University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Will Hall Media Conference - South Alabama game week
8/31/2021 3:37:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss football coach Will Hall met with the media Tuesday morning on the game field at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts to discuss his first game as the Golden Eagles head football coach.
The Golden Eagles travel to South Alabama this Saturday for a 7 p.m., contest on the Jaguar campus. The game will be steamed on the internet at ESPN+ and can also be heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network from Learfield.
Here is some of what Hall said to the media on Monday:
Opening Statement…
"A lot of energy today, great competition Tuesday. First, I want to let everybody know how our hearts have been with all of the people affected on the coast and in Southeast Louisiana with the hurricane. We spent some time in prayer as a program for those people. And I want to do everything we can to help. We've got a lot of friends and family members, obviously I know a lot of people in Tulane, that are going through a lot of stress right now and we've got a lot of young men with family members that are under duress. At the same time, we're very thankful and blessed that we were able to come out unscathed, for the most part and had a great competition Tuesday today. A lot of energy, the good Lord blessed us with a little cooler weather, can't wait to get in here and watch the tape."
On Defense…
"Kane (Wommack) has always been really good on defense, that's why he got a head job. Sharp coach, I think their motto is "Swarm D," so they're going be swarming around, flying at the football, lot of pressures, always has been. He also hired Corey Batoon as his defensive coordinator, Corey is well respected, I don't know Corey directly, but I know a lot of friends that are his friends as well that think a lot of him. Corey and Kane together, very formidable opponent, they'll be a tremendous challenge on defense."
On where the team is at…
"We had really good energy today. We had some good popping today, really got after each other. Can't wait to get in there and watch the tape and check it out."
On Left tackle and backup QB competition battles…
"We had what we had going into the day, we'll see how it plays out after today into practice. Tykeem (Doss) was the starter after last Tuesday. Ty Keyes was a little ahead of Tee Webb after last week, now Tee finished the week really strong and Jack Walker is getting healthy again, you saw him out there today. Jack's a guy that's a proven commodity at quarterback, he's played a lot of good football. So, we'll get in there and watch the tape today and do what we have to do to win off of that. We'll grade this tape with everybody across the board and we'll announce those decisions this evening and tomorrow with the team."
On the energy around the team…
"Our team is really close, I think Coach Ancar, Mitchell Williams and Reed Stringer have done a phenomenal job helping engrain the culture. We understand that every day is not going to be a good day. We're not sitting around holding hands, singing kumbaya, we're pushing each other to be better and demanding a lot out of each other. At the same time, everybody understands the expectation level and how we're trying to push them to be a great man and also be the best football player they can possibly be. I really like our team where it's at, from a mental standpoint."
On defensive coordinator Coach Austin Armstrong…
"Coach Armstrong, first off, like I've said before, is a phenomenal teacher and person - that's why I hired him. The way he impacts others around him, and then his ability to teach. He's one of the best teachers on Southern Miss' campus, it doesn't matter what building you are in, from the Duff Center to the Scianna Building, over here to Polymer Science Hall, I put him against anybody as a teacher. Tremendously knowledgeable guy that's highly intelligent and he's got a bright, bright future. I'm glad he's with us and he puts every ounce he's got (into everything). I saw a tweet on the day the hurricane hit when they said they were locking down the Duff Center and had done the final recommendations, if you go back and look at that picture, there was a grey, four-door car out in front. That was his. Come hurricane or not, he was right up here working."
On the emotional journey on taking over the Southern Miss program…
"You just want to represent everybody in a positive way, this great program. And you want to put a product out there that is reflective of not only what we've been in the past, but where we're going to get it back. Are we going to be a finished product Saturday night after this game? No way. Come win or lose, whatever, we will not be a finished product. We're pushing this thing back to where it's going to be, that's going to take time, like I've said. How quick we get there, I'm not sure yet. I hope we get there fast, but we are headed in the right direction."
On if his emotions are different now being a Division I head coach…
"No, I've been a head coach before and football is football. Obviously, I'm proud to be here, but it meant as much to me to coach those boys at West Alabama as it does here. It'll just be all about trying to make sure we put them in the best possible position to win games."
On what jerseys they are wearing…
"I'm not going to tell you yet. I'm going to tell you, we're going to wear white jerseys. We have to, I'll tell you that, and that's all I'm going to tell you."
On South Alabama…
"They have a great mixture of Coach Womack and Coach Batoon. They vary a lot. They do a lot on defense, we've tried to prepare for everything, like you would all game ones. You've got film on the opponent and what they've been, but you can change and morph from being a lot of different things over an offseason. We have to be ready for anything and be ready to adjust on the fly. But, we do know that they're a team that doesn't sit back and take it defensively. They want to bring it on you and they want to force the issue."
On the depth chart changes…
"I've got no idea, but I'm going to after I watch this tape."
On position changes for Averie Habas and Arvin Fletcher…
"It's a different set of circumstances. Arvin has been there since one week into my tenure here and has never moved. He's been able to get a strong foothold at center position. We think he's got a chance to be an all-conference type performer for us. Averie is a totally different set of circumstances. Averie had a phenomenal spring at jack linebacker, was one of the best players on our defense this spring. And then, we have all the injuries at linebacker. So we wanted to make sure he was prepared to play linebacker if they needed to be. Again, having a plan for everything is the way Coach Armstrong and I roll. We can't look up in game three, I can't throw my arms up and say 'sorry guys, we're out of linebackers.' We got to find a way to win with what we got. We wanted to get Averie a lot of work there, he's taken to it, he's a really good football player at it. As the year goes on and we get a lot of those linebackers back, you can see him stay at linebacker, you can see him play some jack. He brings a lot of value to our football team though with his character, his toughness and also in the kicking game."
