University of North Carolina Athletics
Coach Moody's Post-Game Quotes
September 23, 2000 | Football
Sept. 23, 2000
TarHeelBlue: Would you please comment on the play of Brandon Russell and Andre' Williams?
Coach Moody: "I thought Brandon had been working hard and improving every week. At Florida St. he ran hard, made some nice cuts and played well without the ball, but there wasn't a whole lot to show for it.
"He's a very intelligent kid who is very serious about what he does when he goes on the field. It was good that he broke out and got some yards tonight. It will help him mentally to see something for his efforts.
"He and Andre' compliment each other as they are different type backs. Andre' is bigger and stronger, plus he's a lot quicker that people realize. He's coming along real well. He got a little behind because of a groin pull back in two-a-days.
"Hopefully we can get Willie Parker back to where he was."
TarHeelBlue: Is he hurt?
Coach Moody: "He hurt his back a while back. He's not the back he was in the spring. There's a couple of things that could be the reason for it.
"I wanted to really evaluate the two freshmen, plus Domonique Williams and Rufus rown during two-a-days. In hindsight, I'm not sure that I gave Willie enough work to keep him sharp. Then he pulls a muscle and misses five or six days.
"Willie works hard, and we're going to need him before it's over with."
TarHeelBlue: Are you still confident in him?
Coach Moody: "Yes, we've just got to get him back to where he was. Again, I take responsibility for that. In hindsight, I'm not sure I gave him enough work back in August. I really looked at the other guys hard. In retrospect, I think Willie got short-changed.
"I still have a lot of confidence in him. He'll make some big plays before the season's over."
TarHeelBlue: Was that last drive a coach's dream?
Coach Moody: "We didn't want to give them the ball back, because they've got really good skill people. (Laughing) They've got less of a chance to score if they don't have the ball.
"I also want to add what a good job Brandon and Andre' did holding onto the ball. A couple of times they got hammered in the backfield, but held onto the ball.
"Also, Anthony Saunders has played well. He has to do the dirty work. I've been pleased with his ball carrying and his blocking. He's really improved his work habits."
TarHeelBlue: How big a game was this?
Coach Moody: "We've put too much into this since last January, both the players and the coaches, for the season to come apart. Granted, we did not play well last week and they (FSU) played really well. If we had played well, and they had played as well as they did, I don't think we would have beaten them.
"We can't let something like that affect us. It never entered our minds that we wouldn't come back and play well this week. The players responded very well to the situation."
