Excited to be in game week and have a chance to start playing someone in a different colored uniform. Spirited practice in their
On Alcorn state facing option
No not really, most of their league does the same thing, not that unusual. We prepare for a lot. Opening season games are as much about your own team as anything and we've prepared for a lot of things.
On facing different players
They have a good nucleus of players returning, the Gibbs kid at QB is very athletic and the Watkins kid at LB is a good tackler, those two guys stick out.
On playing on Thursday night
We only get to play a few times and it has been a long time since we've had a game and night games at Bobby Dodd Stadium and hopefully it is an electric.
On Skov
We will play three guys, Patrick will start and Marcus Allen, and the other Marcus (Marcus squared) we will have a better idea on the rotation after a few games.
On Allen
He fought through some minor injuries and he is a hard worker and a quiet kid and doesn't say much. He has had a decent fall camp.
On Summers
practiced yesterday and more than likely will start.
On Freshmen in three deep
A lot on that list won't play and some will. As a whole the freshmen class was really good and several guys who play a lot out of that class, but we were pleased with that overall group.
On Campbell
He may dress, but he won't play.
On Skov in a game
He will be a big physical running back, running the ball, won't look any different than our offense. Fast enough, not a lot of moves, but not a burner. He will do fine. Rotate them by how I want to do it.
On 10-win seasons being the exception not the rule, Braine quote
Clearly it is possible, we have done it a couple of times since I've been here. I don't remember along the lines, the record book there is not a lot of them. Clearly it is possible. I don't get too hung up on that. I focus on one game at a time and if you can get better and play better. I don't know there is a difference than 2010, hopefully our QB wont break his arm. Each team is different, it is not a reload with players falling out of the window, with 5 all-americans in the wings.
ON OL depth
First time we have more depth, we will probably play eight guys, three guard, three tackles and a couple of centers. I was talking to assistants and whether players will play or redshirt. We won't be ever have two lines and you run a lot of guys out there. You try to redshirt some guys and build the program that way.
On young guys being excited
I want them to be excited, if they are running around and can't remember their name, we will do something. I know we won't be perfect on Thursday night, but I not naive enough to believe that will happen. We will make some mistakes and hopefully learn from them and not make the same one over and over.
On the OL attribute
More experience
On team expectations
We don't coach any differently and the same as every other year. Maybe more has been made of that. Not every game we went and said every guy isn't worth a crap. We approach the game and play. This hasn't been any different. This is the third time we started ranked, no one has mentioned it. No coach or player has said anything about it, if you start talking about it.
On playing teams like Alcorn State
I think the scheduling policy since I've been here is to play two P5 schools, one FCS and one smaller FBS school. That would be a good question for MBob. I was looking at non-conference schedules for other teams in our league and we have nothing to apologize for, (big laughs crack at Duke)
On playing true freshmen
There is a big difference between an 18 and 22 year old, true freshmen who play often have a chance to play at the next level. It says more about them.
On true freshman in the past
We never played too many. I'd play two or three freshmen, we redshirted Adrian Peterson and everyone else too. At Navy, there was no redshirt and if they did well on the JV team they move up.
On defense
Hope to be more consistent, give up fewer yards per play and more metrics to measure it along with the eye test. We did a great job forcing turnovers.
On Quaide
He practiced and he is not going to play this game, it will be two or three weeks before he plays, he will have to come out and be a home run. We got guys at this position. You could lose two guys at that position. I don't want to play any freshmen unless they help us win.
On JT's reps
We started last year with a FCS, it didn't look good for a while and we had our hands full. I hope it gets out of hand.
On team chemistry
It has been good and hasn't been a lot of adversity or controversy. You will find that out as the season goes along and as a rule we have good kids and they like each other and they are pretty accountable and they wouldn't make it long.
On JT leading
They respect him and he is not a big talker and he goes about his business and they respect him for that and they know he is a tough kid. They like playing for him. It certainly helps when they want to play for you.
On fines for players
I was thinking about putting it in my personal account (laughs) and we haven't thought much about that. As a general rule, our guys do pretty well. We have breakfast checks and class checks, two in a week is a issue. We haven't had many guys, most would like to pay $10 instead of going out at 5:30am getting killed. Our stipend is not big enough anyways.
