Eavesdropping: The football talk begins

GREENSBORO, Ga. — If college football is the biggest sport in the South, talking about college football runs a close second.

That season officially began Sunday when the sporting press gathered here at Reynolds Plantation to gab with coaches and players from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Picture, if you will, a large conference room filled with six round tables where players from each school sit surrounded by sportswriters scribbling notes and tape recording every word.

Topics range from what you did during your summer vacation to what your secondary will do without a lockdown cornerback. Two players from each school sit at these tables as the reporters roam at will.

After 90 minutes, those players are replaced by two from six other teams and the circus continues.

If it weren't so serious, it would be silly. Or vice versa. But that's the reality of college football, where too much is never enough.

So join me as we eavesdrop on these conversations, silly and serious, one table at a time:

Measure my heart

--"We're extremely tight as a team. Chemistry like that makes football a

lot easier." Deunta Williams, sophomore safety for the University of North Carolina.

-- "You're only as good as your offensive line. You've got to be able to move the ball. We want to be a dominating force." John Phillips, senior tight end for the University of Virginia.

--"Our leadership is so much better than it's been in the past. When I was recruited here, I thought winning was going to be easy. It hasn't happened that way, but I've still got a few years to help make it happen." Jason Fox, junior offensive lineman for the University of Miami.

--"I'm just going to focus on being the best quarterback in the league. We'll see how it goes from there." Sean Glennon, senior quarterback for Virginia Tech.

--"Since I've been here I've worked on my footwork and my strength. The thing you can't measure is my heart." Vance Walker, senior defensive tackle for Georgia Tech.

--"We've got a new coach (David Cutcliffe) and a new attitude. There is a new energy and we're working a lot harder." Eron Riley, senior wide receiver for Duke University.

Enjoying the attention

--"Last year was hard. After I got injured, I kept seeing other players coming off the field with injuries each week. Good players. We'll be better this year." Anthony Hill, tight end for North Carolina State University.

--"I thought about going pro, but I'm not done here. I decided to work on my football skills, and my masters degree." Ron Brace, senior defensive tackle for Boston College.

--"I've actually enjoyed all the attention. The trick is not letting it go to your head. I just look at it as good exposure for my school." Cullen Harper, senior quarterback for Clemson University.

--"We've always worked hard and had good skills. We just didn't have the leadership to come together. In order to reach a hundred people, you've got to have several different people speaking up." Drew Weatherford, senior quarterback for Florida State University.

--"I've learned not to feel sorry for myself for even two minutes because our opponents don't care what you're going through. You've got to reload and keep going." Edwin Williams, senior offensive lineman for the University of Maryland.

--"I'm the kind of guy coach (Jim) Grobe likes to recruit. I'm the guy they have to kick out of the weight room and run off the practice field. I'm very proud to be representing my school at an event like this." Aaron Curry, senior linebacker for Wake Forest University.

Reach Ken Burger at 937-5598 kburger@postandcourier.com.