VIDEO: Mike Turner Press Conference 

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman head football coack Mike Turner answered questions at his weekly press conference about UNC Pembroke the Eagles upcoming opponent on Saturday afternoon. 

Turner Opening Statement: We are excited to be who we are at this time of year. We talked to our team about there are a few teams playing in November when it really counts. There are a lot of teams playing to get it over with and this is football team that has played into a position that really counts. I am very proud of them and excited for where they are at this point. We look forward to getting better every week.

Question 1: What do the few seniors on the team mean to this program?

Turner:  I appreciate their loyalty, their dedication to the program they have been through a lot. I appreciate them learning how to grow up and handle adversity and helping others learn how to do that. It is a great indication into what kind of man you are going to become one day. I am really proud of the way these kids have made a difference for this football program.

Question 2: Thoughts on it being military appreciation day on Saturday, with a current player having already served in the military?

Turner: Last Friday night we went to a restaurant and they had a group of veterans there. It was great to hear those guys say, "coach you've got a great group of young men, they all thanked us individually for our service." I thought that was great respect by our kids on the team and also knowing that they have had family members involved in the service. It is a special time for all of us.

Question 3: What has made UNC Pembroke's offense so effective over the past couple of games?

Turner: They got a couple of transfers at wide receiver that have really made a difference for them. When you read about them from last game, I think it was like nine possessions in the first half and everybody scored. You know that they are productive and you know that they can score. One thing that I have noticed while watching them on video, is that offense and defense is how hard they play. They are young just like we are and they have very few seniors that are starting right now. They are a program that is on the rise as they play these freshman and sophomores. As a football team at Carson-Newman we have got to match them playing hard and matching that excitement and enthusiasm to get it done on Saturday.

Question 4: Why has your defense been so good late in games recently?

Turner: I think that Saturday we had a confidence about our kids that knew where we were in that ball game. I think that they were pretty well determined to come out and say this is who we are, this is how we are going to play and not leave any doubts.

Question 5: What does Sha'heem Stupart mean to this program coming down to the final games of his career?

Turner: He is a guy that is not about Sha'heem, he is a guy that is about this football team. That is the most important thing that stands out about him. He is never worried about his records or things like that. He really calls on the other kids on defense to play up at a certain level and we always want our kids playing up. He is a kid that is ready to standup and hold people accountable. There are very few people in this world that want to hold anybody accountable and if you are going to be a great football team then you got to have more than one guy hold people accountable. He is about leadership.

Question 6: How do you think the offensive line performed with the new man in the middle?

Turner: I think it was one of their better games. I think that they came off the ball as good as or better than they have all season.  They had the line of scrimmage moving better, much better effort behind our pad but we still got to get lower. I was so proud of Tavon for coming in and stepping up and taking care of the snap in the rain storm. He did a good job, I am very proud of him.

Question 7: What does Thomas Gibbs mean to some of the younger guys on the team and to this program?

Turner: He is the guy on the team that looks like the grandpa on the team. Thomas is a great young man to have on your football team and anybody that is a coach would take 25 or 30 of him. He's got a great attitude, effort and he is an overachiever. What a great compliment to have in life that you're an overachiever and you're going to be a success in life.

Question 8: How does the fourth quarter on Saturday sum up the way this season has gone for this team in how they have handled adversity?

Turner: I think that it was a great testament to them of how they handled it. I told our kids yesterday, every football team talks about this group got your back and that group has your back. Our football team says that and I really believe that they believe that. There were times Saturday that offense wasn't getting it done and the defense came in and held them down. They go up and score and we come right back and have a great kickoff return by Darvia DuBose. The offense went and stuck it in and got the ball again and did the same thing. It is great to see that be more than a catch phrase, there is difference in saying it and meaning it.  

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