University of North Carolina Athletics
Page, Seagraves Sound Off At Press Conference
October 29, 2002 | Football
Oct. 29, 2002
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On getting more playing time than was originally planned:
You have to look at who we have and who was ready to play. In my situation,
I was one of the only guys with a healthy body and doing things the way
the coaches wanted us to do it. I am glad that I got thrown into the mix.
That is how you learn, and how you get better, and I think next year I am
going to be that much more help to the defense.
On Kendall High's performance:
Kendall is a true freshman. Last year I couldn't even think about playing
nose guard, arguably the toughest position physically on the defense. He is
in there battling with those 300 pounders -- he is about the same weight as
me, maybe a little lighter at 255 or 260.
On where the state of the team:
You never want to look past the next four games, I am just looking at
Maryland. They are a beatable football team, and I am trying to get the guys
looking at Maryland. Next year we are going to be really good, but we have
to focus on this year and ending on a positive note.
On the reasons he thinks the defense will be good in 2003:
Doug Justice, Jeff Longhany, Jocques Dumas, myself, Kendall High, Jonas
Seawright -- everyone who has never played until this year are all coming
back, and they have a tremendous amount of experience. I think another year
with Coach Conners will help us have a good team.
On what the team is facing:
Staying positive is our biggest challenge. We have to get work done in
practice; you can't just mope and go through the motions with four weeks
left. We have to start from scratch and get our confidence back. It gets
easier and easier to lose without confidence, and we have to fight that.
On how the coaching staff is dealing with the losses:
The coaches understand how hard it is to do what we are doing after this
losing streak. They are rallying behind us, we are rallying behind us and we
need our fans to rally behind us and hopefully we can get a win in Kenan.
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On what the team looks toward with a 2-6 record:
As much work as we put in getting ready for the season there is no reason
for us to just pack up and not play the rest of the season. We have a lot to
work for with four games left, which is a good amount of the season. I think
if we work hard like we have been at some point it is going to pay off. If
we end the season on a positive note and during the off-season we will have
something to build off.
On the new-look offensive line vs. Wake Forest:
I think we played well together. We practice all week at the same positions
we played and I'd already played left tackle a few times so it wasn't a big
deal. I thought Kyle Ralph did a great job coming in. He looked like he is comfortable out there
and for a freshman to come in and do that in the middle of the season that
is great. Stephen Bell did a great job again. He played more than he usually
does. Everybody really stepped up, Jeb Terry did a great job at right
tackle.
On when the team could return to last season's form:
I know we could do it next year, with the players we have. I think we have
proved at times this year that we can play with anybody. We were in close
ball games but we are just young and we have to grow out of that. Next year
is going to be a great year to do that.
