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00:00 >> Well, proud of our football team today.
00:03 I thought we came out and did exactly what we needed to do,
00:06 which was execute better, find ways to score points, keep them out of the end zone.
00:11 We were fortunate to play a lot of guys on the field, which was great to see.
00:14 These guys put in a lot of hard work and time.
00:17 They're great teammates, they're unselfish.
00:18 So to be able to play a lot of guys in game two was a great thing.
00:23 So I know they were happy.
00:24 It makes things a lot of fun when you get that many people in.
00:28 And from here now we gotta get ready for a tough stretch of games and
00:32 understand that from here on out everything will be a dogfight.
00:35 >> Coach, to have the depth kind of show out today,
00:39 it looked like you put in nine quarterbacks and a number of running backs.
00:43 So to be able to see your players perform across the board,
00:46 what does that say about this team as far as depth is concerned down the stretch as
00:50 well?
00:51 >> Well, my father, Oscar, was mad at me because we wanted to get 10.
00:53 >> [LAUGH]
00:55 >> I told him his eligibility had run up.
00:58 But you know what, I don't know, it's hard to get in nine quarterbacks, but we did.
01:03 And it was great to see him play.
01:05 We played a lot of guys a lot of positions.
01:07 And of course, when you're up on a team,
01:09 you wanna get the reserves and backups in as much as you can.
01:12 I thought those guys played hard, had a really good experience for them.
01:16 They can use this as a great learning tool.
01:18 And we gotta continue to progress those guys.
01:20 At some point we're gonna need them, you never know when.
01:22 And in order to be a great football team, depth is very important.
01:26 >> Jeff, when you have a one-two punch like Jamari and
01:31 Jowar in terms of their playmaking ability, how does that maybe change or
01:37 affect how you call plays and what you expect?
01:42 Knowing that basically any given play they can take.
01:46 >> Well, without question, through two games, they have been playmakers for us.
01:51 And really throughout practice, spring, summer, fall camp, they displayed that.
01:56 So they prove it every day, they don't miss a rep of practice.
01:59 Our team knows, they lead by example as well.
02:02 We have other playmakers also, but those two have definitely stood out.
02:06 So we gotta continue to make sure they get touches as well as the others.
02:09 Continue to improve the whole receiver room, which I think we will.
02:13 I think we've got some depth in the running back room.
02:15 Maurice was a little banged up the day we held him out.
02:18 We're able to play some others, so proud of their effort.
02:20 >> Jeff, just personally for you, how did it feel to get that first home game
02:24 on your belt, I know it's one that a lot of people have been waiting for?
02:28 >> Well, it was good.
02:29 You know what, winning the first game was good to get that one under our belt,
02:34 especially in the circumstance we did.
02:37 And now to come home and to do what we were supposed to do, it's a great feeling.
02:41 I just think that winning has to matter.
02:44 Myself, coaches, and players need to really hate losing and
02:48 make sure that we have the inner power to try not to lose.
02:51 And it's gotta drive us and motivate us to work hard.
02:53 And the fans were tremendous today.
02:56 They came out, they were ready for the season.
02:59 A lot of people stayed for the entire game, even without a reach.
03:02 We wanna make them happy.
03:03 And this is a full team affair.
03:05 And winning can make even more people wanna be a part of it.
03:09 So we wanna make sure we do our part and play a great brand of football.
03:13 Play hard, tough, physical, and smart.
03:15 Give it everything we got every week, and hopefully that can equal wins.
03:19 >> Jeff, Jack looked really comfortable to start the game today.
03:22 What did you like from him?
03:23 What did you see from him?
03:25 >> Jack got a really good week of practice.
03:26 He understands what he needs to do.
03:27 He has experience.
03:29 Just throw them with conviction, stand in there, not throwing off your back foot.
03:32 Cutting it loose, knowing when to drive the football,
03:34 throwing with anticipation, knowing when to put touch on it.
03:36 I thought he did a solid job.
03:40 He had one interception, that was a good play by the defensive back.
03:42 Then we had one on a hill, Mary, that just trying to throw the end zone.
03:46 Before that, made a good scramble and got his shards.
03:49 So I think overall, he's gonna continue to improve.
03:51 He wants to win, he works hard.
03:53 Our quarterback room has really worked hard.
03:55 Brown's done a great job with him.
03:56 All those guys are getting ready to play.
03:58 And I was happy with Brock and Evan and Harrison,
04:01 all those guys that got in there, they did a good job.
04:03 >> Yeah, Jeff, your dad said he really has trouble sleeping, but
04:07 he did last night because of all the excitement for this first home game and
04:11 seeing you guys back here on the field.
04:13 What kind of emotions did you have leading up to this game?
04:17 >> Well, he had so much food at our dinner last night,
04:18 it's probably why he had trouble sleeping.
04:20 >> [LAUGH] >> No, you know what?
