Athletic Quotations | Page 5

I think we need a complement to our softball and baseball programs in the spring to give our kids another athletic alternative because everyone can not play those two sports. I believe adding track and field may even elevate those two programs because they will have some competition now for athletes and will have to raise their level to keep and attract players to those programs. I think that is healthy competition.

I think we have a lot of confidence, and I think we've got a lot of athletic ability. We have put in more offense in a week and a day than we ran all of last season. We had 14 seniors last year, but seven of those were first-year players. So now, most of our kids have been in the system at least a year, with some having two or three years' experience.

I think we could be more physical, but maybe not as athletic as last year. It's amazing, one year you don't think you have anybody at a certain spot, and then all of sudden you've got great depth there. That's the boat we're in right now.

I think we need to rebound most of all since they're a long, athletic team. They shoot really well, so I think if we rebound, we will be all right and everything else will fall into place.

I think that my mom is the athletic one, but when she was in school they didn't have anything that was organized.

I think that (building the business) was my only form of recreation. I never played golf. I never played tennis. I never did anything athletic after I left school. I ate, slept and thought of nothing but the business.

I think a lot of athletic directors, administrators and teams will drink from the well we dug.

I think at the high school level, all guys have to work on their defense. He's athletic enough and long enough that if he turns the intensity up, he'll be fine. He's got all the tools to be a good defensive player.

I think it was a great athletic move. But I'm sure my teammates will think otherwise. Anything to get the out.

I think it was just a general reluctance to change. But the coaches were able to communicate with their athletic directors why this rule made sense. Then it gained more and more support.

It gets old; we expect to play West tough. I hope our kids have gotten to the point where they expect to win. They're a very good basketball team, very athletic and they just crushed us on the offensive boards.

It goes to the athletic arena, but not necessarily the basketball arena. There are many other issues for the 21 sports. We haven't really got to that point yet.

I think this is real special that they're doing this for me. We won a lot of games and a lot of those kids turned out to do some darn good things. There were a lot of people to thank for that. I had two great presidents, a great athletic director and great fans. I just never realized how good I had it.

I think this class filled some needs. We got some tall, athletic receivers and four big, strong corners. Hopefully, some of those guys can help us right away.

I think that's something to look forward to: The new Gracie Gold at the Olympics. In 2014, you'll see a lot of the warm Gracie, and not just the athletic Gracie.

I think some students will be upset but in a negotiation way, it's to keep a good relationship with the Athletic Department as well as the ASUO executive office. It's a good medium we've met.

(Last year) it was just three of us. So the secondary might be able to look at one side or favor one side. Now that it's four or five guys out there and you've got to play evenly. So everybody gets more room, there's more one-on-one action, and with the athletic ability that we have, it allows us to get open easier.

I watched five minutes (of videotape), and (my assistant coaches) had to dry my eyes. I was crying. (The Tornadoes) are incredibly athletic and big, and long arms. It's almost scary.

I was always impressed with how hard she played and that hasn't changed since she's been here. I knew she could help us because she's athletic and that's the way we play. I knew we could use her ability to run and jump like she does. I think our style fits her a little bit better.

I was able to believe when everything looked really dark and gray. I had a little break where the music carried me through. I love the music and performing this program. It's always so special to me no matter what happens. It goes beyond an athletic event and just becomes an emotional experience. I was able to attack the rest of the program.

I think they have to clarify what the AD?s responsibilities are. I?d certainly like to see a full-time athletic director back on board. If you want a top-notch program, it?s got to start from the top.

I think they are a little more athletic ... but we are a lot alike. They have been much more efficient on offense than we have.

I think there needs to be a heightened sensitivity of athletic directors who are doing the hiring process. I'm proposing to see if we could develop a list of what I deem to be the important necessary skills to be a head coach at a high level.

Jason is an extremely athletic goalkeeper who has great distribution. He played in a lot of big games last year.

James Toney has fulfilled his obligation to the New York State Athletic Commission. As such, Mr. Toney's suspension will be lifted effective July 30, 2005, as mandated by the New York commission's previous order.

