Southern Miss Coach Will Hall Media Availability – The Louisiana Game
11/6/2023 3:02:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss head football coach Will Hall met with members of the media on Monday morning following practice to discuss this Thursday's Sun Belt Conference matchup at Louisiana.
Game time is set for Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on ESPNU 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:
"It was a beautiful day, an unbelievable day, and I thank the good Lord for that. Today for us is like a Wednesday, so tomorrow will be a Thursday. We are rolling, it's a quick turnaround, and we've got a great opponent this week. They [Louisiana] have done some really good things this season, they've won some big games and have lost a few close games. That's the way the Sun Belt is and it seems like I say it every week. They're playing good defense and they've been playing good defense. They are a program that's won a lot over the last several years, won several conference titles, and a lot of their coaching staff was there when that was happening, and
a lot of players were there, so they are a winning program that's done a lot of good things. We're excited to go down there Thursday night and play a big-time Sun Belt game."
On Louisiana QB Chandler Fields:
"I know Chandler. I was at Tulane when he was coming out of high school and he's a good player that played at a really good high school program. He's experienced and they know what they're getting. It's not like that they are playing somebody that has never played- he has been in their system for a long time. I think they know exactly what they have gotten and they'll be able to build their offense around him. He can run their offense, so we're preparing for that."
On defensive performance against ULM:
"Just doing your job, lining up in your gap, playing your assignment, striking on the d-line. I thought our defensive backs took another step in the right direction. I thought it was a great plan by Coach O'Brien and the rest of our staff to keep their eyes on the quarterback. We've got more turnovers in the last few weeks than we've had in the rest of the year because of where our eyes are at. We're getting our hands on balls. All of our DBs have played offense at some point in their life, whether it was here or in high school, so they can all make plays, but all in all, I thought we leveraged the run and really struck in the in-between-the-tackles. And I never thought we panicked. When Monroe got a first down, we said, 'Okay, let's spot it and play again'. You don't get points for first downs and sometimes defensively, you want to stop every play. That's really not football-you can't stop every play. You've got to stop them from scoring. I thought our kids did a great job of rallying behind that mentality and chasing the ball and making plays when we needed to make them."
On energy after the win:
"Our kids have worked hard and have a great attitude. In areas we're growing, we're proud of that, and in areas that we're falling short, we're addressing every day and y'all see it. I don't think we've practiced any different today than what we've been practicing. Our kids are working and growing, and obviously, it's always fun and it always feels good to reap a little bit of the harvest when you sow. You don't want to show up to work and work and work and never get a paycheck. One reason we have jobs is we like to get that paycheck, so it was good to get a paycheck for once, but our kids are going to show up and work. We're looking at constant improvement and I'm proud of their attitude and how we've continued to battle."
On Brodarius Lewis' performance:
"Cornbread is his nickname because he's so strong and he's really coming on. He's from Prattville, Alabama, he played for Jones Junior College for Coach [Steve] Buckley, and he's really starting to pick up the defense and he has played really well for the last two weeks. I'm proud of him."
On Defensive Back Zay Franks' interception against ULM:
"He's an unbelievable athlete and he can do that. He's got great hands, great leaping ability and a great ability to attack the ball. He was going to be a great wide receiver, and he was on his way to doing it, and now he's transitioned to corner and we think he's found a home. I know he's excited I'm excited, Dwike Wilson's excited, Desmond Lindsey is excited, and his high school coach Teddy Dyess is so excited. He's growing and learning and is going to be a good football player."
On hosting elementary school at practice:
"That was awesome. They were bringing a lot of juice and energy. We've always tried to be that ever since I got here. We want to be an open program. I understand how much Hattiesburg means to the Pine Belt area and the Coast and I understand how much Southern Miss means. That's something I've tried to embrace is opening these practices back up where people can be a part of them. We want to be a part of this area and help build this area up and we want them to be a part of us. We feel like we're headed back to doing that."
Game time is set for Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on ESPNU 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:
"It was a beautiful day, an unbelievable day, and I thank the good Lord for that. Today for us is like a Wednesday, so tomorrow will be a Thursday. We are rolling, it's a quick turnaround, and we've got a great opponent this week. They [Louisiana] have done some really good things this season, they've won some big games and have lost a few close games. That's the way the Sun Belt is and it seems like I say it every week. They're playing good defense and they've been playing good defense. They are a program that's won a lot over the last several years, won several conference titles, and a lot of their coaching staff was there when that was happening, and
a lot of players were there, so they are a winning program that's done a lot of good things. We're excited to go down there Thursday night and play a big-time Sun Belt game."
On Louisiana QB Chandler Fields:
"I know Chandler. I was at Tulane when he was coming out of high school and he's a good player that played at a really good high school program. He's experienced and they know what they're getting. It's not like that they are playing somebody that has never played- he has been in their system for a long time. I think they know exactly what they have gotten and they'll be able to build their offense around him. He can run their offense, so we're preparing for that."
On defensive performance against ULM:
"Just doing your job, lining up in your gap, playing your assignment, striking on the d-line. I thought our defensive backs took another step in the right direction. I thought it was a great plan by Coach O'Brien and the rest of our staff to keep their eyes on the quarterback. We've got more turnovers in the last few weeks than we've had in the rest of the year because of where our eyes are at. We're getting our hands on balls. All of our DBs have played offense at some point in their life, whether it was here or in high school, so they can all make plays, but all in all, I thought we leveraged the run and really struck in the in-between-the-tackles. And I never thought we panicked. When Monroe got a first down, we said, 'Okay, let's spot it and play again'. You don't get points for first downs and sometimes defensively, you want to stop every play. That's really not football-you can't stop every play. You've got to stop them from scoring. I thought our kids did a great job of rallying behind that mentality and chasing the ball and making plays when we needed to make them."
On energy after the win:
"Our kids have worked hard and have a great attitude. In areas we're growing, we're proud of that, and in areas that we're falling short, we're addressing every day and y'all see it. I don't think we've practiced any different today than what we've been practicing. Our kids are working and growing, and obviously, it's always fun and it always feels good to reap a little bit of the harvest when you sow. You don't want to show up to work and work and work and never get a paycheck. One reason we have jobs is we like to get that paycheck, so it was good to get a paycheck for once, but our kids are going to show up and work. We're looking at constant improvement and I'm proud of their attitude and how we've continued to battle."
On Brodarius Lewis' performance:
"Cornbread is his nickname because he's so strong and he's really coming on. He's from Prattville, Alabama, he played for Jones Junior College for Coach [Steve] Buckley, and he's really starting to pick up the defense and he has played really well for the last two weeks. I'm proud of him."
On Defensive Back Zay Franks' interception against ULM:
"He's an unbelievable athlete and he can do that. He's got great hands, great leaping ability and a great ability to attack the ball. He was going to be a great wide receiver, and he was on his way to doing it, and now he's transitioned to corner and we think he's found a home. I know he's excited I'm excited, Dwike Wilson's excited, Desmond Lindsey is excited, and his high school coach Teddy Dyess is so excited. He's growing and learning and is going to be a good football player."
On hosting elementary school at practice:
"That was awesome. They were bringing a lot of juice and energy. We've always tried to be that ever since I got here. We want to be an open program. I understand how much Hattiesburg means to the Pine Belt area and the Coast and I understand how much Southern Miss means. That's something I've tried to embrace is opening these practices back up where people can be a part of them. We want to be a part of this area and help build this area up and we want them to be a part of us. We feel like we're headed back to doing that."
Players Mentioned
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