We still talk to this day. We had a real close relationship and used to hang out as friends and everything. It's fun seeing them before and after the game, seeing how they've progressed and developed in college.

I didn't know if it meant it was going to be a good day or a bad day.

We didn't necessarily have the best day today. Looking back, it was an ugly game two years ago.

It's obviously a lot more comfortable when you're calling the plays down on the field. I can come up to [ Charlie Weis ] on the sidelines and talk to him face to face. You can see his emotions, what he's thinking, by the way he's talking to you. That's something that's help me, being able to have that face-to-face with him, being able to talk with him.

We feel as if we are by far the best team in the tournament. Last year the tournament was tainted, and this year we are going for blood.

There is no question that Coach Weis sets the bar high. But he has been very sensitive to the pace at which he's been introducing his offense to us. He wants us to learn, for sure. But more importantly, he wants us to be able to execute. That will be the real test for us this season.