Sept. 23, 2008

Head Coach Frank Tavani

On the bye week: "Basically when the bye week happens so early as opposed to later in the season we weren't looking so much for rest as we were to get some work done and make some corrections from the first two games. We were able to go back and recreate those plays and those mistakes and go over them and get some positive repetitions and doing them the right way. Obviously from film last year on Penn we were able to start some preparation but the real game planning only began this past Sunday when we got their game tape from the Villanova game and then started to zero in. We did take an extra day of practice yesterday (Monday) which is normally a day off but since we had the weekend free we got out in shells yesterday and got the game plan administered. We'll actually get an extra day of practice this week because of the way we approached the schedule."

On having a game film from this season to review: "It's a lot different than in the past. As I've always said, preparing blind is very difficult in our game. When you don't have anything to start the season as we've had in the past against some of these Ivy teams that makes it extremely difficult to prepare and certainly an advantage for the other team regardless of whether they've played a game or not. Certainly I don't think they had an opportunity to hold much back against Villanova. As always, a very solid Penn team--very talented, very athletic, very hard-nosed, very physical. You know when you come out of a game against Penn regardless of at least any year I can remember, it's a black and blue and kind of a bloody game. You've got to play well to win and certainly a year ago we played until the end which has been our mantra and it worked out. I'm sure that's a little motivation for them and frustration on their part and now they're coming off a real solid game against a top-20 team at our level and losing in overtime at home, so I look for a pretty hostile bunch to come in. I know I'm usually insulted when I come into a place for their homecoming or some event so I'm sure that will get them all charged up, as well."

On how teams respond following a game against a top-20 team: "I think you're better prepared. You're certainly playing a very talented team and you come out of it with a feeling of confidence that hey, not only did we just play with that team, they [Penn] had a chance to win. They played them even for four quarters and lost in overtime where anything can happen. That's a great confidence builder and a great way to come out of the gate. Again, you're talking about Penn football, one of the winningest programs at our level over the years."

On Penn's defense: "I'm always impressed with Penn's defense. They're always very physical. They usually have a real good guy or two upfront which they do. Their nose man is very, very good, No. 75, you'll see him all over the field and just a very good player. Their linebackers are very strong, very athletic in the secondary. Their one corner had two of the four picks at Villanova. They'll certainly face a different team [in Lafayette]. We'll certainly attempt to run the football and hopefully be somewhat effective as well as balance that with throwing the ball to what I think is some pretty good talent that we have, too, at receiver."

Sophomore linebacker Neil Goldsmith

On his major, current classes: "I'm probably going to be an English major. Right now I'm taking an advanced English course. I really like it; we get pretty in depth in the stuff we're reading. Also I'm taking a lot of Anthropology courses right now. That's a big interest of mine."

On whether he'd spoken to his brother, Drew, a defensive end at Penn: "Actually I hadn't talked to him in a while up until last night, I called him up. Luckily I didn't exchange any vital information so we should be ok. I was just seeing how he was feeling because he got real sick and I've been banged up so we were just saying that we're both going to be playing and I wished him luck. That was the first time I've talked to him all year, really."

On whether Drew will start: "I think the deal was he had the flu and he didn't practice that week that he didn't start. This week he should be starting. He worked really hard to get that spot. Last year he was not doing so well so they switched him position-wise a few times and this year I think he's going to be starting against us."

Senior wide receiver Tim Watson

On his major, current classes: "My major is Anthropology and Sociology. Right now my favorite class would be Political Sociology. We're dealing with what it takes to get into politics and the type of people that are in politics. It's very interesting right now because of the presidential election that's going on so we've been looking at that throughout the year and all the aspects surrounding the Democratic and Republican candidates."

On `paying his dues' and his goals as a starter: "Number one our goal is to win the Patriot League title; that's obviously our main goal. Going into the season, the guys who were here every day all summer, we thought of that every day and we practiced like that every day. Number one goal is always to win the Patriot League and then get to the playoffs. If we go out like we have been the past two games then we have a very good shot of doing that and if we get to the playoffs hopefully we can make some noise there. But the main goal is to win the Patriot League Championship."

On his individual goals: "Individually, I'd love to score a touchdown; that's my number one individual goal. I've yet to do that in college but that's put on the back burner. I'm more focused on team goals this year."