The Golden Eagles travel to South Alabama this Saturday for a 7 p.m., contest on the Jaguar campus. The game will be steamed on the internet at ESPN+ and can also be heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network from Learfield.
Here is some of what Hall said to the media on Monday:
Opening Statement…
"A lot of energy today, great competition Tuesday. First, I want to let everybody know how our hearts have been with all of the people affected on the coast and in Southeast Louisiana with the hurricane. We spent some time in prayer as a program for those people. And I want to do everything we can to help. We've got a lot of friends and family members, obviously I know a lot of people in Tulane, that are going through a lot of stress right now and we've got a lot of young men with family members that are under duress. At the same time, we're very thankful and blessed that we were able to come out unscathed, for the most part and had a great competition Tuesday today. A lot of energy, the good Lord blessed us with a little cooler weather, can't wait to get in here and watch the tape."
On Defense…
"Kane (Wommack) has always been really good on defense, that's why he got a head job. Sharp coach, I think their motto is "Swarm D," so they're going be swarming around, flying at the football, lot of pressures, always has been. He also hired Corey Batoon as his defensive coordinator, Corey is well respected, I don't know Corey directly, but I know a lot of friends that are his friends as well that think a lot of him. Corey and Kane together, very formidable opponent, they'll be a tremendous challenge on defense."
On where the team is at…
"We had really good energy today. We had some good popping today, really got after each other. Can't wait to get in there and watch the tape and check it out."
On Left tackle and backup QB competition battles…
"We had what we had going into the day, we'll see how it plays out after today into practice. Tykeem (Doss) was the starter after last Tuesday. Ty Keyes was a little ahead of Tee Webb after last week, now Tee finished the week really strong and Jack Walker is getting healthy again, you saw him out there today. Jack's a guy that's a proven commodity at quarterback, he's played a lot of good football. So, we'll get in there and watch the tape today and do what we have to do to win off of that. We'll grade this tape with everybody across the board and we'll announce those decisions this evening and tomorrow with the team."
On the energy around the team…
"Our team is really close, I think Coach Ancar, Mitchell Williams and Reed Stringer have done a phenomenal job helping engrain the culture. We understand that every day is not going to be a good day. We're not sitting around holding hands, singing kumbaya, we're pushing each other to be better and demanding a lot out of each other. At the same time, everybody understands the expectation level and how we're trying to push them to be a great man and also be the best football player they can possibly be. I really like our team where it's at, from a mental standpoint."
On defensive coordinator Coach Austin Armstrong…
"Coach Armstrong, first off, like I've said before, is a phenomenal teacher and person - that's why I hired him. The way he impacts others around him, and then his ability to teach. He's one of the best teachers on Southern Miss' campus, it doesn't matter what building you are in, from the Duff Center to the Scianna Building, over here to Polymer Science Hall, I put him against anybody as a teacher. Tremendously knowledgeable guy that's highly intelligent and he's got a bright, bright future. I'm glad he's with us and he puts every ounce he's got (into everything). I saw a tweet on the day the hurricane hit when they said they were locking down the Duff Center and had done the final recommendations, if you go back and look at that picture, there was a grey, four-door car out in front. That was his. Come hurricane or not, he was right up here working."
On the emotional journey on taking over the Southern Miss program…
"You just want to represent everybody in a positive way, this great program. And you want to put a product out there that is reflective of not only what we've been in the past, but where we're going to get it back. Are we going to be a finished product Saturday night after this game? No way. Come win or lose, whatever, we will not be a finished product. We're pushing this thing back to where it's going to be, that's going to take time, like I've said. How quick we get there, I'm not sure yet. I hope we get there fast, but we are headed in the right direction."
On if his emotions are different now being a Division I head coach…
"No, I've been a head coach before and football is football. Obviously, I'm proud to be here, but it meant as much to me to coach those boys at West Alabama as it does here. It'll just be all about trying to make sure we put them in the best possible position to win games."
On what jerseys they are wearing…
"I'm not going to tell you yet. I'm going to tell you, we're going to wear white jerseys. We have to, I'll tell you that, and that's all I'm going to tell you."
On South Alabama…
"They have a great mixture of Coach Womack and Coach Batoon. They vary a lot. They do a lot on defense, we've tried to prepare for everything, like you would all game ones. You've got film on the opponent and what they've been, but you can change and morph from being a lot of different things over an offseason. We have to be ready for anything and be ready to adjust on the fly. But, we do know that they're a team that doesn't sit back and take it defensively. They want to bring it on you and they want to force the issue."
On the depth chart changes…
"I've got no idea, but I'm going to after I watch this tape."
On position changes for Averie Habas and Arvin Fletcher…
"It's a different set of circumstances. Arvin has been there since one week into my tenure here and has never moved. He's been able to get a strong foothold at center position. We think he's got a chance to be an all-conference type performer for us. Averie is a totally different set of circumstances. Averie had a phenomenal spring at jack linebacker, was one of the best players on our defense this spring. And then, we have all the injuries at linebacker. So we wanted to make sure he was prepared to play linebacker if they needed to be. Again, having a plan for everything is the way Coach Armstrong and I roll. We can't look up in game three, I can't throw my arms up and say 'sorry guys, we're out of linebackers.' We got to find a way to win with what we got. We wanted to get Averie a lot of work there, he's taken to it, he's a really good football player at it. As the year goes on and we get a lot of those linebackers back, you can see him stay at linebacker, you can see him play some jack. He brings a lot of value to our football team though with his character, his toughness and also in the kicking game."
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