Virginia head coach Tony Elliott discusses the win over Georgia Tech and previews the game against Miami.
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00:00 - You know, definitely have seen over the last,
00:03 you know, two and a half weeks,
00:05 the guys with good energy, good intensity of practice.
00:09 I think they're becoming more comfortable with the staff,
00:13 having a better understanding of philosophically
00:16 our approach week in and week out,
00:18 what it takes to be consistent,
00:20 the type of energy that you got to show up with every day,
00:23 the mindset, understanding what the theme of the day is,
00:26 what work we got to get accomplished.
00:28 But definitely after a win, a lot of excitement,
00:32 but at the same time too,
00:33 it's an opportunity to teach these guys today,
00:35 you got to handle success well.
00:37 And I think that that's something we learned early
00:40 and hopefully we can continue to make steps forward,
00:43 you know, so that whether we win or lose,
00:46 we got the right energy.
00:47 But at the end of the day, every day is a day of its own.
00:50 Every week is a season of its own
00:52 and we got to take that approach.
00:54 - Three of your last four,
00:55 been on the road for your first seven on the road,
00:57 you finally get to come home.
00:59 What's that mean for you guys
01:00 and then how do you look at this opportunity
01:02 before you go home?
01:03 - Right, just excited to have a normal routine.
01:07 You know, it's been, I tell you,
01:09 you're traveling in a hurricane, you're on the road,
01:13 you got short weeks, you got an open week.
01:15 I mean, it's just been kind of abnormal,
01:18 but just excited to get on a routine
01:20 and then be consistent for the next three or four weeks.
01:23 Definitely want to take advantage of the pride
01:27 that's been here at UVA of playing at home.
01:30 I think 23 and six or something like that
01:32 over the last several years,
01:34 one of the better home records in the coastal.
01:38 So just excited to be back in front of our fans,
01:41 but get on a routine and be consistent
01:44 and kind of get back in a normal battle rhythm.
01:47 - You guys are just outside the top 10
01:51 in several defensive categories,
01:53 particularly turnovers gained and attacks, things like that.
01:56 Can you just talk about the job the defense has done
01:59 and how that could help you on this home streak?
02:01 - Definitely, really, really proud of, you know,
02:04 the defensive side of the ball
02:06 and just the energy that they bring every single day
02:09 and the guys buying in schematically
02:11 to what we're trying to do.
02:13 But I think it really starts with the effort
02:15 that they're playing with.
02:16 You know, those guys are playing with tremendous effort.
02:19 I think it starts up front with the,
02:21 just the influx of guys up front
02:25 has raised the competition level,
02:27 which has elevated the performance level.
02:30 And I think in leadership you have from Nick Jackson,
02:32 I mean, just, I haven't been around a better leader
02:35 all the way around just in who he is.
02:37 And then he's a really good football player on top of that
02:40 and played through injuries.
02:41 So he sets the tempo.
02:42 And then on the back end, you're starting to see us
02:46 get some guys back.
02:47 You got Coen King back.
02:49 You know, Jonas is a little more comfortable.
02:51 We'd like to see, you know, Lex kind of get back going
02:55 and playing how he was.
02:56 But you're just seeing those guys playing with confidence,
02:58 but it starts with trusting what they're doing
03:01 from a scheme standpoint.
03:02 They started the year with the new staff
03:05 and the transition looking for something to believe in.
03:07 And you can see that they're wholeheartedly believing
03:10 in what we're doing on that side of the ball.
03:11 And they understand that we got to play
03:14 complimentary football.
03:15 And truthfully, they've been compensating, you know, a lot.
03:19 You know, creating turnovers, you know,
03:21 sacking the quarterback, giving the offense an opportunity
03:24 to try and stay in the game and figure it out.
03:26 But just starts with the guys up front.
03:29 I think we have some competitive depth,
03:31 which is an advantage that you can play guys.
03:34 You start to see some of the young guys
03:36 now get to a point to where they can jump in there
03:38 in the Diatas and the Soos,
03:39 hopefully hoping to get Bryce Carter going here.
03:42 But really, really proud of what they're doing.
03:45 It starts with Coach Rudd.
03:46 Man, he runs a tight ship over there.
03:48 He's a military guy.
03:50 He's got everything very organized, very efficient.
03:54 The staff is really, really jailed,
03:56 and I think it's a reflection of how those guys are playing.