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00:00 >> Brian and TJ.
00:01 >> Brian, I'd like to ask you first your reaction to being named the outstanding
00:05 balker.
00:06 >> Yeah, I was really surprised.
00:08 It's a great honor, especially since that award's voted on by the coaches and
00:13 the defensive coordinators in the conference.
00:15 So once I learned that, I was very humbled to receive it, for sure.
00:18 >> For both you guys, playing an extra week is always cool.
00:25 You're gonna get a bowl game, but having this one in the middle of it,
00:27 what's it mean for you guys as a team to be back in there and
00:32 competing for a championship?
00:33 >> It's good to be back in the building.
00:37 Thank you for mentioning the other day that so many teams playing this week.
00:41 So that's always a blessing to be one of the teams to be able to compete for
00:44 a championship.
00:45 >> Yeah, competing for a championship is always the goal at the beginning of
00:49 the season.
00:50 So to have gotten to this point is definitely a blessing and
00:55 encouraging for all of us, and we're excited to be practicing still and
00:59 getting ready for the game.
01:01 >> For both of you, obviously Florida State's had a great season,
01:03 haven't lost yet.
01:04 Have you had a chance to watch them throughout much of the season,
01:06 obviously, especially now with the game coming up, your thoughts on them?
01:10 >> I have watched them.
01:12 I watched them early in the season,
01:13 cuz they might have been playing the team that we was getting ready to play.
01:16 And I definitely watched them after our game.
01:19 I watched them when they played Florida, and I watched them Sunday and
01:23 yesterday, and just trying to steady up on them.
01:25 >> Yeah, I've tried to watch all ACC teams on Saturdays and weekends,
01:31 but definitely been watching them throughout the season, and
01:35 especially this week, obviously, preparing for this game.
01:38 But yeah, I mean, obviously, they're a great team,
01:40 have a lot of really good athletes, so it'll be a big challenge for us.
01:42 >> TJ, I can't remember if you played last year against Florida State, but
01:47 what do you remember about Tate, and how do you kind of see him just getting better,
01:51 or just kind of compare last year's game against you guys to this year?
01:54 >> Coming in, when we played them last year,
01:57 it was kind of like the same situation.
02:00 They quarterback got hurt, and then he came in, and he did some things against us.
02:04 And then it's a new year,
02:06 he had another year to get some more experience behind the man.
02:10 I believe that his team trusts him, so going into this game,
02:14 we can't look at it as that they got a back of quarterback in.
02:18 It's just, we gotta take full advantage of every opportunity we get.
02:23 >> Brian, what kind of challenges does that defensive front present quite a few
02:28 athletes and some talented guys?
02:31 >> Yeah, they've got a really good defensive front, obviously,
02:34 very talented pass rushers.
02:35 And they've got a couple of D tackles on side,
02:37 they're really good pass rushers in themselves.
02:39 They're really good against the run also.
02:41 So yeah, I think it'll be a really big challenge for us.
02:45 But I think we're pretty good on our side of the ball too, so
02:49 I'm excited to see how we can do against them.
02:53 >> Brian, playing the offensive line,
02:54 can you feel like kind of a thankless job in terms of the recognition?
02:58 So when you get one like you did yesterday, just how gratifying is it for
03:02 a guy who's put in as many years as you have to keep developing at the center spot?
03:07 >> Yeah, I'm incredibly grateful for it.
03:10 Like you said, a lot of work has gone into it.
03:12 And I'm incredibly humbled to receive the reward, it's a big honor.
03:16 And I'd like to say, I was talking to my wife yesterday,
03:21 I'd like to say it's a word for not only me, but the entire offensive line here.
03:25 Just the amount of work that we've put in and
03:28 just the whole unit that we have there and the bond that we have is pretty special.
03:33 So I'm just very humbled and blessed to be a part of that.
03:38 >> For both of you to be at this level, I guess,
03:41 to get to that next level this year, first year under Jeff.
03:45 What does that kind of mean to you all in terms of a program where you've been part
03:51 of winning teams, you've seen some rougher years too?
03:55 Could you have expected this kind of success so
03:59 soon and when did you start to feel it was possible?
04:02 >> I think when they first came in, they laid out the expectations for us.
04:07 And we understood that how we used to do things, it wasn't gonna be the same.
04:12 And then when Coach Brown came in, we knew that the city was gonna back us even more.
04:18 And just from day one, they always preached to us that,
04:21 gotta have that championship mentality.
04:23 And at the same time, it's a one game season, so we just took it game by game.
04:27 And we kept winning, so I mean, that helps.
04:31 And then that's how we ended up where we is now,
04:35 to be able to compete for that championship.
04:38 >> Brian, I don't think, I'm sorry, you go.
04:39 >> No, no, yeah, I was- >> Did you have a-
04:42 >> Yeah, I was just gonna say that it
04:44 means everything to us to be able to get to this point.
04:47 Coach Brown and the staff has done a great job, obviously, this season.
04:51 I think we knew the potential we had, but they did a great job of taking us week to
04:55 week and just continuing to improve us as a team all throughout the year.
