UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME MEDIA CONFERENCE

JOHN HEISLER: Thank you. Just a couple quick notes. Kick-off is week is at 2:36 in South Bend, that's eastern time. There will be about five minutes of highlights from the University of Notre Dame Tennessee game at the end of our satellite feed. With the open date next week, we will not have a teleconference on Tuesday. We will have practice in some way, shape or form Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I believe, but you might want to check in with our office in terms of specifics there. Then our next press conference, final one, will be two weeks from today. We'll start by taking questions from people here in person.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I think you'd probably say we stepped up in our Top 10 teams and rose to the challenge, the occasion, and made more plays than they did. In the games that we stumbled, came up short, we didn't do that, for whatever the reason. Our guys have tried. They've tried to do their best every ballgame. They've gone out to give what they thought was the best at that time.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Any time you're working with people, it doesn't matter whether it's in an office or anyplace, you're talking about human nature. You hear that phrase a lot. Human nature one day is high-spirited, and some days it's not. But what we understand, and I think our players understand, is the very statement that you made, that everyone that plays Notre Dame, this is their Bowl game this is their national championship. We have to be prepared to bring that emotional level to any contest. Everything less than that makes for a difficult day.

COACH WILLINGHAM: It always does because that's human nature. I've always said this, and will continue to say it: When you have success, it can be just as detrimental to you as failure. That's where you have to guard against those things, and you have to have a certain level of maturity. When teams have that level of maturity. You see them be much more consistent week in and week out. That's what we're hoping to get to.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Did you use the word "wonder"?

COACH WILLINGHAM: No, I think I know. I think I can be that absolute about it. You could say, and some people have told me, this is not Coach Willingham saying this, some people have said, If you take 10 plays out of our season, we could be sitting at 8-1.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Absolutely.

COACH WILLINGHAM: They have been at times spectacular. And I thought they were maybe as good as they've been this year against Tennessee. I think the play of Derek Landri, you can look at one of those fourth down-plays that Brandon Hoyte made a tackle, may have been he and Goolsby that made a tackle and stopped the guy. You see the play of Derek Landri and you see why that play was stopped. Then you see the interception by Goolsby, you see a three-man rush. That was not a blitz, that was a three-man rush. They were able to get intense pressure on the quarterback to make that play. They have played very solid. I think it's not only reflected in that game, but I think they've been one of our more consistent groups all year. When you see Tennessee limited to less than a hundred yards, I think it was 58 yards rushing, that's a pretty good performance by your up-front people when our game plan was to be in coverage.

COACH WILLINGHAM: That is completely unfounded (laughter). But I must tell you, there were some other people that had heard the song enough that they could have sung it in its entirety.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I think it is because I think you look beneath the football player and you see a young man that has a genuine appreciation for life, a genuine respect for others, and has a high level of spirituality based on his upbringing and his family, and he lives up to those things. I think when you have someone have success that brings those elements to the table, you really feel good about them. You really want them to have all of the accolades that one can achieve.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I would say it's a strong desire to be absolutely the very best he can be. I think he's also received excellent coaching from Coach Madison and our defensive coordinator Coach Baer, have tried to ensure he is in the right places at the right time. I think it has been a team effort. But the team either cannot move forward unless the individual is strongly driven, and I think he is.

COACH WILLINGHAM: You know, I can't remember those days. I can't see those initial pass-rushes that he had. But you can imagine what it would look like because I think Tuck was not near the imposing body he is now. He was probably about, oh, maybe 20, 25 pounds less probably, and probably a little more gangly in his appearance. So I would imagine that it was a work in progress a few years ago (laughter).

COACH WILLINGHAM: I feel a little inadequate to answer that in a sense because you reference Ryan Grant, and I'm not sure all of the thoughts that Ryan had. But I would imagine that it's probably the normal ups and downs that you go through. Especially in Ryan's case you have great expectations starting the season, you're listed as a starter, you're excited about getting back in the rotation, in the lineup, and doing great things, then you've got a hamstring injury. Then you try to fight your way back into the line up. You're partially in, you're partially out. That does take some type of mental toll up and down.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Then I think he definitely is more qualified to speak on that than I.

COACH WILLINGHAM: It depends on the game. There are sometimes things that are major you come up with almost maybe new schemes that you haven't used during the first half or maybe even had planned for that ballgame based on what you see in some cases. In other cases, it is very subtle. You may change, just tweak a step or an angle that a guy is taking on a particular blocking scheme. In other cases, there's no adjustment that is made, it's just to reinforce to your team that execution of what he had had planned has to take place, so sometimes it's all of the above.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I would say more often it's minor because we have available to us so much film to study on the teams. In most cases, you have just about every film, every game, shall I say, that a team has played that season. In most cases you spend your summers going over every game they played in the last two or three years. In many cases, you've seen so many of the things that they've done. So in many cases, it's minor.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Well, I think you always -- I think we're always trying to stress how we can get better. And that's in every facet. It doesn't matter whether it's how we practice, how we plan our practice, our communications. And I think in the games when we stumble, we think we have a good plan. You constantly are reviewing that plan to see if you can find ways to make it better and make it more appropriate for your guys. But as we know, so much of it is a mental game, trying to create the right mindset so that a young man can perform at his highest level.

