Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:06 >> Questions for Johnny?
00:07 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:09 >> Johnny, what's it mean to beat Florida for the second straight year?
00:14 >> Feels pretty normal at this point.
00:17 I've only been here for two years, but I'm undefeated against them and Miami.
00:22 So it feels good, but normal.
00:25 >> Part of the reason you came here was to try and help get Florida State back.
00:27 You now completed 12 in a regular season, have a chance to compete for
00:30 an ACC title.
00:32 What's that feel like?
00:33 >> Yeah, definitely.
00:34 I mean, that was one of the big reasons why a lot of us came back.
00:38 I felt like last year there were a lot of opportunities we missed out on.
00:42 And we knew what this team was capable of.
00:45 So just coming back this year and just trying to get what we ultimately came out
00:51 for, it's just a matter of putting everything together.
00:55 And yeah, I mean, shoot, no one wants to leave here without a championship at
01:00 the end of the day.
01:01 So we just gotta keep working.
01:03 >> How do you evaluate Tate and how he's kinda stepped into the role?
01:07 It seemed like he made some of the biggest throws in the toughest moments
01:11 to you.
01:11 >> Tate's been prepared for moments like this.
01:16 It's one thing Coach Norvel does great.
01:19 He has, no matter where you're at in the depth chart, what your role is,
01:24 everyone has a job to do.
01:26 And you always gotta be ready for your moment.
01:28 And it's the one thing I praise Tate on.
01:31 When he got in there, he didn't panic, stay poised.
01:35 He did what he had to do.
01:37 >> You've been one of the guys, it seems like, that Tate's targeted the most and
01:41 stuff like that.
01:41 How big has it been with him stepping into the starting role?
01:43 And you're one of the guys that can be kind of a rock for him,
01:46 you know, kind of be, trying to be over the most.
01:48 >> I just preached, I mean, honestly, to everyone in the receipt room.
01:54 Just always, when you're out there, expect the ball.
01:56 Like, I just feel like you can never be out there and just be like,
02:00 I don't think he's gonna throw it to me, or this and that.
02:03 No matter who's in there, you just gotta always expect the ball.
02:06 So no matter who's out there, Tate, Brock, AJ, J Trap, just expect the ball.
02:13 >> Are you ever in awe of what Keon can do, not as a receiver, but
02:19 as a punt returner too, just how all around, just like the playmaker he is?
02:23 >> I mean, some of it, it gets me turnt up, but it's like, I mean,
02:26 since he's been here, I've seen what he's been able to do as a freak athlete.
02:30 You know what I mean?
02:32 Special player, he makes special plays.
02:34 So yeah, none of it shocks me at all.
02:36 I see him do it at practice.
02:37 Yeah, no, he's very talented.
02:40 >> Since you've been here, you and Jordan have been so tight.
02:44 Was it challenging last week to kind of just refocus,
02:48 knowing what he was going through?
02:51 >> Of course, I feel for him and I'm praying for him.
02:56 But in the position we're in, it's very unfortunate that what happened had
03:02 happened at the time it happened, but I mean, we're 12 and 0.
03:05 Championship coming up, you gotta keep going.
03:09 Dude's gotta, one guy goes down, next guy up, everyone has to stay ready and
03:12 prepared.
03:12 So of course, yeah, I mean, it hurts, it sucks being,
03:17 at the end of the day, it's one of my best friends,
03:19 seeing him go through something like that.
03:21 It sucks, but I mean, gotta keep going for the team and
03:26 we just gotta get this win as a collective group and keep going after that.
03:30 >> You guys, so many of you guys had decisions to make at the end of last year.
03:33 You guys came back, kind of for this opportunity.
03:36 Is that still driving you?
03:38 >> Yeah, I mean, we've got this far now.
03:41 I mean, why not go win it all?
03:44 I'd hate to win all these games and
03:50 put in the work that we put in to come up short.
03:52 So it's like you get to this point of the season, it's all or nothing.
03:56 And everyone's just gotta pour in and do what they can to help the team win.
04:01 >> It helps push through some of the hard days,
04:03 just physically, you guys have been through a long season.
04:05 >> Yeah, I mean, physically and mentally, it gets tough, but
04:08 you just gotta keep the main goal in mind.
04:11 And if not that, just do it for the dude next to you.
04:14 That's what we preach every day.
04:15 If you're not gonna do it for you, at least do it for
04:18 the dude next to you that's busting his butt.
04:19 So yeah, I mean, everyone's just gotta stay focused, keep working.
04:23 >> I know Louisville's got a new coach, a lot of new players.
04:26 But last year in that win, that was one of your best performances in the entire
04:30 season, going into this game, having Tate again for the Louisville time.
04:35 What about that show of confidence, I guess?
04:38 >> I'm always even keel, confidence always gonna be the same.
04:43 I believe in Tate's abilities, I'm the same as mine.
04:48 It's never really about the team that we're really playing.
04:52 Always focus on what we gotta do and all the plays we gotta make.
04:55 And that's what Coach Norvell preaches all the time.
04:58 Play them last year, so what, you had a good game last year,
05:00 that means last year.
05:01 You gotta do it again this year.
05:03 So that's one thing I love about it, get another opportunity to go out there and
05:07 showcase what this team could do on a big stage.
05:10 >> Hey, how are you?