On the "new" season:
"We've had one week off and now we start the real season, which I call it the real season because it is the conference season. And everything from here out counts. We're going to make it a one game season. Our preparation during the off week was about fundamentals and about technique. We know as we approach this season that this new season as we are going to call it is so critical that we don't lose our focus and we maintain our preparation week in and week out. We know this is a very competitive conference and, each week, anyone can win. It is all about just preparation and it's all about making sure your team is prepared to go play. We just know how critical it is going to be because you see how competitive it is week in and week out. You just know right now you have to be prepared to go play."

On the conference:
"What has happened is we haven't had a chance to go play any conference games yet. But, we're ranked fairly high in the polls. You look at Rutgers, which is 2-0 right now in the conference. Cincinnati is 1-0 in the conference. But you have three teams that are undefeated. So, as we prepare to go down that road, we have to know this, we have to be prepared and get ready to go play."

On Pittsburgh:
"Well, you watch them early in the season, I think that any time you have a coaching change kind of like where we were a few years ago, you are just really trying to find your team. Then, you look at what they are trying to do just offensively. Now, I think they've really sunk in what they really want to do is trying to run the football with the back (Ray Graham) that they have. With the quarterback (Tino Sunseri), play-action to get the ball down the field. But you watch them against Virginia Tech, (they) scored a lot of points and moved the ball fairly well. Then, you watch the Syracuse game. They had a chance to go win that football game. They had their opportunities and just didn't take advantage of it."

On Louisville's offense:
"You look at us offensively, we have played fairly well down the stretch. We have been able to move the football. I still like the way our receivers are continuing to compete. Our offensive line is blocking and moving people out of the way to allow our running backs to run the ball. You look at Senorise Perry and you look at Jeremy Wright. Then the quarterback is so poised right now. He started off hot. But still, we can really improve."

On the need for Louisville's defense to improve:
"Defensively, we have to get better. You win games with defense and we know that down the stretch here. Defensively, we have some ways to go. We are looking, just each week and just day in and day out, to work on our fundamentals and our technique have been improving."

On John Miller's status:
"We ran him around some yesterday. Today, we're off. So we'll be able to get him in tomorrow to see if he is ready to go. If he can move around, we're going to take him. Then, we still have a week to get him prepared."

On the challenges of staying unbeaten:
"It is very challenging just to continue to stay unbeaten. We're just one of a few teams that are unbeaten. But still, what's key for us is to take each game just week in and week out and don't look down the road. And just make sure it becomes a one game season. If we make it a one game season and then we go in and our focus is there. Then, we're going to have a chance to continue down that road."

If Pittsburgh running back Ray Graham is back to full strength after a knee injury forced him to miss most of last season:
"Well, anytime you go down with a knee especially at that position, it's really tough to get back. He probably isn't running the ball as well as he was before he got injured, but it's always tough when it's a knee."

On Louisville's recent struggles against Pittsburgh:
"You look at our first year here and we go up there and lose 20-3. Then, last year, we get beat. You look at last year's game and we won two and then we go and lose that game. Then we had to go beat Connecticut and South Florida at the end. We've got to know what we're up against. We have to make sure that we go in as a football team and we have to be prepared to go play that game. And we haven't been as locked in with that game."

On the importance of starting strong in conference play:
"Well, what you have to look at now is it's all about the conference race. That's what critical right now. I know it's Pittsburgh, but still, it's a conference race that's standing there in front of us. We have to make sure that we don't slip. It's our first conference game and it's on the road. So, we need to go play well."

On having an 11 a.m. start after having two night games:
"With the game starting at 11 o'clock, it's going to be an early rise. So, we're going to get up early. When you get up, you don't have much time at all. It's time to go play the football game, which is good. I like that. The game is at 11. So, you eat at 7:30. We usually do a little meeting before so we'll get up probably around 6 o'clock, 6:15. We'll do a walk. We'll have a walk through. We'll do a kicking walk through. Then, we'll go change, get ready and eat our breakfast. Then it's time to go play the game."

On the injury report after having a bye week:
"John Miller and (James) Burgess are the only two that have played that we need to continue to play. Daniel Brown is out also."

On Dominique Brown's status:
"What I like to do with Dominique right now is that the two backs we have right now, we're going to continue to play them. If something were to happen, Dominique will be made available."


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