Sept. 13, 2005
Head Coach Guy Morriss
On Samford:
"With a two game winning streak, I think the conversation we had as a football team Sunday, we've got enough stuff to worry about to get corrected to stay on track. They've grounded themselves. I think our kids understood that we didn't take advantage of all the opportunities handed to us Saturday night. I think the guys understand that as we move into the conference schedule we're going to have to be able to take advantage of those opportunities in order for us to stay in games and win games. There were some good plays made Saturday night, but we're trying to get into making some great plays. But I think our guys have their heads screwed on right."
"It's our challenge as coaches to get the plays out of our players. We've got some play-makers; we already know that. I think we know it more so than the players themselves know it. We've got some players that are very capable of making the kind of plays we've been talking about. It's a matter of getting them to take that next step and play at a consistent level. I think over the course of time, they understand that, and they want to see that. We'll start getting those kinds of plays from them. I think we're to that point."
On Army:
"I think it will be good for us to take this trip in our maturity process. So now we have to go prove that we can win on the road flying and with no support. We're kind of excited to go up there and answer the question about can we win on the road. We're going to approach this as a business trip. We've got to stay focused and hopefully play well and come out of there with a win."
"As far as I'm concerned it's just two steps [being 2-0]. We break the season down into different segments. We've talked about a three game schedule, and we need to be 3-0 at the end of our three game schedule. We've taken the first two steps, and we've got to take the third step."
"I think this is good for us at this stage in our building process. We have to match their intensity, and we have to match the same type of discipline that they're going to play with. It's a good measuring stick for us right now to see where we're at. It's certainly going to figure into the formula for us to come out of there with a win. We've got to do it, and we'll be tested. I think it'll help us grow."
Offensive Coordinator Brent Pease
On Samford:
"I thought, first off, the kids coming out did a good job of executing the plan we had laid out. The thing that was encouraging was that we came out of the blocks, and we drove the ball on the first drive. The only thing that really stopped up was one little misalignment that prevented us from getting a touchdown, and we ended up with a field goal. In the first half the thing we look back on is that we had limited possessions. I thought in the red zone we were better off with the opportunities that we had. And really we took care of the ball other than one fumble in the third or fourth quarter."
On Army:
"They are a very disciplined, sound defense. They're going to play for 60 minutes. That's what the Boston College film showed; whether they're behind, tied, ahead, they are going to play hard. Our kids better realize that they might, in some spots, be better athletes than Army kids but their [Army's] effort and hustle might make up for and hide what we see as liabilities. We need to create a lot of space for our kids. The ones we feel can make plays with the balls in their hands, we're going to try to create spots where they can get the ball in the open field. They have to run and gain the yardage that they can."
"Looking at what they do on offense, they'll probably try and cut the game down and limit our possessions. Usually in games you have anywhere between 12 and 14 opportunities to drive. We might be looking at ten so we better make them productive. Turnovers, penalties and dumb mistakes can really cost you the game, and we can't fall into that trap. Also, their defense is very basic in their scheme. They're going to keep everything underneath you. So we have to keep on the grind and be very consistent."
Defensive Coordinator Bill Bradley
On Samford:
"I thought we played another very sound, solid game on defense. Probably the biggest dilemma we got into early on was that we couldn't get off the field on third downs. We played at the beginning of the game a little bit of base defense to let our guys get accustomed to what was happening, not giving up a big play early. But then we started coming after them the second half and our guys really played hard. Again, they ran to the football extremely well."
"One of the biggest plays of the game defensively for us was the scoop and score by Jamaal [Harper], and that kind of started setting the tone early on in the second half of the ball game. All in all I think we played really well on defense. It's good to be 2-0."
On Army:
"We've got to match their disciplined intensity. It's almost like recess for them when they go to practice and play games because everything else on campus is so structured and disciplined; they probably relish getting out and having a little play time for themselves."
"Offensively they're not a senior team. At their prime positions they've got a veteran crew; but, the rest of them are juniors and sophomores. Scheme-wise they're a little bit of a multiple offense. They're pretty much going to throw the ball 73 percent of the time. They're a big screen team; they like the screen, and they get a lot of yards off of it and a lot of misdirection. Our biggest challenge is to match their discipline and intensity, to tackle well and run to the football again."
