Al Golden Quotes (18 Quotes)

Hopefully, my next step will be to be a head coach, ... and I believe I can do that from here.

Obviously, as a leader, it's your job to attack those areas on your defense that were perceived to be the weakest point.

Young players have got to get to the point where everything comes natural for them. In other words, where they don't have to write the plays down on the wristband before they go out on the field. . . . We've got to get to the point where, when we make a call, the defense lets it fly.

Today is the day that we coined as one in which we will hunt a MAC title with local talent.

Freshman Chris Cook, a former Heritage standout, is also getting a look at both corner and safety. At 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, Cook, has excellent tools, ... He's learning. He's picking up quickly. He's got to work on his consistency and obviously (get) some experience.

We're trying to get to the point where we have a legitimate two deep. And what I mean by that, you feel like any of those four can go into a game at a certain time and you feel good about it. You know, you're not nervous about it.

New England Patriots defensive coordinator Eric Mangini, who formerly coached that team's defensive backs, and the Cincinnati Bengals' Kevin Coyle were among a number of different secondary coaches I've had the opportunity to really study over the last six months, ... and hopefully we'll reap the benefits our here in a couple weeks.

We personally make sure they hand their papers in. Every day, our coaches have 2 hours on their schedule to spend with the players. Our coaches are required to personally meet with the academic counselors and have copies of their players' class schedules and syllabuses. And yes, we have been personally checking classes. We're already getting the right results.

Some of the young kids are going to have to play, there's no question about it. Right now, they've been up to the challenge. We'll see how we show up in two weeks.

Absolutely, ... Is it a move to make another move, or is it the right move If it's a move to make another move, then I really don't need to do it.

If you're sitting next to the coordinator, as I was at Penn State or Boston College or even here at Virginia as a graduate assistant in the '90s, you always long to be in the position, and when you get in that position, at first it's like, 'What did I wish for' All of the sudden the world's coming down on you. You're 108th in rushing defense, and you're getting e-mails from people. But at that point, you believe in yourself and believe in the guys you work with.

I just felt, at this time of my life, this is where I wanted to be.

Mike and I worked together for seven years. Mike and I have a great relationship and we still do to this day. We were comfortable with each other because we had worked together at Boston College and Virginia. He is definitely a great person and a obviously a great coach.

It may have brought new blood into me for all I know.

Obviously, everybody was way ahead of me, but certainly I considered it, ... I have no regrets. I love the kids that we're coaching right now. They do everything we ask them to do. There are no prima donnas.

I keep telling the guys, 'Last year we had a good defense. It kept us in a lot of games and gave us a chance to win every game but one, and I think that's what a good defense should do,' ... But at the same time, when we started camp here Aug. 5, we had to start over.

Going to basketball games or attending fund-raising events in the spring or just being around town, I was struck by how appreciative everybody was,

The bottom line is this You can win without experience, but the kids have got to be fundamentally sound, they've got to know where they're lining up, and you as a coach have got to give them the opportunity to do that,