04:24 My family wants everything to go well as well, and
04:28 I know they feel the pressure as well.
04:29 And the last game, my wife and daughter went back in the locker room at halftime,
04:35 and my daughter cried for a while, saying she didn't know she was having friends.
04:39 So when I came in, I did the game, I had to kind of calm her down.
04:44 And I told her at the Georgia Tech game, I said, hey, you know what?
04:47 You're not the only one that wasn't having any friends.
04:49 I wasn't either.
04:50 So let's enjoy your friends for one more week.
04:53 >> [LAUGH] >> So you know what?
04:56 Everybody wants to do well, they feel a part of it.
04:59 There's just such a strong contingent of people we know that want great things to
05:04 happen.
05:05 And I told them, I said, let me worry about that.
05:07 Let's just go to work, and you guys relax and have fun and enjoy it.
05:12 Let us put the work in and cut this thing loose.
05:14 And that's what they got me and our staff and our people here for,
05:18 to get that done.
05:19 And we're just gonna work as hard as we can at it and enjoy the good moments.
05:23 Try to correct the bad moments along the way and see what we can get done here.
05:28 >> Jeff, you had Devin and Cameron coming in for Josh and MJ, obviously, were hurt.
05:34 I guess, what did you see from them in terms of being that next man up?
05:38 And do you feel like there's any drop off with them tonight?
05:41 >> Well, both Cam Kelly and Devin Neal had a great week of practice.
05:45 Now that position has gotten thinner through some injuries.
05:48 Cam is new to us.
05:50 He had a poor hamstring in camp, so he's missed quite a bit of time.
05:53 Devin missed all spring practice with an injury.
05:56 But they had a really good week of practice, and we needed them to play well.
05:59 The backers behind them don't have much experience.
06:02 So they stepped up, did a good job.
06:05 They're gonna continue to need to play well in order for us to win.
06:08 They need to basically quarterback the defense and get us lined up back there and
06:12 help prevent big plays and try to make some big plays.
06:15 So I just thought they did a really good job.
06:16 And I just think it's through great preparation all week.
06:19 And Coach English and Coach Ellis did a great job with them, getting them ready.
06:23 And we just gotta continue to work through that.
06:26 But I thought they played very well.
06:28 >> What was Josh's injury?
06:30 >> Who's that?
06:31 >> Jeff Minkins.
06:33 >> You know what, he had a hamstring injury the last game.
06:36 He played through.
06:38 >> Sorry about that.
06:39 >> I kinda wanted to build off of that a little bit,
06:41 kinda answer my question some.
06:42 But it's never easy to shut out somebody no matter what the opponent level is like.
06:46 Do you have thoughts on how the defense didn't give up in their tenacity to
06:49 kinda pull that through?
06:51 >> Well, I like our defense.
06:52 I've liked them all, spring and summer, fall camp.
06:55 We had some things the first week that just kinda got us spinning,
06:59 which is on me and our coaching staff a little bit.
07:01 And we kinda narrowed this plan down and
07:06 make sure let's get these guys lined up and set and let them go play.
07:09 And that doesn't mean you can't make different calls.
07:11 We do wanna make different calls, but
07:12 we gotta make sure that when that ball's snapped, we're all ready to go.
07:16 And I think if we do that and we're in the right position,
07:19 we have a better chance to make plays.
07:20 So I just think that they prepared well, the plan was good.
07:25 We always try to work hard at fixing our mistakes.
07:28 Holding up to them first, behind closed doors or even in public, and
07:33 then trying to fix them and identify them.
07:35 And I just think it's important you do that.
07:37 Every team is different.
07:38 There's a new scenario that comes up every week.
07:40 So I'm very proud of our coaches and players.
07:43 >> Last one.
07:45 >> Jeff, Juarez in there, and he talked about just playing the offensive line.
07:49 Just how much have you watched that group just progress and make plays?
07:52 And it's also helping you just when you're calling plays out here,
07:55 just the progression that that group is doing.
07:57 >> Well, Coach Owens has done a great job with our offensive line.
08:00 We've got Coach Owens, Dale Williams is here, coached with me the last so
08:04 many years and helping, and a good crew of guys that really work hard
08:08 individually with those people.
08:10 We've improved the position through the summer, the spring and summer.
08:17 They work really hard, they don't get any credit, but
08:19 they put in a lot of hard work.
08:20 We were able to play more guys, which was good, and
08:23 we hope to continue to try to do that.
08:25 But that group has played solid, and keeping them healthy is important, and
08:30 continue to progress forward, but proud of them as well.
08:34 They've kept the quarterback clean, and got us a bunch of yards today.
08:38 And obviously, we're gonna face some tough competition coming up, and
08:42 we gotta prove it every week, but they've done a good job.
08:44 >> Thanks, Coach.
08:45 [APPLAUSE]