04:59 And so it's, yes, it means everything for us to get to this point.
05:02 >> Keep on with you, Brian.
05:05 Obviously, you know you guys accomplished this year, but for
05:09 you two, just getting married and everything that's happened in your personal life.
05:12 I mean, what have these past six, eight months been like for you?
05:16 >> Yeah, it's been pretty emotional, with me getting married and
05:20 things in my personal life kind of progressing.
05:23 That's been a huge blessing.
05:25 Obviously, she's been a big part of my life, and
05:27 to be able to start that has been huge for me.
05:29 But also with it being my last year in college football, and
05:33 I'm just insanely blessed and thankful to be a part of this team.
05:39 With this special group of coaches and with players like TJ and
05:44 everybody we have in that locker room, so it's just been incredible.
05:47 How could I have asked for a better senior year?
05:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]
05:51 >> I'm always afraid my phone's gonna start.
05:52 >> [LAUGH] >> Sorry.
05:54 >> Brian, when you look at the success you guys have had, but
06:00 the two games that you lost were turnovers.
06:04 How disappointing is it in that offensive unit that, hey,
06:08 we have to make sure we clean that up and we can't do that again?
06:13 >> Right, yeah, that's obviously a big focus for us every week as an offense.
06:18 We can't turn the ball over, we're not gonna win games like that, obviously.
06:21 And it is really disappointing for us, especially for those two losses,
06:25 because a lot of it was mistakes that we made and
06:29 were just self-imposed as an offense.
06:31 So it's just something that we have to continue to work on and
06:36 that we use that, cuz the coaches and even the players have really focused on it week
06:40 in and week out to be able to correct that and not let it happen again.
06:44 >> For both of you guys, you walk in the facility, you see all the trophies and
06:47 this program's accomplished a lot.
06:49 How motivating is it to maybe be,
06:51 there's only one first, to be the first Louisville football team to win an ACC
06:55 championship?
06:56 Is that something that drives you this week, something you all talk about?
07:00 >> Yeah, it definitely drives us to be able to be that first team, man.
07:05 That's something that nobody can ever take from you,
07:06 just being the first team to win a championship.
07:08 And then just being, just everything we've been through this season to just
07:12 see the reward that we can possibly get.
07:16 So just going into this week,
07:18 we just gotta not let the pressure get to us and we just gotta go out and execute.
07:24 >> TJ.
07:27 >> Brian, can you answer that too?
07:28 I mean, having played at Virginia Tech too.
07:31 >> Yeah, yeah, obviously, like you said,
07:33 this program has already accomplished a lot of things.
07:36 But to be the first, it definitely drives us this week.
07:39 And it's something that we definitely don't take for granted.
07:41 But kinda like TJ said, we're just approaching this week just like we have
07:46 every other week and taking the same process that we did to get here.
07:50 Cuz we didn't make it all this way just to get to the game, so
07:54 we wanna go win it, and so that's what we're getting ready to do.
07:56 >> Sorry, Brian.
07:59 >> Brian's mic went out.
08:00 >> [LAUGH]
08:02 >> [INAUDIBLE]
08:12 >> I can hear him through his mic,
08:13 I can't hear his back.
08:14 >> Put it in the middle, though.
08:15 >> There you go.
08:16 >> Sure.
08:18 >> [INAUDIBLE]
08:22 >> It says low, might be better.
08:24 >> Yeah, yeah.
08:26 >> Am I good?
08:26 >> Go ahead.
08:27 >> TJ, Jeff mentioned after the Kentucky game that he thought the defense had
08:30 kinda been subpar over the last few games.
08:33 And when you kinda look at the statistical splits,
08:35 it seems like the defense hasn't been as efficient as they were earlier in the
08:39 season or at the mid-season point.
08:41 As someone who's on the field playing in play out,
08:44 what do you think is the biggest reason that the defense is not as effective as it
08:48 was earlier in the season, and
08:50 what's kinda the necessary steps you guys need to take to correct that?
08:53 >> I think that the necessary steps that we have to take is just executing.
08:58 We didn't have, in the previous games, we didn't have plenty of opportunities to
09:02 make plays, and when the plays come our way, we just gotta make them.
09:05 And so I believe, if you watch the film, as we watch it,
09:09 it was certain instances that we was there, and we just gotta finish it.
09:13 So that's just the main thing, is just trying to correct those little mistakes,
09:19 and just toning down the details, cuz if we execute the details,
09:23 then we'll be fine, and we'll be able to get back to where we were as a defense.
09:26 >> TJ, I know you play a different side of the ball, but
09:31 Coach Braum has talked about Brian's leadership and the example he sets.
09:35 I was wondering what kinda impact he's made as a leader on you guys as a whole
09:40 team this season.
09:41 >> Yeah, definitely, I believe everybody,
09:43 there's a lot of people on the team that look up to Brian, and
09:46 I see how he leads the team.
09:48 And I try to take that, and it helps me be a better leader,
09:53 because that's one thing that the coaches want me to be,
09:56 be a better leader, be more vocal.
