TALLAHASSEE — Florida State interim head coach Rick Stockstill met with reporters Wednesday for his final availability before Saturday’s noon kickoff at Boston College.
He started by confirming the bad news about a star player that was first reported on Tuesday.
“Duce Robinson is out for the year. He hurt his knee and he’ll end up having surgery,”
“A phenomenal player, a phenomenal man, a phenomenal person. My heart, my prayers go out to him, but he’ll be back. He’ll recover from this and he’ll be as
good as ever.”
Stockstill on the first two practices since taking over:
“Been really pleased with how things have gone, how they’ve responded. Their work ethic, the leadership that we’re getting from our players, from our coaches. Proud of their response and how they’ve handled this situation.”
“I told them, I gave my heart and soul to this program a long time ago and I’m going to give my heart and soul to them for these next two months and that’s what I ask from them in return. I couldn’t have asked for a better response after two days.”
On the role itself:
“Very surreal, very humbling. I was giddy. I texted (my son and daughter), I said, ‘Can you believe I’m the freaking head coach at Florida State?’”
Stockstill on Boston College:
“You go on the road, you got to pack your toughness. They pride themselves on physicality, that lunchbox mentality. They’re big, they’re physical. It’s going to be a street fight. Play with a relentless effort. … When that game’s over, you couldn’t go one more play because you ain’t got nothing left. Passion, that’s your juice, that’s your motor.”
On Ashton Daniels:
“I got a lot of confidence in Ashton. Sometimes we put too much on his plate and we don’t give him the opportunity to play free. He’s a competitor. He’s a worker. I believe this week he’ll come out and he’s going to play lights out.”
Florida State (3-5, 1-4 ACC) plays at Boston College (4-4, 2-3 ACC) on Saturday at noon on ACC Network.
