Posted: Aug 05, 2015
VIDEO: Periscope of Ken Sparks Participation in #SACFB Digital Media Day
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head football coach Ken Sparks took time from his preparations for C-N's upcoming fall camp to answer questions in the South Atlantic Conference's Digital Media Day.
You can watch a replay of a Periscope of the proceedings and read his answers to questions below.
South Atlantic Conference Up next we have Coach Sparks from Carson-Newman. Good morning coach, thanks for being hereCoachSparks_C-N Sorry I'm delayed. I had to fetch our SID a Dr. Pepper.
Comment From SAC Fan 21 Are we gonna see the foggy gray for the home opener this year?
CoachSparks_C-N We could. The players make that decision. We haven't gotten far enough along to figure that out.
Comment From RabsReporter - HER... Good morning, Coach Sparks. Your team came the closest to beating L-R last season. What is the one thing you believe will be the key to getting the Eagles to the top of the SAC?
Comment From Football Champion Coach Sparks- We've all anticipated your switch to the spread offense this year. How has the transition gone?
CoachSparks_C-N It starts with being better blockers and tacklers and taking care of the ball better. We had the turnover disease at times last year. We have to be more disciplined too. We had a five yard penalty against L-R last year that really hurt us. We have to eliminate mistakes so we don't beat ourselves.
CoachSparks_C-N Except for two or three coaches having heart attacks, we're doing just fine. We've got new QB and WR coaches. The word is that they're going to put pressure on coach Turner to throw it 50 times a game.
CoachSparks_C-N We need to do whatever it takes to win, whatever that is.
Comment From SAC Fan 21 I want Ken Sparks autographed foogy gray jersey!
CoachSparks_C-N We just want to be able to execute what we do the best. And some of it is based on what the defense gives you. If they give you the run, take the run. If they give you the pass, take the pass.
CoachSparks_C-N We'll give you an old dingy white one from the mud bowl at Tusculum last year. Will that suffice?
Comment From SAC Fan 21 ill take a dingy white :)
Comment From RabsReporter - HER... Two-part question, Coach. What are the Eagles' biggest strength and who's one player on offense and defense who you expect to have an impact this season?
CoachSparks_C-N Our best strength is that we have a real hunger to be better people and players. I detect there's something special about this team in that they've accepted the challenge about improving themselves.
Comment From Lee Any young guys we should be watching this season?
CoachSparks_C-N As far as players. It's hard to say with having a three year starter at quarterback and four returning starters on the offensive line. Defensively, our secondary is very experienced. So it's up front offensively and in the back defensively where we've go some players who are ready to make an impact. But the work and buy in is my number one positive.
Comment From East TN Reporter After the loss of many defensive men, how is your depth at linebacker?
CoachSparks_C-N Lee, I hope we've got a bunch of young guys to talk about. But we can't evaluate that because we haven't even broken camps. But we've had a lot of young guys around for voluntary summer workouts. So we're excited about those possibilities.
Comment From Cavonthecall Who is the intern typing for you Coach Sparks?
CoachSparks_C-N I've been saying that we'll be very young. I've changed it to we'll be very exciting. I think we've got some players who will be very good once we leave here. We feel very good about the possibilities of Hayden Hester and Brian Bembry at defensive tackle. Then Brandon Ballard was a wrestling champ in Georgia. Jordan Pryce redshirted last year and he has upside. At defensive end, Phalen Bookmer and Jaysen Cook-Calhoun could shine.
Comment From SAC Fan 21 Who is your biggest rival? Would you say LR has become that team?
CoachSparks_C-N Demetrius Harris from Atlanta could also do well.
CoachSparks_C-N The gentleman typing is the Voice of the Eagles and our SID Adam Cavalier. He has no Mavis Beacon experience.
CoachSparks_C-N I'd say Lenoir-Rhyne has had more success against us than anyone in the last few years. As far as our number rival, every game has equal importance so I'd say that everyone is our number one rival.
Comment From East TN Reporter Would you expect any sleepers to stand out in odd places?
CoachSparks_C-N We think the kicker/punter will be a sleeper because chances are that it will be someone who's never done it before. Ben Ogle is back. But we've got a transfer in from Virginia Tech who could be a bit of a sleeper for us, no question. I think we'll have two or three running backs that could be really exciting players.
South Atlantic Conference That will do it for coach Sparks. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us this morning. Good luck this coming season.
CoachSparks_C-N Antonio Wimbush, Antonio Wimbush, Michael Bush and Marcus Williams all will have a chance to play.
CoachSparks_C-N Thanks so much for having me.
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