University of North Carolina Athletics
Stephens, Chapman Sound Off At Weekly Press Conference
October 22, 2002 | Football
Oct. 22, 2002
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On how soon and if he can make a comeback:
They were talking today that I could possibly be back in a couple of weeks.
I think I would definitely miss two games. I will have to see how it feels
because I think you use your hands a lot more on defense. We will know more
after the surgery Friday.
On the team's reaction to his and Durant's injuries:
I hope that they would rally around us. This is an opportunity to really
come together as a team and persevere. I think a lot of teams are capable of
doing that and hopefully we will be able to do it.
On C.J. Stephens fitting in as the starter:
C.J. is a talented quarterback. When he was the scout team quarterback last
year you just had to say, 'Wow'. You watch him throw the ball down the
field, and he gets you excited. For him it has been a while since he had
played. Once he gets comfortable and gets over the nerves he will be fine -
after he got comfortable in the Virginia game he played really well.
On his role with the team while injured:
I can be there to help some of the younger guys come along. They are getting
more playing time and I can help them get adjusted to what the offensive
line is going to do. Instead of getting 10 snaps per game they are going to
be looking at 30. I just want to provide some leadership to them.
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On his interaction with Durant since the injury:
I have been injured before and I know how frustrating an experience that can
be. I talked to Darian yesterday and I told him that I felt for him. I hope
that he heals and I wish all the best for him. I know that he is going to be
a lot of help throughout the next few weeks because his wealth of experience
is the one thing that I don't have at this point and he is going to continue
to help me through this just like he did in the fourth quarter of the
Virginia game.
On being the starting quarterback:
I am excited to have this opportunity. This is what I came here for and I
was never sure how or when the opportunity would come but now that it is
here I am ready to make every bit the most of it.
On how far his game has come since the beginning of spring practice:
I am a million miles now from where I was at that point in time. I've not
been able to have a lot of game experience, that is the one negative aspect
of things. From the beginning of spring until now I have learned so much
about football in general and about our offense and I really think that
wealth of knowledge is going to go a long way and I am excited about the
opportunity to use it at this point.
On what he needs to do to prepare:
The most important thing is getting comfortable and getting a feel back for
the game. Hopefully it is like riding a bicycle and I think that it is. The
past few weeks have just been an opportunity to get more comfortable and
prepare me for this.
On the difference from being a backup to a starter:
It is definitely a different mindset when you know that you are going to be
on the field. I did my best to throughout the season to prepare the best
that I possibly could in hopes of an opportunity coming or in case the
situation works out that way.
On his emotions of not playing a lot the last three years:
The emotions that go on inside of people are far to complex to explain most
of the time. I promise you that in the last three and a half years - that is
a long time to wait - there have definitely been times of frustration and
times of unhappiness and there have also been good times. There have been a
lot of opportunities to ride that emotional roller coaster but I think it is
very important for a person in general as well as a football player and a
quarterback not to ride the emotions. That is something that I have just had
to lean on my faith for.
