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West Virginia's Robert Sands stands tall at safety.

Literally. He's 6-foot-5. And he never played bigger than in last week's 19-16 upset of Pittsburgh. Sands had seven tackles, three pass break-ups and a crucial fourth-quarter interception to earn Big East defensive player of the week honors. He now leads the league in interceptions and pass break-ups.

I caught up with the sophomore from Carol City, Fla., before this week's Rutgers game for our final regular-season Friday Q&A:

Congratulations on being Big East defensive player of the week.


Robert Sands: Thank you. I just found out about that today. It's pretty cool.

Tell me about your game against Pitt. You had the big interception and nearly had one or two more.

RS: I came close to two other ones, actually. I had a potential pick-six, but I didn't look it in and I was ready to run in, but I just dropped the ball. Another one, I ran across the field to make a play on the ball and I ended up dropping that one on the sidelines. Then I had the interception in the fourth quarter, which was the hardest attempt of the night. But I ended up coming up with that one. It was kind of thrown high for (Jonathan) Baldwin, and I came down with kind of a circus catch, you could say.

You've now come down with quite a few of those. Is making plays on the ball one of your strengths?


RS: Yeah, one of the strengths of my game is being able to high-point the ball, going and it at its highest point and coming down with the tough catches.

It must be easier to high-point the ball with your height, right?


RS: When the ball is thrown high, I've got a pretty good chance of being able to catch the ball. It also helps that on defense, I know where I should be and can position myself so I can also react on the ball.

Coach Bill Stewart said this week he had encouraged the defensive backs to work on their hands with the JUGS machine. Did that help you?


RS: I've actually been doing ball drills since my freshman year with the slot receivers, with Jock Sanders and Noel Devine before and after practice. So that helps me out a lot.

You started most of last year as a freshman but didn't start the first four games this year. Did that serve as motivation for you?


RS: It was more of a lesson for me to learn. I didn't start the first four games but I had a lot of playing time in all four. It was more teaching me a lesson about life.

What lesson was that?

RS: It was just something me and coach discussed in private. I can't really discuss it with the media. I'll just leave it at that.

You're now into your second year. How much has experience helped you improve?


RS: Experience-wise, I think I'm a lot better. As a freshman, I was always worried about my assignments before the snap, after the snap and what I was supposed to do. This year, I'm out there pointing and giving directions and all that. I think my progress has come a long way, and I think it's only going to get better if I keep working.

In addition to your pass defense against Pitt, you made a nice tackle on Dion Lewis. How has the run-stopping part of your game evolved?

RS: I think that's always been one of the strengths of my game. I'm a good open-field tackler. I've actually gotten a little better this year, because I'm making plays behind the line of scrimmage as well. The coaches are trying to use my tackling ability and use me as an an uncounted man.

You're unusually tall for a safety. How did you get to play this position?


RS: I've been playing safety now for about five or six years. I got introduced to playing safety when I was like 13 years old and I never looked back.

Did any coach ever try to move you because of your size?


RS: Before that, I was always average height. I used to play running back, a little bit of receiver. And then I got to high school and everybody played one way. There were too many people playing running back so I just played safety.

The West Virginia secondary seemed like it had some problems earlier in the year but has gotten much better of late. Would you agree with that, and if so what has been the key?


RS: The secondary has been playing a lot better this past half of the season because we've been talking to each other, saying how good we should be but we're not there yet. We keep working on it and treat each practice as a gameday situation. We try to make sure nobody catches the ball out there on us.

You handled Cincinnati's passing attack well and shut down Pitt, probably the best two passing teams in the league.


RS: That says a lot about our secondary. We always had it in us, we just had to bring it all together. We had to eliminate mental mistakes and focus on the positive things we did have. Once we got rid of those mistakes, we became a pretty good secondary.

There's been talk of you guys going to the Gator Bowl. Do you feel like you can make this a pretty good season now?


RS: We're just focusing on Rutgers and preparing to beat them, and once we find out what bowl game we're going to, we'll prepare for that and try to get a victory in that. We want to finish our season out strong.

What did the Pitt win do for your confidence as a team?


RS: Beating one of our rivals put a little pep in our step and gave us that confidence we needed, because we came off losing some of these close games. To be able to beat a rival in our home in front of our fans is a big momentum boost for us.

Joe Martinek set the New Jersey prep record with 7,589 career rushing yards and 80 touchdowns at Hoptacong High School. Yet few colleges thought he was good enough to play at the next level.

Martinek is proving that his high school numbers were no fluke. The sophomore leads Rutgers in rushing with 729 yards and eight touchdowns, and could finish with a 1,000-yard season. I caught up with Martinek for our Friday Q&A while he and the rest of the Scarlet Knights were preparing for Saturday's game at Syracuse:

It seems like the offense in general is starting to pick up for you guys. Do you get the sense that things are now coming together?

Joe Martinek: We're starting to mesh together and we're getting better. A lot of the young guys are stepping up and have a big role. You can feel them getting more comfortable, and the more comfortable you are, the better you play.

How about the maturation process for freshman Tom Savage? How is he coming along?

JM: He's maturing before our eyes, and pretty quickly, too. He's a great kid, a great leader. He has all those characteristics and he's showing them on and off the field.

You've become the featured back now after starting to take that role over late last year. How gratifying is that?

JM: It's something I've always dreamed of and hoped for. To have the confidence from your team and the coaches, for them to give you the ball and let you go out and play, it's definitely a great feeling.

What other scholarship offers did you have out of high school?

JM: It was basically just Rutgers and Vanderbilt.

Did that surprise you, given your unbelievable statistics?

JM: A little bit. My dad and I, my family, we thought maybe more would come. Originally, I wasn't going to do the combines because we thought more offers would come. But I gave it a shot, and then when the offers really didn't come after that, we were definitely puzzled a little bit.

But I think no matter how many offers I got, Rutgers would have been the choice either way. It's close to home, only 45 minutes away, so my family and friends can come watch me play, and playing for my state is definitely a great honor.

