University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Jay Hopson Weekly Media Conference (Oct. 24)
10/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss football coach Jay Hopson spoke to the media at the Duff Athletic Center Monday to recap the bye week and preview this week's homecoming game against Marshall.
Game time this week at The Rock is at 6 p.m., and can be seen on American Sports Network.
Here is some of what Hopson said to the media:
Opening statement:
"It was good to have an open week. We certainly worked on fundamentals on the early part of the week and then toward the end of the week we got a little Marshall preparation in. It's always good to have an open week and we're looking forward to getting back to work tonight and getting ready for Marshall."
Players utilizing open week to get their legs back under them:
"We gave them Friday and Saturday off and Sunday is our natural day off and anytime you have three of four days off you hope that's plenty especially when your 20 years old. You shouldn't need much more than that to be recuperated. Those guys had a good break. I think it's good both physically and mentally but now we have to go to work."
Open week good for staff:
"I think it's good for our staff especially. We had a lot of coaches out on the road. Some were out on Tuesday and Wednesday and everybody except for the coordinators were out on Thursday. Everybody was out on Friday. We had to do some recruiting. That's part of it. We had to get that done. Saturday's are days where a lot of the guys have their iPads and do their work from home. It's a day where they get out of the office. Sunday was a full day back in the office for us and it's game week now."
After LSU stated potentially making personnel changes:
"We are going to let guys compete. We look at things objectively. They had a couple of big plays but they're a pretty dynamic football team, too. That's what they do. The reality is, we're playing hard, we have a month left and that's that month long stretch of conference games and it's a big big month for us. Our guys worked hard this week. We're going to keep rolling and there will be a couple of guys that get a little bit more snaps but nothing drastic."
Is the team on the same page as Nick and his comments after LSU game:
"That's the reality of football. Everybody is in this grind. We have Marshall this. That's the reality. We have a big game this week. Everybody can look and see where everyone's at and that's the reality of our season. It is a five-game stretch to achieve your goals and that's what we have to take one at a time. That's all that matters. We have to get ready to play Marshall and nothing else really matters right now."
Other scores in C-USA helped control own destiny for the remainder of the season:
"It's always good to know it's in your hands. We have to focus on the week and on the now and that's Marshall. We know we have a good football team coming here. Again, it's a good feeling to know that but we can't look ahead of anything. We have to get ready and we have a really good football team coming into town. We know we have a big challenge."
Is the Marshall team better than they are on record:
"They had Pitt who's a good football team and of course we know Louisville is a good football team. It's one of those things where they had their opportunity Saturday. They go in, they fumble on the 1 going in. They actually score a touchdown with about two minutes to go but get called on holding which pulls that one back and miss a field goal on the last play of regulation to send it in to overtime. So football is a different journey week to week and you understand you have to be ready every week. What happened last week doesn't have any relevance on what can happen this week. We know they're a talented football team and they have our respect and we know we have to be ready."
On having Draper back on defensive line:
"It helps us. Losing Draper, you get another 300 pounder inside. He's getting healthier and healthier. He probably wasn't 100 percent at LSU but probably 85-90 but hopefully we have him at 100 percent this week, which is big. He gives us another defensive lineman inside and we're glad to have him back."
Biggest focus on the Marshall matchup:
"Marshall is a pretty balanced football team but they throw it well, talented wide receivers, the quarterback can throw the ball extremely well, they run the ball, their tailbacks is not only a good running back but is also a good kick returner. Defensively, they are an aggressive defense and play hard and played some tough teams with Pitt and Louisville and our conference schedule. There a football team that we all know Marshall. They have our upmost respect. We know it's going to be a talented football team that's coming in here Saturday."
Nicks hand:
"He's doing great. He's 100 percent. Todd even told me when he did it because he was playing against SU when he did it that he' going to be 80 percent in this game and in three weeks, which is three weeks time, and just watching him throw last week compared to the game of LSU is just night and day. He was still throwing the ball decent at LSU but now he's really humming it in there and has his zip back. He's 100 percent. He's throwing it well."
Change in the team's mentality after LSU:
"Our guys have been pretty business-like in the whole journey. They have gone in and practiced hard last week. They practice hard every week. They come out and go to work and that's something that has been a joy to be around. They understand that we have a good football team coming in and what we do this is week is huge."
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