Video of the press conference was posted.
Lance Anderson
"North Carolina is a very powerful offense. A explosive offense. A lot of good skill guys. We're looking forward to the challenge."
About quarterback Mitch Trubisky: "He can make all the throws. Look at all the draft rankings and he's right up there at the top. He can also make plays with his feet -- buys time in the pocket, he's a strong runner, breaks tackles, makes guys miss. Part of their offense they'll run some of the zone read and things like that. He'll keep it just enough to keep you honest. With a guy like that you have to be very disciplined. You have to be able to disguise a little bit -- run multiple coverages and fronts to keep him off guard a little bit because he is a very talented player."
North Carolina without Elijah Hood: "I don't know that they'll change a lot because even with Elijah hood out, T.J. Logan got a lot of touches and is a very talented back. He may not be as big or physical a runner as Elijah Hood, but T.J. Logan is a guy that has a lot of juice, a lot of wiggle."
Who does Trubisky remind you of: "Looking back a few years, I think there are some similarities to Jake Locker who was at the University of Washington. Just in terms of the way the guy's built. He's a strong, physical kid. He can run, but also very talented arm."
About Solomon Thomas: "Number one with Solomon is his passion for the game, his motor. He plays hard all the time. He's a kid that really pushes himself. He has the desire to be great and is willing to work to be a great player. He's had a tremendous year for us. Makes a lot of plays, especially for an interior defensive lineman. A lot of times he's playing a four-technique or a three-technique for us, and it's just remarkable how many plays he's made. He's a real leader for us on the defensive side of the ball."
Compare North Carolina offense to any Stanford has faced: "There are similarities to several PAC-12 teams we've played because they will spread you out, try to be very balanced. First and second down they're committed to run the ball and have done a nice job there. Some of the spread offenses we've seen in general ... will help us in our preparation."
Mike Bloomgren
You're getting an opportunity to play in a bowl game -- it's why I think great teams, and good teams, get better and stay great year in and year out. It's because of those extra practices. We've gotten the value of that. Then we have Christmas at home. Then we come here, get off the plane and from then on it's been amazing. I've always heard how the Sun Bowl would just welcome you in. And the reception we've gotten, from the mayor greeting us when we walk off the plane to what we've gotten from everybody, and every single event has been overwhelming how passionate people are about this game. We're thrilled to death to be here."
Biggest challenge of North Carolina defense: "The biggest challenge is how athletic they are. They are a really, really athletic team. We've got a rare opportunity. We've had a 12-game breakdown, we've had a chance to study 12 games on this team. Normally you study four or five for an opponent. I think we have a good feel for who they are. I think their defensive coordinator Gene Chizik does an outstanding job. I think these kids play incredibly hard and they have a very sound, good scheme."
On attacking the run defense without McCaffrey: "We haven't changed our offense in six years and we're not going to change it for one player. We didn't change it when Andrew Luck left. We didn't change it when Stepfan Taylor left. Or any of these great players. So, to be honest with you we're just freaking excited to get the reps we've gotten in practice. And we're going to go into this game plan -- we changed very little at any point this month. We made a game plan. We've really done a great job making sure our players can execute our game plan. I really have to commend our assistant coaches and what they've done. Because it's been outstanding. So, to answer your question, we're going to go into it with the same mindset. We're going to try to live and breathe intellectual brutality. We're going to try to be balanced on first and second down and we're going to try to run the rock right at you."
Recruiting Bryce Love away from North Carolina: "That was a complete team effort. Nobody was more important in the recruiting process than Chris and Angela Love. Mom and dad fell in love with the Stanford model and all the things it could do for their baby. It's the second time they've been through it. They have another son playing at ECU right now. I think for us we were able to accentuate the positive: You can get this great football program with an unbelievable education and it's worth coming out to California. And once they got onto campus a couple times they realized it and Bryce started to as well. I think you have a very excited young man to play the blue on the other sideline.
I think when you're recruiting a guy with the tools Bryce Love has ... this is a kid that has unbelievable speed, believes in his ability, and so what we showed him is we have a role you can come in and take. And start doing all the things that No. 27 did last year -- that was Christian's number his freshman year -- and really show him, 'This is the path. This is how we can involve you. This is where you can grow.'
What's cool with Bryce is you saw him take all those similar steps. You saw him become a guy who was so special with the ball in his hands last fall. And then this spring he turned into an every-down running back and a guy we love having on the field -- can run our offense, can pass protect, can run routes and certainly than can run the rock."
On Love learning Stanford offense after playing in Wing-T option at Wake Forest High: "He did an outstanding job committing himself to it. And that running backs room is really good at bringing those guys in and showing the path, 'This is what this means.' And Pat McFadden is a guy that doesn't get talked about in that running back room. He's a senior for us and an outstanding walk-on running back that those guys really credit for him putting his arm around them and bringing them along.
Now, talking about the Wing-T offense, we were able to see things we loved. We were able to see Bryce's speed on the edge of course on the buck sweep in his high school offense. And they ran enough stuff that you could see him downhill and break some tackles and really see him play running back. He wasn't just a perimeter sweep guy like you see on some high school film.
Does this jump start the offense for next year getting Love on this stage: "I think bowl practice in general jump starts for the next year. It's an interesting balance between ending the campaign you're in for your seniors and going out the right way and growing your football team for the next fall. The transition from the season, to the bowl game, to 6 a.m. workouts, to spring ball, the viscous cycle that is college football. I think it's a great start for that. But you ask about one kid in particular, this is not a kid who hasn't played. He's played an absolute ton for us. He started and played the bulk of the carries against Notre Dame and did a heck of a job.