Did schools not think you could play running back at this level?

JM: Every school I talked to didn't like the idea of being a running back. Rutgers at first wanted me as a defensive back. Vanderbilt talked about giving me a shot at running back, but every other school turned down the idea and basically just talked about the defensive side of the ball.

Do you feel like you've proved people wrong?

JM: Maybe a little bit. The thing is, if I take a week off and have a bad game, people will say, 'OK, that's why he wasn't recruited.' I do this for my family, my friends and my teammates. I just continue to work hard and just try to have fun with it.

Do you still use that lack of recruiting interest as motivation?

JM: Everyone has their own little secret motivational tricks to keep them going, keep them working hard every day. I definitely have some things that are on my mind. I'm always trying to prove people wrong, trying to make my family and my town and everyone around me proud.

You also were a track and field star in high school. What was your best event?

JM: The javelin.

What was the farthest you ever threw the javelin?

JM: 210 [feet].

What skills go into that? People probably don't understand what it takes to throw the javelin.

JM: What people don't really know is that you don't really throw with your upper body. It's all lower body. And you have to basically just put your body in position like a rubber band and expand your body. It all starts with having a strong lower body, then you torque your body in a certain position and it slings your upper body forward.

You've said before you would like to try the decathlon. Is getting back into track and field still a goal for you?

JM: Any time I would be able to do it, I'd love to do it, even if it's just the javelin here or once I get out of college, maybe try to do the decathlon. It's something I started doing in high school, with all the different field events. I've grown to love it, and it's definitely a dream of mine.

Have you given any thought to joining the Rutgers track team in the spring?

JM: Actually, my high school track coach's Olympic coach is the coach here. So we worked together in high school and he helped me out. He has shared some information with me. If it's possible, I'd love to do it. But football is definitely my number one priority, and if there's any way to help the football team out, that's what I'm going to do first.

There's a pretty detailed Web site of you out there called JoeMartinek.com, complete with videos of you all the way back to when you were 8 years old. How did that get started?

JM: Going into my senior year of high school, a graduate of my high school contacted my dad one day. He was a Web designer and he asked us permission to put it up so people could follow me in high school and even in college. At the time, I was getting near the state [rushing] record, and he had a countdown on there. That's really how it started, with the countdown to the record. Ever since I came to Rutgers, he's been expanding it. He does a great job with it, and I get a lot of feedback from it.

I also understand your nickname is "Jersey Joe?" How did that originate?

JM: It started my freshmen year, when my roommates started calling me that. It seems like everyone does now. My four roommates my freshman year somehow came up with it.

There are a lot of Jersey kids playing for Rutgers. How big of a source of pride is that for you guys?

JM: I haven't really been anywhere else, except for a couple of other states, and I've been out of the country once. I've been in Jersey basically my whole life. So to play for my state school and to have that nickname, it's pretty cool.

Adam Gunn is lucky to be playing college football, and Pittsburgh is lucky to have him.

Gunn broke his neck in a scary collision last season but made a full recovery and was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. He is the Panthers' starting middle linebacker and one of the top leaders on the defense. Gunn is the subject of this week's Friday Q&A.

You guys are in the top 10 in November for the first time in 27 years and are in position to possibly win the Big East. How does that feel?


Adam Gunn: It's great to get back to the tradition of the University of Pittsburgh. At the beginning of every season, it's your goal to win as many games as possible and ultimately be undefeated. We had one setback, but we're happy where we are right now, though obviously we're not done. Win four more games, and we'll be happiest when everything is all over with and we'll be Big East champs.

How excited are you for Saturday night's prime time game against Notre Dame?

AG: This is the reason why you play football, to play in prime time, to play in front of a packed house and to play against a great opponent. It's exactly why we come to the University of Pittsburgh, to win these type of games.

Were you around for the 2005 game?


AG: I played in that game. It didn't go in our favor. It wasn't our best game, but it was a wake-up call for us. It was coach [Dave] Wannstedt's first game, and I think we've grown a lot since then. Coach Wannstedt came in with a vision, a vision of getting Pittsburgh back to what it was when he played here. That's how he knew the university and that's what he was determined to get it back to, and that's what we're on our way towards. Coach Wannstedt is a great guy, a great coach and a great person. He brings out the best in everyone.

Was it difficult to see that vision paying off early on, when you went a few years without a bowl game?

AG: Again, it's all Coach Wannstedt. He kept us striving for better. He kept our mindset that we will be back to where we want to be. And here we are now, and everything he talked about is a reality now.

What about the challenges of going against Notre Dame's offense?

AG: Jimmy Clausen is the best quarterback we'll face all year, without a doubt, and he's going to challenge us in a lot of different ways. He's capable of making plays in a numerous amount of ways. He makes great decisions. Golden Tate, they find different ways to get him the ball, try to find matchups to be in their favor. That's our job this week, to stop them and eliminate those matchups and keep Jimmy Clausen from performing at his best. We need to keep a lot of pressure on him and keep their offense to a minimum.

Your passing defense has improved a lot since early in the season. What's been the key to that?


AG: Those early games are just a way to bring your weaknesses to light. And once we realized what those weaknesses were, we really focused on them and made those weaknesses our strengths. Now I can say that our pass defense is one of our strengths, and teams aren't passing on us the way they were the first few weeks.

Ever since the NC State game, we had a player meeting and we really said, 'It starts in practice. It starts today. It's not about going out there on Saturday and winning the game. You win the game on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.' That's been our mindset, and that's the way we've been playing.

How grateful are you to be back on the field after that scary broken neck injury last year?

AG: I couldn't even put it in words how amazing it is to be back on this team, to be No. 8 in the country and looking to improve on that is great. It's a dream come true. I thank God every day for the opportunity to come back and play football again, and the opportunity to play at a high level, and to be on a team that's playing its best right now. There's nothing better in the world.

Were you at all tentative when you came back, and do you ever think about the injury during games?

