Oct. 18, 2006
Press conference quotes from Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson on Tuesday, Sept. 26, as the Yellow Jackets prepare to face 10th-ranked Virginia Tech.
What do you remember about last year’s Virginia Tech game?
“We went up there and the crowd got to the team was the biggest thing. We lost focus, lost concentration, and things just kind of went bad for us.”
Does playing there in back-to-back seasons help prepare you a little better?
“I’m sure it helps a little bit. We know what to expect when we go up there, we know the crowd is going to be in the game, and we know that to get to where we need to go, we need to take the crowd out of the game early.”
Is this a more mature team, and do you think this team is better able to handle that situation?
“I believe so.”
When you saw the schedule, did you wonder why you were going back (to Virginia Tech) again this season?
“I did. I can’t lie about that. I did, but it’s just something that we have to deal with.”
How is your injury?
“It’s fine. A little treatment here and there.”
Did you tighten up after the game?
“Not too much”
What is the importance of winning this game, as far as your goal of getting to Jacksonville this season?
“It’s real important. Everybody is expecting them to be in the ACC Championship so it would be good for us to go up there and knock them off so that we’d be in the driver’s seat.”
Reaching the status of Virginia Tech’s success…Would that be something you’d like to accomplish before leaving Georgia Tech?
“That would be real big for us. We have a real tough (division) over here on our side, so being able to run the table the rest of the season would be real big for us, with all the great teams in the ACC.”
Did you talk about the ACC before the season started?
“I can’t really say that we have. We’ve all talked about the ACC being one of the toughest conferences, and we’ve got a real tough schedule, but I can’t say that we’ve really sat down and talk about it.”
How much have you guys looked back on last year’s game?
“I don’t think that we really have to look back to it. I think that everyone knows what happened, so everyone has a little chip on their shoulder because of what happened.”
How has Virginia Tech defended against you the last two years?
“There is a lot of the same coverage. We are watching film right now and seeing what they are doing this year.”
You have to assume that Virginia Tech will cover you differently after losing Jimmy Williams to the draft.
“We don’t make any assumptions, we just go off of what we see on film.”
How did it make you feel to hear Jimmy Williams say, when he was drafted, that you were one of the top wide receivers that he’d ever played against?
“It makes you feel good. That’s one of the top DB’s in the nation that you’re going up against, so it’s a real honor to get him to say that.”
What was your expectation for this season and how has it progressed?
“My expectations were just to exceed what I did last year, and I’m on track for that right now. We’ve only played a third of the season so far, so we have quite a few games to go. We’ll see how it turns out.”
Do you feel like there has been success in getting you the ball this season?
“Yeah, it’s a different offense. You have to know the whole offense. Coach can put me anywhere at any time, so there are definitely a lot of opportunities out there.”
Do you like Saturday better than Tuesday’s? (media day)
“Definitely.”