On his first game here against Jax State
I don't remember much about it. I know we were all over the place.
On Alcorn state facing option
No not really, most of their league does the same thing, not that unusual. We prepare for a lot. Opening season games are as much about your own team as anything and we've prepared for a lot of things.
On facing different players
They have a good nucleus of players returning, the Gibbs kid at QB is very athletic and the Watkins kid at LB is a good tackler, those two guys stick out.
On playing on Thursday night
We only get to play a few times and it has been a long time since we've had a game and night games at Bobby Dodd Stadium and hopefully it is an electric.
On Skov
We will play three guys, Patrick will start and Marcus Allen, and the other Marcus (Marcus squared) we will have a better idea on the rotation after a few games.
On Allen
He fought through some minor injuries and he is a hard worker and a quiet kid and doesn't say much. He has had a decent fall camp.
On Summers
practiced yesterday and more than likely will start.
On Freshmen in three deep
A lot on that list won't play and some will. As a whole the freshmen class was really good and several guys who play a lot out of that class, but we were pleased with that overall group.
On Campbell
He may dress, but he won't play.
On Skov in a game
He will be a big physical running back, running the ball, won't look any different than our offense. Fast enough, not a lot of moves, but not a burner. He will do fine. Rotate them by how I want to do it.
On 10-win seasons being the exception not the rule, Braine quote
Clearly it is possible, we have done it a couple of times since I've been here. I don't remember along the lines, the record book there is not a lot of them. Clearly it is possible. I don't get too hung up on that. I focus on one game at a time and if you can get better and play better. I don't know there is a difference than 2010, hopefully our QB wont break his arm. Each team is different, it is not a reload with players falling out of the window, with 5 all-americans in the wings.
ON OL depth
First time we have more depth, we will probably play eight guys, three guard, three tackles and a couple of centers. I was talking to assistants and whether players will play or redshirt. We won't be ever have two lines and you run a lot of guys out there. You try to redshirt some guys and build the program that way.
On young guys being excited
I want them to be excited, if they are running around and can't remember their name, we will do something. I know we won't be perfect on Thursday night, but I not naive enough to believe that will happen. We will make some mistakes and hopefully learn from them and not make the same one over and over.
On the OL attribute
More experience
On team expectations
We don't coach any differently and the same as every other year. Maybe more has been made of that. Not every game we went and said every guy isn't worth a crap. We approach the game and play. This hasn't been any different. This is the third time we started ranked, no one has mentioned it. No coach or player has said anything about it, if you start talking about it.
On playing teams like Alcorn State
I think the scheduling policy since I've been here is to play two P5 schools, one FCS and one smaller FBS school. That would be a good question for MBob. I was looking at non-conference schedules for other teams in our league and we have nothing to apologize for, (big laughs crack at Duke)
On playing true freshmen
There is a big difference between an 18 and 22 year old, true freshmen who play often have a chance to play at the next level. It says more about them.
On true freshman in the past
We never played too many. I'd play two or three freshmen, we redshirted Adrian Peterson and everyone else too. At Navy, there was no redshirt and if they did well on the JV team they move up.
On defense
Hope to be more consistent, give up fewer yards per play and more metrics to measure it along with the eye test. We did a great job forcing turnovers.
On Quaide
He practiced and he is not going to play this game, it will be two or three weeks before he plays, he will have to come out and be a home run. We got guys at this position. You could lose two guys at that position. I don't want to play any freshmen unless they help us win.
On JT's reps
We started last year with a FCS, it didn't look good for a while and we had our hands full. I hope it gets out of hand.
On team chemistry
It has been good and hasn't been a lot of adversity or controversy. You will find that out as the season goes along and as a rule we have good kids and they like each other and they are pretty accountable and they wouldn't make it long.
On JT leading
They respect him and he is not a big talker and he goes about his business and they respect him for that and they know he is a tough kid. They like playing for him. It certainly helps when they want to play for you.
On fines for players
I was thinking about putting it in my personal account (laughs) and we haven't thought much about that. As a general rule, our guys do pretty well. We have breakfast checks and class checks, two in a week is a issue. We haven't had many guys, most would like to pay $10 instead of going out at 5:30am getting killed. Our stipend is not big enough anyways.
On his first game here against Jax State
I don't remember much about it. I know we were all over the place.
