Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
MT vs. UAB Presser
11/19/2018 12:58:00 PM | Football
Kickoff is 2 PM
Middle Tennessee Football Press Conference Quotes
Head Coach Rick Stockstill
Opening statement:
"It's our final home game and final regular season game. UAB comes to town and they're really good. Defensively, they lead every statistical category in our conference. They're one of the top defenses in the country. Offensively, they do a good job as well. They protect the ball and manage their offense. And they're solid in the kicking game. We've got a big challenge this week and we have to be ready to go."
On what this group of seniors has meant to him:
"This is a heck of a class. A lot of great players and great men in that class. It's probably the first class in the history of Middle Tennessee football to go to four consecutive bowl games. With the schedule we have to play every year it's a great accomplishment. I'm appreciative of all their sacrifices. I'm extremely proud of this class."
On Brent Stockstill being one of those seniors:
"I've got another game or two with him. We aren't done yet. He's obviously a great player and a great person, but we've got more games together."
On Brent's completion percentage:
"I'm not surprised by anything he does. He works extremely hard at his game. He competes so hard at practice. It's almost like you've seen it so much that people take what he does for granted. But I'm not surprised because I see how hard he works and how hard he competes. Usually when players do that they're successful."
On what makes UAB's running back so good:
"He's a big back. He's probably 220 pounds maybe. He runs hard and low. He's a physical runner so we've got to do a good job of wrapping up and getting hats to the ball. People have had a hard time stopping him because he is a talented player."
On how to limit a big play receiver like they have:
"As a secondary, you've got to be disciplined. We've got to be aware of down and distance. You've got to see the game and do your job. Rely on your fundamentals and techniques. We've done a pretty good job this year of limiting big plays. Their whole receiver group is really talented. They've got a lot of speed at the receiver position."
On the team's Thanksgiving Day:
"We'll practice Thursday a little bit earlier around lunch time. Then we'll have a team Thanksgiving dinner early afternoon. We'll try to get the coaches families and get everyone together and feed them pretty good."
On the differences between their two QB's:
AJ's a really good player and I don't know what his injury is. But it seems like they're probably running the quarterback a little bit less than what they did when AJ was there. And maybe throwing the ball a little bit more than what they did the first part of the year. AJ is a really good football player and a really good quarterback and I hate to see he's hurt. But the guy they have coming in is a big guy. They'll run him some. He's a good runner and he throws the ball well too. Their offense really hasn't changed drastically the last three games, maybe less QB runs and more passes."
Redshirt Senior Quarterback Brent Stockstill
On UAB's defense:
"They're really good and have a lot of experienced players. I think they're very similar to what we saw last week in terms of their scheme. We did ok last week with moving the ball, but there's still a few adjustments we need to make. We'll have a great plan and it'll be four quarters of competitive football. We just need to focus on finishing drives and scoring touchdowns."
On playing the last regular season game:
"This season has gone by really fast. I guess because we played that gauntlet in the first four or five games and then this last few games, this season has just been so fast. Obviously I'm just trying to soak it in, but I'm surprised we're already to the last game."
On senior day:
"Obviously it's not our last game, but it's going to be pretty emotional for everyone. We've all put a lot in this program. We have a great group of seniors that have poured everything we have into this place. We've accomplished a lot and built upon the foundation that was laid here, but there's still work left to do."
On the emotions of senior day:
"It'll be emotional, but I don't think it will really set in until after the final whistle of the last game. But being out on the field with my dad and seeing what he's done here since I've been in the 6th grade, it'll be a special moment we can share."
On playing with conference title implications:
"If you're still playing for something in week 12, that's special. You can't ask for much more having the west division champ coming to our place. It'll be a competitive game and with it being senior night, it'll be special."
On being ranked 3rd in the country in completion percentage:
"I've been put in a good position to have success. In the offseason, Coach (Tyler) Boyles started charting all our plays and such and reporting to me every day. I became obsessed with that in the spring and all the way through summer and camp. I try my best to keep the balls off the ground and put my guys in catch and run positions so they can make plays."
On the emergence of Chaton Mobley:
"It's been huge for us. He's a great player and he's physically capable of carrying the load, and that makes us better. He's really competitive and he can catch the ball out of the backfield. Any time you have a running back that's getting big chunks on the ground, it helps our offense stay balanced."
