University of Massachusets Athletics
Q&A With Mark Whipple
October 30, 2000 | Football
Oct. 30, 2000
What are your thoughts on last Saturday's game against New Hampshire?
New Hampshire played very well, and we got beat at all phases of the game. They did what they needed to do, and we felt like we needed to stop the run and we didn't do that. They ran for more yards in one game than we had given up in the last five so, and that was very disappointing. It's a credit to them, their offensive line and Stephan Lewis. They played a great game, Sean McDonnell managed the team very well and we just really couldn't stop them. I felt like we couldn't turn the ball over in the first half, and we tried to get out of there and just see where we were at half time, but we threw two interceptions. That sparked them a little bit and we didn't do very well in the red zone on offense. They were certainly the better team on Saturday.
Where do you think you are right now, and what does your team need to fix?
We are 5-3, we've got a big game against Villanova and we are going to look forward. We can't look backward, so that is where we are at. We just have to play well this weekend. We have to play very, very well on both sides of the ball to be successful.
What are your thoughts on the way things are shaping up in the conference?
I think there is one team that is certainly head and shoulders above where everyone else is, and that is Delaware. I have watched everybody, and I have said it all year -- the teams that can win on the road will be the champions. That is the way it is, and you look at the two teams at the top of our league, Delaware is 4-0 on the road and Richmond is 3-2 and they are the two best teams in the league. I think you have to find a way to win on the road and those two teams have done it. Until somebody also can win on the road, I don't think that's going to change. I know Richmond has a lot of home games and Delaware has another two home games, so that's what it comes down to and those teams have done the best job.
Who will be your quarterback on Saturday and what would you say the big keys would be on Saturday to beat Villanova?
We have not made a decision yet on who is going to be our quarterback, and it depends on what happens at practice. We will take a look at them and they looked decent in practice on Sunday night. It wasn't great weather, but they concentrated and did some things well. I'll probably make a decision on Thursday or Friday, but I really don't know. We certainty have to play better on defense. That is the strength of our team right now, and we have to make some plays on offense which we didn't do last week. Marcel Shipp jogged around at practice, and that's the first time on a Sunday that he's jogged, but he just doesn't have the acceleration of speed. If he could get a little more strength back in his leg, than certainly he's a key in establishing things in the run game. We're closer than we've been but just not great right now.
What do expect Villanova to do on Saturday?
Westbrook is a tremendous football player. There is no question he is the best offensive player in the league. He can catch and run with the football, so we will have a lot of focus on him. Lukash is a good quarterback and they have three solid receivers. If we played defense like we did last week than we will get blown out of town.
