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 03, 2009
Harvard Head Coach Tim Murphy opening
statement:
We had a very solid win over a much improved and spirited Dartmouth
team last weekend. We were a much more veteran team than they were
with a lot more upperclassmen and veteran players ... but I was
pleased in general with our execution. We did what we needed to do
to win.
As far as Columbia is concerned, Columbia is a very good football team. They have been in every game and are very well-coached. They are a dangerous team and our kids really respect the personnel they have and how hard they play every week.
On Featuring Three Impressive Running Backs:
We're very fortunate in that area to have three great
kids. Most coaches contend that they can never have enough depth at
that position and we're no different ... we've had games where each
guy has been dinged up. We just try to keep them fresh and its
obviously been a good situation for us thus far.
On Pointing To Harvard's Most "Unsung"
Player:
It would probably be out tight end Nicolai Schwarzkopf. For one, he
is indispensible because he is a very versatile player. He is a
very good blocker and an excellent receiver but (he's) not the
first guy that comes to mind (when you think of our offensive
weapons). He's had an outstanding junior season.
On Harvard Allowing Just 55 Yards Per
Game Rushing On Defense But Changing Focus With Upcoming Games
Against Running Quarterbacks At Columbia and Penn:
There is no question it does change our philosophy on
defense. We did a good job last week against Dartmouth they were
never able to get traction. Against running quarterbacks, you have
to play more assignment football, you've got to be very conscious
on each play with which player has the pitch, the play action, and
the QB. Columbia has a couple of outstanding runners. M.A. Olawale
is the Ivy League equivalent of Time Tebow so you have to be
assignment-oriented. We know they can throw the ball but we've got
to stop the run.
On Harvard's Special Teams and Ball
Security:
First of all, ball security is by far our biggest emphasis. We
don't talk about anything else on offense. I think Collier Winters
has done a good job in managing the game with that in his first
season. Special teams has been a concern. Like most teams in our
league, we put some of our best players on those units. We expect
to excel on special teams teams but it's something we definitely
have to tighten up to get where we want to be.
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