On facing UAB's defense:
"We have to have a great plan and execute it so we can help out our defense. That plan will be there, so it just comes down to execution."
On where UAB ranks against other defenses faced in conference:
"They're the best we've faced. I think they're the top of almost every statistical category in the conference, and there's a reason for that. They've done a great job all year of making it difficult for offenses, but as a competitor, you like that challenge. You want to play the best and that's what we have here this week."
On the Stockstill family's Thanksgiving traditions:
"Most thanksgivings were spent in Murfreesboro. Thanksgiving day, we always ate with the team, and then we usually ate with my grandparents and other family the next day. Nothing has really changed since then."
On his favorite memory at Floyd Stadium:
"There's been a lot of great memories. Even when I wasn't the starter, I think back to my greyshirt year when we beat Marshall and then the games we have had since then like coming back from 20 points to Louisiana Tech when Ty Lee scored that exciting touchdown. Even this year against FAU was special. Overall, it's been fun. It's fun to win at home and we've done that a lot in my time here."
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Darius Harris
On stopping UAB's rushing attack:
"It'll have to be a team effort. We need to be in the right spot, tackle well, and communicate well."
On senior day:
"Like Brent said, it'll be emotional, but it won't really set in until after the last game. Even though it might be the last time in Floyd stadium, we still have a chance to do more."
On the senior class:
"We've been through a lot, and we've really come together and worked well as a team. We have sacrificed a lot for each other and doing a lot of little things. It means a lot to play with guys that have put so much into the team and to be in the position that we are now."
On what family will be at the game:
"I've got a lot of family coming to this one. My mom, my siblings, my grandparents, my aunties from California, everybody is coming into town. It'll be like a big family reunion this weekend."
On playing with conference title implications:
"It just gives you more motivation which helps the preparation not get stale. It makes it easy to stay focuses and helps us practice harder this week."
On his favorite Thanksgiving dish:
"Dressing and ham. I love dressing with the cranberry sauce."
On his family's Thanksgiving traditions:
"We would usually go to my sister's house in Jackson, Mississippi. We'd just have a big gathering there and just reminisce on good times."
Head Coach Rick Stockstill
Opening statement:
"It's our final home game and final regular season game. UAB comes to town and they're really good. Defensively, they lead every statistical category in our conference. They're one of the top defenses in the country. Offensively, they do a good job as well. They protect the ball and manage their offense. And they're solid in the kicking game. We've got a big challenge this week and we have to be ready to go."
On what this group of seniors has meant to him:
"This is a heck of a class. A lot of great players and great men in that class. It's probably the first class in the history of Middle Tennessee football to go to four consecutive bowl games. With the schedule we have to play every year it's a great accomplishment. I'm appreciative of all their sacrifices. I'm extremely proud of this class."
On Brent Stockstill being one of those seniors:
"I've got another game or two with him. We aren't done yet. He's obviously a great player and a great person, but we've got more games together."
On Brent's completion percentage:
"I'm not surprised by anything he does. He works extremely hard at his game. He competes so hard at practice. It's almost like you've seen it so much that people take what he does for granted. But I'm not surprised because I see how hard he works and how hard he competes. Usually when players do that they're successful."
On what makes UAB's running back so good:
"He's a big back. He's probably 220 pounds maybe. He runs hard and low. He's a physical runner so we've got to do a good job of wrapping up and getting hats to the ball. People have had a hard time stopping him because he is a talented player."
On how to limit a big play receiver like they have:
"As a secondary, you've got to be disciplined. We've got to be aware of down and distance. You've got to see the game and do your job. Rely on your fundamentals and techniques. We've done a pretty good job this year of limiting big plays. Their whole receiver group is really talented. They've got a lot of speed at the receiver position."
On the team's Thanksgiving Day:
"We'll practice Thursday a little bit earlier around lunch time. Then we'll have a team Thanksgiving dinner early afternoon. We'll try to get the coaches families and get everyone together and feed them pretty good."
On the differences between their two QB's:
AJ's a really good player and I don't know what his injury is. But it seems like they're probably running the quarterback a little bit less than what they did when AJ was there. And maybe throwing the ball a little bit more than what they did the first part of the year. AJ is a really good football player and a really good quarterback and I hate to see he's hurt. But the guy they have coming in is a big guy. They'll run him some. He's a good runner and he throws the ball well too. Their offense really hasn't changed drastically the last three games, maybe less QB runs and more passes."