James Jones gives us another long, athletic wing player who has become a very good range shooter. His versatility on both ends of the floor is a perfect fit for our system.

Kyle is a good athlete with good speed and he has worked hard in the off-season. Pat has excellent size and has also worked hard. Phil missed last year because of an injury but is athletic and has played well.

Kristina is an extremely athletic and explosive forward and we are looking for great things from her because she has really bounced back strong and she looks the best that I've seen her in a long time.

Kountze is athletic pretty much at every position. Every one of them can jump, and they've got two big kids, one 6-5, the other 6-4. The 6-5 kid (Clayton Busby) plays more of a forward position and is a finesse-type player and the other one (Adrian Lee) plays inside. He's more of an athlete and scores a lot off the offensive boards.

I think competition can make people stronger at whatever it is they're competing on. If we're competing in some athletic event for competitive swimmers, really intensely competing, it's likely that both of us will become better, but it's also quite possible we'll lose sight of what's truly valuable.

I said earlier this season that this is probably the worst rebounding team we've had here in 15 years and today was a perfect example of why. Forget the fact that we're probably not big enough or athletic enough in some positions, we get caught a lot of times standing around. We were really fortunate that Pitt didn't capitalize.

Isaiah struggled a little bit early in the year, but we could see that he was coming on during practice. He is very athletic and has done a good job of rebounding and playing defense for us.

Iroquois is a very talented, athletic squad. Iroquois is so quick.

Penn Hills has an endless supply of athletic kids. They are extremely fast, and you see that right away. Their speed is who they are.

Penny's best basketball is ahead of him. He grew up playing guard and has grown eight inches in the last two years, which gives him the unique quality of possessing height as well as perimeter skills. Penny has a lot of athletic ability and his versatility really excites our staff.

Our guys across the board are leaner, stronger and bigger. Our 40 times are lower. I'm convinced from top to bottom that we're a more athletic Division I-type of team.

Our goal was to not be down by 30 at halftime. Obviously, we don't match up well against them. They are much bigger, around 20-to-30 pounds heavier per man, and are a very athletic team.

Our goal is to win the state championship. We will have to go through some really good athletic teams, but we are up for the challenge.

Over time, we believe Under Armour has the opportunity to grow the business in international markets and become a player in the athletic footwear, outdoor lifestyle and sporting goods equipment markets.

Palumbo is the most athletic and a very good scrambler, Rupert has the strongest arm and Knapp is somewhere between the other two. We're looking to use their skills to manage the game the way we want them to. I'd prefer to have a No. 1 quarterback and stick with him, but we'll do what it takes to win games.

Our second semester transfer signings went well - we offered five and got the five we wanted. They are a good fit for us, they are workers - we also needed the maturity that these veterans bring to the program. Our freshman class is rounding out to be a very versatile group. We have a good combination of athletic kids who move well and skill kids who will bring athleticism and speed to the program.

Our team is very athletic and fast. That helps and they give me a lot of choices. But I didn't expect to be here this year.

Our student-athletes are subject to two different sets of rules, ... The athletic department's and the university's. We have a process for students and depending on the specifics of the case, that process is altered.

Overall, the building is in very good shape: the air conditioning is functioning, and the roof is good. The athletic areas just need to be set up, and offices need to be reconfigured.

Our turnovers killed us. That, and we didn't box out on the defensive end. That won't get it done; they're way more athletic than us.

Our athletic department and business managers had to make some tough decisions about who got to go.

Other than being big, fast, athletic and very aggressive, he's just like everybody else.

Rojas is a really polished athletic punter, he can really boom it. I think he will be able to step right in.

Rockledge has a little more power. But they are probably not as athletic as Cocoa.

Re-scheduling this series was a priority for us. We are thrilled to have a series of this magnitude on our future schedules. Working with the good people of the LSU athletic department has been a positive, first-class experience for us.

Piney Woods can play. They're big, huge, athletic guys. Coach Brent does an outstanding job. They play well together.

Patrick might be the best pure athlete on the team. In the fall he was the starting third guy on defense. He is so athletic we can put him anywhere we need to.

