Tom OBrien, Wolfpack back to work
Having to turn around and play two-time defending Big East champ Cincinnati Thursday night after arriving home around 3:30 Sunday morning from a 28-21 win at Central Florida in humid Orlando, Fla., was probably not what Wolfpack head coach Tom O'Brien preferred.
O'Brien deflected most questions about the mechanics of how the schedule was formulated during Monday's weekly press conference, but he did acknowledge having conversations with the ACC when the schedule was announced as all schools do.
Advertisement
O'Brien said the team did not practice Sunday, and they were a bit sluggish in Monday morning's practice. He believes part of that is because it is going to take at least a couple of days to get the Wolfpack's legs back underneath them. The team will practice again Tuesday and perhaps do what O'Brien called a "glorified walk through" Wednesday.
Among other topics covered by O'Brien:
- O'Brien refused to discuss the status of the offensive line which took a hit Saturday evening when starting right tackle Mikel Overgaard, a redshirt junior, left the game with an elbow injury.
O'Brien did say however that in hindsight the coaches made a mistake trying four different guys to replace Overgaard, and he will not move senior left tackle Jake Vermiglio to right side and have touted freshman Robert Crisp start at left tackle.
- When asked about the impact of linebackers coach Jon Tenuta, O'Brien said that Tenuta has helped the team with its third down defenses more than anything.
- O'Brien praised the demeanor of the two freshmen running backs, especially true freshman tailback Mustafa Greene.
- O'Brien was asked about his connections to the city of Cincinnati, but he noted he has not lived there since he left at the age of 18 to play football and attend Navy. He still calls the Cincinnati Reds his favorite National League team.
To listen to Monday's press conference, click on the link provided below: