Williams (Williams being a more "vocal leader"), and Brissett noted that he does want to step up as one of the team's leaders. He said that despite his more subdued style, he won't "put up with a lot," and his teammates know that.
Brissett also expressed his confidence in the Wolfpack's returning running backs, Shadrach Thornton and Matt Dayes. When asked how he thought the duo stacked up against the rest of the conference, he said, "I can't tell you the other teams that have what we have in the backfield."
In one of the lighter moments of the day, Brissett was asked to describe head coach Dave Doeren, and the QB smiled and said that he learned last season that Doeren loves to wear a red blazer on game days.
Duke
While the Blue Devils aren't entering this season with the same high-profile expectations in the Coastal Division as last year, safety Jeremy Cash still fielded questions about his "championship connections," in regards to the Buckeyes.
The Ohio State transfer said he watched his former team win the inaugural College Football Playoff Championship last year, and he was congratulatory but unphased.
"I was really happy for them. I think the best case scenario happened for me and that was coming to Duke," Cash said. " This was part of God's ultimate plan for me ,and I've had nothing but tremendous success here."
Cash also expanded more on his decision to return to school, rather than turning pro, noting that he contemplated the decision very seriously.
"Education outweighed everything else that was on the table. At one point, football is going to stop. With education. I'll have something to fall back on." Cash also said he is just three classes away from obtaining a Master's degree.
Cash addressed how the team has handled the unfortunate knee injury that ended sixth-year senior Kelby Brown's Duke career. He mentioned that for Brown's birthday, some teammates took a trip to a lakehouse and hung out to help keep Brown's mind off of things.
"We're really just there to help guide him along the way," Cash said. "Before he had surgery, he had a birthday party to celebrate his birthday and a bunch of us went up to the lake with him and rode jet skis to help take his mind off of it."
"Obviously no one can replace Kelby. That's pretty big shoes to fill."
Cash said Brown is in good-spirits and continues to help lead the younger guys.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Blue Devils no longer have Anthony Boone under center. Boone's second-in-command last season, Thomas Sirk, has taken over the graduated QB's role, and center Matt Skura said the transition continues to work out smoothly.
"Even though Thomas doesn't have 1000 snaps under his belt, the snaps that he does have are meaningful," Skura said.
Skura also talked about how happy he was to see his former Duke teammate Laken Tomlinson get drafted by the Detroit Lions.
"When he got drafted, I felt like I was getting drafted at the same time," Skura said, "and I was so excited for him."
Skura also mentioned his upcoming plans off the field -- a wedding. He said that he camped out at Duke Chapel for almost a week to secure a spot at the celebrated campus landmark. Skura's wedding date is scheduled for July 2016.
In terms of immediate plans pertaining to the game, Jeremy Cash said he does have one bit of unfinished business he'd like to handle this year.
"This is my last [college] season. Going down to Carolina and taking that Victory Bell back would be great."