Patrick is the best player in the state. There are a lot of scorers in Illinois, but how many defend and rebound the way he does? What puts him at a level with other top players is he is very athletic and plays hard all the time. He gets at least 10 points a game playing aggressive defense.

Paul's greatest asset is his athletic ability. As a quarterback in high school, he's got the great ability to run and jump. He brings the athletic component to the javelin that a lot of people don't bring.

Part of the conversations with (Miami athletic director) Paul Dee is they are about to put $120 million in renovations in the Orange Bowl. If they do that, it's not a concern. The contract has an out, if that work doesn't get done. Then we would play it in Dolphins Stadium.

Our main goals this year are to return to the NCAA Championship and successfully defend our University Athletic Association Championship title.

Our No. 1 goal is to keep this athletic department from having to consider pay-to-play for 10 to 15 years. Our community cannot afford that.

Our minor league has a proven track record of developing talent both on and off the court, with more than 100 players, coaches, referees, athletic trainers and front-office personnel moving to NBA teams or the league office, and we look for that trend to continue.

People just don't know how skilled Luc is. People don't appreciate how athletic he is. I knew it even before practice began, when he was playing in the summertime in the Men's Gym. The sky is the limit for him.

Sports and other forms of vigorous physical activity provide educational experience which cannot be duplicated in the classroom. They are an uncompromising laboratory in which we must htink and act quickly and efficiently under pressure and then force us to meet our own inadequacies face to face - and do something about them - as nothing else does. In any athletic activity we are thrown upon our own resources to succeed or fail in the face of a strong and immediate challenge. Sports resemble life in a capsule form and the participant quickly learns that his preformance depends upon the development of strength, stammina, self-discipline and a sure and study judgement.

My position would be that I couldn't comment about anything until speaking with the chancellor and the athletic director. I'm assuming there would be no position until the situation is resolved.

My point is this: each driver is assigned that vehicle. They sign a contract with me. And I issue them our policy and guidelines, which is approved by the athletic director and also our general counsel.

Looking at tape, we felt a zone would be effective against them. They're so athletic and we had a hard time controlling them off the dribble the last time. What we wanted to do was get a fast tempo to start, get them a little tired and switch to a zone. I think that was really effective tonight.

Matt is so athletic that he adjusted quickly after being switched back to the middle. He's a perfectionist and is always looking to improve, and that's very special to me. Chris works extremely hard and has progressed more than anyone in our program. He is one of our best blockers. He has an opportunity to play some this year and his future is promising. Sean is coming along amazingly fast after being moved to middle blocker. He's working hard and has a chance to see some playing time.

Mark always told India that she is an amazing athlete and he is right. Not only is she athletic but she has a lot of skill as well. Usually players have one or the other. India is so unique because she has both. She creates a lot of problems for defenders, especially one-on-one but also combining with other players. I am just glad I only have to go against her in practice.

Marion was the most athletic team we had played all season, before Fort Wayne Snider. All five starters, and maybe the first seven or eight players, are all extremely athletic. We did some things to turn it into an equal playing area against Marion. We'll likely use some of the same things against Snider.

Mark is really poised for very strong senior season. He was the best player in the gym up front both nights. They had a couple of 6-8 athletic guys on each team.

Mark is a very athletic player who is an outstanding hitting prospect.

I was very impressed with every phase, with his personality, his character, his competitiveness, his athletic ability.

I think I give off a strong energy. I'm 5'9, I'm pretty athletic and I'm pretty outspoken.

It ensures this person is educated, holds a degree and passes national boards to be a certified athletic trainer.

It feels good to win because it's an award based not only on your athletic ability but also on community service and academics. I think that's what I'm really all about.

It feels good to know that you have the support of your friends and family and the fans. We still have a chance in the (Western Athletic Conference) tournament, and that's all that matters.

It feels great. We worked hard for it. We've got a bunch of athletic girls on this team.

I think she'll do a fantastic job for us. She has kept moving up in the coaching ranks. The way she turned things around at Eastern Oregon excited me. We had several strong candidates, but her experience and the fact that she knows the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and has been involved in recruiting excited me.

