Notes From ’07 Captains on Media Day

Tom Zbikowski – Safety

• Feels better this year than he has any other year and is hungrier this year. Didn’t talk about being hurt last year, but said he definitely felt better this year.
• Is down to 205 after playing at 215+ last year.
• Last year was not the type of season he wanted to have last year.
• Made mention of certain (read Mark May’s) comments about Notre Dame winning 1 out of the first 8 games.
• Has had a more low key off-season this year and has been focusing on training since the spring game.
• Said he has something to prove to himself this year after not having the kind of season he had last year.

Travis Thomas – Running Back

• Echoed Weis’s comments of not rebuilding as well as the mantra of earning respect because people are not giving it to them.
• Mentioned that Darius Walker’s departure has given him an opportunity to shine and that he felt he earned the starting job in the spring.
• Said he knows that there will be more running this year.
• Thomas said he needs to be a coach out there for the younger guys and do that he needs to make sure he is well prepared.

John Carlson – Tight End

• Excited about the summer of conditioning as well as the opportunities the team has.
• The loss to LSU is a motivating factor, but not the only one for the team.
• Said it’s his job as well as John Sullivan and the other seniors to help whoever the quarterback is to feel comfortable in the huddle and on the field.
• Carlson said “no comment” to a question posed to him about Bernie Parmalee saying he was faster than Anthony Fasano.
• Said he felt that the tight end position is a safety net for a young quarterback along with the running backs.

Maurice Crum – Linebacker

• Said the attitude has been evolving on the defense which should lead to more big plays.
• Thinks he, Zibby, and Laws will set the examples and the rest of the defense will follow.
• Mentioned that coaches Weis and Brown have been more demanding of them which has got them excited.
• Said the defense is quicker and that the attitude overall is resulting in quicker play from the defense.
• Described coach Brown as a “jacked up guy ready to go every day.”
• Said he felt the defense was doing pretty much the same things as they have been, but have just been lining up differently in the new defense.