COACH WILLINGHAM: The fact that I think he has really handled this situation with the most character of any young man that I've seen in a while. I think he's stood tall, he's never backed away from any situation that he's been pressed into. With that, I have genuine respect for him.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Well, I think it plays itself out in establishing him as a clear leader on this football team, and one that not only I respect, because I am the guy that names our game captain, they're usually guys I have the utmost respect for and how they relate to the program and to their peers, so I think he's recognized as a leader on this team.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I think the information that Carlyle had from his previous starts of being a quarterback, the things he had seen, he tried to pass on to Brady to make Brady's transition as smooth as possible.

COACH WILLINGHAM: It is extremely difficult because, again, you talk about human nature, and nobody wants to be the second fiddle, nobody wants to be replaced. Everybody wants to be the star. I would imagine if I were to ask that question of our players on the team, everybody would raise their hand, everybody wants to be a star. But there can be only 11 starters at one time. Therefore, it's not easy. What you look for, as I tell all of our fifth-year guys, the number one reason you should be back on this squad is that you're a leader, you can provide leadership for our football team, and you hope it is their performance following that.

COACH WILLINGHAM: As you know, there are so many variables about the Bowls, okay? I can't calculate them yet, so I'm better off just to stay away from them. What we do know: we do know we are Bowl eligible. We do know with every win we have a chance to increase, in most cases, what Bowl we can go to. So that is my focus for our team. Every win creates another level, okay? We have two remaining games, so if we can win those two, not putting the second game in front of the first game, but if we can win this one, hopefully it will establish a certain level of Bowl game we can go to.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I've been clear. We've not been consistent, but we've not been consistent a lot of places. That's not a secret, any mystery. How do you fix it? How do you try to get it better? Our guys are trying, they're working hard, they're playing to do the best they can do. I don't think our quarterback wants to throw any incompletions, I don't think our linemen want to miss a block, I don't think Coach Willingham wants to put them in a bad situation. We're trying to do all those things. But do understand, the number one prerequisite for Coach Willingham is we won.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Are you serious? I can't believe it (laughter). You've clocked it today, too, I know. I think Pittsburgh presents a huge challenge. I think they're sitting in their locker room right now really upset with themselves because they've been in a couple overtime games that they feel like they could win, should have won, et cetera. They feel like they're a much better team than their record indicates. And their record right now, if I'm correct, is 5-3. They're in position to be a Bowl team if they can win Saturday. So we know this is a very dangerous team. From an offensive standpoint, it's hard but true. Excuse me, when I say it's hard, it's difficult to say, but true, in many regards this offense may be a more team offense than the offense they had a year ago with Larry Fitzgerald. They are doing some things a lot better and don't rely on just one guy as they did a year ago. Any time you have more weapons at your disposal, it makes you a greater challenge. So offensively. We know defensively they are a physical group that can run around. Even though on some games they've given up yardage, they will play their best ballgame this weekend and that goes without saying.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I think you see two teams that will have a very similar approach in terms of attitude about how important this football game is.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I think he's versatile. I think he's doing a great job of protecting the football, for the most part. I think he moves around in a timely basis to make it very difficult. And he's putting the ball in the right places with his receivers.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I'm curious as to why you're asking the question then.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I think we do. I think we've still not reached our full potential, and that's why we continue to work at it.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Yes. The only injuries we really sustained I think were to Maurice Stovall, who did not come back in the ballgame. I've not seen him today yet, first day of practice. I think he will be fine by week's end. And Parish, I think those were the only two that we received of any significance.

COACH WILLINGHAM: He will not return this year.

COACH WILLINGHAM: He had a knee problem.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I heard comments about that statement. I didn't hear those things. Any time you would tell an athlete that's playing a game that he doesn't have a certain skill level, I think he bristles up just a little bit.

COACH WILLINGHAM: None.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Well, I think they are kind -- they kind of maintain the profile of our senior classes. I think the guys that we've had have been fighters, they've continued to fight and battle to be the best they can be. I think their class resembles them tremendously.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Well, that was important. As you should have noted I said just a few seconds ago that the number one reason any fifth-year player should come back is they offer leadership to the other guys first, and then hopefully performance. And Mike has had a fine year. Really appears to be even getting better as he finishes out this last stretch of games. So it is important that he provide the leadership, and he's doing that. It's important that he provide the play on the field, and he's doing that also.

COACH WILLINGHAM: You look at everything you do. You look at your personnel. You look at your scheme. You look at every call. That is a constant evaluation.

COACH WILLINGHAM: You make it every game, okay? Every game you sit down. I look at those tapes. I'm reviewing, Is this a great call for us? What is the player problem here? All of those things you look at every week.

COACH WILLINGHAM: No.

COACH WILLINGHAM: He is doing some good things, but we've committed ourself. We probably maybe should be giving him -- I said that Saturday, we maybe should have given him a little bit more of the carries on Saturday.

COACH WILLINGHAM: How would you like me to solve that one?

