University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Coach Todd Monken's Weekly Media Conference
10/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss football coach Todd Monken addressed the media Monday with his weekly media conference, previewing the UTEP game which will be played at this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at The Rock. The game will be the annual Blackout Game for the Golden Eagles and all fans are encouraged to wear black.
Opening statement...
"Due to the rain we were unable to go outside. We did get a chance to watch the Charlotte game and make the corrections and get an advanced look at UTEP. Hopefully our guys got some of the things corrected and are ready for UTEP. UTEP is a team a little bit like us last year when we lost Nick (Mullens) just the emotion of losing your quarterback but the new guy is solid accurate and confident and they are a good team. I think what people don't know is you just can't go to the grocery store and get a new player. Those guys are hard to replace and so they went through a little bit of a lull but coming along after their bye week they have done a great job and that's a credit to Sean (Kugler) and the rest of their team. They played good against FAU who is really a little snake bitten with the turnovers. They are a good team too. We are going to have to be ready to go. We owe them one because we didn't play our best game last year offensively down there last year. So we will have to be ready and fight like heck to get a victory."
After back-to-back wins is it any easier to get the team motivated and in the mindset to win?
"I don't know if we played complete games. We had four turnovers two weeks ago and kicked four field goals so we had to improve there. This week didn't turn the ball over on offense, but we made a silly mistake on a punt return and one that went off our guy's leg on another punt return so there are some thing we can improve on. I know UTEP lost at home to UTSA a couple of weeks ago but this isn't that same team. I know they have one of their safeties back who is a good player and they have their quarterback back. If you're good at quarterback then you have a chance to win every week. I'm not saying that their other players didn't give them a shot to win but it's not the same. Our team understands that. All you have to do is look at this week's game and look at when Mack (Leftwich) played earlier in the year. It's a good offense and a defense that has given us fits last year so we have a lot to improve on."
Third straight game holding opponent under 300 yards total offense. What does that say about the coaches?
"They are doing a great job. We have good players and good coaches. It starts with recruiting good players and developing them. It helps when you can get ahead and get a lead. Just like I say every week, you can't carry over stats. You can't look at last week's numbers and say `Ok, we need to hold them under this.' It's a week-to-week business and every week is different."
Confidence and momentum go hand-in-hand as two pretty powerful things wouldn't you agree?
"I would agree to that. After our first year when we beat UAB, the positive was we ended on a win. The negative was we didn't get to play the next week. We didn't get to keep it going with singing the fight song in the locker room. Last year, we beat North Texas on the road and it was probably the most confident that we have been but then we lose Nick (Mullens) and lost at home to Louisiana Tech. After that we stumbled a little bit the same way that UTEP stumbled a little bit then you just have to figure out what you need to do to get back going. How do you get your team playing confident? We are at the point now that our guys believe that we have a good football team and if we do the right things during the week and how our approach leads up to Saturday."
Anything about UTEP on film that impressed you?
"I'm impressed with the quarterback. Not just him, I'm impressed with others but the quarterback is very accurate and has a good understanding in what they do so he makes them go. They lost their running back earlier in the season, which has been hard on them. It's hard to replace a player that is good as he is. They lost a really good safety and other positions but I feel like their defense has done a really great job overcoming those obstacles. They do a great job disguising looks and sending pressure. They do a really nice job on both sides of the ball and I believe they will be their best this weekend. It's the second half of the season, they are coming off a bye week and we will have to be ready."
How good is it to see the depth of your offense with guys like Taylor Marini making big plays?
"Sometimes the opportunity arise and even when they don't you have to play hard. When those opportunities come your way prepare to make the play. Like I say all the time, there is only one ball so every play only one person will get the chance to touch it. I think our guys have done a good job with understanding that. I was glad to see Ricky Parks make a big catch over the middle after he was a little banged up earlier in the week. We have good players and we have been able to stay healthy in our thinner spots this season."
Did you see any frustration from Ito Smith and D.J. Thompson after both of them had fairly quiet games?
"I didn't see any of that. Is it natural that skill players get upset or frustrated about not touching the ball? Yes. I would hope they would get frustrated. That's why you play a skill position. You believe in yourself and that you can make plays. I don't look at it as selfish. I look at it as confidence. With that being said, it can't overtake what it means to play hard without the ball. That doesn't change anything. What does change is continuing to play just as hard when you don't have the ball. When opportunities arise then take it."
What do you know about UTEP's offensive line?
"Their head coach is an offensive line guy so they are going to be physical. They made a couple tweaks in the offensive line and got them right. They are going to try and run the ball and control the clock. The same reasons we believe in why you win is the same reasons they believe. They have continued to run the football after losing their star running back and they have also been successful with the play action pass."
The talk of Southern Miss being better was out there this preseason. Are we finally seeing that on the field with the three big conference victories?
"I knew we were better it was just a matter of us going out there and doing it. Our defense has picked up the offense when we needed it and the same for the offense picking up the defense. I think we have the right guys. I think we have talented guys and those are the things you need."
How much does the two in a row help you to keep winning?
"I don't know if the two in a row help as much as just having success. It's a balance. When you're losing, you have to let the guys know we are capable and when you're winning, you have to let them know that it doesn't carry over. Avoid the noise either way. It's about what we believe and how we prepare. We only have five wins. Five wins gets you nothing. Six wins gives the opportunity for our first goal that is to be a bowl team. Then the next goals is win the West and then win the conference. Our goals are all still out there but we haven't achieved anything yet. We have put ourselves in position but now it's time to capitalize by winning."
How do you avoid falling into a trap after winning two in a row?
"I think anytime you win is to think, `hey, we got this,' but that's not how it works. We have to know the threats UTEP poses to our offense, defense, and special teams. Do I think our guys know what is at stake this weekend? Yes. We can't get to the bye week or to win number six without winning this weekend. That would be foolish to plan ahead. It's about each week and how you make the impact one week at a time."
Did Delaunte' Thornton show you anything on Saturday?
"He did what he does every single day at practice and that's show up to work and work hard. He is a hard runner."
How important is singing the fight song with the guys after the game?
"That's what you do it for. There is nothing like celebrating, no matter what you are doing in life. If you're a lawyer and you win a big case; you celebrate victory. Anytime you get rewarded for something that you put everything into that's what it's all about and if it wasn't then I don't know why you would do it. I think our guys have to understand that it's not easy and we need to appreciate it. Those are the special moments and why you do it. It's great getting to celebrate with your team individually and collectively as a team."
