Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Quotes from Tuesday's football press luncheon
11/30/2010 2:28:00 PM | Football
Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill
Opening Comments: We had a good win last week against FAU. I was really proud of our team for the effort and toughness displayed. Mentally, we played well in all three phases of the game. This is our last regular season game. We still have an opportunity to reach one of our goals, which was to reach a post-season bowl game.
We are playing a really good FIU team this week. They are extremely fast on defense. Their defensive front is probably the best we have played all year. They are very athletic and can run. Their linebackers are active and their secondary guys can run, cover and do not give up a lot of big plays. They want to force you into a lot of mistakes.
Offensively, they revolve around wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. They try to get the ball in his hands eight to 10 times a game and then also in the kicking game. We must know where he is at all times. He will get his touches but we cannot let a five-yard catch turn into a big play. Their quarterback is very consistent. He will not beat you with his feet, but he is accurate and does a good job managing their offense. He protects the ball well. Their offensive line is strong and they have a good running back. They are second in the conference in most offensive categories.
They are 6-1 in conference play after losing their first four games in close non-conference contests. We have to play well and know what is at stake. We are not approaching this game as, if we do not win; we are not going to a bowl. We have to go down their and win this game. We want to have a great week of preparation and go play our best game on Saturday.
On team discussion of a bowl game: They know about it. I talked about it yesterday. I told them, if we win we go to a bowl game. They have been on the internet and in the newspapers and know if we win we will go. They do not know which one and neither do I. The most important thing is we have to win this game. They know you have to win to go, so we do not talk about it past that.
On team mood and focus: I do not believe you can be overly focused. I believe there is always more tape you can watch or period you can practice. I think we know what is at stake and we are acting like a mature team. We were more confident yesterday than any other time during the season. This is the first time we have won back-to-back games all year. The defense is more confident. They have played well. Offensively, we have gone eight quarters with only one turnover. We have not done that all year. As individual players they are playing better and getting a little bit of their swagger back. The offensive line is getting better. This is probably the first time in awhile we have put the same offensive line out there.
On improving along the offensive and defensive lines: I always believe that you win games up front on both sides of the ball. When you have success offensively, it is because you give your quarterback time and the running back room to run the football. I thought last week was really as good as they have been all year up front.
Defensively, we made them one dimensional. FAU is a team that is going to try to run the ball and pull play action and throw the ball over the top for the big play. We took that away by stopping the run. This got them out of their comfort zone and made them throw the ball more. If we can say we dominate up front on both sides of the ball, I would bet we win the game.
On T.Y. Hilton and getting him the football: They will line him up in the quarterback position as a wildcat. They run reverses with him and throw him the deep ball. He was hurt half of last year. As a freshman, you do not want to overload players. I do not know if it is as much they have found different ways to get him the ball or he is a third year player growing in the offense.
On winning the turnover battle and winning the game: I think it's essential. When I talk to the players on Mondays, the first thing I talk about is the turnovers. Games we have won, we have won the turnover battle and our losses came because we lost the turnover battle.
On both teams playing for season goals and motivating factors: I know we are motivated. They should be as well. We are ready to go. We had a good practice yesterday and we need have three more. I am proud of the players because they hung in there and kept battling when things did not look too good. I am proud of our seniors.
Defensive Tackle Dwight Smith
On team confidence: The confidence comes from winning. You finally see the results from all the hard work you have put in this year. We definitely have a little more confidence and swagger.
On the team going to a bowl: Coach Stockstill brought it up yesterday and the seniors said okay but no more bowl talk. We have to go out and win against FIU before we can talk about bowl games.
On team focus: Yesterday was probably the most focused Monday practice we have had all year. After putting together a win streak we want to keep getting better and improving.
Offensive Lineman Mark Fisher
On FIU's success rushing the passer this season: FIU is a smaller team up front. They like to use a lot slants as opposed to a straight up rush. That is how they get a lot of their sacks. It will be a challenge for us as an offensive line to know our assignments so we can stop their pass rush.
On the offensive line adapting to a fast past offense: At this point in the season we are in a comfortable position in an up tempo offense. We do it in practice everyday. When you run the ball effectively and quickly the defense gets tired and has a hard time getting back into position.
