VIDEO: Mike Turner Press Conference
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Coach Mike Turner spoke with the media Tuesday ahead of Carson-Newman's NCAA Division II playoff game against Bowie State.
Opening statement
"We feel very blessed and honored to be a part of the 28 teams. Told our kids, gosh, there's 28 teams and I think there's 169 Division II teams that play football so it's an honor to be in there. There's 28 teams and those teams come in at certain levels, we've always told them to get to the playoffs that those that believe and really believe have a chance to make a run at it. We're going to go play Bowie State and travel to Maryland and Bowie State is 11-0 and they have a great football team. They've got players, both sides of the football, that dominate. That's proven by their stats. So, we expect the number one thing is we have to be Carson-Newman. We have to do what we do best and execute at a level that's offensively and defensively and in the kicking game and number one, be who you are, and be strong to that commitment.
On Bowie State's dual threat quarterback Ja'rome Johnson
"Well, I think you just described it very well right there. He's off and running with it. And that's your greatest fear on defense is being able to contain him. When the quarterback is the leading rusher, you know that's not by accident, that's by plan, a lot of it you have to make sure that he's contained, you have to make sure somebody is accountable for him in the middle and, gosh, what he's got on the outside to throw the football to. Very, very talented receivers that can run and go make plays."
On the Bowie State defense and their ability to force turnovers
"They do it by people, which is what most defenses do. They've got great players on defense, their front box right there is solid as we've played against talent wise. They're like our kids, we're trying to get them to expect to get turnovers, well, that's part of their game plan, and they're a very talented group and they've earned where they are statistically."
On Bowie State defensive tackle Joshua Pryor
"He's got great movement, he really does. Great movement, ability to shed a block, get off of that block and make a play. None of those guys up front or linebacker wise you see get stuck on blocks, and that's going to be a key for us. We've got to go make a block, we've got to go make it stick until we get somebody to run by them."
On how proud Turner is of the team's resiliency throughout the season
"It's awesome. I told them after the (Tusculum) game, I told them again yesterday, that is one of the better team wins, maybe in Carson-Newman history. For how efficient they were on offense and defense in the kicking game, and they played with a great vision, they played with passion and I thought they played with composure, and that's a game changer today in this game in football. So, it's going to take that same kind of effort and more, it's going to take that same kind of mindset and more, to travel to Maryland to get to done. I've told them, 'Hey, they're 28 teams in this, these are the best in Division II,' I haven't seen anybody that's not capable. Not capable of winning and not capable of making a run at it, so we're going there and we're developing a plan right now we got started yesterday with the kids…a great game plan on all parts of it and be sound in what we do. Then you let kids play.
On how fun it is to play somebody new in the playoffs with the first meeting between Carson-Newman and Bowie State
"That's a lot better, that's a lot better for us. They've got great talent and great athletes and our advantage is they haven't played us before, probably haven't played anybody like us, so we have to make that work for us. And I'm sure their game plan right now is working to take care of that. So, on defense, we've got a great job of a quarterback that is a dual threat and on offense we've got to find a way to execute what we do, make sure we don't get away from who we are and go out there and play wide open and have a good time."
On how this week will work for the team getting ready for the week ahead
"We want to make it for our players the same as if we were going to Mars Hill, or Wingate, or anyplace else. We're going to leave on Thursday evening and drive part of the way to keep them from having bus lag, can't say jet lag, so it's bus lag. That part, we want to take it off the players as much as we can, that's where coaching has come involved this time of year and they've been in. We started gathering information Sunday night and early yesterday morning and again early this morning, getting video broken down, getting game plans ready to go. You want the kids to be able to be open and relaxed, you want them to go, 'Hey, that's what they set forth in a game plan.' We'll watch video, we'll go through practice, make sure our drills we're doing corrections but keep as much off of them so that their main focus is getting there and having a great ball game on Saturday."
On keeping the same offensive mentality of spreading the ball to different people
"We basically traveled this year to away trips with 62 players. To take it down to 58 is probably not stressing us too much, so, the kids that have been playing in those positions are still going to be there, they'll be part of that 58. We will have two or three alternates in case somebody got sick or something like that, but we're pretty much set. Those 58 that are on that list right now have been those 58 that have been playing on the road, so that part of it shouldn't affect us."
On the biggest key offensively against Bowie State
"It (the key) goes to the whole offense and that's operating in a tempo that we want to operate at, to make sure that we're multiple in our formations and motions, but to be who we are. Be who we are as an offense, and that's what we're teaching our kids right now, we started that yesterday with video about, 'Hey, we got to go be Carson-Newman,' that's what we got to do. If we do that well, then we're in the ball game, and us doing that well also means take care of the football, no question about it. If we can play turnover free, I think we've got a great shot at it. If we have a turnover, that's part of the deal and you find another way to come back from it. Our defense needs to be the same kind of mindset and that's going to make turnovers and make things happen. But the main part of that, is let those kids play, let those kids enjoy where they're at and enjoy that experience. They believe and trust and let's go on with it."
On how critical it has been to have experienced players on the team for a playoff game
"And you want that every week and you've got seniors and some are leaders, some are leaders by action, which works out well also. I think those kids know that they can depend on each other and that goes back to the word trust from the very get go of this season. Trust that each side is going to do (right) by the ball, trust that a guy with you on that side is going to make sure it gets done and you're going to play on the road, you're going to play the first NCAA playoff game anybody on this team has ever played in. You want to make sure that the game is not bigger…don't make the game bigger than what it is. It's a road trip, they're on a mission to go win a football game Saturday at 1 p.m. Yes, it can advance you or not, but the main thing is don't get caught up in all the things around you. Make sure that you're caught in your team, make sure that you're caught up and your focused on getting the job done."
On how Bowie State produces turnovers
"When you talk about turnovers it's a combination of 11 guys getting the job done. I think that's what makes turnovers. Those guys sacking the quarterback, stripping a fumble, those guys getting a pick because of pressure from up front. That's from getting a receiver knocked off his route, so I think it's what they do as a whole. And what they do as a whole is pretty daggone good, they're good at what they do and how they do it."
On Troy Dendy being the SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year
"He's been an impact player from the time he's got in the game and he's come a long way, maturing as a young man. To be the freshman of the year in this conference is a great honor for him and a great honor for this program. Hopefully that's just a look at what Troy Dendy can do now and what Troy Dendy can do in the future. Like an Antonio Wimbush when he was a freshman. And you hope you've got two or three guys there like a Toot Johnson and some other guys that are coming along like that, because a running back is very critical in this offense."
