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Iowa State University Athletics
Arnaud, Frere Ready for Spring Game
04.14.2009 | Football
AMES, Iowa - Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud and defensive lineman Nate Frere met with members of the media ahead of Saturday's 3 p.m. Cyclone Gridiron Club Spring Game. A transcript of both their interviews is below as well as multimedia from Tuesday's practice.
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Austen Arnaud
About the offense
“It's been going well. We had a scrimmage Saturday and started moving the ball a little bit. It's encouraging to see that the guys are working their butts off and they're really trying. We've only been running this system for a little bit now. It's encouraging to see that because it's only going to get better.”
“It's a lot of fun. People think we're going to throw it all the time, but we ran it quite a bit on Saturday too. I'd say we're pretty equal on our attack right now.”
Do you run the ball?
“A little bit. We run a lot of read plays and then we'll get a lot of opportunities, because we have so many receivers, to tuck it and run it.”
“It's getting a lot easier for me now, because of the time I put into it trying to learn it. It wasn't so easy at the beginning, but it's a quarterback friendly offense once you figure it out. Once I figure it all out we'll hopefully have some success.”
“This is my favorite offense. We're all adapting and we're all trying to learn as fast as possible. We had some things that were new in this offense and some things that we ran last year, but it's called different things. The thing is, against the defense is you just see what coverage they're in or see what defense they're in and go from there.”
“I'm a visual learner. I have to see it on tape. I've been in here watching a lot of film and meeting with the coaches and I'm just trying to pick up everything I can as fast as I can.”
Is this an offense that can be effective by the start of the season?
“It's definitely a challenge and we've definitely welcomed it. In the Big 12 you have to score points to win and nothing against anyone's defense, that's just how it goes in the Big 12. It's going to be a challenge, but we're ready for it.”
“The defense, they want it like us. They have a new system and new coaches. They're playing really well right now. The front side of the defense has been playing really well right now. They've been getting a lot of pressure on me, and that's nothing against our offensive line. The defense has been doing a lot of things and that's good. We'll go back and forth. The defense will have a good day then offense will have a good day.”
“We definitely try to attack when there are gaps in the defense, that's the scheme. We try to put more than one guy on a defender and see which one he takes. It's a lot of stuff to study up on and get better at, but we are going to spread the field to try to score more points.”
You must feel bad for Alex Sandvig and Mike Knapp...
"I've known Zac and Alex (Sandvig) for five or six years now, going through high school. Alex actually lives with me. It's tough to see him because he wants to come to practice all the time and he's come to a couple, but it just hurts him so bad not to be able to play. It's the same deal with Knapp. Mike was a guy who got onto scholarship last summer, and finally got his chance to start in the Big 12, and he did a great job. He was a guy that was small for his size, but was one of the strongest guys we had on the field. It's just unfortunate to see those guys.”
About working over the summer...
“It's all on us. We're going to go out there and work every day. We have to have a relentless work ethic to get ourselves prepared. Spring ball is over on April 18, but then a week later, I'm going to get the guys together and start throwing again. Things won't change. We'll get the defense out there and do seven-on-seven. The coaches can't do anything about that obviously. We'll have some structure when they're gone.”
About being a leader...
"(It's about) just still leading and not being afraid of what guys think. As a leader, people are scared about stepping on toes, and I can't be that guy, I have to be able to be there regardless of what happened or who did what. I've just got to be a figure for our team.
On transition to coach Rhoads...
"It's going well. Guys love coach Rhoads, we love the new system, offense and defense. Guys are just happy to be here every day. People, you've got to look at that and say sure, sure, you know, but guys are really fired up to be here. We're in the last week of spring practice but we could start over right now and it would be the same intensity and the same level because guys are excited to play football.
Is that different from last year?
"It's hard to say. There's definitely always those guys that are dragging because, oh you know, they've got school or got this you know. But spring practice is definitely the toughest in my mind as a college student. Students are still here, it's not two-a-days where everyone's gone and you've got school-work to do all the time. You play Iowa State 15 practices in a row, but we have fun with it and that's just the character of this football team. We've got a lot of fun guys on this team and they're hard workers.
“It's different, it's hard to describe. There's a different feeling about this coaching staff and what they want to get done here. It feels good, it feels better than it has in the past.”
“Coach Rhoads and his coaching staff speak the truth. They talk about earned trust, blind trust and trust in blindly. I've earned their trust, and they've earned mine.”
“I think we're starting to get a handle on our offensive and defensive schemes and plays. We're just a tighter knit group right now, I think we're a lot closer as a team than we were last year.”
“When you go into that third week (of spring practice), your body is tired and you're beat up. You just try to do as best you can. You don't want to just get through practice, you want to get better everyday. But like you said it's a grind. Now we feel like we're on the down-hill slope. The spring game is in sight and we have something to look forward to now.”
“Practices and scrimmages have gotten a lot more competitive. People are really competing for spots and people are really getting after each other.”
“I don't really know what to expect (at the spring game). I know it's going to be competitive. It should be fun, first and foremost. We should see big plays and big hits. I'm excited. I can't wait. It's something to look forward to at the end of the tunnel here.”
About VEISHEA
“I think it's a good thing, getting all the colleges together and have a little fun, have activities all week. It's fun, its good stuff.”
“I think they're doing a good job incorporating (the spring game) into VEISHEA weekend. I think we should have a pretty decent crowd, just from talking with friends and family. It will be more exciting to have more fans there."
Players Mentioned
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