COACH WILLINGHAM: Well, I noted in your question, and forgive me for noting in your question, but you did say "we fixed one area, then another problem sprung up the next week." That would imply to me that we are trying to fix those problems.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Thank you. We're on the same page then.

COACH WILLINGHAM: He didn't travel.

COACH WILLINGHAM: He was.

COACH WILLINGHAM: You know, you look at all those guys, and you have very similar feelings. Goolsby, Curry, Grant, Holiday, Budinscak. We could on with the group. It's amazing you'll duplicate those feelings one year from now. There will be another group of seniors you'll be parting ways with who have done a great job of being leaders, team members, doing all the things you want and desire from them. That's kind of the pains of college football that you have to part with those guys. Each year you go through that process. But I think Ryan has been special because in the manner in which he has had to work through this year, okay, great expectations coming into the season, and then suffering the hamstring injury, having to fight back, partially out. I think his leadership has been special. But I think there are a lot of guys in the senior class that have done that, and next year will be the very same.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I thought one of the keys was trying to keep Tennessee off balance and not just line up and try to run right at them, but run, mix in a boot, mix in a (inaudible), mix in a quick throw, mix in a power run, come back at them with a counter, but trying to keep them really off balance. I thought for the most part our calling did that.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I think we've been some days good, some days not so good. Some moments good, some moments not so good. That has been really what we've been talking about and discussing for quite some time, the inconsistency. We just have to continue to work and get better. To a degree, you have to have a certain amount of confidence in it and believe in it and keep going to it.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Is that the biggest frustration? I think frustration for a coach comes moment by moment, there are so many things you can put in there. But, no, it's one of those things that you don't like. You know if you can get it in a position that you're comfortable with, you feel a lot better. The one thing I know about this game, I know that every coach, okay, is talking about inconsistency. There's not one, whether they're the No. 1 team in the country or they're the No. 117 team, they're all talking about inconsistently. Usually what happens is the team that is most consistent makes a few more plays that given day than the other team, and they win. And in some cases, they make a lot more plays.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Well, I think more than hitting the wall, I think he just continued to learn and grow because I think a lot of times when you're first thrown in, you just kind of perform, and then as you continue to play, you learn and you see more things than you ever saw before. I think he's continuing to grow and getting better each week.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Thank you for helping me with that one. No, I've said some time ago, I thought there was something special about Derek because I thought he understood leverage, and I think a lot of players don't truly understand leverage and understand how to use it to their advantage. Because of that, I was just waiting, and I've been pleased that this year he has really started to use all of those skills that he has to really make impact. He has been, I think these last four or five games of his, they've been very, very good.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I don't know if I can say he's watching and he's learning. I believe that would be the case. But I think it's not his turn yet. I think when some of the other seniors that have occupied those roles depart, that he'll be one of those guys that should be stepping up and taking much more of a leadership than he has in the past.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I think you always have to be concerned about it. It won't be my major focus. What I'll be really targeting is the fact that we've got one heck of a football team coming in here in Pittsburgh, and they are what we have to guard against. If we can play our best football against them, we'll put ourselves in a position to be successful.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I really haven't. I'll let others in our office, some of our administrators, I'll let them focus on that right now. My concern is fairly simple: if we win, it allows us to position ourselves I think higher and higher within the Bowl structure, and maybe there might be limits on that that I'm not really aware of right now, but still winning is our best opportunity.

COACH WILLINGHAM: I won't say "relief." I just think every win allows you to step a little higher up that ladder. That's what we want to position ourselves as high as possible.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Well, I think the first thing in there, yes, if the NCAA would allow us, we would take him for another year, that should be noted. I think that's what you expect from your outstanding players, that they are never satisfied. Regardless of the performance, 14 tackles, sacks, interception for a touchdown, that you want more. Hopefully he wants 15, 16, 17, two sacks, et cetera. That's what you love about competitive young men. So it hopefully speaks well for his leadership of himself and of our football team.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Well, first of all, I'm always hopeful that our guys have that opportunity and they take advantage of it. I'm never one to predict that a guy will or will not make it, but I think he'll have ample opportunity to.

COACH WILLINGHAM: Well, we haven't completed all of our studies of the Pittsburgh defense as of yet. We'll be trying to finalize our thoughts and the picture they present to us through their games this year probably by Wednesday or Thursday. If you were by chance to contact me later in the week, I might have some idea about that (laughter).

COACH WILLINGHAM: Well, as you know, I think Coach Harris and the Pittsburgh staff have done a great job with all of their wide receivers. It seems each year they have one of the premiere guys if not in the Big East, in the whole country. Any time you have a guy that is that skilled, he poses a great deal of problems. I think if I'm correct, Greg's last performance was almost 200 yards, 188.

COACH WILLINGHAM: He had a spectacular game. When you have a player that performs at that level, it is always a problem.

COACH WILLINGHAM: First of all, if you tell me there's a coach in this country that hasn't come under scrutiny, I'd like to see it. Second of all, I think he's done well. I think he's got his team positioned not where he would like them to be, but I think at 5-3, they feel they have a chance to do some things.