VIDEO: Mike Turner Press Conference 

Jefferson City, Tenn. - Carson-Newman head football coach Mike Turner answered questions at his weekly press conference about the Eagles upcoming opponent on Saturday afternoon. 

Mike Turner Opening Statement: Lenoir-Rhyne is a good football team. They are a football team that offensively they are going to give you a lot of formations and sets. They want to run downhill on you and pound the football. We have to be very sharp in our alignment and make sure that we are not out flanked at any time. There play action and bootlegs also have an effect of not letting your eyes betray you as far as coverage assignments go.

Question 1: Carson-Newman is 10^th in the Regional Rankings, how is it to still be in the mix for a playoff spot?

Turner: That's great, that our kids still have that dream alive. It is great to see Carson-Newman's name in there. It also great for our kids to be playing for something that counts at this time of year. If you are playing football in November and every game counts, that's a pretty special time. The most important thing for us this week is to make sure that we are focused on Lenoir-Rhyne. That we are able to play up at our level and that we are aiming to play higher every week as far as play goes. Make sure that we handle the road trip the correct way and come out and be ready to play on Saturday at two o'clock.

Question 2: How do you use a game like Tusculum to maintain momentum going into the final two weeks of play?

Turner: I think you just ask them how was the feeling in that locker room after Tusculum and how was it the week before that. There is a big difference in that feeling in that locker room. We've talked to them since day one of fall camp about finishing strong. We are guaranteed two football games left in this season. We need to finish strong. Our theme this week is purpose, and every day we go to practice we are going at it with a purpose. We are traveling over on Friday afternoon to get into the hotel, to make sure that it is a purposeful visit. We are on a mission and not a sightseeing trip, we are on a mission to go over there and play a good football team in Lenoir-Rhyne.

Question 3: What makes Nelson Brown such a quality tailback for the Bears?

Turner: I think that he is an elusive young man that finds the gap and finds the hole to run through. They are aggressive up front as far as an offensive line goes, they are a challenge. We think part of our strong point is our front seven and that is going to be a great challenge for them. That is not going to be anybody tricking them there, that is where they are and this is where we are and it is going to be a great football game.

Question 4: What has made there defense so effective to help the team stay in within games?

Turner: They've been in every game and it has been less than a touchdown game type scenario. They got beat late in the game last Saturday against UNC-Pembroke. They are an aggressive front, they are playing an eight man front. Any time that somebody lines up with an eight man front they are going to come after you. We've got to understand what is important to us and that is making sure that first downs are important. We emphasize that we have urgency on first down. When you go up against an eight man front that is aggressive against the option, we emphasize taking care of the football.

Question 5: What does that say about this group from week-to-week with their attitude on the sideline?

Turner: It say's what we talked about all week with your back to the wall. There are choices in life and not just in football. When you are married and have a family you are going to have your back to the wall sometimes. Now, how you respond to that, you can lay down and quit or you can come out fighting. Our kids came out fighting and I was so proud of them. I was proud of the way they responded to that and here we go we still have our backs against the wall. It is up to them to finish strong and come out fighting.

Question 6: How do you come out with a win on the road against Lenoir-Rhyne?

Turner: That is what is special about this football team. This is a new football team, this is a new time and a new feeling. I would dare say that as young as we are, if you asked some of them what the score was on Saturday they could not tell you. They don't have a long memory like coaches do. With our kids and with me as the coach and our coaches, the best thing for us to do is to focus on where we are right now and where we want the program to go towards in the future. By doing that it is believe, finish strong and take care of your business.

Question 7: What have you seen from Diantae Thomas the last couple of weeks?

Turner: Well Diantae is a transfer but it is the same as having a transfer back there. It takes time to feel comfortable with that and it takes time to where it becomes automatic. We play fast and we are making calls and things. Sometimes you realize that guy really is a freshman, well he is processing a lot of things before the ball is ever snapped. That ball is not being snapped in 30 seconds the ball is being snapped in 10 seconds. I think that he is more comfortable now in the offense, without a doubt. He has been welcomed in by his teammates and he has been a great part of our football team. I was really happy to see him have some success. We talked in the small café during the pre-game meal on Saturday that the way the weather is today we need somebody to be a grinder. He is a grinder.

Question 8: How do you think the defense handled the situation after last week's North Greenville game?

Turner: I think that they came back with their back against the wall. You have got to come out and respond. When you are in that situation, you better set the tone early. If you sit around and wait to see how the pre-snap goes then you find yourself behind. So, our kids understand that and I'm proud of our defense and coach Slade for executing the game plan. Our kids just went out and took care of business.

Question 9: What has Jared Dillingham meant to this program?

Turner: It has been tremendous. When you have some adversity, you have some injuries like we have, but you got a guy like Jared Dillingham who has always been an overachiever. Dillingham has always been an encourager and has been a leader even though he is not a senior. To see him come in with a next man up attitude and have some success. He has been a great motivator for our football team.

Question 10: What kind of All-American type season is Sha'heem Stupart having for this team?

Turner: I think the word is undeniable that he is an All-American. I'm not sure that you could get all of the extra things that Sha'heem brings to this team. Besides being a leading tackler and making plays on the field. He makes plays in the locker room with great leadership. He represents this university well and he represents this football program well.   

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