Blue 38, Orange 35
MODERATOR: We're joined by quarterback Harrison Bailey.
Q. I believe it was either your first start or main even your first college throw was in this stadium, so to come back here and perform now with these guys as your fans, how was it?
HARRISON BAILEY: It was -- my first start was versus Florida when I was at Tennessee. A real experience considering I grew up a Florida fan, watching Tebow and Chris Rainey, Demps and all those boys play, but it was pretty unreal, you know, running out the stadium, being able to compete and play against some of my teammates, with some of my teammates, it was an unreal experience, something I've dreamed up since I was a little kid.
Q. You ever thrown 40-plus passes in an exhibition before?
HARRISON BAILEY: No. I didn't think we'd get to that point, but we fell behind early and just moving up and down the field and run game really wasn't working so we started airing it out and helps when you have guys like 10 and 6 catching the ball for you, so.
Q. I was going to ask about that good fortunate of having Dallas on your team today?
HARRISON BAILEY: I did, yeah, I was stoked to have Dallas when they announced the teams, and I told him as soon as they put it up on the screen that he was going to have 10-plus catches, 200-plus, like... I was going to find a way to get him the ball. That's one of the jobs of a quarterback, getting the play-makers the ball and let them make plays.
Q. Was that something first day of spring practice you saw him and you were like wow, this guy is something else?
HARRISON BAILEY: When he came out there, he looked the part for sure. Just seen him in one-on-ones, he plays in a very veteran kind of style the way he runs route, very crisp, very big, physical guy, a big radius so Dallas is one that really impressed.
Q. What does this do for your confidence moving forward? 363 yards, three touchdowns, all that, what does that do for you moving forward as the number two going into the fall?
HARRISON BAILEY: Yeah, so I would say it does a lot. It's pretty big, especially heading into the summer where we'll get a little bit of time off and head into OTAs, but it's just good momentum to have. I think we played well. I think everybody... really, everybody on the Orange team's office, we really performed, so.
Q. Yeah, Harrison, why'd you pick to come here? Are you still taking advantage of COVID year, you have one more year of that, right? You might be the last cycling through.
HARRISON BAILEY: Yeah, this is my COVID year, yeah. This is my last year. Yeah, big thing. I've had a few people ask me, but my whole college journey, how'd I end up here and I would say, you know, like I said earlier, it's a dream school of mine. I knew when the opportunity arose that this is the place where I wanted to be and finish out my college career and wherever it goes, it goes, you know.
Q. Yeah, I know that was kind of repetitive, more of the COVID thing, but also DJ obviously, that might give some people because he's so talented and all that, but he obviously hasn't been throwing.
HARRISON BAILEY: Right.
Q. What have you seen from him watching him on film? How do you hope to kind of help him and also learn from each other?
HARRISON BAILEY: Yeah, absolutely. DJ's a great guy. One of the best quarterbacks that I've been around from the perspective of, one, he's very skilled, very great dude. We chop it up all the time, just about life in general, just a very down-to-earth guy, somebody I'm glad I'm in the room with. We just bounce ideas all of each. Any way I can help him in his career and likewise with me, any way that he can help me, we learn from each other, so, he's a great dude, man.
Q. You saw his autograph line?
HARRISON BAILEY: I did, I seen it, it was backed up. I kind of paused for a second, I looked and I was like man. It felt like me when I was first coming out. But, yeah. He's awesome. He deserves it, man. He's a great dude.
Q. Yeah, playing at Louisville last year under Jeff Brohm, he's known as a quarterback guy, I'm curious what you picked up from him during that one year that's carried over into maybe your final season?
HARRISON BAILEY: Yeah, so coach Coach Brohm, he's awesome. Different style coach than Coach Napier. I tell people all the time coach Napier is my favorite coach I've ever been around, any position, anything. Coach Nape's down to earth. He'll shoot it straight with you but also he'll put you under his wing and teach you. Coach Brohm, he runs a great system. They have a great program up there. It's been on the up and up every single year. I was there two years with him and I have nothing but good thing to say about him and his brother.
Q. Harrison, what's it been like learning this offense this spring and just getting acclimated to the system, working with Coach O'Hara too?
HARRISON BAILEY: Yeah, Coach O'Hara's been pretty cool to work with. He's taught me pretty much that I've known since I've been here. I would say the system is a little different, just verbiage and some of the calls are a little more wordy, just full, just getting a whole grasp on the offense. It's been a little bit different. But coach O'Hara has really helped that process by preparing us for meetings and one-on-one meetings and whatever it may be, walkthroughs. He's been a big part of helping me learn.
Q. How much do you feel like you've progressed in the system and how much does today's performance help carry you into the offseason?
HARRISON BAILEY: Yeah, felt like the first couple days of spring ball I'm just guessing and now he's able to call whatever and I know what I'm supposed to be doing and a few plays today, I made a few mistakes, eyes in the wrong place, took the wrong drop, whatever it may be, but I'm still progressing and he lets me know for sure when I'm not doing the right stuff, so.
Q. Wanted to ask again about the receivers besides Dallas, you had Naeshaun on your team, obviously, you have seen Vernell, J. Mike, some of the newer guys in practice. Coach said it's the deepest receiving core he's ever had here. What can you say about them as a whole?
HARRISON BAILEY: Yeah, I told somebody earlier in spring that asked about our receiving group and I said it's one of the best that I've ever seen in college football. Every one of those guys have speed, has range, surefire hands and run great routes and most of them if not all of them are just first year in the system trying to learn how to run routes, get a feel for the offense and, man, it's a dangerous group for sure.
Q. And then running back group is pretty good as well, obviously, Ja'Kobi had a great game Jayden had a good game. What can you say about them and the one-two punch they'll provide.
HARRISON BAILEY: Yeah, Jack Cheese, he's a -- we call him Jack Cheese. That's his nickname. We love my guy. He's a special talent. But the whole group in general. They're a tight-knit group. JB, obviously, he's from Myrus. I've known JB for a while. They're real close and they all push each other. They taught me a big thing, a difference between competing and competition and that group they compete, every day, day in and day out, pushing each other and, again, they're like the quarterback group, they bounce ideas off each other. It's going to be an computing group. You seen what they did today, they were running the ball.
Q. Don't want to close with this one but as a guy whose been around and seen some things, were you surprised to see what happened at Tennessee today with Nico?
HARRISON BAILEY: Yeah, that was -- I didn't even know until some of the Gator fans were running up to me telling me. Yeah, it doesn't sur -- I, I don't really know. I don't know the full situation so I can't really comment too much on it, but I've met Nico before and I know how Coach Heupel and the group is and they're all great people. I have nothing negative to say about them but maybe the situation just wasn't right at the time and they parted ways, so.
Q. But that's kind of where I was thinking a guy who transfers, been in the portal, seen the portal, it's kind of where we're headed, right? A little bit maybe?
HARRISON BAILEY: I don't know, when I first entered college, there was no such thing as the portal (laughter) which is interesting to say. Yeah, I don't know, a new day and age in football. I'm glad I'm getting out of it. It's helped me a lot I will say.
Q. Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports