November 17, 2009

Tim Murphy Quotes From Ivy Football Teleconference

Photo Courtesy: David Silverman Photography

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Tim Murphy, the Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football, recently took part in the Ivy League's weekly teleconference. Below are his quotes from the event.

Additionally, coach Murphy will give more insight into his Crimson as he takes part in the weekly New England Football Writers' Association Luncheon Wednesday afternoon at Harvard's Dillon Field House.

The event - the nation's oldest weekly football media gathering, now entering its 81st season - begins at noon and features head coaches, players and administrators from around the region from all levels of NCAA competition. For the first time, this year's event will be streamed live via the web on GoCrimson.com.

Fans can login to Harvard's Multimedia section of the website to watch the streams. Recaps of the event will be posted in the afternoon and will be sent to media and area schools as well. Local fans can do even better as the event is open to the public for a fee of $10 per person.

Each school's coach/administrator will speak briefly about his team's last game, a preview up the upcoming games and an assessment of his team's top players. Additionally, the weekly Gold Helmet Award is given to the preceding week's top players. The award is sponsored by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston and the weekly winners - one from Divisions I and one from Divisions II/III - are presented with a plaque.

Tim Murphy Quotes from the weekly Ivy League Teleconference
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Harvard Head Coach Tim Murphy opening statement:
First of all, the Penn game was a very hard-fought and well-played game considering the conditions. Penn played better and really deserved to win but I am really proud of our persistence and the way we responded. Penn jumped out 17-0 but we had a chance on the one-foot line to get it in and make it 17-14 in the fourth. Our kids said they got it in but that's not how it was ruled but they made the stop and won the game.  

Murphy on the Harvard-Yale rivalry and rebounding from the Penn loss:
It's a great rivalry and that's all you need (to motivate our team). (The rivalry) embodies all about what's good in college football. Additionally, we have a shot at out ninth straight season of at least seven victories - something that's never been done in the Ivy League... we have won eight of the last nine games against Yale and we have an outside shot for an Ivy title... so there are plenty of tangible things to play for.

On having games on national television and the possibility of that helping in recruiting:
That's obviously that's very difficult to quantify. (Being on television) It gives great exposure to the league and shows people that we play at a very high level of football while juggling academics at a high level. When people see Harvard-Yale on TV, people will say, the Ivy League might be better from a football standpoint than I thought it was.

On people looking at the Ivy League more seriously in recent years and players getting more professional opportunities:
One thing you have to look at ... is that every team in our league has a kid in the NFL. I think that says a lot. We're one of the few leagues in the FCS with each team that has a player in the NFL and that speaks to the talent in our league.

On a player moving from cornerback to middle linebacker like Yale captain Paul Rice:
It's scary. We've been watching the last couple years, and we think the kid is a pro prospect at middle linebacker - I'm serious. He is big and runs a 4.6 (40 yard dash)... when you move a guy inside from out on the edge, you think there might be a lack of physicality but that isn't the case with Paul.

On the possibility of injured Larry Abare's return on Saturday:
The first thing that the Abare's give you is tremendous emotion. He's one of those kids who plays with tremendous intensity so having a guy like that is going to make everyone walk a little taller

On what the rivalry mean to him personally:
I don't think of it in a personal context. I think about it much more in a team context. For anyone who has a part in Harvard football, the H-Y game is a great opportunity to show a sense of community for either school. There is no bigger event in the Ivy League that you are going to bring so many people together that have an emotional stake in it together. It brings a sense of pride to both schools.

On his team's keys to success on Saturday:
The first one is one we always talk about is taking care of the football. We've lost two games where we've lost the  turnover ratio in those games. In the games we've won, we've taken care of the football. Aside from that I think the team that makes or eliminates the big play will have a chance.