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Aug. 30, 2003
Recap?|?Box Score?|?Notes | Video Highlights
Virginia Coach Al Groh
(On Schaub’s injury) We don’t talk about injuries. This is our team as it isconstructed now. This is the way that we’re going to play. As soon as we starttalking about that, we start buying into a built-in excuse. We have highaspirations for our team this year. Our team was redefined tonight. That’s the waywe are probably going to be playing for a little bit. And that’s the way itis. He’ll be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.
(On the play of Anthony Martinez) He brought his team home. I always say, aquarterback is judged by his pelts. He’s got one now. He made two big throws,and that augmented what we were doing with the running game. He brought histeam home under difficult circumstances.
We kind of redefined our team — one with great special teams play. I thoughtTom Hagan had a tremendous game. Not many punters on any level have had agame like that. … We blocked a field, had good coverage on everything else, andwe had a couple of good returns from Marques Hagans. Our special teamsenabled us to get excellent field position, which gave Duke a long field the wholenight.
Defensively, we followed along with the plan. We played well against the run,got pressure on the quarterback. Offensively, we were able to run the ballwith authority. That’s what we needed to do to win.
We had a very good plan with the running game. We pretty much stuck withthat.
I thought our fans had a great night. Looks like we’re trading in neck tiesfor body paint and blue button-down oxfords for t-shirts, orange ones at that.The atmosphere was pretty dynamic out there. It sounded like a real footballhouse tonight.
Duke Coach Carl Franks
Virginia beat us in every phase of the game. I hope Schaub’s all right. Theyran the ball well.We had a very difficult time tackling. We haven’t tackled that poorly in along time. We had trouble turnng them in. We had some mistakes in assignments,but it was also great running.
(On Tom Hagan’s punting) He had a great night punting for them. Regardless ofhis average, the effectiveness was tremendous. You don’t get many 95-, 92-,98-, 99-yard drives.
(On Schaub’s injury) When that happened I said, “We know what they’re goingto do. They’re going to run.” It was very disappointing the way we tackled, butVirginia ran hard.