AG: I can really say it doesn't cross my mind whatsoever. It kind of hit me last week when the Auburn safety (Zac Etheridge) got hurt the same way I did. I talked to him on Friday before the Syracuse game. I kind of relived the situation through him, in a sense. I just told him that it's going to be tough, but stay positive through it all and everything will work out for the best. I'm a living testament of what it takes to overcome such an injury, and that it's possible. I feel for him, but at the same time I don't think about it anymore. Once you get over the mental aspect of it, everything will be fine.

You're kind of the graybeard on the team now.


AG: Absolutely. They call me grandpa.

How much does you experience help your leadership?

AG: Coach Wannstedt makes sure he puts me in situations where I can speak from experience. The main thing I can do is say, I've been here before, this is how we need to do it if we want to be the team we want to be. I care so much about this team and this program that I'll do whatever it takes and lead whatever way I need to lead.

You're close friends with Scott McKillop. Do you still talk to him?

AG: I talked to him [Wednesday] morning; he's preparing for [the 49ers-Bears game Thursday] night. We just had a long talk about Notre Dame. He told me everything about their backs and how they tried to exploit us in different ways. He basically went down through the whole depth chart. He really wishes he was with us still playing, and he's rooting for us to win the Big East championship.

You were involved in an offseason incident this summer. Not to dwell on it, but what did you learn from that?

AG: Basically, I learned: don't put yourself in situations that could compromise anything. You want to be in controlled situations, and that day it wasn't. I don't want to talk about it too much because it's something that's been completely dropped and I want to move forward.

Your ultimate goal is the Big East championship. What does the Notre Dame game mean to you?


AG: This week is all about tradition and this program and to continue on pushing forward. Our goal is to win every game we play, and that's the main focus for us this week whether it's the Big East or not. And it's about the tradition of this rivalry. It's about putting Pitt back on the map where we deserve to be.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Arthur Jones could have left for the NFL last season and likely would have been a high pick. Instead, he chose to come back for his senior season and help Syracuse rebuild under first-year coach Doug Marrone.

	Randy Litzinger/Icon SMI
	Arthur Jones is wrapping up a solid career at Syracuse.

Jones' numbers are a little down -- he only has 18 tackles, 6.5 of them for loss -- but he remains one of the best defensive tackles in the Big East, and a steadying influence during a tumultuous week for the Orange. I caught up with Jones before his team headed to Pittsburgh for this week's Friday Q&A:

So, uh, things have been a little interesting around Syracuse this week, huh?

Arthur Jones: It's definitely been an interesting week. But everything 's going good. We're focused now, ready for Pittsburgh.

You guys are leading the Big East in rush defense, doing a much better job than last year. What's the difference?

AJ: Basically just believing in our system. We're more of an attack defense than last year. I give credit to (defensive coordinator Scott) Shafer and all the guys he brought into the program. He's a passionate coach who won't let you slack in practice. He's unbelievable. I enjoy having him here. I just wish I had him for a few more years.

Speaking of which, you're approaching the end of your college career. Has that hit you yet, and does it add to your sense of urgency?

AJ: Oh yeah, definitely. I was telling my brother yesterday that I only have four more opportunities to play for this great university. It kind of hit me a few days ago. I'm just trying to make the best of it, do what I can and just enjoy the rest of my time being here.

You could have turned pro last January. Are you happy you came back to school?

AJ: Oh yeah. I believe everything happens for a reason. Stats-wise, I'm not where I wanted to be, but I'm healthy right now and I got the opportunity to play under these great coaches. I'm just happy to play with my little brother and the rest of the Orange family. I can't really complain.

Speaking of stats, yours are a little down but stats don't always tell the story for a defensive lineman. How do you think you've played this year?

AJ: I think I've played pretty well. A lot of teams are game-planning against me, trapping the middle, things like that. But assignment-wise, I think I'm doing a pretty good job, taking on double teams and just playing the defense.

That happened last year to you as well. When did you accept that you were going to be double-teamed most plays and wouldn't always be able to make plays?

AJ: It mainly hit me this year more than last year. Even last year, I was still able to make some plays when I was double-teamed, really. It hit me this year that they're really scheming against me. It's all right. If I'm not making a play, I feel like I am making a play when there's two guys on me and Derrell Smith makes a tackle or something. So I celebrate when they celebrate.

You mentioned playing alongside your younger brother, Chandler. What's that been like?

AJ: It's been unbelievable. In high school, I didn't get a chance to play with him because he was a freshman and I was a senior. He actually got brought up in my last game as a senior, but he played in the JV championship earlier that day and wasn't allowed to play. It's just been fun, flying around with him and watching him goof off on the field.

You guys have matched your win total from last year. What are your goals for the rest of the year?

AJ: What I hope to accomplish the rest of the season is finish strong, be the best leader I can for my team and just have fun. I have four games left, so I will just try to live in the moment. Or five games. When we make a bowl game.

You sound confident about that.

AJ: Oh yeah.

You had the news this week of three suspensions and Mike Williams quitting. Is that a distraction, or does it bring you closer together?

AJ: I think honestly it brought us together. Yesterday was an unbelievable practice, with all the things that have been going on. Guys were just flying around. It was physical. It felt like the first day of camp when you've got the pads on. It was unbelievable to see guys that motivated and the level of intensity that was going on. Hopefully we can carry that on and continue that.

There was also a lot of talk about the small crowd at Saturday's game. Did you notice that, and what do you think about it?

AJ: I honestly did not know that until you just told me. I honestly would not know. I don't really look at crowds unless I hear my mom screaming in the crowd, and I can hear her anywhere. I just go out and play for my team and for each other.

What about the challenges Pitt poses on offense? The Panthers are averaging about 34 points a game.

AJ: I'm excited for this week. They've got a real good, physical offensive line, probably the best we'll see this year. Their quarterback is pretty accurate with the ball, and they've got great running backs. It's going to be a challenge this week, but we're ready for it.

Do you relish playing a straight ahead, physical offense?

