Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Coach Will Hall Media Availability – The ULM Game
11/22/2022 1:08:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss head football coach Will Hall met with members of the media on Tuesday morning following practice to discuss this Saturday's Sun Belt Conference matchup at ULM, as well as look back at last week's game with South Alabama.
This week's regular season finale is set for Saturday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m. CT at Malone Stadium in Monroe, La. The game can be seen on ESPN+ as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network by Learfield.
Here is some of what Hall said to the media on Tuesday:
Opening Statement…
"Great weather (for today's practice), I appreciate the good Lord for that like always. It was a good Tuesday getting our assignments down. We have got a big one this week versus an opponent that is a really good opponent that is a lot like us. If you could change one possession in about three or four games and they would have a great record like we do. They are growing in year two of their program like we are, so it is a great opportunity for us and we are grateful for that opportunity. We are excited about going over there."
On what he thought was good and what was bad from last week…
"Good, defensively, we were really good on our third downs, we had good communication and after their long run early, we didn't really allow them to run the ball at all. You take that 70-yard run off their rushing totals, we pretty much stoned the run the rest of the game. The bad, defensively, was giving up the big, explosive plays and we missed some tackles which is uncharacteristic for us. Offensively, we really moved the ball, controlled the clock and we had 21 first downs. We had time of possession, and we were good at our conversions. When you add our third and fourth-down conversions together we were over 50 percent. The bad was we did not make explosive plays. We had opportunities there, but we did not make them. We can make those plays.
"On special teams, we were pretty good in every area, except kickoff cover. We had been good at that all year long, but we allowed them to return two kicks out to past the 35 and they happened to score on both of those drives. You change a play or two, here or there, and you win a big game, but that is where we are at now and we have to fix those issues. I am grateful for the problems that we have solved in a short amount of time here. We have solved a lot of problems here; there were a lot of problems that needed to be solved. I am also grateful for the endurance we have had to push through problems that aren't solvable yet with a great attitude. We are in a situation this week in which we have to solve some more problems and we have to find a way to win. We have to get over this next hump and we are looking forward to doing it."
On the last regular season game meaning something to the program…
"When we came here, everyone said 'coach, how quick do you want to win a championship?' The first step for us a program is to play 12 games that matter again. We haven't done that in a long time here and now we have done it. We are on game 12, and the 11th game mattered, the 10th game mattered, the ninth game mattered, and this 12th game sure matters. That is a great step forward in our program to get to game 12 and for that game to matter. That is huge for us and we are obviously excited to get to that point, but we need to get over this hump and win. We need to do that for our fan base, the administration and for these seniors. Is it the be-all, end-all? No. We have a long way still to go regardless. We have to recruit, develop and keep going, but we need to get this done."
On how the players have responded about this weekend being big…
"Our kids, y'all come to every practice, they are the same. They love each other, play hard and are hurt when there is a play to be made and they can't make it. When you are good and not great, your opportunities are less than when you are great. When we have opportunities, we have to make them. Whereas great teams have more opportunity. It's not that they make every play – nobody plays a perfect game – but you have more opportunities the better you are. Right now, sometimes, our opportunities are limited, because we are limited in some spots and we have to capture that and take advantage of those and create more opportunities when we can. There are things we can fix and do better on and the things that we can, we have to do better at."
On getting extra practices, if you can be eligible for a bowl game…
"It would be huge. We have 71 freshmen and sophomore. You don't have to spend a lot of time explaining it. It is just more practice for young kids. That would be huge as well."
On the health of RB Janari Dean..
"Janari is going to play. We got him back in practice and is back to himself. It was good to get (WR Jakarius) Caston back as he looked like himself last week."
On if Kenyon Clay will play this week, which would end the possibility of his redshirt season…
"We are not going to play him. He is a great young player, who is going to be a great talent. We are going to save his redshirt and he understands that. He is going to be an awesome player."
On QB Trey Lowe's play last week…
"There are some plays that he would like to have back and there are some plays that he made. He made some really big throws in some critical moments to put us in position - there was some third-down slants. There was a deep ball to (Jason) Brownlee that could have been big and he missed a throw or two – he didn't play perfect – but nobody does. He is a tough guy and a winner. His eyes weren't quite as good this week as last week and not as fast with his movements, but he will correct that and he will play good this week."
On ULM's defense…
"They line up everywhere. Coach Koenning is one of the all-time great defensive coordinators in the history of football. He has been around forever. I know him and go way back with him. I have great respect for him. They are everywhere trying to create havoc and disruption, so they will give us a lot of different looks. We are going to have to protect the football and go over there and do what we are supposed to do."
On changing his normal Tuesday practice today…
"We have been hitting all year. We are extremely physical, and we are at the point in time where we have to get our assignments and do our job. We just have to love each other, be grateful for each other and go over there and spill it for each other one more time. Playing hard is not an issue. We have to make sure we know what we are doing and get it done."
On Thanksgiving plans…
"Just love on these kids. Spend a lot of time with them because there is a lot of these seniors that mean a lot to me. They have done so much for this program. These seniors won't go down in history like that 1997 bunch, because they didn't win as many games. You cannot have a more miserable college experience than what those kids had to go through and they stuck through it and they stayed. Our fanbase ought to be very appreciative of them and we need to try and get a win for them."