I think defensively our improvement has been dramatic. It's so difficult to teach young players to defend with any discipline because in high school they are more athletic then everyone else. That's a huge step for us.

I think our best test is going to be in the kicking game. They have excellent specialist with their kickers, their snapper, their returners and they have a lot of really good cover people - guys that are very athletic and have been very productive for them in the past several years.

It doesn't require a huge amount of athletic ability to play. And it's got this cerebral component that appeals to people like Sam.

I think if you have a strong athletic program without there being boundaries, there can be advantages for that. On the other end, it is very expensive to go to a Catholic school, and I'm sure there has been a lot of families who would have loved to have sent their child through a private school but could not afford it.

I think I?m an athletic player, and I like to get up and down. I think that will fit my style of play. I definitely will accept that style of play.

I think he's in the development stages of his career right now, but I think he's got the athletic tools that you need to be successful and he's got the mentality and attitude that you need to be successful.

I think he'll be fine, ... He's not a cocky kid. He's not a real meek kid. He's got a good head on his shoulders. He's a bright kid and he's got great athletic ability.

I thought he showed he was ready. We were fortunate to have athletic safeties like Sam Brandon.

I thought if I worked hard enough, I could play special teams. I thought I was athletic enough that I could at least contribute, run down the field and make a couple plays, hit some people. I had no idea that I was going to be able to play.

I think the strength of this class is its versatility. It has a little bit of everything: character, solid academic credentials and athletic ability. We went looking for help across the board at every position, and we feel as though we accomplished that goal.

I think they played well. They played about as well as expected. They're pretty athletic and physical. They can get the job done. Experience-wise, we're not consistent, but that will improve as they play more as a group.

Justin was able to get inside for that shot and we felt that it was as good an option as any. He's very athletic and he got a good roll on the last shot.

Justin is a very athletic kid, even if he's not the most orthodox. He's a gangly player and finds way to score. He's been playing great.

Just how graceful he moves and how athletic he is, he was very impressive in the game, just playing with a lot of confidence and savvy.

It is easy to lose focus if you are not grounded academically and you are not continually reminded of the athletic department's proper place. You begin to think the university is there so it can field an athletic team. Fact is, universities have been around for more than 200 years and they'll survive with or without athletics.

I think this type of behavior at soccer events seems to be a problem across the state of North Carolina. Our behavior is inexcusable and we will take appropriate action and move ahead to prevent this type of thing happening again in any type of athletic events.

I'm super athletic and I love to work out, and obviously I need to workout for my industry as well, but I love learning something and developing that skill and feeling strong. Girls who can kick butt are hot.

I'm impressed with the way our girls played tonight. The Canadians are faster, more athletic and more intellectual than teams we usually face. We've worked our way up and have improved in each game so far this spring.

That was a very good win against a very good team, well-coached and a tough, athletic group. We found a way to gut it out. We didn't shoot the lights out and it wasn't a pretty game, but we found a way to battle through.

That will create some good competition at that spot and all those young men know if they don't win that job that they'll play somewhere else. All are athletic enough to play a lot of different spots.

That was not a surprise to me. You have two talented, athletic teams that try to play with toughness and take pride in how they get after people. I thought the game might come down to turnovers and who gets more easy baskets. It was hard to find baskets out there.

That was no surprise. We expected that pressure. We knew they're long, they're athletic and they're physical. And that's how they get so many easy baskets.

That was one of the keys going into the game: Not only did we have to defend their athletic ability but their ability on the boards too.

That was a pretty athletic move. I don't know if a lot of quarterbacks make that play.

That's the thing with Dell Rapids, you can't let them get out to a fast start. We certainly couldn't chase them man-to-man. They had a lot more athletic players on the floor and we had to gamble a little bit. They're a very good inside team, and they're a very good outside team. But you can't stop both. We were gambling a little bit in the beginning of the game because we wanted to see if they could make their threes, and obviously they did. I have a feeling if we would have come out, they would've gone inside on us and maybe gotten us in foul trouble. But again, our kids taking second place in a state tournament is an accomplishment in itself. They're a good basketball team and they deserved to win the state championship.