AJ: They're more of a basic team, running right at you with powers and iso's and things like that. None of that spread stuff. I'm excited. It's old-fashioned football.

How big would it be for you guys to get a Big East win?

AJ: It would be great to get that first Big East win. It's a little late, but it's not too late to get it rolling. I believe we can win out; I honestly think that. We've just got to keep believing, keep clawing and scratching.

Is your other brother, Jon, still competing in UFC?

AJ: He has another fight on December 5. He's doing a fantastic job.

Is that something you'd ever get into?

AJ: I don't know about that. I'm too much of a prima donna for that.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Jarrett Brown has been worth the wait.

	John Korduner/Icon SMI
	Jarrett Brown says he has recovered from the concussion he suffered against Marshall.

The fifth-year senior quarterback patiently waited his turn behind Pat White before finally ascending to the starting role this year. The 6-foot-4 Brown is completing 67.1 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,362 yards and nine touchdowns while leading West Virginia to a 6-1 start.

Tonight, Brown will try to do something White couldn't accomplish two years ago: guide the Mountaineers to victory at South Florida. I caught up with the affable quarterback earlier this week for our Friday Q&A:

Let's start off with your health. How did you respond to the concussion you incurred against Marshall? How much doubt did you have that you would play against Connecticut?

Jarrett Brown: The way I was feeling, I was kind of in-between. But I was taking most of the reps and I was preparing like I was going to play. I was feeling pretty good and my head wasn't hurting too much, so I was able to go full speed without having any problems.

Was that your first concussion?

JB: First time ever, yeah. It was weird, really weird.

Did it affect you at all in the UConn game?

JB: I did feel like my normal self out there, but when I watched the film, I didn't look like myself.

So you think it affected your performance?

JB: I thought it did, yeah.

How are you feeling this week?

JB: I feel better already. I'm just reacting now. I'm just thinking more clearly.

South Florida's defense has had success against you guys the past couple of years. Why is that?

JB: They just have good athletes. I don't think we really played to our potential last year because of our coaching change. Pat was working the kinks out of the offense, and I thought the offense evolved into something much more because coach [Bill Stewart] really changed, not a lot, but changed a few things to make it better. He threw out a few things he didn't like, and we built it on the things we were successful with.

I noticed in the UConn game, when things got dicey, you guys went back to the old zone-read offense to score the winning touchdown. It seems like you can switch back and forth whenever you need to with this offense.

JB: Yeah, we've got the best of both worlds.

How difficult does that make it on a defense, you think?

JB: Any time you can turn into a zone read or triple option team and at the same time you can air it out, it makes it difficult. If you try to take one thing away, the other thing is dangerous.

What do you remember about the game down there two years ago on a Friday night that South Florida won?

JB: It was hostile, very hostile. It was humid. And we had six turnovers. It was really rough.

Speaking of turnovers, you guys had major problems with that earlier in the year, but it seems to have been fixed. How did you correct that?

JB: Just by being more mature. Realizing that it will lose you games. Being more aware of that, and more ball security.

Noel Devine said earlier this week that you guys are the underdogs right now but you're in a great position to win the league. Do you agree with that?

JB: Yeah, I think we're in a great position. I don't want to say we're fortunate, but we lost a game early in the season because of turnovers. And it made us a much better team. We saw our potential, but we also knew that we stop ourselves when we turn the ball over and give the other team points. [Auburn] didn't stop us the whole game. I think that made us so much better and so much more mature, and it was good to have that in the beginning of the season.

Noel has been amazing this year. It's hard to say he's better because he was so good to start with. But what improvements have you seen from him?

JB: He's so much wiser. He always had that talent, always. Just like me, he got smarter. The older you get, the more experience you get and the more you learn about the game of football. And I think he's coming along great.

Silly question, but who do you think would win a game of one-on-one basketball between you, Greg Paulus and B.J. Daniels?

JB: Me. Yeah. Me.

You've got a little bit of size on those guys.

JB: Yeah. I didn't know Paulus was so small.

You're from Florida, as are quite a few of your teammates. How special will this game be for you?

JB: We've got quite a few Florida guys, especially on offense. There's Alric [Arnett], me, Noel, Jock [Sanders]. That's just on offense, and there are a few on defense, too. It will be like a homecoming.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Greg Scruggs is starting at defensive end for Louisville as a sophomore. What's impressive about that is Scruggs didn't play football until his senior year at St. Xavier High School. Before then, he was perhaps the most physically-imposing member of the school's marching band at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds.

Scruggs talks about how he went from drummer to pass rusher and about going home to play Cincinnati on Saturday in this week's Friday Q&A:

What will it be like for you going back to Cincinnati and playing?

Greg Scruggs: I'm excited about it. I'm going to have about 40 people coming to the game. I can't wait to get up there. We need this win, and it would be good for our program, a morale boost. I've got teammates from high school that play for UC, and a bunch of my high school games were played at Nippert Stadium, so I'm used to playing there. So it will be just like a homecoming for me.

Did Cincinnati recruit you heavily?

GS: They did, but as with most players and their hometowns, I was trying to get out and see different things. There was nothing that UC could have shown me on my official visit. I'd been to the best hotel, I'd been on campus, I played on their field. So I really was trying to go somewhere new. Coach (Kerry) Coombs did recruit me pretty hard, but I wanted to experience college in a different city.

Can you believe the Bearcats are No. 5 in the country?

GS: Not at all, because my perception of UC coming up was not a good one. I'm not knocking UC, but that was just the facts. So in these recent years, I'm like,whoa, man they're doing good. Good for them that they're successful and turned things around. But no, I can't believe it still when I look at the rankings and stuff.

What do you have to do to slow down Cincinnati's offense?

GS: My main challenge is to rush the passer. I don't know whether (Tony) Pike is playing or not, but if a backup quarterback is in there especially, just rush the passer. make him feel uncomfortable in the pocket and do things he doesn't want to do. If he's comfortable and can see downfield and throw to his receivers, then they can be a deadly offense.