This week's regular season finale is set for Saturday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m. CT at Malone Stadium in Monroe, La. The game can be seen on ESPN+ as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network by Learfield.
Here is some of what Hall said to the media on Tuesday:
Opening Statement…
"Great weather (for today's practice), I appreciate the good Lord for that like always. It was a good Tuesday getting our assignments down. We have got a big one this week versus an opponent that is a really good opponent that is a lot like us. If you could change one possession in about three or four games and they would have a great record like we do. They are growing in year two of their program like we are, so it is a great opportunity for us and we are grateful for that opportunity. We are excited about going over there."
On what he thought was good and what was bad from last week…
"Good, defensively, we were really good on our third downs, we had good communication and after their long run early, we didn't really allow them to run the ball at all. You take that 70-yard run off their rushing totals, we pretty much stoned the run the rest of the game. The bad, defensively, was giving up the big, explosive plays and we missed some tackles which is uncharacteristic for us. Offensively, we really moved the ball, controlled the clock and we had 21 first downs. We had time of possession, and we were good at our conversions. When you add our third and fourth-down conversions together we were over 50 percent. The bad was we did not make explosive plays. We had opportunities there, but we did not make them. We can make those plays.
"On special teams, we were pretty good in every area, except kickoff cover. We had been good at that all year long, but we allowed them to return two kicks out to past the 35 and they happened to score on both of those drives. You change a play or two, here or there, and you win a big game, but that is where we are at now and we have to fix those issues. I am grateful for the problems that we have solved in a short amount of time here. We have solved a lot of problems here; there were a lot of problems that needed to be solved. I am also grateful for the endurance we have had to push through problems that aren't solvable yet with a great attitude. We are in a situation this week in which we have to solve some more problems and we have to find a way to win. We have to get over this next hump and we are looking forward to doing it."
On the last regular season game meaning something to the program…
"When we came here, everyone said 'coach, how quick do you want to win a championship?' The first step for us a program is to play 12 games that matter again. We haven't done that in a long time here and now we have done it. We are on game 12, and the 11th game mattered, the 10th game mattered, the ninth game mattered, and this 12th game sure matters. That is a great step forward in our program to get to game 12 and for that game to matter. That is huge for us and we are obviously excited to get to that point, but we need to get over this hump and win. We need to do that for our fan base, the administration and for these seniors. Is it the be-all, end-all? No. We have a long way still to go regardless. We have to recruit, develop and keep going, but we need to get this done."
On how the players have responded about this weekend being big…
"Our kids, y'all come to every practice, they are the same. They love each other, play hard and are hurt when there is a play to be made and they can't make it. When you are good and not great, your opportunities are less than when you are great. When we have opportunities, we have to make them. Whereas great teams have more opportunity. It's not that they make every play – nobody plays a perfect game – but you have more opportunities the better you are. Right now, sometimes, our opportunities are limited, because we are limited in some spots and we have to capture that and take advantage of those and create more opportunities when we can. There are things we can fix and do better on and the things that we can, we have to do better at."
On getting extra practices, if you can be eligible for a bowl game…
"It would be huge. We have 71 freshmen and sophomore. You don't have to spend a lot of time explaining it. It is just more practice for young kids. That would be huge as well."
On the health of RB Janari Dean..
"Janari is going to play. We got him back in practice and is back to himself. It was good to get (WR Jakarius) Caston back as he looked like himself last week."
On if Kenyon Clay will play this week, which would end the possibility of his redshirt season…
"We are not going to play him. He is a great young player, who is going to be a great talent. We are going to save his redshirt and he understands that. He is going to be an awesome player."
On QB Trey Lowe's play last week…
"There are some plays that he would like to have back and there are some plays that he made. He made some really big throws in some critical moments to put us in position - there was some third-down slants. There was a deep ball to (Jason) Brownlee that could have been big and he missed a throw or two – he didn't play perfect – but nobody does. He is a tough guy and a winner. His eyes weren't quite as good this week as last week and not as fast with his movements, but he will correct that and he will play good this week."
On ULM's defense…
"They line up everywhere. Coach Koenning is one of the all-time great defensive coordinators in the history of football. He has been around forever. I know him and go way back with him. I have great respect for him. They are everywhere trying to create havoc and disruption, so they will give us a lot of different looks. We are going to have to protect the football and go over there and do what we are supposed to do."
On changing his normal Tuesday practice today…
"We have been hitting all year. We are extremely physical, and we are at the point in time where we have to get our assignments and do our job. We just have to love each other, be grateful for each other and go over there and spill it for each other one more time. Playing hard is not an issue. We have to make sure we know what we are doing and get it done."
On Thanksgiving plans…
"Just love on these kids. Spend a lot of time with them because there is a lot of these seniors that mean a lot to me. They have done so much for this program. These seniors won't go down in history like that 1997 bunch, because they didn't win as many games. You cannot have a more miserable college experience than what those kids had to go through and they stuck through it and they stayed. Our fanbase ought to be very appreciative of them and we need to try and get a win for them."
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