University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
New Head Football Coach Ellis Johnson's Press Conference Quotes
12/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 20, 2011
Southern Miss President Dr. Martha Saunders
"Good afternoon. I'm so glad to see so many faculty, staff, alums, and Golden Eagle fans here today because it's a great day to be a Golden Eagle. I'm especially glad to see my fellow partners in crime, members of the search committee, for the next head coach. With 18 straight winning seasons, 10 straight bowls games, five Conference USA championships - at Southern Miss we know a winner when we see one. The individual you are about to meet is a winner. We know this because during his two years as defensive coordinator at Southern Miss, we beat Mississippi State, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Louisville and many, many other teams. We know this because he has coached some of the best defenses in the country over the past four years at the University of South Carolina. We know this all too well because of one particularly unpleasant Thursday evening in 2010 when his team sent us home with a 41-13 whipping. He was wise enough not to bring that up during the interview. So, today it is my pleasure as President of the University of Southern Mississippi to introduce Ellis Johnson as our new head football coach."
"First, I want to tell you a bit more about him and how we came to this moment. A search action team consisting of the current athletic director, the incoming interim athletic director, the vice-president of student affairs, the faculty athletic representative, the executive committee of the Athletic Foundation and other campus representatives began with a list of 300 candidates. With the help of a search consultant, we whittled that group down to a reasonable number and began to do our homework. We interviewed them, did some more homework, and prayed. Ellis Johnson emerged as the absolute best candidate to lead Southern Miss football at this time, primarily, because of his significant experience. He has been described by one of his many noteworthy players as a player's coach. He would likely be the player's choice for anyone who played under him, and will connect with our players and fans. He is a great recruiter who understands South Mississippi dynamics. Ellis knows the importance of filling seats. He possesses an old school toughness that matches well the football field and student-athlete classroom performance. I'm looking forward to introducing him to the team and would give anything if our players could be here today. Unfortunately because of the distance to the bowl game, the players left for Hawaii on Sunday and are actively preparing for their 12th win of the season. I've been in touch with Coach Fedora and he has already shared this news with the team and offers his best wishes to our new coach. Ellis Johnson shares our vision for Southern Miss football. One that continues to win championships, continues to graduate student-athletes at a high rate, maintains a strong connection with the community and one that sees us playing in the very highest level of competition."
"Before seeding the podium to Coach Johnson, I'd like to say a little bit to him about Southern Miss. Just a few short days ago when Larry Fedora announced he was leaving, one particular comment from one of our outstanding players stood out to me. While expressing understanding regarding Coach Fedora's decision, our All-Conference offensive lineman Joe Duhon said, and I'm paraphrasing here, `Southern Miss is Southern Miss no matter who's coaching. We're going to continue to win.' Coach Johnson you should know that you inherit a winning tradition. You should know that in 2012, when our new freshmen fill The Rock, they won't be able to recall our last losing season because they weren't born then. Coach Johnson, there are more championships to be won; there are new records to be set and new and higher goals to be accomplished. We know you'll experience great success at The University of Southern Mississippi not only because you are an excellent coach, but also because we are who we are. We're Southern Miss; we are 18-straight winning seasons; we are 10-straight bowl games; we are five Conference USA championships and we won't be satisfied until we reach the top."
Southern Miss Head Coach Ellis Johnson
"That is as good an introduction as I could ever hope for anyone to do as I step up to this awesome task. I was really excited and fired up about this challenge and after listening to the last two or three statements it's almost intimidating. It's very unique when you have an opportunity to come back to an institution where you have already worked, especially when it's an opportunity to be the head football coach. I think whoever would have been chosen for this job and stepped to this podium, they would look at it with an awesome respect, with an excitement, with the enthusiasm to get it done, but it's even more special to me because I've been here. The things that Dr. Saunders has already mentioned, the winning seasons, the bowls wins, the most wins in a season this year in the history of the program. It's a challenge, but it's an exciting challenge. I cannot tell you how honored I am to have this opportunity to be here and to address this group. At this stage in my career, it is absolutely the most exciting thing that has happen to me at this time."