You've only been playing football for three years. How far along have you come?

GS: Oh, light years. Now I'm pass rushing against some 6-foot-7, 315 pound linemen and I'm doing things. And I look back at my high school tapes, and my very first game I went against a 6-foot, 250-, 260-pound guy, and I was having trouble. I've come light years, just with coaching. It's been a great journey that I've been traveling. I've had so much support from people here, giving me confidence and telling me I could be the best player on the field

Why did you decide to play football as a senior in high school? Were you not interested in football before then?

GS: I was more interested in the band. It wasn't that I wasn't interested in football, because I had actually tried out for a Little League team when I was younger and I was going to be the quarterback, which so happens to be the position I always wanted to play.

But my mom was a single mom with four kids, so she couldn't keep traveling back and forth across the city, so that's where that died off. So then I got in the band, and through high school I looked at it as, all these people have eight, nine years on me of weightlifting, football, and mentally they're ahead of me. So I didn't really want to place myself in that position. But once people started telling me that I could get a scholarship and I really should try it, I was decided to go at it. And when I did that, the transition wasn't hard. Yeah, the hitting, mentally, that stuff is here and there, but you get used to that. After the first couple weeks of hitting, I got the jitterbugs out and the transition was pretty smooth.

I hear you're still a pretty mean drummer. Is that true?

GS: Music moves me. And a lot of people say when music moves you, that's when the best music coms out, when you're really passionate about something. Playing the drums, just hearing any type of music, whether it's jazz, country, rock, R&B, it moves me.

And when I hear a beat, I like to play that beat and if it's a beat I really like, then that's when the nasty side comes out. I hear things in my head, and whatever I hear in my head I can put it on drums. That's just how I am. I don't stick to the sheet music. I make stuff up, but it goes along with the music that's being played.

Do you have a drum set in your dorm room?

GS: No, drums sets are expensive. I wish I had one, and I wish we could build a soundproof room around here somewhere so I could go play my quads. That's still fun. Whenever I want to relieve stress, I go drum.

So where do you do your drumming?

GS: Oh, you take anything. That trash can can be my next drum. It's anything I feel like beating that day. I don't do it as much as I would like to, but I've still got it. My high school came down here and played a couple of weeks ago, and I went and picked up the drums and played for the whole crowd. So I've still got it.

Do you see a career in music being in your post-football future?

GS: Not as anything major. My brother's best friend is a popular DJ in Cincinnati, and I love going with hi, and mixing tracks and learning new things about music. If I could help him out and do something like that or if I ever became a big enough celebrity to do my own thing, I'd love to do so. But as a career? Nah, it's not in my future. My future is business and making a difference in somebody's life.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

	Jim O'Connor/US Presswire
	Quarterback Tom Savage has taken control at Rutgers faster than many anticipated.

Most people figured that Tom Savage would be the quarterback of the future for Rutgers. They probably didn't think the future would come so soon.

But the true freshman took over control of the team in the second half of the opener against Cincinnati and has been the starter ever since, except for missing the Maryland game with a concussion. Savage will get his first Big East start on Friday against Pitt, and he talked about that game and other things in our weekly Friday Q&A:

You guys have won four in a row since that opening loss, though admittedly not against very strong competition. Do those wins, though, give you a confidence boost?

Tom Savage: I think it does, and it gives us a lot more experience all over the place. We're a lot more comfortable, so we're looking forward to it and we can't wait to go out there and play against Pitt.

It's your first conference start. What's going through your mind about that?

TS: I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to be a rush out there on Friday night on ESPN and everything. I'm looking forward to it, but it's just a football game and you've still got to go out there and go through your progressions and make your throws.

How important was it for you to play last week against Texas Southern after missing the previous week with your concussion?

TS: It was important just to get my confidence back up because I hadn't played in two weeks. I mean I'm not really full of experience anyway, so every game I can get under my belt is definitely a benefit for me. I think it was a huge help for me last week.

You had a moment where you scrambled and lowered your shoulder into the defender instead of sliding. Did you hear from coach Greg Schiano about that one?

TS: Yeah, I heard it from everybody that I needed to slide. I definitely need to work on that. I wanted to get the extra yards, so I guess I put my shoulder down and went for it.

Is that just how you've always played?

TS: Yeah, and I definitely need to play a little smarter, because these guys are bigger, faster and stronger than most high school guys. So I just need to get out of my old habits.

What was it like going through that concussion against Florida International? Head injuries can be scary. Were you nervous?

TS: When I first got hurt, I was more surprised than anything, because I've never had that feeling before in my life, so I got a little nervous. But I realized it's just football and you're going to take some hits once in a while, especially at quarterback so you've just got to get back up and keep playing.

Did you expect to be starting as soon as the second game of your career?

TS: When I came in here, I just wanted to compete, and that's what I did. It was basically up to the coaches and so I just competed and whatever they said went.

You drove up from high school to attend most of spring practice. How much did that help in getting ahead of the curve?

TS: From the football standpoint, it helped me just getting all the plays down and everything. From the chemistry standpoint, it helped building the whole family relationship with the rest of the team. So when I came in here, I didn't get thrown in cold turkey. I knew everyone and I knew a lot of the coaches and I felt more comfortable and I actually knew how the practices went. So I think it was a huge help for me.

You haven't thrown an interception yet, which is remarkable for a young quarterback. How much of an emphasis is that for you?

TS: Especially as a young quarterback and with all the talent we have, your number one job is just not to lose the game. We have all the talent in the world, so you just go through your progressions, don't force anything and prevent any turnovers you possibly can.

Despite the disappointing opener, do you feel like this team can still get back into the Big East race?

TS: Yeah, absolutely. With the leadership we have, we've turned it around. And this game will be a huge measuring stick to see where we're at, and I think we're looking forward to it. Everything is a one-game season around here. We're focusing on Pitt and not looking forward to anything else.

How much better are you now than when you first got thrown into the Cincinnati game?

