B
Brian Shoemaker
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This is from the Virginia site's premium message board.
Getting ready to hop on a teleconference with UVa's Bronco Mendenhall. Check this thread for notes in a few.
Asked about his initial reactions, Bronco said he loves the matchup and the game for so many reasons. The proximity is "exceptional." He really loves the matchup and the experience that his guys will get playing against an SEC team. He also loves the messaging that comes with going back to the postseason for the second year in a row.
On playing Brennan Armstrong, Bronco said they will if they can but they're going to win this game.
Bronco said he didn't have much involvement in this thing other than internal perspective. It's really up to the bowls and the league. He talked with Carla and the admin about the various bowls and the options were very good to him. He liked the various locations.
Bronco loves the matchup with South Carolina and the location of the game but it also gives UVa a chance to put a cap on this season in a "challenging" way.
Asked about South Carolina's pass-heavy offense, Bronco said that "if that is the case" about their offense it may be an interesting matchup but at this point his exposure to their offense is his wife watching some of their games recently. He hasn't had a chance to watch any film but if that's how it scouts, he'll be glad to have his secondary.
On the team's schedule going forward, Bronco said that as soon as this call is over his coordinators will arrive and start putting together the practice schedule around the exam schedule, which run through the 18th. They take that very seriously given the institution so they're going to use a "unique" design for their schedule. Bryce Perkins' readiness will be a "primary" factor in how they design their plan.
Asked about the achievement of getting here again, Bronco admitted they thought when they arrived they could go in Year 1 and Year 2. "I didn't know, just to be clear, where the program was," he said, adding that it's very gratifying to do something at UVa that hasn't been done for a while. He thinks they're accelerating the program "about as fast" as you could. That being said, they're not satisfied at all about the finish of the season, losing two in OT and not being more squarely in the Coastal race. So, the season is a positive thing but "there's a lot more to play for."
On last year's experience in the postseason and how it will inform prep this year, Bronco said last year was so much more about the depth of the roster and managing the team in its first postseason in a long time. Nobody had been to a bowl game before. That point of reference has the team's attention and the uncertainty of it is gone. That experience will help a lot.
Asked about the way the kids have bounced back from the VT game, Bronco admitted that when he met with them last Monday he hadn't bounced back and neither had they. It was about as disappointed as he's been in his career. They agreed that they would all be ready once practice begins again. He doesn't think it's a bad thing that it's taken longer to turn the page after that loss and he's given both the team and himself extra time to recover.
There aren't any real connections between Bronco and USC's Will Muschamp, he said.
On his experience against the SEC, Bronco said that he's not sure he's played one in his coaching career. He knows the league mostly through reputation. He really likes the regional flavor of these two leagues playing each other and this is a good measuring stick for the program.
That's all from Bronco tonight.
Getting ready to hop on a teleconference with UVa's Bronco Mendenhall. Check this thread for notes in a few.
Asked about his initial reactions, Bronco said he loves the matchup and the game for so many reasons. The proximity is "exceptional." He really loves the matchup and the experience that his guys will get playing against an SEC team. He also loves the messaging that comes with going back to the postseason for the second year in a row.
On playing Brennan Armstrong, Bronco said they will if they can but they're going to win this game.
Bronco said he didn't have much involvement in this thing other than internal perspective. It's really up to the bowls and the league. He talked with Carla and the admin about the various bowls and the options were very good to him. He liked the various locations.
Bronco loves the matchup with South Carolina and the location of the game but it also gives UVa a chance to put a cap on this season in a "challenging" way.
Asked about South Carolina's pass-heavy offense, Bronco said that "if that is the case" about their offense it may be an interesting matchup but at this point his exposure to their offense is his wife watching some of their games recently. He hasn't had a chance to watch any film but if that's how it scouts, he'll be glad to have his secondary.
On the team's schedule going forward, Bronco said that as soon as this call is over his coordinators will arrive and start putting together the practice schedule around the exam schedule, which run through the 18th. They take that very seriously given the institution so they're going to use a "unique" design for their schedule. Bryce Perkins' readiness will be a "primary" factor in how they design their plan.
Asked about the achievement of getting here again, Bronco admitted they thought when they arrived they could go in Year 1 and Year 2. "I didn't know, just to be clear, where the program was," he said, adding that it's very gratifying to do something at UVa that hasn't been done for a while. He thinks they're accelerating the program "about as fast" as you could. That being said, they're not satisfied at all about the finish of the season, losing two in OT and not being more squarely in the Coastal race. So, the season is a positive thing but "there's a lot more to play for."
On last year's experience in the postseason and how it will inform prep this year, Bronco said last year was so much more about the depth of the roster and managing the team in its first postseason in a long time. Nobody had been to a bowl game before. That point of reference has the team's attention and the uncertainty of it is gone. That experience will help a lot.
Asked about the way the kids have bounced back from the VT game, Bronco admitted that when he met with them last Monday he hadn't bounced back and neither had they. It was about as disappointed as he's been in his career. They agreed that they would all be ready once practice begins again. He doesn't think it's a bad thing that it's taken longer to turn the page after that loss and he's given both the team and himself extra time to recover.
There aren't any real connections between Bronco and USC's Will Muschamp, he said.
On his experience against the SEC, Bronco said that he's not sure he's played one in his coaching career. He knows the league mostly through reputation. He really likes the regional flavor of these two leagues playing each other and this is a good measuring stick for the program.
That's all from Bronco tonight.
