On Location: DE Craig Marshall, USF

The USF Bulls' defensive end, Craig Marshall, was solid against the Orange, recording four tackles while joining his line-mates in harassing Syracuse quarterback Greg Paulus. On the season, Marshall has 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery.

How different is it playing on the Carrier Dome’s field turf?

Marshall: We’ve played on turf now a couple of times, so I’m starting to get used to it. When I first played here, playing on turf was something new to me. It’s really about football though. However you look at it, you got to play on it.

Why do you feel you were so successful at pressuring Greg Paulus?

Marshall: Coach [Jim Leavitt] told us they had a big offensive line, so we had to use our athletic ability. We tried to use our speed to our advantage. We wanted to have Paulus run and see what he was all about.

How much of an impact does the depth have, being able to rotate players?

Marshall: Everybody has something that they can do at certain times in the game. Also to be able to rotate people, to make sure the next person is going play with the same amount of energy all game long. Everybody gets a chance to catch their breath when you’re having people rotate in a lot.

What can you tell us about playing with George Selvie?

Marshall: You know, George, he has the name, so he gets a lot of pressure from teams and that frees up other guys. They have to slide a guy over to help with George and that opens things up for us.

Back-to-back road victories—how does it feel to win two in a row away from home?

Marshall: Oh yeah, we love getting victories on the road. Just having the crowd against you, having everybody in the stadium against you and then you make them real quiet after you make a big play. Getting the victory, that was big for us.

Photo Courtesy of USF Athletics Communications

On Location: QB B.J. Daniels, USF

The freshman quarterback out of Tallahassee has led the USF Bulls to wins in his first two starts, including their Big East opener over the Syracuse Orange in the Carrier Dome.

How about that first play of the second half (an 85-yard touchdown pass)?

Daniels: Coach was real vocal with us at halftime. You know how Coach Leavitt gets. So you know, he wanted us to really start off strong. On the play, I saw the corner peaking and I threw it up to [Carlton] Mitchell. He made a real good catch and a good run to score the touchdown.

How important was the second half start?

Daniels: Very important. We talked about it in the offensive meetings, how we wanted to come out fast and put points on the board. For him [Mitchell] to get loose was big and he made a big play. That was huge for us.

What was it about the beginning of the game (five turnovers, in five minutes by both teams), was it nervousness?

Daniels: I don’t know what it was. Five turnovers in the first five minutes…I wouldn’t say it was nerves, but I guess our focus wasn’t all the way there.

Can you talk about keeping your mistakes limited, going on the road and keeping your composure?

Daniels: Coach [Jim Leavitt] always told me a good quarterback focuses on not making mistakes. It’s not just making all the big plays; it’s doing the little things and doing the smart things.

Talk about Mike Ford and how he ran the ball today…

Daniels: He did good. Mike’s back, he’s a fiery guy.

How hard is he to tackle?

Daniels: It’s hard, he’s bigger than me and he’s tough to tackle. He’s a great running back.

When it’s fourth and five and you get the call to go for it, how much confidence does that give you?

Daniels: A lot, a lot. It gives a lot of confidence to me and my offense as well. He [coach Leavitt] thought we could get it done.

Was it hard for you running with so many defenders in the box? Were you taken out of your normal rhythm?

Daniels: No not at all, I sat back there and just waited for things to open up and my teammates to do something for me.

Were you more comfortable this week than you were last week in Tallahassee?

Daniels: I don’t know. This is the Big East. It’s real important to us. I guess I was more comfortable. I was very comfortable last week but this week I finally knew what I could do.

Photo Courtesy of USF Athletics Communications

On Location: WR Carlton Mitchell, USF

With 21 receptions, 377 yards and three touchdown grabs, Carlton Mitchell leads the Bulls in all major receiving categories. The junior had a career day at Syracuse with six catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

Last week was against Florida State and your next game is with Cincinnati. Was it hard to get up for this game?

Mitchell: It wasn’t hard. Even though Florida State was a big win, it was big for the program. We made history and everything. But for the most part, this is the Big East and that’s our main goal. It’s what we worked on during the summer, coming out and getting the win in our Big East opener.

What did you talk about at halftime?

Mitchell: There’s a lot of emotion going on. There’s a lot of people who stepped up. Coach [Jim] Leavitt got real hyped and got us going. We decided we’ve got to work, so let’s go out and play our game.

Talk about the way you started the second half.

Mitchell: We knew as an offense, as a team really, somebody needed to come out and make a big play to get the team going. It was a close game and we needed to get things going, whether it was me or someone else. The play just happened to come to me and I stepped up.

How much momentum did you have after the 85-yard touchdown?

Mitchell: I think it helped set the tone and the tempo. It helped both our defense and our offense and after that, things just starting rolling.

Can you just talk about B.J. Daniels and how impressed you are about a freshman stepping in as he has?

Mitchell: I’m very impressed. He’s come in…he’s composed, he watches film like twice a day whether it’s before class or after class. He is doing so good and he doesn’t have a big head or nothing. He’s been relaxed and doing big things for us.

How about the second touchdown pass?

Mitchell: It was a goat. I had a go route and as soon as I took off, he turned his hips. He was peeking so I knew if I turned a certain way I could get him kind of turned around a little bit. Then I just took off. It’s all about film work and knowing how the opponents play.

Daniels mentioned the same thing, about the peeking. Is that something you’re already on the same page about and building chemistry on?

Mitchell: As a quarterback and a receiver, you’ve got to be on the same page. It’s all about film work and how well you know your opponent.

Photo Courtesy of USF Athletics Communications