Brennan Armstrong on Return to Virginia: "I'm Just There to Win a Game"

Brennan Armstrong made his third appearance at the annual ACC Football Kickoff event in Charlotte on Thursday. But this time, he was representing a new school. The former Virginia quarterback, now a member of the NC State Wolfpack, was asked more than a few questions related to his old school during his time at the podium. 

Armstrong gave his thoughts on facing his former team when NC State visits Virginia on Friday, September 22nd, the relationships he has maintained with his old UVA teammates, his reunion and relationship with offensive coordinator Robert Anae, and why he felt that reconnecting with Anae at NC State would give him the best opportunity to succeed in his final season of college football. 

Read on for Armstrong's answers to those questions: 

Q. You and the offensive coordinator, Robert Anae, returning to Charlottesville in a couple of months. Can you speak a little bit about how much thought you've put into returning to Virginia?

BRENNAN ARMSTRONG: It's another game. I think every ACC game is going to be very important, especially without the divisions now. The top two go to the ACC Championship game.

It's going to be a good experience. Boos, cheers, whatever comes with it, I'm just there to win a game. That's my mindset going into that game.

Q. How much do you stay in touch with your former teammates at Virginia? I imagine you guys have a bond for life given all you had to go through last season?

BRENNAN ARMSTRONG: Yeah, I stay in touch with most of them. Most of the older guys that are still there, I've obviously came up and played, shoot, three, four seasons with them. So I keep in touch with them here and there. We check in on each other just to see how things are going. A lot of the quarterbacks still and then a few of the running backs, a few of the receivers. Some of the guys are gone, so they're just out of Virginia, and they're either in the NFL or doing something else. I still keep in touch with some of those guys. Yeah, like you said, what happened made us definitely become closer, yeah. 

Q. About that relationship with Robert Anae, how has it changed from when he was first coaching you to maybe where you are now as more of a veteran?

BRENNAN ARMSTRONG: I mean, at the beginning when I was a freshman/sophomore, I used to hate him. He knows that. He was on me all the time.

It grew as I got older, and now it's honestly a great relationship. It was weird. I said this before. It was weird going into the NC State facility and then seeing Coach Anae, a familiar face in a different area. That was a little weird for me and just a new experience.

Yeah, no, it's grown. He treats me like a grown man now, so that's kind of cool seeing where it started and where it's at now. No, it's same seam old Anae. I think you've obviously had interviews with him. It's same old Anae still, though, yeah. 

Q. You were talking about Coach Anae, just what he brings out of you and your game that makes you feel like this one last opportunity and this last ride could give you the best opportunity for the NFL?

BRENNAN ARMSTRONG: Just lets me be me. I don't feel confined. I don't feel like I'm locked up at all. I am just allow to do play how I want to play.

I think he has a good why idea of how I play, kind of my thoughts. I have a good idea how he thinks. Everyone talks about the running quarterback. He lets me run the ball. He doesn't care. He designs things for those things too, and I think I'm at my best when I'm able to play free and not worried about those type of things, like sliding or anything like that.

Obviously there are certain situations to do those things in, and I'm well aware of that, but he just allows me to play free and just lets me go out there and play the game and have fun.