TS: I think I took some pretty big strides, but I definitely have a lot to work on. You can always get better and always watch a lot more film. I just have to stay focused and keep working, and that's what I'm going to do.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Andre Dixon led Connecticut in rushing in 2007 and then all but disappeared in 2008. Coach Randy Edsall didn't think Dixon had worked hard enough last offseason, and Dixon got himself further in the doghouse with a DUI arrest in December.

But since then, Dixon has done just about everything right. Edsall says he is one of the best leaders on the team. And the senior has had two 100-yard rushing days in his first four games this season.

	John Rivera/Icon SMI
	Andre Dixon has rushed for 368 yards and three TDs this season.

Dixon talks about this and more in our Friday Q&A:

Even though you guys have a new coordinator and a no-huddle offense this year, is the running game still basically the same?

Andre Dixon: The running game was successful, so I don't think anybody in their right mind would want to get away from it with what Don [Brown] did in the running game. A lot of things we still do are similar things from last year.

They don't get much notice, but how good is your offensive line?

AD: Those guys, I'm always telling people how hard they worked over the summer, and it definitely shows. They come off the ball and make the creases and holes for us so we can do what we do. Our linemen are doing all the right things and opening holes every play and showing leadership, so they're doing a great job.

You and Jordan Todman have made a great one-two punch. How nice is it that you can both stay fresh throughout a game?

AD: Yeah, we keep each other fresh and that slight change when a different back with a little different running style can throw the defense off. They're used to that one back being in there and they're worn out. And when you can throw a fresh back in there anytime you want to and there's no drop-off, it's a great thing we have here going on.

What's the feeling like when you both go over 100 yards in a game?

AD: The crazy thing is, it hasn't happened here until this year, and it's happened two times already. That's pretty crazy for two guys to go over 100. Sometimes we feel like Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown over here. It's great, and it's hard to come by.

Randy Edsall described you this week as one of the team's best leaders, which is amazing considering all you went through in the past year. How did that happen?

AD: Before coming in this year, I looked at my past like it didn't really happen. I had to really drop it and say I'm going to move on and not worry about what happened to me. I'm going to leave it in the past.

But I also took from the bad things and that helped drive me. I said, "People think this is going to be my end. People think I'm done. I have something to prove still." All the negative things that happened drove me this offseason and in workouts to become a leader. Even in my own little workouts and the mental part, watching film, I said I have to have myself ready. This is my last time around, man, so I had to put all the chips on the table.

Would you say you were a leader before?

AD: I think I was always a leader. I was always one who wanted to talk in the huddle to the guys, cheer up the linemen and get these guys hyped up before practice. Now I feel like I've cranked that up a little bit more, knowing every practice, every game is my last time.

How gratifying is it, then, to do what you're doing now on the field?

AD: It's amazing. It's good when you know you worked for something and you know nothing was given to you. You went out and you worked for it and now you're reaping the benefits.

The one thing I continue to tell myself is that as soon as you're satisfied with what you've done, then that's when you stop making progress. I'm never going to be satisfied. I'm going to continue to work and I think this season will be a great one for us.

Do you feel like you have proven what you set out to prove?

AD: I want people to see that. I don't want them to think '07 was just a one-and-done type of deal. I don't want them to say, 'Dixon had an OK year, he's an OK player.' I can still play this sport, and I'm definitely out to show people that.

How about the challenge of going against Pittsburgh's defense, which has been really good against the run?

AD: The Pittsburgh defensive line, when I watch film of them, reminds me of North Carolina. They have big guys, fast guys, they're physical. They make plays down the field and in the backfield. We struggled with North Carolina somewhat, especially in the running game, and we definitely have to be more physical than them up front. We've got to make plays across the line. We've already faced a good defensive front and saw what happened when we didn't execute as a team.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Syracuse's Mike Williams was one of the Big East's top receivers in 2007. Then he missed all of 2008 because of academic problems, and many thought he'd never come back.

But Williams has returned and it's like he hasn't missed a beat. The senior is averaging 109 receiving yards per game, which is 11th best in the nation. He had 11 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Northwestern.

	Jerome Davis/Icon SMI
	Mike Williams is averaging seven receptions and 109 yards per game this season.

Williams will be a key figure in Saturday's game against South Florida. First, he agreed to be our Friday Q&A subject:

How is the team feeling now with this two-game winning streak? Is the confidence as high as it's been since you've been there?

Mike Williams: Oh, yeah. With wins come confidence. We got two in a row and everybody's confidence is built up. We think we can go in the Big East and cause some problems.

What's the difference between this Syracuse team and the past few years?

MW: The difference is just the effort, the hard work. Everybody is just on the same page. We all know we want to go out there and get a win. We look at it like everybody's got the same goal, and everybody's working hard for that goal. And I think that's the main difference.

The passing game has clicked between you and Greg Paulus. What's been the key to that?

MW: We've got a great quarterback. We've got somebody back there making great decisions. They're calling plays that he can make, and he's stepping up and making them.

He didn't get to campus until May. How much time did you really have to work with him?

MW: Ever since May. He came in May and the first thing he said was that he was going to work hard to get that starting spot. So I had to work with him so he could get that spot, and we've been working since then.

Did you sense something about him right away that he could do this, even though he'd been away from the game for so long?


MW: Yeah, I kind of thought like, four years out of football, I don't know if he still had what he had. But he proved me wrong. He went out there and worked hard and is the starting quarterback for Syracuse.

It's interesting that maybe Syracuse's two best players were both out of football last year. You seemed to have picked up where you left off in 2007. Was there any rust?

MW: The first series of the first game, it was like I was so shocked that I was back out there. But after that it was back to work.

What about after you made your first catch?


MW: Oh, it was crazy. The crowd was so loud. It was almost like we won the game when I caught my first pass. It felt like I was back, right then and there.

Have defenses been throwing a lot of double teams at you?


MW: Sometimes. Mostly on third downs. But really not that often because we have a great running back and sometimes they go and try to stop Delone Carter and leave me one-on-one. It's mostly just third-down passing situations.

