Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
MT vs. WKU presser
10/29/2018 1:01:00 PM | Football
Kickoff is Friday at 7 PM
Middle Tennessee Football Press Conference Quotes
Head Coach Rick Stockstill
Opening statement:
"This is another opportunity for us to play a really good football team in Western Kentucky. This is a perfect example of why you can't look at a team's record and assume anything. They're 1-7 and they've had four 3-point losses and one 8-poin losses. They've been just about in every game. They had a tough one at Wisconsin to open the season and the Charlotte game. We can't look at their record and assume they're not a good team. You go through all of the statistics that you have, they're very similar in a statistical standpoint in the conference. Not a lot of separation between these two teams. We all know the history in this game and rivalry. We understand how close these games have been the last several years. It's a highly competitive game. Both teams play extremely hard and want to win really badly. We know we're going to get their best shot but we're going to make sure they get our best shot too. We're still in the hunt and that's all you can ask for this part of the season. We had a good win Saturday but we flushed that yesterday at practice. We'll have a great approach to this game on a short week just like they are. We've got to come out and be ready for a physical football game."
On playing another Friday game:
"I feel like we had a good plan against Marshall. Our players adjusted to that play when we played Marshall. They've got to do a little bit more this week than they did against Marshall. Bottom line, it's going to come down to execution this week."
On not having to travel this time on a Friday game:
"Even if we had to drive to Western Kentucky, it's an hour bus trip. It's a lot easier than flying to Marshall. At Marshall, you have to stay in Charleston, then you bus an hour to the game. So that trips a lot harder than what Western Kentucky will face coming here. Going there last year, that wasn't a hard trip from a travel standpoint. But yes, it's going to be a lot easier to organize being at home."
On why these games with WKU seem to go to overtime a lot:
"Two evenly matched teams. When there's not a whole lot of separation between you, usually it's a close game and it goes down to the wire. It's an important game to both teams. I really take a lot of pride and I'm proud of our players in how hard we play every game. I've always said, who you play doesn't determine how hard you play or how you prepare. You turn on the film from last week and you see how hard our guys played. We play this game the right way."
On losing the last three years to Western Kentucky:
"Losing stinks. There's no other way to describe losing. Whoever you lose to it's sickening because you invest so much to play that game and when you lose it stinks. I've always felt that way. Losing a one point game or losing by 30, it stinks. You hate it for your players anytime you lose because you see how hard they work."
On the biggest differences the last three games:
"The bottom line is, they made plays and we didn't. In close games, it's usually just a handful of plays that make a difference. You go back to last year's game and pick one or two plays it might've been different. When teams are evenly matched, you've got to find a way to make more plays than they do."
On the confidence in the locker room:
I think we're a very confident team and even though our record didn't indicate it going into the FAU game, I was confident in our team. I believed in our team. Our team believed in themselves. I think coming out of the FAU game only magnified that belief and gave us more confidence because FAU was the darling of the conference and how good we played in that game offensively and defensively. It just gave us a little more juice and confidence. Our team was rewarded for their good play and prior to that, we were playing pretty good football but they weren't being rewarded on the scoreboard. We beat Charlotte and I told you guys they were a good football game and people said because they only won one or two games the last two years that they weren't a good football team. They proved that wrong by knocking off Southern Miss last week. Then we go to Old Dominion who beat Virginia Tech and had a miraculous win over Western Kentucky. We've always been a confident team that has believed in one another and now they're starting to get rewarded on the score board."
On Terelle West's performance on Saturday:
"I think it's more important that our offensive line plays the way they did on Saturday. Those guys were really good up front. So they deserve the credit. Obviously Terelle does too but I think that's where it started. The three seniors on the line really had a good edge about them and took it personal that we needed to run the ball better. Terelle ran hard and did a nice job when he was in there. Chaton and Tavares were productive as well. Obviously we had not been very good in the running game from a running back standpoint. So it was nice to see that and we need to continue that this week."
On if he knows which WKU QB they'll face on Friday:
"Their offense hasn't changed drastically depending on who their QB is. We'll prepare for 12 (Davis Shanley). He got hurt in one of the last plays of the game. They scored a touchdown on the play he was out then he came back in and ran their two point conversion. Then the rest of the game they had 10 (Steven Duncan) back there. We'll prepare like we always do for their offense and not one particular player."
On Reed Blankenship's day at ODU:
"I thought our defense was really special. The first three quarters and the first two or three minutes of the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter we kind of relaxed. We gave up some plays that we didn't give up all year. But I thought they played fast, hard and physical on all three levels. I thought our front did a really good job and I thought our linebackers were very active. Darius Harris continues to play well. Khalil Brooks continue to make plays. We were a little bit makeshift on the back end. But Reed held it together back there. He was really good and active. Everyone talks about his interception and it was a great play but I told our team, I'm going to talk about the play when he ran down the guy on the five yard line. To me, that's what this team exemplifies. I'm happy that he intercepted that pass and that was a big game changing moment. Reed was really good that game."
