University of North Carolina Athletics
Errol Hood's ACC Media Day Quotes
August 19, 2000 | Football
Aug. 19, 2000
Media: Are you ready for the season?
Errol Hood: "Yes! I can't wait to get started. I'm ready to pick up where we left off at the end of last year."
Media: Did that play at the end of the N.C. State game do anything special for your confidence?
Errol Hood: "It helped me a lot, it gave me a lot of confidence. I went into the Duke game all fired up and got two interceptions and a touchdown.
"It let me know that I've come a long ways, that I can play with the big boys and make some great plays. My teammates look for me to make big plays when the game is tight."
Media: Do you feel like you saved Coach Torbush's job when you made that play in the N.C. State game?
Errol Hood: "I don't know. I just know I helped to save the game."
Media: How different is it this year having Coach Browning as the defensive coordinator?
Errol Hood: "It's more intense, because Coach Browning is involved with every phase of the defense, plus it's just a new face. Coach Browning is doing a great job. He's very intense, and I think we'll be a great defense because of that.
"Coach Torbush can focus on everything now, and not be just stressed with the defense."
Media: Do you feel like you're still improving?
Errol Hood: "Oh yes, I've got a lot to prove to everybody. Even though I had a surprising season last year, I've still got to prove to everybody that I can be a great cornerback, and I'm going to be a great cornerback.
"I've still got a lot of improving to do."
Media: How's the overall speed of the defense?
Errol Hood: "I think we have a lot of speed. Guys are also more confident and experienced, and when you're more confident and experienced, you're faster. You don't have to go slower and think about what you're going to do, because you know what you're going to do.
"I think we're very fast and very good."
Media: Everybody knows Waddell's fast. Do you think he has the fundamentals?
Errol Hood: "He's young, he will have all the techniques to be a great cornerback, but right now he's developing his techniques. He has the potential to some day be a first-round draft pick.
"He's got a lot of pressure on him now. People are expecting a lot out of him, but he's not fully developed his skills yet.
"Rabbit will be a great cornerback in time."
Media: Can you compare going against this year's offense in practice with going against last year's offense in practice?
Errol Hood: "It's harder to stop them this year, because the receivers are much better, plus the offense is trickier. The players are more confident than they were last year.
"The offense is a lot more complicated to defend this year than it was last year."
Media: How does Willie Parker look?
Errol Hood: "I think he is definitely the guy we need back there. He's the kind of player who you know will work hard and do the extra things. He's going to help us.
"I'm very excited that he's back there, and I can't wait to see what he's going to do back there. He can shake you. He can give you the slip, and he's by you."
Media: Which of your receivers gives you the most trouble during practice?
Errol Hood: "Bosley Allen! I think Bosley is a Peter Warrick type of receiver. He has the cuts and all of that. He's just really good. He's back to 100%"
Media: What did you stress in your conditioning this summer?
Errol Hood: "Our focus this summer was on team speed. My focus was on getting faster, which I did. Plus I wanted to be in the best possible shape heading into practice.
"I've got some high standards for my fitness. I want to get to the point where I don't have to bend over from being tired."
Media: How close is this team?
Errol Hood: "We're like a family now. It's not about self. Everybody knows that if you want to win awards, like All-ACC, you get there by helping your other players.
"If your team does well, you do well."
Media: Are there any particular players who have impressed you with their amount of improvement over last year?
Errol Hood: "My backup, Kevin Knight, has made a lot of strides.
"Rabbit has made a lot of strides, considering he didn't practice as much. Last year, he was on the Ninja team, he didn't really practice with us.
"To be as good as he is now is amazing, it's like he just automatically clicked in with us. When he gets it together, he can be something else. He's going to be a great one."
Players Mentioned
