LORETTO, Pa. (Aug. 17, 2010) - Looking ahead was the theme of the day at the 2010 Red Flash Football Media Day, as first-year head coach Chris Villarrial and his six captains took the stage to address the media before the season kicks off in less than three weeks.
The press conference, which was hosted in the John F. Kennedy Student Center, allowed the perfect opportunity for both student-athletes and coaches alike to to express their desire to leave the past behind.
"Our senior class, especially some of these guys here, have been through a lot of hard times here," said Villarrial. "They just want the opportunity to go out there and win. They want to go out with a confident staff that will trust in them...and how they play."
"We want to build a mental toughness on this team...that [has] lacked here in the past," said Villarrial. "If you're not prepared, you're already defeated."
Villarrial also cited that he plans on making his team an effective running force, going as far as to make the bold statement that a returning pair of running backs - senior Jude Yearwood (Elkridge, Md./Howard) (Elkridge, Md./Howard) and sophomore Kyle Harbridge (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) (Easton, Pa./Easton) - were among the best tandems in the Northeast Conference.
"Our offensive line knows we need to move the ball, control the clock, and keep our defense fresh," said Villarrial. "We've made a huge push to get these guys coming out of blocks, ready to go. If you give Harbridge or Yearwood a crease, they're a threat to score every time."
"It's all about staying low, driving back tacklers," said Chris Buzas (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep), a redshirt junior and team captain on the offensive line. "Coach [Villarrial] has worked hard to impart that knowledge on us."
Villarrial was sure to address and commend his coaching staff, saying he feels "they can be put against the best in the NEC in terms of knowledge and skill."
In particular, senior linebacker Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCourt) (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort) allowed that the defensive schemes for the Red Flash this year featured more fronts and schemes than usual.
"It's a much more complex system this year," said Lewis, citing "nine or 10 [defensive] fronts" that will be in play in 2010.
The Red Flash will kick off the 2010 season on Sept. 4 against the Liberty Flames. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Lynchburg City Stadium in Lynchburg, Va.
NOTE: Because of technical difficulties, the Athletics Communications staff was unable to provide the live stream of Media Day. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. However, footage from the press conference will be available on the web site in short order. Thank you for your patience.