09:58 So I believe, and just watching him, and just being here,
10:03 I think we got here around the same time, when we transferred in.
10:05 So I've been seeing him be able to grow and be a leader, so.
10:10 >> For both of you, I guess maybe mostly for TJ, cuz Brian or
10:14 Jeff made such an episode, kinda bouncing off the question about the defense.
10:19 And when he was talking about how there's been a lot more points given up the last
10:22 three games, as well as turnovers on offense,
10:26 he kinda put that on the coaching staff's shoulders.
10:29 When you hear, like yesterday, he said, we're gonna put that on ourselves,
10:32 not on the players.
10:34 When you hear your coaches speak like that,
10:35 what's that mean to you to hear the coaches take so much responsibility?
10:38 >> It just shows you that they care, and they don't want us too down on ourselves,
10:42 to be able to, cuz you get too down on yourself,
10:44 you might not be able to bounce back.
10:46 And then, if you have a coach that always just blame things on the players,
10:50 then you're not gonna feel confident anymore.
10:52 So just them taking that responsibility, and us as players,
10:56 we have to take some of the other responsibilities,
10:59 just because we're the ones out there, we're the ones out there playing.
11:02 So it means a lot for them to take responsibility, but
11:05 we know that coaches and players got to do better going forward.
11:08 [BLANK_AUDIO]
11:11 >> For both of you, Coach Brown said the other day that he feels you've got
11:16 something to prove, what's your take on that?
11:19 I mean, after the Kentucky game, do you feel that way?
11:22 And is it, another part of that is,
11:24 been difficult to get that loss out of your mind?
11:26 [BLANK_AUDIO]
11:28 >> I feel like you always have something to prove, no matter what it is.
11:33 We obviously wanna win, we wanna win every game, but
11:37 just going from last game, just going forward now,
11:41 we just wanna show that we've gotten better from last week.
11:44 And when we go on our field on Saturday, we wanna show that.
11:47 >> Yeah, I'll just say that, as a competitor, you always wanna win every rep.
11:54 And we've got a lot of dudes in that locker room and on the coaching staff, and
11:58 all we wanna do is win.
12:00 So when we don't do that, and we fall short, that stays with us.
12:06 So we have to, just like Coach talks all the time,
12:09 we have to work to move on from that.
12:10 But that drive is always gonna, that competitive edge is always with us.
12:16 So that's just kinda what drives us, for sure.
12:19 >> Brian, going off that a little bit, early in the year,
12:22 I think, media day, you were talking about, you had heard all about the problems.
12:25 You had heard all about the good things and the positives.
12:28 And then you all were seeing that, we've seen that throughout.
12:31 With a loss, did it surprise you, or
12:35 is it different of how upset maybe Jeff, Coach Braum gets?
12:41 And how he kinda, he's hard on himself and on everybody else.
12:44 I mean, it is different when you lose.
12:47 >> Yeah, for sure.
12:48 And I think the biggest thing that you see with Coach Braum, and
12:51 it trickles down to the whole staff, that he just cares a lot about this program and
12:55 about each player in the locker room.
12:57 To go back to what TJ said, it shows with a loss how he takes a lot of the blame on
13:01 himself and the coaching staff.
13:02 But that just shows that he cares and he wants us all to play confident every day
13:07 and just prepare to go out and put our best foot forward.
13:10 And so, but at the end of the day, it also falls on the players too,
13:15 because no matter what play is called on offense or defense or
13:20 special teams, we're the one out there and we have to go out there and
13:22 just make the play.
13:23 So, but yeah, I think it just goes back and it just shows, and
13:28 through wins and losses, just how much he cares about this program and each player.
13:31 >> Anything else?
13:35 >> One more.
13:36 >> Okay.
13:38 >> TJ, they're running in, their line's big.
13:40 Would you talk about the running backs and
13:41 what you've seen with those guys before you stayed here?
13:45 >> Yeah, as far as I've seen so far, they have,
13:48 of the two running backs, number three and I believe it's number nine.
13:52 They do a good job of finding open holes and open gaps.
13:55 They all line, they definitely open up lanes for them.
13:59 So we just, this week, have to stay on our fists and stay on our guard and
14:03 get an out back.
14:04 >> Do you guys have any memory of the 2016 Louisville Forest State game?
14:10 I was kinda like when he became a Heisman Trophy candidate.
14:13 Do you all have vivid memories of watching that?
14:16 >> I think I remember seeing some highlights.
14:18 I think that was, it might have been like a high scoring game if I remember.
14:22 But yeah, that was definitely a good game.
14:25 >> Yeah, I was at the game actually, so I remember it very well.
14:30 Yeah, for sure.
14:32 >> What kind of pink standard, I mean, Jair had a funky turn,
14:35 Lamar was spinning touchdown.
14:37 >> Yeah, I was amazed.
14:39 Obviously, they have a lot of talent on that team and
14:43 it was just total domination on Louisville's part.
14:46 So yeah, it's exciting to look back on that.
14:49 Yeah.
14:50 >> All right.
14:53 >> Good.