Do you relish it when you see one-on-one coverage?

MW: Oh, yeah, I love it. That's what a receiver wishes for. If you can't beat one-on-one coverage, you shouldn't be a receiver. That's how I look at it.

South Florida was impressive defensively against Florida State last week. What kind of challenges do they present?


MW: They are a great defense. They have great defensive ends play, so they play man-to-man most of the game and trust in their secondary. It will be a real challenge, the challenge of all challenges right here. I think going against their defense will show us what type of offense we have. We as receivers have got to hurry up and get open on our routes and give our offensive line a chance to block these guys.

What's been the reaction around town and around campus to the way you guys have played this year?


MW: Even when we lost our first two games, people noticed we were a changed team. They said, 'We're still going to support you guys, we're still out there.' Everybody knows this is a changed team. When we won these last two, people in town are going crazy about it.

You said this is a changed team. Are you a changed person? Are your academic problems a thing of the past?

MW: I feel like I still have a lot to prove on the field and in the classroom. I want to let them know that I can live the college life. I want to let them know I can hold up my responsibilities and do everything to stay here this time. I feel like I have a lot to prove still.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Bill Stull is 11-4 as the Pittsburgh starting quarterback, yet most Panthers fans wanted to run him out of town after a late-season funk last year that culminated in an awful Sun Bowl performance. Stull was even booed by his home fans in the first game of the season.

The critics, though, have been quieted by the fifth-year senior's solid play in 2009. He's completed 70 percent of his passes and has six touchdowns against just one interception while leading his team to a 3-0 record. Stull will take the Panthers to NC State this weekend, but first he took some time for our weekly Friday Q&A:

	Elsa/Getty Images
	Bill Stull credits improved footwork for his improved accuracy this season.

How confident is the team right now after this impressive 3-0 start?

Bill Stull: The team feels real good right now. Obviously, the offense is playing and performing to the best of our ability right now. It seems like everyone is coming together, which is very exciting. The defense is playing well. They bounced back from a not-so-good game against Buffalo and helped us out a lot against Navy. Special teams is playing well too.

We've just got to realize that each week, we're going to be playing a better team and we've got to keep bringing our A-game and playing Pitt football. This week we're going to really focus on minimizing turnovers, which we've done a very good job of. Penalties and fumbles and turnovers are obviously drive-killers and game-changing moments, and as the season progresses and we play better opponents, we might not be able to come back from those type of things.

It's hard not to notice your numbers so far. What do you think you're doing better this season?

BS: One thing [offensive coordinator Frank] Cignetti stresses and we've been teaching ever since he came here last spring is making clear decisive decisions. And what that means is just getting the ball out quickly and obviously to the right guy. Most of our reads are progression reads. We have one, two, three, maybe four and sometimes five different playmakers on the field that can possibly get the ball. And my job as quarterback is obviously to distribute the ball to the playmakers, going through my progressions according to the defensive look.

I think this year, I've really focused on my starting point for each play. I think I've just protected the ball really well and given our playmakers a chance to make some big plays. The main thing for me is I think I've made fast decisions, getting the ball out quick, which really helps on the sacks. The quarterback is the really the last person to save a sack if he throws it away or makes a quick checkdown throw.

How did you improve your decision-making?

BS: It's hard work. We do footwork drills every single day. Coach Cignetti believes in building a quarterback from the feet up. I'm now a believer in that, too. If you throw a bad ball, I now believe, your feet were a little funky, something was a little messed up. We've really stressed footwork and making sure our feet are in the right position to make the throw and different ways to progress through our progressions -- whether that's hitching or sliding in the pocket, things like that.

In the first three games, you didn't need a whole lot from the passing game to win. Do you think that will change as the competition gets better?

BS: I wouldn't say we'll be forced to throw the ball. As everyone knows in the country, Pitt football is based on, and our tradition is, obviously running the football. We're never going to get away from that. I understand that we score points by throwing the ball and making plays downfield, but we win games by having great defense and running the football. We've been doing that for the past I don't know how many years.

Bill Stull #11 QB Pittsburgh Panthers 2009 STATS RAT YDS TD INT CMP% 115.2 540 6 1 70.0

Given that philosophy, does that put more pressure on a quarterback not to make a mistake, since you're relying on defense and running the ball?

BS: Yeah, there's more stress. If we run the ball on first and second down and it's third- and-4, you want to pass the ball. But obviously you don't want to force anything. You want to make a clear decisive decision and make a good throw.

Ever since the Sun Bowl, it's been impossible to pick up a newspaper, listen to sports radio, read a blog or whatever without somebody saying, "Get rid of Bill Stull." How did you deal with all that?

BS: Obviously, you can only say that, "I don't hear it" or "I don't look at it" so much. I honestly haven't read anything for a really long time, but I still hear things. People still tell me things. My family members and close friends from Pittsburgh and back home in Youngstown tell me stuff.

You know, it is what it is. You've got to use that as some fuel for motivation to play better. Like anything, you can't let that get to you. The quarterback position is obviously one of the most recognizable positions in all of sports, and you're looked at as a leader whether you like it or not. And your players and coaches feed off the way you handle yourself throughout the game. I think if a quarterback such as myself lets that get to you, then you won't be able to compete to the best of your ability. That's obviously not something I'm going to let get to me, because then my chances for success aren't good. And that's definitely something I'm not going to let happen.

You were booed at home early in the very first game, before people even gave you a chance to see what you could do. What was going through your head then?

BS: You really don't have a choice when there's a sellout, 65,000 people at Heinz Field, not to hear the whole Pitt crowd boo. But you kind of have to laugh it off. I mean, just put that in the back of your mind. Booing me, OK, but I have to worry about this next drive. And actually when I did come back in, we wound up scoring and I think I threw a touchdown pass to Dorin [Dickerson].

Use that as fuel like I said, and something to drive yourself and focus that much harder and prove people wrong. Obviously my objective is not to prove people wrong; my objective is to give my team the best chance to win, and the ultimate goal is to win the football game no matter how it happens.

