University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Larry Fedora Weekly Media Conference Quotes...Sept.. 5, 2011
9/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 5, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Head Football Coach Larry Fedora addressed the media in his weekly press conference following a 19-17 victory over Louisiana Tech. Fedora also previewed this week's conference opener with Marshall.
Head Coach Larry Fedora
Opening Statement...
"This team is happy about being 1-0 and that was our goal for the week. We're pleased that we reached that goal. We've got a lot of work to do in all three phases of the game. That's why we got in here last night and started working hard on it. Again, our goal this week will be to be 1-0. We've got to get much better than we played the other night. There were some really good things and there were some really bad things. Hopefully, we'll learn from those things and be a better football team this Saturday."
On the benefit of having two scholarship kickers against Louisiana Tech...
"You better believe it [was a good thing.] I did not even know, to be honest with you (on Corey Acosta coming in to kick for Danny Hrapmann). I'm not sure I would've done what I did if I had known. Yeah, Corey (Acosta) goes out there and nails a 42-yarder like it was nothing in those conditions. That was pretty good. I was (assuming Danny Hrapmann was going out there.) It's probably a good thing I didn't know."
Asked what he would have done instead...
"(Laughing) I don't want to know. I'm not even thinking about it to be honest with you. I'm not going to look back because there's no telling."
On the good things he saw in the game...
"One, our defense played well all the way through. We blocked a punt. We had great execution between our deep snapper, our holder, our punter, the entire night with terrible conditions. So, that was a big deal. Offensively, I was concerned about shotgun snaps the whole night and was concerned about taking care of the football and we didn't put the ball on the ground. I think the only time the ball on the ground was when Desmond (Johnson) got knocked out after he hit the ground. I was really pleased with the fact that we took care of the football under those circumstances. I was really pleased with that. Those are a few of the good things."
On the physicality of the game...
"It was a physical game. That's the thing about football. You anticipate every one of them to be that way. That's kind of what you hope for. That it's going to be a good, hard-hitting football game. Normally, in those conditions, it's not. But, there were some great hits on both sides of the ball. We don't like our quarterback to take the licks that he took but he's a tough kid."
On the performance of the offensive line...
"I'd give them a D, if I was going to grade them. It's not what we're used to. We've got to be much better."
On the performance of Austin Davis in the rain...
"I thought he managed the game pretty well. The one pick he threw was a protection breakdown and he got hit by the defensive end when he wasn't expecting to. Overall, we missed a couple of deep throws that I would've liked him to hit, but under those circumstances, I thought he did a really nice job."
On facing another true freshman quarterback against Marshall...
"I don't know much about him yet. I've been spending some time watching the things that I'm responsible for in the gameplan and haven't had a chance to look at him yet. I understand he's a very talented young man, and obviously he must be if they've got him out there. They are going to put the best player out on the field. He's the best they've got. I know coming out of high school they were very excited about him."
On the performance of new starting center Austin Quattrochi...
"We talked before the game how important taking care of the football was in those conditions. Obviously, the snap, executing the shotgun snap for 70-80 snaps is critical and he did that. I didn't think, after looking at them all, that was a snap that wasn't able to be handled well. I think we looked back and there was one that was maybe a little bit low. For that, you've got to commend the guy. That's a heck of job in your first real game as a starter."
On the gameplan of the defense against Louisiana Tech...
"I think it helped that we've now played (Louisiana Tech offensive coordinator) Tony Franklin four years in a row. With, I believe three different schools (Auburn, Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Tech). There was still a lot of unknown with the true freshman quarterback and what they were going to try to do with him. One thing that people don't realize is that the referees were changing the balls out on every snap which really slowed the tempo of the game down. I mean really slowed it down. In some instances that works well for you and in some instances it works against you. Defensively, I thought the gameplan fit really with what they did and our guys had a really good feel for it. I don't think anything really surprised me."
On the expectations of this week's opponent, Marshall...
"They are going to be much better, there's no doubt about it. Again, it's their second year under (coach Doc Holliday). They are going to know the players, know where they go. The players are going to understand what the coordinators want. You go back and look at that game last year and we made plays. We picked up third down after third down and I went `Wow!' We executed beyond what we expected to. We're going to have to play that way and we have to go to their place and play. Anytime you go on the road, it's always tough. This will be our next test. It's going to be a big test for us."
