University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Coach Larry Fedora's Weekly Press Conference Transcript
11/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 3, 2008
Coach Larry Fedora's Weekly Press Conference Transcript November 3, 2008
Opening statement: "We finally put a whole game together. We played a complete game in all three phases. All of our keys to victory, the things that we needed to do to be successful in our game, we completed. I talked about those earlier in the week, starting fast, creating turnovers, those kind of things. We did that. The main thing I want you to know is we didn't change anything. We did just what we did each and every week before. I wish I could tell you it was some type of extraordinary effort, but on tape it was the same effort we have been giving every week. But the players kept believing and obviously starting fast helped."
On health of running back Damion Fletcher: "He was in here this morning and he should be in here in a little while. (Head trainer) Todd (McCall) will give me an update before we go out on the practice field. He won't go tomorrow for sure. We will play it by ear and see how he feels. He couldn't go today if we were practicing today, I know that."
On if there was anything done differently prior to the game: "No, I think it is important that you know we didn't do anything different, we believe in what we are doing, we believe what we are doing is right, and the kids believe it. They have stuck with that belief and finally they are getting to see that their efforts are paying off. They have known that they have been one or two plays away and the difference was that we went out and made those plays the other night. We didn't wait for something to happen, we started off fast, got after it from the beginning in all three phases, it wasn't just one side of the ball. Offense, defense, and special teams, they all performed well."
On the play of offensive lineman Kyle Burkhart: "Kyle Burkhart and Calvin (Wilson) have been rotating throughout the season so we felt comfortable with Kyle out there. We just hoped his endurance would hold up and it did. He played well, he made a few mistakes early on, but he played well. But anytime overall, when you are going to rush for 400 something yards, those guys have to be doing something right up front."
On the balance of the offense Saturday: "I never said balance would be this and this. I said balance might be we might run 300 this week and throw for 100 next week, throw for 300 and run for 100. The game got out of hand so quickly that there was no need to throw the football. There was just no reason to do it."
On the way Southern Miss played overall Saturday: "You got to see the guys hitting on all cylinders. And it's been a while since we have done that. We have put halves together and drives together. But from the start we were on. When we came back from half time, that was my biggest concern at half time was were we going to do what a typical team does when you are that far ahead, come out, not be focused, slop around and look bad, and it's going to be messy, but they weren't. They came right out and got after it again. I was really proud of how they approached the game in the second half. That was something for me to find out, how our kids were going to be in that kind of situation, because we haven't really been in that situation. It was interesting to see how they were going to react."
On Austin Davis: "I've said this every week. Once he gets through experiencing something, once, the next time he sees that happen in a game, he is better at it. I can see it every game and I can see it in practice. If Blake (Anderson) says something to him in practice, the next time he comes up to practice he has it corrected. He really is a student of the game, he spends a lot of time studying the game, almost to the point sometimes that it is too much. I've said to him don't be so robotic, just play the play. He can get where he wants to do exactly what you tell him and exactly right and he becomes a robot instead of a football player."
On if there is a shot at a 6-6 record this season: "We have one game left, that's the way I am looking at it and that's the way the players will continue to look at it. We have one game left. Obviously we are going to Orlando, to their home field, they are going to want to get after us. We have to prepare ourselves to play UCF. Really nothing else matters. We have to take care of our business. We don't have the luxury of looking around and seeing what else is happening. We have to stay focused on what we have to do."
On UCF v. East Carolina game on ESPN last night: "I watched off and on while I was breaking down film. I thought there were two football teams out there who especially played some really good defense on both sides of the ball. I think offensively they were out of sync during the game and didn't really have a chance to get in the rhythm. I think a lot of that had to do with their defense, both of their defenses played really well. You had some turnovers that I'm sure neither one were really expecting towards the end. UCF had one big play on offense with the slant they took for the distance and East Carolina kept making plays but they couldn't finish the drives off. I think they missed a couple of field goals earlier in the game. But it was a good football game."
On playing against the UCF offense that is ranked No. 119: "It doesn't change our approach. We know that defensively we have to go out there and play well. To be honest with you we don't look at those kinds of things. We watch them on film and we break down the film. We decide what's going to be best for our people against the team. Not necessarily what their rankings are or where they rank in the conference or in the country because it really won't matter until after we play them. They can be ranked 190 but if we don't go out there and play well then they will score. We have to do a good job, we have to go out there and play like we did the other night, with the same intensity, with the same effort and with that same attitude."
On if it was hard for Burkhart to adjust from defense to offense: "He is about 288 lb. now. I think it was easier for him because of what we do and the tempo that we go at things. It's easier to do it that way than to come in at 350 and try to get used to the tempo and everything because you are carrying a lot of extra weight around that you don't need. That will drain you. So I think it was a little bit easier on him. He was in good shape when he came in, so you have to give him credit for preparing himself."
On Tory Harrison: "We have needed him all along. It's not like we haven't needed him. But now he is going to get the opportunity to show what he can do, just like he did the other night. Everybody knows Tory is a good running back. But he hasn't gotten carries because Fletch (Damion Fletcher) has been out there. I have total confidence in Tory with the ball in his hands, with protection and catching the football. We are fine with that situation. We are very glad to have him to be honest with you. I'm glad that he does have this opportunity and glad that he is making the most of it."
On giving Harrison the second chance: "I think there are alotpeople out there that make mistakes in life. Knowing Tory and knowing what kind of person he is, we felt that he did deserve a second chance. He still has a long way to go to rebound from that. But he is doing the things he is supposed to do, he is doing what I thought he would to be honest with you, that's why I felt comfortable stepping out there and giving him that second chance."
On concern for depth at running back and if he will take red shirt off of Desmond Johnson: "We are still talking about that. We would either do that or Barton would learn the things that he needs to learn to be the third tailback. Right now we will probably work both of those guys and see how Desmond progresses. When you go to the scout team, you are not spending a whole lot of time on the offense. You are over there reading cards and running cards from the opposing team so you are not hearing terminology, any of those things. So sometimes that's a little more difficult. We will work with him this week and we will see where he is. We will have to make a decision by the end of this week if Fletcher can't go."
On what held the team together through the losing streak: "I think just the type of players we have. They have some character about them. I think adversity always brings that out. It shows you one way or the other what kind of person you are. I'm sure we had a lot of guys frustrated and a lot of guys who wanted to shut it down but we had too many guys who wouldn't allow that to happen and too many guys who didn't want to let their brother down. So we kept sticking with it, kept sticking with it. We had one of the most spirited practices we have had last Tuesday, we had guys getting after it, fights we had to break up, the whole deal, just from being over-aggressive, which to me was a really good thing to see. If you didn't care, if you were giving up, you wouldn't practice like that."
On jumping out to an early lead over UAB: "I wouldn't say just because we jumped out that it is going to solve all of our problems, but I was anxious for something good to happen. I was anxious for us to make something good happen. So we could say this is what we have been talking about. We are a play or two away every week, now you are making those plays and look at the difference, look what happens. Just the way you are waking up that next morning or the way you go to bed that night, and that burden is off of your back, you feel better, it's easier to get out of bed, the sun is a little brighter, the sky is brighter, and you feel better about what you are doing. It just gets easier to believe if you are making things happen."
On UCF: "I would say they are a very good defensive football team. For one, they have a really good defensive line, they are very active. I think their secondary is very strong also. The Burnett kid is a really good player. I don't know everyone's names. I know they have some good players on the offense. They weren't clicking very well the other night but part of that may have been what East Carolina was doing. I believe they are also number one in punt returns and number one in kick off returns in the league. They have some explosiveness and they can make some things happen, so we are going to obviously have our work cut out for us."