"I want to stop at this point, I want to introduce my wife (Caroline) and with all due respect to everyone in here, she will be the number one Golden Eagle fan. She actually likes football better than I do. Football is my vocation, football is her avocation, but she has been a tremendous supporter of mine. It will take her a very short while to become a true Golden Eagle and again, she will be the number one Golden Eagle fan."
"I'm a little bit disappointed that Seymour didn't show up. I asked Dr. Saunders that Seymour could be in Hawaii or could be here for my announcement and he went to Hawaii. She said you have to understand there is someone in that costume that's a college student. Dr. Saunders also told me during some of our discussions that she hoped to be here until she either quit or she died. I said can I have the same contract?"
"I have had the unique opportunity to either meet or work for the past seven coaches at the University of Southern Mississippi. Your history and tradition is something you have to have almost unbelievable pride in and I can't tell you what an honor it is to have an opportunity to lead your football program."
"I was asked in the interview why do I want this job? I told the committee and Dr. Saunders it's a two-part answer. Number one, you have to look at yourself. Why do I want to be the head coach here? Personally, I still had that itch to be a head coach again. I also did not want to move my family at this stage of my career unless it was for an opportunity to be a head coach where you can be successful. I know you can do that at Southern Miss. The other part is about the University of Southern Mississippi. Southern Miss, traditions and their accomplishments and the challenges of trying to meet those same standards that have been reached is not only going to be a challenge, it's going to be invigorating. It's going to be energizing. There is nothing that coaches and players love more than something to compete with. Just to try to compete with the accomplishments of the previous coaches that have come through is going to be energizing in of it. I've had a great professional relationship with Larry (Fedora) over the last few years. We first met when I was interviewed at Oklahoma State. We formed a professional bond and a friendship through the phone. I have great respect for his accomplishments. I think he is one of the great offensive coaches in our profession today. I hope that we can continue the exciting offense and productive offense that he has produced. It will not vary very much at all. It will be the spread; it will be the fast tempo. It will be the shotgun for those of you who understand football terms. This offensive system is not going to change very much. I also want to bring exciting defense. I thought the difference in winning a championship here and just entertaining people over the last four years was defense. And obviously the most overlooked and sometimes under-appreciated aspect is the kicking game. If you look at your kicking game, they were tremendously successful this year. They were in the top 20 in almost every category. It takes a lot of elements in a program to win a championship. I assure you we will have an exciting offense and I assure it is something that will entertain you when you sit down in the stadium to watch the Golden Eagles play. But I also want to win championships. We are going to do everything we can and we will leave no stone unturned trying to do that."
"What is the future for Southern Miss under my leadership? I learned this from Coach Spurrier when you take on a task such as this, you want to study the history of the program and you want to try and find something that has not been done before. When I take on this program, I look for something that we've never been able to do before. Frankly, there is very little left. It's intimidating but it's also challenging. But if I could tell you one thing that is going to drive me as a head coach of your football program, I want to take the University of Southern Mississippi, I want to take the Golden Eagles to a BCS football game and win. There are a lot of shelves to be filled with accomplishments, trophies, awards, championships--there's not too many shelves left for this program and that's a compliment to the Golden Eagles. What's been accomplished here in the past will be a motivating factor and we intend, once I've assembled a staff to get these players back together and start working toward a common goal. We intend to try to reach some goal and some height this program has not reached before. I'm an unpleasant loser too. When I left the University of Southern Mississippi, when I left Southern Miss ... I got to start saying Southern Miss. When I left Southern Miss and went to the University of Alabama and Coach Stallings slipped a couple of times during the week we were getting ready to open up with the Eagles. He called it Mississippi Southern because that's what it was back then when he coached with the Bear. Unfortunately when they left after that next Saturday and Brett and the Golden Eagles had beaten us, we figured out the right name. With my time here, it will be the goal to take this program to a BCS football game and come out with a victory."