On the status on Jovante Moffatt:
"It's still up in the air. He's overcoming those two shoulder surgeries. He could only play the second half of the Charlotte game. We've decided to just keep him out the past couple games to make sure he's healthy because that's hard to overcome what he's overcoming right now."
Redshirt Senior Quarterback Brent Stockstill
On WKU:
"Obviously it's a big game, but we'll prepare the same way we always do. We've had a great edge about us the last few weeks and really, this whole year. We'll do the same thing this week. We've already played a Friday game this year so we know how to attack this week."
On having lost all three of his games against WKU:
"It stings, so I can't say much about that. I just know I need to give everything for my teammates and prepare the best I can and play hard, and then at the end of the game, look at the scoreboard and see what happened. It's more of an internal thing and a battle within myself, but that won't change the way I prepare or play."
On the recent overtime games with WKU:
"We know what we're getting, it's MTSU and WKU. It's always going to be a good game, a battle. People talk it up and build up the rivalry, but in the locker room, we know it's just two good football teams. They've had our number, so all we can do is prepare well and play hard."
On another Friday game:
"We had a great schedule for preparation against Marshall. My dad did a great job of laying it out and I felt like we approached it the right way, went to a tough place, and got a big win. That gave us a lot of confidence that we can do the same thing this week."
On the offensive line:
"I thought they played outstanding. Across the board, I think it was their best performance. We knew going in that ODU had a really good pass rusher. They did a great job of keeping me clean and making holes for our running backs. Just like everything in football, it starts with those five guys up front and them playing well gives us a lot of confidence."
On WKU's defensive backs:
"They're a really good defense, they're always a good defense. I'll have to do a good job keeping the football and try to be efficient like I was last week."
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Darius Harris
On the last two overtime losses to WKU:
"We've had some good games recently, but we've come up short in both of them. We've got to do a good job of preparing for another good game."
On forcing five turnovers this past Saturday:
"Turnovers were one of the things we emphasized coming in to this year. We've certainly done a better job of that this year."
On Reed Blankenship's 100 yard interception touchdown:
"It was a great pick and such a good play to make it all the way back. I was sure he stepped out of bounds but after he got out of the crowd I knew he was gone."
On how Blankenship's play boosted the team going into the half:
"It brings the defense a lot of confidence and energy going into the half and put us in a good position going forward."
On the third-down defense:
"In order to win on third down, you have to win on first down. If it's third and short, it means we didn't do a good job on first or second down."
On the Friday night game:
"In just the next game up, so it's easy to get ready for. We already had a Friday game this year so this isn't anything new for us."
On the mix of experience and youth on defense:
"We've got young guys who are hungry and older guys we can put them in position to make plays and tell them how the game is going to go. We can both feed of each other and help each other."
Head Coach Rick Stockstill
Opening statement:
"This is another opportunity for us to play a really good football team in Western Kentucky. This is a perfect example of why you can't look at a team's record and assume anything. They're 1-7 and they've had four 3-point losses and one 8-poin losses. They've been just about in every game. They had a tough one at Wisconsin to open the season and the Charlotte game. We can't look at their record and assume they're not a good team. You go through all of the statistics that you have, they're very similar in a statistical standpoint in the conference. Not a lot of separation between these two teams. We all know the history in this game and rivalry. We understand how close these games have been the last several years. It's a highly competitive game. Both teams play extremely hard and want to win really badly. We know we're going to get their best shot but we're going to make sure they get our best shot too. We're still in the hunt and that's all you can ask for this part of the season. We had a good win Saturday but we flushed that yesterday at practice. We'll have a great approach to this game on a short week just like they are. We've got to come out and be ready for a physical football game."
On playing another Friday game:
"I feel like we had a good plan against Marshall. Our players adjusted to that play when we played Marshall. They've got to do a little bit more this week than they did against Marshall. Bottom line, it's going to come down to execution this week."
On not having to travel this time on a Friday game:
"Even if we had to drive to Western Kentucky, it's an hour bus trip. It's a lot easier than flying to Marshall. At Marshall, you have to stay in Charleston, then you bus an hour to the game. So that trips a lot harder than what Western Kentucky will face coming here. Going there last year, that wasn't a hard trip from a travel standpoint. But yes, it's going to be a lot easier to organize being at home."
On why these games with WKU seem to go to overtime a lot:
"Two evenly matched teams. When there's not a whole lot of separation between you, usually it's a close game and it goes down to the wire. It's an important game to both teams. I really take a lot of pride and I'm proud of our players in how hard we play every game. I've always said, who you play doesn't determine how hard you play or how you prepare. You turn on the film from last week and you see how hard our guys played. We play this game the right way."
On losing the last three years to Western Kentucky:
"Losing stinks. There's no other way to describe losing. Whoever you lose to it's sickening because you invest so much to play that game and when you lose it stinks. I've always felt that way. Losing a one point game or losing by 30, it stinks. You hate it for your players anytime you lose because you see how hard they work."
On the biggest differences the last three games:
"The bottom line is, they made plays and we didn't. In close games, it's usually just a handful of plays that make a difference. You go back to last year's game and pick one or two plays it might've been different. When teams are evenly matched, you've got to find a way to make more plays than they do."
