July 23, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following are quotes from this week's ACC Kickoff event which took place from July 19-22 at Greensboro, Ga.'s Ritz-Carlton Lodge. The event is the annual gathering of media and ACC coaches and players. Maryland was represented by head coach Ralph Friedgen, tailback Bruce Perry and safety Madieu Williams.

Ralph Friedgen
(On his concerns heading into 2003):
"My top concern is that we need to continue to play together and unselfishly as a team. When you do that, you maximize your potential. I also feel that it is important that we stay healthy at certain positions where depth is an issue. And finally, we need to continue to stay focused anda take it one game at a time. It is cliche, but it is very important for us. The more you win, the more selfish people tend to be selfish and say "what's in it for me." We haven't had that problem since I have been here and we need to continue to avoid it."

(On what he expects from quarterback Scott McBrien this season):
"Scott has a chance to be a very fine quarterback. The thing he has to continue to improve on is maintaining focus. Sometimes he loses focus, but when he's on, he has a very strong arm, a quick release and he is more mobile than people give him credit for. I think our staff has done a very good job on focusing on utilizing and maximizing his strengths."

(On tailback Bruce Perry this year compared to 2001, the year Perry was named the ACC's Offensive Player of the Year):
"He's bigger and stronger than he was in 2001. I just hope he's as fast. I don't think he was as fast this spring, but he was still recovering from his injuries somewhat. He has worked very hard in the offseason. I am very proud of him for the maturity he has shown, for his focus, and his wanting to achieve the goals he has set."

(On what the expectation levels are now at Maryland):
"They are a lot higher than when I first got here. I'm not sorry about that - when you want to have a top-notch program, that comes with the territory. We're still not where I want us to be. Anytime you play two walk-ons again a team like Tennessee in a bowl game, you obviously aren't where you want to be. But we have more depth and talent than we have ever had. Now, does that translate into a better season? The answer is that if it was only up to depth and talent, we wouldn't have had the success we had in our first two seasons. I believe that intangibles play a a big role in how good a football team is and we will need those things as well as depth and talent to get the level of success I am looking for."

Bruce Perry
(On his injuries and when he started feeling better):
"By the end of last season, I was feeling pretty good. In the offseason, I got a little rest, did some work in the weightroom and by spring ball, I was ready to get after it. It was a slow process, but I feel good now."

(On what he wants his legacy at Maryland to be):
"I want our team to be the one that sets the foundation for Maryland football and continue to set the precedent for the future of our program. We are still on the rise. Yes, we have had success the past two years, but we want it to be like that year-in and year-out and I want to be able to say I was a part of it."

(On the ACC):
"I feel our conference is one that is on the rise. You have us, Florida State, Virginia and NC State and some other teams in the conference that are getting better as well. You definitely have to stay focused on every game or somebody will get you."

Madieu Williams
(On the ACC and the future additions of Miami and Virginia Tech):
"It's a credit to the ACC that schools like Miami and Virginia Tech want to be a part of it. It's not like this wasn't already a good conference because it is, but adding those two teams will only make it better. Teams in this conference expect to win when they step on the field and I think it says something that everybody feels that way."

(On the preseason polls):
"The preseason polls are fun but I don't think the players think too much about it. It is good for writers to talk about things and the fans are interested in it, but players just feel like they need to take care of business on the field and it really only matters where you end up at the end of the season."