Image courtesy of @TaquanRoberson_
For the second straight season, UConn’s starting quarterback has gone down with a season ending injury, forcing the backup into a leading role.
Joe Fagnano is done for the year and will have surgery according to head coach Jim Mora during his Tuesday press conference. On Wednesday, the new guy running the show Ta’Quan Roberson spoke to the media via Zoom about his new role and a few other things. Here’s what the redshirt junior – who won the starting job a year ago before getting hurt in the first game of the year, leaving Zion Turner as the starter – had to say…
ON HIS PERFORMANCE AGAINST GEORGIA STATE
“Overall feeling as a team is that we have to play much better. Me and the guys in this building know that’s not UConn football. It was great to get in a game, but again, we expect and want a different result.”
ON WHAT HE LEARNED ABOUT HIMSELF LAST YEAR BEING ON THE SHELF
“That I can really push through adversity. My injury was very intense. I was out for 10 months not being able to participate with my team. I just really had to tap into the inner strength that I had and mentally and physically recover.”
ON LEARNING FAGNANO WOULD BE OUT FOR THE YEAR & IF IT CHANGES HIS MENTAL APPROACH
“No sir. We preach all the time here that you have to be ready and prepared like you’re the starter. Next man up mentality. When Coach told me I was going in, I began to warm up and it was just go time.”
ON ANY ADVICE HE’D HAVE FOR JOE OR A HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER THAT GETS HURT FOR THE SEASON
“There’s always a bright light at the end of the tunnel. At the beginning, you might not be able to see it, but just perseverance and just trust the process. For me, I know God helped me and guided me through, as well as my family and the support staff and the coaching staff.”
ON WHAT UCONN NEEDS TO DO DIFFERENTLY ON OFFENSE
“To be honest, overall execution. Whatever coach calls, we have to execute it to the best of our ability.”
ON WHAT THE WAIT WAS LIKE TO GET TO THIS POINT IN HIS CAREER AFTER TRANSFERRING AND BEING INJURED AND BEING A BACKUP COMING OUT OF THIS CAMP
“If I had to give you a word to sum it up, definitely, it was tough in every aspect that you can just name. Obviously, getting hurt on the second possession last year in the first game. Then, working my way back to be with the guys. Not winning the job in camp, but like I said before, it’s just a never give up mentality. There’s always going to be a light at the end of the tunnel, you’ve just got to reach it.”
ON THE FEELING OF BEING BACK ON THE FIELD AND CHUCKING IT AROUND LAST WEEK
“Like I mentioned before in one of my interviews in camp, just being back out there with the guys again …obviously when I came off the injury, just being able to practice in camp again and last week just being able to play in a game again, it was just like…it was just a great feeling, you know? It was something I can’t really describe, it was something that just puts a smile on your face to play the game you love with the people you love and just be there.”
ON WHAT FANS WHO HAVEN’T SEEN HIM PLAY WILL SEE IF THEY GO TO THE GAME ON SATURDAY
“Honestly, someone who’s going to do whatever it takes to win for this team and for our support and for our fans.”
ON HOW HE’D DESCRIBE HIMSELF AS A QB AND WHAT PLAYS HE LIKES TO RUN
“Overall, I would define myself as a potential dual-threat. I can make plays in the air or make plays with my feet. Most importantly, just making a smart decision for the team, for the situation.”
ON WHAT HE LEARNED WHILE MENTORING ZION TURNER LAST SEASON
“A lot. Obviously, each quarterback in the room has different skillsets and there were some plays that was installed after I got hurt that Zion ran to a T. I didn’t get to run the actual plays until camp. So, he’s younger than me, but you know, you can learn something from everyone, even if they’re younger than you. I would ask him how does he see this play and how does he do this, how does he read it? It actually helped me.”
ON HOW HE GAINED THE RESPECT OF THE LOCKER ROOM
“The No. 1 thing being a leader is just never asking someone to do something that you wouldn’t. I feel like the guys see that in me. I wouldn’t ask them to do something I wouldn’t. I would do anything for this team. Don’t matter…help someone out with plays, or get a couple extra throws after practice even if my arm’s hurting after practice. Or, just going over the mental reps, going over the playbook. Also, I just feel like being an easy person to talk to, especially for the new guys and the young guys who don’t know the offense. Just being able to sit them down and teach them the plays, what to do and how we run our offense.”
ON HIS THOUGHTS ON THE OFFENSE THROUGH TWO GAMES AND WHAT NEEDS TO IMPROVE MOVING FORWARD
“Honestly, through the first two games, we didn’t execute enough. Going forward, at the end of the day, whatever Coach calls, we have to execute because if we execute, it gives us a chance.”
ON PROCESSING NOT GETTING THE STARTING JOB INITIALLY AND STAYING IN THE RIGHT PLACE MENTALLY
“Well, going back to my injury, I learned a couple things about myself. Obviously, I had to move on from not being the starting quarterback faster than my injury, but, just like the injury, it took a couple weeks. I was down and it took a couple weeks to just be at peace with it. Well, not exactly at peace, but in order to get back I had to attack my rehab. Do what I had to do to get back. It was kind of the same thing. Obviously, I was angry. More angry at myself because I didn’t win a job, but, you know, I think a week later it was game week, we had to prepare for our next opponent. I had to prepare like I was the starter because you never know what may happen.”
ON WHERE HIS CONFIDENCE COMES FROM AFTER NOT WINNING THE JOB INITIALLY
“I think the biggest thing as a football player and knowing the X’s and O’s and being mentally prepared, but also just mentally having confidence in yourself. Next play mentality. I just think confidence is a huge key.”
ON WHAT THE CONVERSATION WAS LIKE WHEN HE ORIGINALLY FOUND OUT HE WASN’T STARTING
“Honestly, I didn’t know, as mentioned before. It was a really close battle. The conversation was the truth, like how I wanted it. Just that they were going to go with Joe because his fall camp was better than mine, although the competition was better. I completely understood. Obviously, I was angry. Not at anyone but myself and I just used that as motivation to keep going and be ready.”
ON IF HE FEELS HE CAN BRING A DOWNFIELD PASSING ABILITY TO THE OFFENSE WITH HIS ARM
“Yes, if that’s what it takes to win and to win games and be successful. I’ll do anything Coach asks.”