University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Larry Fedora Media Day Quotes - Aug. 6, 2011
8/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 6, 2011
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Southern Miss Coach Larry Fedora Media Day Conference Transcript
Opening Statement...
"The exciting thing for me about this team is that this team is excited about themselves. They are excited about where they are as a team right now. I think the chemistry that they have developed over the summer is pretty amazing right now. There is just a unique chemistry about this team. There's a bond - a closeness. There is something special about this group so I'm excited about that. These guys prepared very hard this summer with our strength staff. They're ready to roll. I thought the first two days of practice have been really good. Not something you would write home about, but to be quite honest that's something I'm excited about. They didn't come out and just blow it away on the first two practices and then (we might) see it go downhill with the enthusiasm. I thought they were workman-like days and that excited me because that showed some maturity. I'm pretty fired up about this group."
On the identity of the defense with new defensive coordinator Dan Disch...
"There's no (that the defense reflects the coordinator's attitude). You're going to see a different mindset from the guys because it's natural. You take on the personality of the guy leading you. Disch has a different edge - you sense that about them."
"(Disch) is fully aware of his responsibilities. If you're a defensive coach and you coach at Southern Miss, you know what's expected of you. History tells us that (when you look at previous defenses here). (Disch) won't shy away from that responsibility."
On the effectives of defending the spread...
"I do think (that the new 4-2-5 scheme will help defend against the Spread offense.) I wouldn't have gone to it if I didn't think it was going to be effective. It's something that - in talking to a lot of people who use it now and looking at the offenses we face each week - it's ideal for us. It puts another athlete on the field. We're able to get into a 4-3 or 3-4 with the exact personnel. We went back and looked at how many linebackers we actually had three linebackers on the field in the Nickel and Dime packages and it wasn't very often. So, we thought, `Why not go and make that your base?' "
On the defensive look the fans will see...
"I don't know what the fans will or won't see, to be honest. Perception is reality and as long as people aren't scoring points and we're winning games, (the fans) will be happy. I know from looking at an experienced quarterback in Austin Davis, who went through his final spring practice here, he had trouble identify things. And, he's a talented, intelligent kid who studies the game a tremendous amount. If he had trouble identifying it, then I know it will cause some problems for other people."
On the conference slate starting early in the season...
"You know, who knows and who cares? We're going to play them - we don't have a choice. I'm not going to sit here at say it's too early, it'll just be the next game. Right now, the focus is on the first one. And we'll turn around after that one and focus on the next one. There is no learning curve - we've just decided that. We're in it and the guys have bought into that fact and the team has bought into it."
On closing out the close games...
"(Closing out tight games) is going to be a combination of things. It's going to be the maturity - the guys that have been here for three years and have been in all those games. It's going to be with (Head Strength Coach Paul) Jackson and what his guys have done with the team over the summer and changing the culture down (in the weight room). It'll be a combination of all that and (defensive coordinator Dan) Disch and the difference he will make. It will be guys that we have brought onto this team and what they are, and I think when you blend it all together that will be the difference."
On playing Smart, Fast and Physical...
"We always say we want to be smart, fast and physical. Unfortunately, we haven't played smart enough. We've had too many penalties and it's still a point of emphasis for us. There's a fine line because when you want to be physical and nasty, there's a fine line to playing smart as well. Some people think it's too aggressive and there are unnecessary - and there are. We have to cut out the stupid penalties. There are going to be penalties in every game, I understand that, but we have to cut out the stupid ones and when we doing that, we're playing smart."
On the points of emphasis when hiring Coach Disch...
"I didn't ask him (what he wanted to do). I told him what we had to do and what his responsibility would be and that he is in charge of the defense. He has total say-so in what we do defensively. Therefore, it's all his responsibility. He will be on the sideline and (Co-defensive coordinator David Duggan) will be up in the box - I believe that's how they have it organized."
On the growth of the relationship with senior quarterback Austin Davis...
"(Watching this relationship grow) is kind of uncharted territory. Looking back, when I got into coaching, I was a GA for two years at Baylor then there for four years, then I moved onto the Air Force Academy for two years, then Middle Tennessee for three years, then Florida for three and then Oklahoma State for three. So, this will be the first time really that I'll see a senior class basically go all the way through. It's kind of been a neat thing to watch these kids grow."
"It's been neat to watch (Davis) grow in the offense from day one with the questions he had and how fast the game was moving at that time. But he still did a tremendous job. (Fedora asks how many interceptions Davis had thrown in his career - 16). 16. As many balls he's thrown in his career and he has just about every record at this school and he's only thrown 16 picks. That was the number one thing we emphasized to him was to just take care of the ball. If you ask him today, that's what he'll tell you. He knows if he does that, he gives us a chance to win. So, just watching him mature and seeing how the game has slowed down for him...he sees things happen before they ever happen and it frustrates him that the receiver doesn't see it or the running back or the right tackle doesn't see it. It's nice to have that guy out there who sees it the way you do and understands exactly what we're trying to accomplish."
On what opportunities football provides to the players off the field...
"(Maturing and growing) is something we talk about with each of the kids. Our whole goal is for them, with this game here at Southern Miss, playing in The Rock and for this university, that you experience something that will last you a lifetime. You will learn lessons that when you leave this place and you walk across that stage with a degree, through all the adversity you have overcome, no matter what the world throws at you, you don't have to worry about. I know that they are going to be able to get back up off the ground and keep fighting. We all know the world is not fair. That's just the way it is. That's what so great about this game - it teaches that. And it's something that they will be able to carry with them their entire life to draw on the experiences they have had at Southern Miss. They will able to take care of a family, support a child or a wife or whatever. That's ultimately what this is all about."
On the return of Deddrick Jones and Tim Green...
"I think everybody was really fired up, especially on that first day to see them back. And then (former Southern Miss linebacker Martez Smith) was out there and to look over there and see him on the sideline with a big smile on his face (was great). I think all three of those men have a different perspective on life. They are seniors though too and this is it for them. This is the last time they will be able to put on the Black and Gold. I think they're excited about it because one, they are seniors but two, because of what happened to them last year."
On the impact of the incoming recruits...
"Each one of these guys we brought in was brought in with the expectation that they can help us. We expect them all to help us win. Now, it's going to be up to them, how quickly they learn it, how mature are they. The biggest difference now for a kid coming out of high school to a Division I program is that he was a star at his high school. He really didn't have to worry because no one can take his job on Friday nights, but when they get here, everyone here was a star on their high school team. Now, it's a grind, day in and day out, to see if they are willing to compete with those other stars. The maturity level of that young man is very important. Some of them can handle it early, some can't. Some play out of necessity, out of injury or whatever, and some don't. But, we feel pretty good about this class."