On the confidence in the locker room:
I think we're a very confident team and even though our record didn't indicate it going into the FAU game, I was confident in our team. I believed in our team. Our team believed in themselves. I think coming out of the FAU game only magnified that belief and gave us more confidence because FAU was the darling of the conference and how good we played in that game offensively and defensively. It just gave us a little more juice and confidence. Our team was rewarded for their good play and prior to that, we were playing pretty good football but they weren't being rewarded on the scoreboard. We beat Charlotte and I told you guys they were a good football game and people said because they only won one or two games the last two years that they weren't a good football team. They proved that wrong by knocking off Southern Miss last week. Then we go to Old Dominion who beat Virginia Tech and had a miraculous win over Western Kentucky. We've always been a confident team that has believed in one another and now they're starting to get rewarded on the score board."
On Terelle West's performance on Saturday:
"I think it's more important that our offensive line plays the way they did on Saturday. Those guys were really good up front. So they deserve the credit. Obviously Terelle does too but I think that's where it started. The three seniors on the line really had a good edge about them and took it personal that we needed to run the ball better. Terelle ran hard and did a nice job when he was in there. Chaton and Tavares were productive as well. Obviously we had not been very good in the running game from a running back standpoint. So it was nice to see that and we need to continue that this week."
On if he knows which WKU QB they'll face on Friday:
"Their offense hasn't changed drastically depending on who their QB is. We'll prepare for 12 (Davis Shanley). He got hurt in one of the last plays of the game. They scored a touchdown on the play he was out then he came back in and ran their two point conversion. Then the rest of the game they had 10 (Steven Duncan) back there. We'll prepare like we always do for their offense and not one particular player."
On Reed Blankenship's day at ODU:
"I thought our defense was really special. The first three quarters and the first two or three minutes of the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter we kind of relaxed. We gave up some plays that we didn't give up all year. But I thought they played fast, hard and physical on all three levels. I thought our front did a really good job and I thought our linebackers were very active. Darius Harris continues to play well. Khalil Brooks continue to make plays. We were a little bit makeshift on the back end. But Reed held it together back there. He was really good and active. Everyone talks about his interception and it was a great play but I told our team, I'm going to talk about the play when he ran down the guy on the five yard line. To me, that's what this team exemplifies. I'm happy that he intercepted that pass and that was a big game changing moment. Reed was really good that game."
On the status on Jovante Moffatt:
"It's still up in the air. He's overcoming those two shoulder surgeries. He could only play the second half of the Charlotte game. We've decided to just keep him out the past couple games to make sure he's healthy because that's hard to overcome what he's overcoming right now."
Redshirt Senior Quarterback Brent Stockstill
On WKU:
"Obviously it's a big game, but we'll prepare the same way we always do. We've had a great edge about us the last few weeks and really, this whole year. We'll do the same thing this week. We've already played a Friday game this year so we know how to attack this week."
On having lost all three of his games against WKU:
"It stings, so I can't say much about that. I just know I need to give everything for my teammates and prepare the best I can and play hard, and then at the end of the game, look at the scoreboard and see what happened. It's more of an internal thing and a battle within myself, but that won't change the way I prepare or play."
On the recent overtime games with WKU:
"We know what we're getting, it's MTSU and WKU. It's always going to be a good game, a battle. People talk it up and build up the rivalry, but in the locker room, we know it's just two good football teams. They've had our number, so all we can do is prepare well and play hard."
On another Friday game:
"We had a great schedule for preparation against Marshall. My dad did a great job of laying it out and I felt like we approached it the right way, went to a tough place, and got a big win. That gave us a lot of confidence that we can do the same thing this week."
On the offensive line:
"I thought they played outstanding. Across the board, I think it was their best performance. We knew going in that ODU had a really good pass rusher. They did a great job of keeping me clean and making holes for our running backs. Just like everything in football, it starts with those five guys up front and them playing well gives us a lot of confidence."
On WKU's defensive backs:
"They're a really good defense, they're always a good defense. I'll have to do a good job keeping the football and try to be efficient like I was last week."
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Darius Harris
On the last two overtime losses to WKU:
"We've had some good games recently, but we've come up short in both of them. We've got to do a good job of preparing for another good game."
On forcing five turnovers this past Saturday:
"Turnovers were one of the things we emphasized coming in to this year. We've certainly done a better job of that this year."
On Reed Blankenship's 100 yard interception touchdown:
"It was a great pick and such a good play to make it all the way back. I was sure he stepped out of bounds but after he got out of the crowd I knew he was gone."
On how Blankenship's play boosted the team going into the half:
"It brings the defense a lot of confidence and energy going into the half and put us in a good position going forward."
On the third-down defense:
"In order to win on third down, you have to win on first down. If it's third and short, it means we didn't do a good job on first or second down."
On the Friday night game:
"In just the next game up, so it's easy to get ready for. We already had a Friday game this year so this isn't anything new for us."
On the mix of experience and youth on defense:
"We've got young guys who are hungry and older guys we can put them in position to make plays and tell them how the game is going to go. We can both feed of each other and help each other."
Players Mentioned
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QB
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RB
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