Do you feel like you have proved people wrong? I get e-mails now from people saying they criticized you before, but now they're glad you're the starter.

BS: It's funny how those things happen. Obviously, people are entitled to their opinion. I'm just thankful I have another opportunity, because I know how things can be when you're injured like I was a couple times last year and the season-ending injury a couple of years ago. So I think I use that to my benefit, because I understand what it feels like to be injured and not be able to play. I use that to my advantage to have more focus and understand that each play could be my last.

What does it feel like knowing that Dave Wannstedt always had your back throughout all the criticism and always said you were his starter?

BS: It's awesome to have a head coach really have that faith in you. You have no choice but to work harder and want to prove him -- the guy who recruited you here, the guy who wanted you be the quarterback in his first recruiting class -- you have no choice but to appreciate those things.

Then again, it's awesome that he's on my side, but I have to go prove him right. Work even harder than I did last year. Work even harder than I did last week, preparing against Navy. This is a different animal we're facing this week. I've got to make sure I'm have my A-game and I've got to make sure I help my teammates bring theirs.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Tony Pike is off to a monstrous start for Cincinnati. The senior quarterback has completed 77.2 percent of his passes while throwing for 591 yards and six touchdowns in less than five quarters of action this season. Pike will try to guide the Bearcats to a win at Oregon State on Saturday, but first he had to tackle our Friday Q&A:

What's the feeling like on the team given the great start you guys have had?

	Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
	Tony Pike has been focused on reading through his progressions instead of "living dangerously."

Tony Pike: Obviously, it's been a great way to start the season. But we've been talking about it in the locker room. It's only two games, and we've got 10 more to play. And right now we've got to keep our focus. We know we're going out to Oregon State, where it will be a hostile environment and a tough place to get a win.

How much can a win out there make people pay attention to this team?

TP: I think, obviously, with the No. 17 ranking, that shows that some other people outside of Ohio are starting to take notice of us. And that's a great honor for us. But at the same time, we're not worrying about where we're at right now. We want to be up there at the end of the year.

What will you do to pass the time on that long flight to Corvallis? Any worries about jet lag?

TP: Hopefully they'll be showing a good movie. If not, then I might play some cards with some guys, maybe take a little nap. Play it by ear and see how you're feeling on the plane. I think we were all right going to Hawaii last year, so we should be fine.

Is it important for you guys to get a big nonconference win? Last year, you lost to Oklahoma and Virginia Tech.

TP: Absolutely. The Big East has been kind of taking some hits this offseason, with people talking about its BCS berth. It's a huge opportunity for us playing against a Pac-10 team. That's a dominant league, and Oregon State beat USC last year. So this would be huge for the Big East and huge for our program to get a nonconference win over the caliber of program like Oregon State.

(Read full post)

	Bob Donnan/US Presswire
	Noel Devine said last year's loss to East Carolina is still fresh in his mind.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Noel Devine is one of the most electric players in the Big East or anywhere else.The 5 foot 8 junior running back for West Virginia ran for 1,289 yards last season and opened this year with 112 yards against Liberty. Devine talks about tomorrow's upcoming game against East Carolina and other issues in our Friday Q&A:

How do you think you guys played in the opener?

Noel Devine: I think we played all right, but we could have played better. Too many mistakes. We've got to be smarter about down-and-distance situations and just play smarter football.

Was some of that just first-week type of stuff?

ND: I think it was just getting it out of our system. But we've got to finish when we get in the red zone.

You're playing East Carolina this week, a team that beat you 24-3 at their place last year. How much has that game stuck with you guys since then?

ND: It's something we've all been looking forward to going into this year. It's more like payback. I think we're excited about getting another chance to play them, like getting revenge. We have a chip on our shoulders, and we're excited about this game.

Coach Bill Stewart has talked about needing to get tougher ever since last year's loss. Do you think you are a tougher team now?

ND: Most definitely. I feel like we can throw the ball and run the ball this game and we'll come out and be more physical. They were tougher than us last year. They're a tough team, so it will come down to who wants it the most.

Will this game be a good gauge of where you guys are?

ND: Yeah, it's going to be a great game. We're going to come out ready to play and show people what we're made of.

I heard a lot of talk about you becoming more of a leader this offseason. Was that by design?

ND: I've always been a leader, not too much in words but just by example. I know what it takes, and I've been here for a while. It starts in the offseason, in the weight room, training to get your body right so you'll last for the whole season. I try to everything right to set an example and bring my teammates up with me.

Did you feel you had to take on that role when Pat White left?

ND: Yeah, most definitely. Pat was a big person in this offense, a big leader. It takes a couple of people to step up and be a leader equal to what he was to this program. Especially at the quarterback position being a leader. It's important to get Jarrett (Brown) his confidence, because he's the leader of this offense, and he has to lead it.

You guys have some serious speed with you, Jock Sanders and freshman Tavon Austin. Who's the fastest of the three?

ND: I'm a competitor, and I think I am. I don't know what they'd say. All of us fast, and all that matters is we're all on the same team. There's more than three of us. Jarrett, Alric Arnett and Bradley Starks have a lot of speed also.

How good can this offense be with all that speed once you eliminate some of the mistakes?

ND: Once we start clicking and get to rolling, I think we'll be better. I think we'll be great.

You talked earlier about getting ready to last a whole season. You're not a big guy, but you made it through all of last season. Do you think you've silenced any doubts about your durability?

ND: I think so. In my heart, I feel that way. I don't read into what other people think or say. But I have a big heart, and that's what I play with

You had great numbers last year, but one thing that stands out is you only had four touchdowns. You already scored one this year. Is that an area you're looking to improve?

ND: Whatever helps my team. It's not necessarily all about me. Everything happens for a reason. I just play my hardest every time I'm on the field and then leave it all to God. It wasn't in the plan for me to score a lot of touchdowns last year, so I just leave it in the past and move forward. Every time I get the ball, I'm trying to get a first down and pick the team up.