Lance Anderson
"North Carolina is a very powerful offense. A explosive offense. A lot of good skill guys. We're looking forward to the challenge."
About quarterback Mitch Trubisky: "He can make all the throws. Look at all the draft rankings and he's right up there at the top. He can also make plays with his feet -- buys time in the pocket, he's a strong runner, breaks tackles, makes guys miss. Part of their offense they'll run some of the zone read and things like that. He'll keep it just enough to keep you honest. With a guy like that you have to be very disciplined. You have to be able to disguise a little bit -- run multiple coverages and fronts to keep him off guard a little bit because he is a very talented player."
North Carolina without Elijah Hood: "I don't know that they'll change a lot because even with Elijah hood out, T.J. Logan got a lot of touches and is a very talented back. He may not be as big or physical a runner as Elijah Hood, but T.J. Logan is a guy that has a lot of juice, a lot of wiggle."
Who does Trubisky remind you of: "Looking back a few years, I think there are some similarities to Jake Locker who was at the University of Washington. Just in terms of the way the guy's built. He's a strong, physical kid. He can run, but also very talented arm."
About Solomon Thomas: "Number one with Solomon is his passion for the game, his motor. He plays hard all the time. He's a kid that really pushes himself. He has the desire to be great and is willing to work to be a great player. He's had a tremendous year for us. Makes a lot of plays, especially for an interior defensive lineman. A lot of times he's playing a four-technique or a three-technique for us, and it's just remarkable how many plays he's made. He's a real leader for us on the defensive side of the ball."
Compare North Carolina offense to any Stanford has faced: "There are similarities to several PAC-12 teams we've played because they will spread you out, try to be very balanced. First and second down they're committed to run the ball and have done a nice job there. Some of the spread offenses we've seen in general ... will help us in our preparation."
Mike Bloomgren
You're getting an opportunity to play in a bowl game -- it's why I think great teams, and good teams, get better and stay great year in and year out. It's because of those extra practices. We've gotten the value of that. Then we have Christmas at home. Then we come here, get off the plane and from then on it's been amazing. I've always heard how the Sun Bowl would just welcome you in. And the reception we've gotten, from the mayor greeting us when we walk off the plane to what we've gotten from everybody, and every single event has been overwhelming how passionate people are about this game. We're thrilled to death to be here."
Biggest challenge of North Carolina defense: "The biggest challenge is how athletic they are. They are a really, really athletic team. We've got a rare opportunity. We've had a 12-game breakdown, we've had a chance to study 12 games on this team. Normally you study four or five for an opponent. I think we have a good feel for who they are. I think their defensive coordinator Gene Chizik does an outstanding job. I think these kids play incredibly hard and they have a very sound, good scheme."
On attacking the run defense without McCaffrey: "We haven't changed our offense in six years and we're not going to change it for one player. We didn't change it when Andrew Luck left. We didn't change it when Stepfan Taylor left. Or any of these great players. So, to be honest with you we're just freaking excited to get the reps we've gotten in practice. And we're going to go into this game plan -- we changed very little at any point this month. We made a game plan. We've really done a great job making sure our players can execute our game plan. I really have to commend our assistant coaches and what they've done. Because it's been outstanding. So, to answer your question, we're going to go into it with the same mindset. We're going to try to live and breathe intellectual brutality. We're going to try to be balanced on first and second down and we're going to try to run the rock right at you."
Recruiting Bryce Love away from North Carolina: "That was a complete team effort. Nobody was more important in the recruiting process than Chris and Angela Love. Mom and dad fell in love with the Stanford model and all the things it could do for their baby. It's the second time they've been through it. They have another son playing at ECU right now. I think for us we were able to accentuate the positive: You can get this great football program with an unbelievable education and it's worth coming out to California. And once they got onto campus a couple times they realized it and Bryce started to as well. I think you have a very excited young man to play the blue on the other sideline.
I think when you're recruiting a guy with the tools Bryce Love has ... this is a kid that has unbelievable speed, believes in his ability, and so what we showed him is we have a role you can come in and take. And start doing all the things that No. 27 did last year -- that was Christian's number his freshman year -- and really show him, 'This is the path. This is how we can involve you. This is where you can grow.'
What's cool with Bryce is you saw him take all those similar steps. You saw him become a guy who was so special with the ball in his hands last fall. And then this spring he turned into an every-down running back and a guy we love having on the field -- can run our offense, can pass protect, can run routes and certainly than can run the rock."
On Love learning Stanford offense after playing in Wing-T option at Wake Forest High: "He did an outstanding job committing himself to it. And that running backs room is really good at bringing those guys in and showing the path, 'This is what this means.' And Pat McFadden is a guy that doesn't get talked about in that running back room. He's a senior for us and an outstanding walk-on running back that those guys really credit for him putting his arm around them and bringing them along.
Now, talking about the Wing-T offense, we were able to see things we loved. We were able to see Bryce's speed on the edge of course on the buck sweep in his high school offense. And they ran enough stuff that you could see him downhill and break some tackles and really see him play running back. He wasn't just a perimeter sweep guy like you see on some high school film.
Does this jump start the offense for next year getting Love on this stage: "I think bowl practice in general jump starts for the next year. It's an interesting balance between ending the campaign you're in for your seniors and going out the right way and growing your football team for the next fall. The transition from the season, to the bowl game, to 6 a.m. workouts, to spring ball, the viscous cycle that is college football. I think it's a great start for that. But you ask about one kid in particular, this is not a kid who hasn't played. He's played an absolute ton for us. He started and played the bulk of the carries against Notre Dame and did a heck of a job.