Redshirt Senior Quarterback Brent Stockstill
On UAB's defense:
"They're really good and have a lot of experienced players. I think they're very similar to what we saw last week in terms of their scheme. We did ok last week with moving the ball, but there's still a few adjustments we need to make. We'll have a great plan and it'll be four quarters of competitive football. We just need to focus on finishing drives and scoring touchdowns."
On playing the last regular season game:
"This season has gone by really fast. I guess because we played that gauntlet in the first four or five games and then this last few games, this season has just been so fast. Obviously I'm just trying to soak it in, but I'm surprised we're already to the last game."
On senior day:
"Obviously it's not our last game, but it's going to be pretty emotional for everyone. We've all put a lot in this program. We have a great group of seniors that have poured everything we have into this place. We've accomplished a lot and built upon the foundation that was laid here, but there's still work left to do."
On the emotions of senior day:
"It'll be emotional, but I don't think it will really set in until after the final whistle of the last game. But being out on the field with my dad and seeing what he's done here since I've been in the 6th grade, it'll be a special moment we can share."
On playing with conference title implications:
"If you're still playing for something in week 12, that's special. You can't ask for much more having the west division champ coming to our place. It'll be a competitive game and with it being senior night, it'll be special."
On being ranked 3rd in the country in completion percentage:
"I've been put in a good position to have success. In the offseason, Coach (Tyler) Boyles started charting all our plays and such and reporting to me every day. I became obsessed with that in the spring and all the way through summer and camp. I try my best to keep the balls off the ground and put my guys in catch and run positions so they can make plays."
On the emergence of Chaton Mobley:
"It's been huge for us. He's a great player and he's physically capable of carrying the load, and that makes us better. He's really competitive and he can catch the ball out of the backfield. Any time you have a running back that's getting big chunks on the ground, it helps our offense stay balanced."
On facing UAB's defense:
"We have to have a great plan and execute it so we can help out our defense. That plan will be there, so it just comes down to execution."
On where UAB ranks against other defenses faced in conference:
"They're the best we've faced. I think they're the top of almost every statistical category in the conference, and there's a reason for that. They've done a great job all year of making it difficult for offenses, but as a competitor, you like that challenge. You want to play the best and that's what we have here this week."
On the Stockstill family's Thanksgiving traditions:
"Most thanksgivings were spent in Murfreesboro. Thanksgiving day, we always ate with the team, and then we usually ate with my grandparents and other family the next day. Nothing has really changed since then."
On his favorite memory at Floyd Stadium:
"There's been a lot of great memories. Even when I wasn't the starter, I think back to my greyshirt year when we beat Marshall and then the games we have had since then like coming back from 20 points to Louisiana Tech when Ty Lee scored that exciting touchdown. Even this year against FAU was special. Overall, it's been fun. It's fun to win at home and we've done that a lot in my time here."
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Darius Harris
On stopping UAB's rushing attack:
"It'll have to be a team effort. We need to be in the right spot, tackle well, and communicate well."
On senior day:
"Like Brent said, it'll be emotional, but it won't really set in until after the last game. Even though it might be the last time in Floyd stadium, we still have a chance to do more."
On the senior class:
"We've been through a lot, and we've really come together and worked well as a team. We have sacrificed a lot for each other and doing a lot of little things. It means a lot to play with guys that have put so much into the team and to be in the position that we are now."
On what family will be at the game:
"I've got a lot of family coming to this one. My mom, my siblings, my grandparents, my aunties from California, everybody is coming into town. It'll be like a big family reunion this weekend."
On playing with conference title implications:
"It just gives you more motivation which helps the preparation not get stale. It makes it easy to stay focuses and helps us practice harder this week."
On his favorite Thanksgiving dish:
"Dressing and ham. I love dressing with the cranberry sauce."
On his family's Thanksgiving traditions:
"We would usually go to my sister's house in Jackson, Mississippi. We'd just have a big gathering there and just reminisce on good times."
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballBlue Raider Breakdown Postgame Show - October 8th
Thursday, October 09
MTSU Football vs. Missouri State post-game press conference – 10/8/25
Thursday, October 09
MTSU Football vs. Missouri State post-game press conference – 10/8/25
Wednesday, October 08
Raider Report Game 6 - MTSU vs. Missouri State University
Tuesday, October 07
