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Q: The players’ celebration after the 31-27 win over Carolina was like a championship celebration. Was it too much of an emotional release with two games left to play?

A: “That’s to be expected because nobody here had beaten North Carolina. I think that came back to haunt us again against Maryland, like, ‘Well, we achieved what we wanted to do, we beat North Carolina, that’s OK.’”

Q: How much does the Maryland game stick with you?

A: “It’s not how we play and it’s not how we want to be remembered. I’ve tried to use that as a motivational thing, that it shouldn’t happen again.”

Q: Looking back, what has been the most rewarding thing for you in the last year?

A: “I think the way this football team returned in January — the commitment, the intensity, the dedication they’ve had. Starting from the first day of the offseason program, it was, ‘Things are going to be different around here.’ That our message is getting across. That there’s a greater trust. ...

“Everyone is on the same page with our vision. Now finally the team is trusting in that vision and trusting in us and doing the things we’re asking them to do.”

Q: And the most disappointing thing?

A: “The 1-5 start last year obviously was disappointing. We put some people in positions where they couldn’t succeed. We didn’t do a good enough job coaching and getting in a position to win. It’s not indicative of the teams I’ve been around.

“We lost games last year but I hate to lose. By our mistakes, by our turnovers and by some of the dumb things we did, we lost football games. ... That’s what people don’t want to see around here.

“You’re going to get beat sometimes. It happens. If you do what you’re supposed to do ... and we play hard and we play error-free and lose, I can live with that. I can’t stomach a minus-16 turnover ratio or 14 TD passes and 23 interceptions. Dropping balls that can be turnovers that can turn games around. Not making plays. All those things are things I don’t like.”

Q: Everyone in Carter-Finley Stadium seemed dumbfounded in the opener against Central Florida, especially falling behind 25-3 at the half. Did it seem that way to you?

A: “We didn’t respect them. It hit me before the game talking to a couple of our seniors on defense from Florida about what a great back I thought [UCF tailback Kevin] Smith was. They said, ‘Coach, he’s not any good. If he was any good he’d be at Florida State or Miami.’ ...

“I knew we were in trouble. And then with the first run, absolutely we knew we were in trouble.”

Q: Smith went 80 yards for a TD on the first play. Did you pull those seniors aside to remind them about what they had said?

A: “I didn’t have to. I just gave them a look and they knew.”

Q: If there was an O’Brien Award for most valuable contributor in spring practice, who would get it?

A: “I think there would be a couple of guys. I think Robbie Leonard making the move [safety to outside linebacker] was a good move. He and and [Ted] Larsen and [John] Bedics [moving from the defensive line to offensive line], being upperclassmen going to new positions, they could have fought it but they all embraced it and did a great job. I think it’s going to work out for them and for us.”

Q: What about Leonard’s 56-yard punt return for a TD in the spring game?

A: (smiles) “I had told them there would be no punt returns [in the game]. I told them they didn’t read the fine print. Even on a shanked punt.”

Q: Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams was criticized for wearing a Kansas sticker and cheering for Kansas in the national championship game. He was at Kansas 15 years. You were at Boston College for 10 years. How hard is it to divorce yourself from your former school?

A: “I think you pull for their success. He was there 15 years. The sticker, who knows, maybe somebody slapped it on him. I think it was much ado about nothing. He’s certainly the head basketball coach at North Carolina and every ounce of his fiber goes into making that program a championship program. ... You build so many relationships and lifetime friends it’s hard to divorce yourself from that.”

Q: You got you first taste of the East Carolina game last year. Do you like playing ECU?

A: “It doesn’t bother me. If it’s good for the state, that’s fine.”

Q: Will there be new uniforms this year?

A: “We’ll find out. I don’t want to answer that question because everybody keeps asking it.”

Q: What about the color of the helmets? White or red?

A: “The helmets aren’t changing. Still white helmets. We can put the helmet issue to rest.”

Q: You have said that in looking at the schedule, you may have better team but the record not reflect it. Could that happen?

A: “Looking at the first four or five games, every out-of-conference team thinks it can be conference champs. ... You really don’t know. That’s why from my experiences you work as hard as you can each and every week because you don’t know what kind of team you’re going to have and what kind of team you’re going to play. ...

“I definitely feel coming out of spring practice we’re a better football team than we were a year ago.”

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