University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Larry Fedora Weekly Media Conference Quotes...Sept. 21, 2009
9/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 21, 2009
Southern Miss Head Coach Larry Fedora
WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Monday, September 21, 2009
Opening Statement:
"After looking at the film, we were pleased to get the win against Virginia, especially with the way we fought back. Obviously, we're not happy about digging ourselves a hole early in the game like we did. There were some really good things that happened in that game which we will be able to learn from as we go. We'll be able to pull a lot from that game and use it later on in the season."
On the effectiveness of the Eagle Formation:
"It's something we've been working on all camp. We started messing with it in the spring and added a little more to it in camp. We just thought in this game we would take a look at it. We planned on calling it about five times. We only had three plays out of it going into the game, three different plays and we ran all three and all were successful. I think we ran it about seven or eight times in the game and it was a big play for us."
"There are a lot of things you can do out of it. You have a motion which stretches the defense which allows you to possibly hand the ball off like we did with Tory (Harrison), or you get them flowing and then you have the balls in a guys hands that is basically a running back who can still read what the defense is doing. You can still throw out of the formation so there are a lot of different things you can do out of it. It's kind of the same deal as the spread if you have a quarterback that is a great runner. That's just another tailback back there that the defense can't outnumber you. You're in four wides and two backs and there aren't enough defenders. They can't account for the guys. It's just about spreading them out and still having the threat of running east-west at full speed."
On the players' feelings about the Eagle formation:
"It's something they have been doing since the spring. It's nothing really new to them. It's just 'OK, here we go. Eagle.' The guys know who is going in. The ones that get excited are the ones that get to get back there and handle the ball, and they are all fighting to be the guy back there. We've done it with about four different guys and doing different things with them. We have a lot more to the package that we haven't shown yet."
On the health of the team:
"It was a very physical game. That was one of the things we said going into the game was that we needed to be more physical than they are. I thought it was a very tough, hard fought, physical game. It was draining not just physically, but emotionally for us as we went on. I think we're alright. We're a little banged up, but it's the same guys because they play so many plays. You come out of the game and you're sore, you're beat up, you're hurt. The only guy I know of right now that is doubtful is Johdrick Morris."
"They'll be doing tests on (Morris) today. Yesterday at practice he was fine but there is no way he could have practiced yesterday. We obviously know not to put him in that situation. There is no doubt he would have been nauseous or dizzy."
On going on the road for the first time this season:
"It's exciting. It's why you play the game. That's the thing about going on the road. You want to go somewhere where there is a hostile environment. You want to go somewhere where they are going to yell at you and spit at you and all those things so that you can put your backs together and come out fighting. I'm excited about it and seeing how this team is going to respond for the first time on the road. Not only that, but we play at 11 o'clock. So when you wake up, you better be ready to play. You don't have time to shake the cobwebs out and sip your coffee. You've got to be ready to go."
On impressions of Kansas:
"I was back in the Big 12 and have seen (Kansas Head Coach Mark Mangino) develop that program into what it is today. He has done a tremendous job bringing in talent. You start talking about the quarterback and (wide receiver Dezmond Briscoe) and the running back. They have numerous players on the offensive side. The thing I know about them is they are going to score points. Defensively, they are always going to be where they are supposed to be. They are very well coached. They play low and hard. They do a great job on the pass rush. They have great players and he's done a great job coaching them."
On the Kansas offense testing the Golden Eagle defense:
"It's just another challenge to find out where we are and what we're made of. I really think that ours guys will respond and play well. Will we shut them out? No, I doubt that. I don't look at it that way. These days against good offenses, I don't know what the mark is, I just know the goal is to score one more point than them."
"They've had some really good football teams in the past five years. This is probably their best team over those five years. A lot of it is just because of (quarterback Todd Reesing). He's got football savvy. He's got the 'it' factor that you're looking for in a quarterback. If the play breaks down, he can still make plays and that's how you break a defensive back is when they do good things and they've got you and all of a sudden the quarterback makes a play. That's what he brings to that football team. I don't know what type of leader he is. I'm guessing he's probably just about everything you're looking for. He's played a lot of plays and played a lot of big games."
On the Kansas game as being an opportunity to get recognition on the national scene:
"That's not something we've talked about at this point. (The players) understand that there aren't going to be many people out there that are going to pick the Golden Eagles. I think that's going to be a big motivating factor to be the underdog. I think that's kind of a fun thing."
"You have to win these types of games (to have a shot at a BCS game). Basically, you have to go undefeated. Whatever is on your schedule, you have to win. We have to win this football game if that's what we want to do."
On the change at the Virginia game after halftime:
"Even in the first half, there was frustration in their eyes, but there was never a sense of panic. I never looked into their eyes and sensed that they were panicked or that 'Oh gosh, we can't do this. We can't get it done.' They just had this business look about them. They were ready to go. Even Andre Watson, after he gave up a long ball, came to the sideline and I said 'Hey, let it go,' and he looked at me and said 'I'm good.' He played a heck of a game. He had one play that's going to happen to a corner some times, but he played a heck of a game. There wasn't any point in the game where I felt like they made a big change. At halftime, I just said 'Guys, just do what we do and take care of the football and make the routine plays and we'll be ok.' That's what we did in the second half. There weren't any spectacular, out of the ordinary things. Obviously, we returned a kick off for a touchdown and that was a big play in the game. We went into the game saying that we needed a big play on special teams, and we got it. It changed the game."
On running back Tory Harrison:
"There's not a doubt that he (has the opportunity to play at the next level). He has the speed and the toughness. He was team captain this week on special teams, and his name was brought up again this week for playing great offensively and on special teams. He's showing people on that level that you do whatever it takes and that you can excel on special teams. That's how you make teams. Tory has done a heck of a job for us this year and last year too. He will be a major factor in the success of this team."
"He is back on scholarship and is continuing to do the things they want him to do (since an off-the-field incident two years ago). He's been a model citizen for us. We haven't had any problems. He takes care of his business. Tory had to change his life, and he realized that and he did. I'm happy and excited for him. There was never a problem with his football team. Again, when one of your brothers makes a mistake, you don't turn your back on him and nobody on the team did. They have always been there for him."
On kicker Justin Estes:
"He played the whole game with the flu. If you watched, it was like death walking out there. I'm proud that he did gut it up and get through the game for us."
On his greatest overall concern for the team:
"Obviously, any time we turn the ball over like we did (that's a concern). Tory Harrison's interception was my fault. You put a running back in that situation who is obviously not experienced enough to make a good decision in that situation. He should've thrown the ball away, but that's my fault. The two balls that went on the ground, though, there is no reason for that. We've got to do a better job than that. That's our number one thing: ball security. If we take care of the ball, we put ourselves in a position to win the game."
