Mike Clowney Opening Statement: Homecoming, it's always great having people back on campus. You know, we're in another little battle up the street again this week. I think we are pretty much the same time, but it's always great to have our people back home and Homecoming is always a bigger, more fun game for us. Senior day, you know, we've got about 15 guys that this is their last time playing at what we have started to turn a little bit more here at the Creek, and just super excited about watching those guys get out, play, perform in their last opportunity here. Hopefully, we can play well enough to show them how much we appreciate them and what they have done here. And then the football game. UVA Wise is a very worthy opponent, and it will be a good football game.
Q1: Let's focus on seniors. I mean, back-to-back years where the four-year, five-year, six-year member of the class are not big numbers. Part of that is due to Covid, and you will probably have it swing the other way here in two and three years. But guys like Alonzo Houston, Caleb Goins, Braxton Westfield, and Trayzel Jureidini-Wyche. The numbers are not many, but the quality of person and player who has been here for four years is pretty substantial.
Yep. We had our chapel before the game last week. You know, Marty had all of our seniors come stand up, and he asked the questions of like how many of you guys have been here four years? You know, there was only like six guys. You go back and you look at the story of those guys that's been here for a while and, and what they've been through and that's kind of what he talked about. Alonzo, you know, just started from the bottom, now you're here. Caleb Goins started from the bottom, now you're here, and even with Braxton, like with some success that you had, you know, come in that first year as ineligible. Anytime you come into a program you can expect to have some type of difficulties, and then you get into today's world with the transfer pool and all that stuff and just have guys to stick it out from beginning to end is something I think that's a testament to them, their character, and the people that raised them.
Q2: Still, though, some transfers that you honor, and they have been impactful as well. Guys like Ivan Corbin and Mike Peppin have come in and obviously done things, started at quarterback, and started on the offensive line. What have those guys done to compliment those four, five, six-year players who have been around the block here for a minute?
You know, I think when you bring guys in it is a two-way street. When you bring guys in, the biggest thing you want guys that transfer in is to be able to adapt to your culture, and I think that's something that those guys have done really well. You go back several years from now, and we talked to guys last year that kind of transferred in. So something that's important to me as a coach, and I think that should be important to players and their parents when they're looking for a place to go is putting yourself at a place to where you can always have something to be a part of, and the way they adapted to the culture, interjecting themselves here, they're Carson-Newman Eagles forever. So, you know, regardless of how long that time was, we appreciate the time that we've had with them. I know us as a coaching staff, we try to do everything that we can to maximize that time. You know, whether it's a year or six years.
Q3: The opponent is UVA Wise, and it feels like a Cavalier team that had its struggles early on, but man is on the cusp. Two just gut-wrenching losses at home to Tusculum and Mars Hill. Probably two losses that Dane Damron came away from and said we should have had these. But then a quality win on the road at Erskine. Just how close do you feel like UVA Wise is, and how does that bear into the seriousness and the preparation?
I think they've been very close, and I think we were in that situation to where you're sitting there and you're fighting every way to try to find a win. It is hard. But, you know, the thing that they've done is they continue to stay in the fight. The big thing for us is we have to continue to focus on us and what we need to do to get better. We aren't there either. We still have some climbing that we need to do and that's what we need to focus on.
Q4: One of the most dynamic players in the South Atlantic Conference is Carter. Sixth in the country in return yardage. He leads the league in interceptions. He's top 10 in the country in interceptions. What sticks out to you about that defensive back and what he's capable of?
Super athletic, capable of doing a multitude of things where they do a good job of giving him some variety. Great cover guy, and they'll give him some stuff off the edge to where he gets involved in the back field. You know, he's just a really good football player.
Q5: They've rotated quarterbacks a fair bit. Obviously, familiar with Lendon Redwine. He's completed a pretty substantial percentage of his passes in the last two years against Carson-Newman, but Juwan Dent got some run last week in loss to Mars Hill. How are they similar? How are they different in what they do?
Yeah, I think they're both very similar. I think they've got a good scheme. They kind of pretty much stick to it. I think the biggest thing they're probably trying to do is figure out how to put points on the board. Sometimes you kind of do a little change up here and there to figure out if you can get yourself across the finish line. But I think both are quality players and we have to be prepared to play either way.
Q6: UVA wise kind of has become known for the quick tempo, and the short to intermediate passing game. What are the challenges in defending them?
You know, the big thing is getting set and staying focused. A lot of times, especially when something goes wrong, we can't focus on what just went wrong, we have to focus on the next play. I think that's where they create some problems, but we just have to be prepared to get lined up and go run. We played a bunch of different kids, so from that standpoint, we've got to be smart with substitutions, but at the same time, kids just have to be ready to play.
Q7: The message pretty much all year long has been building on consistency. The pendulum swung back to the good side against Emory & Henry on Saturday. How do you keep it there?
You know, I think for us it was going in yesterday just talking about figuring out again how to give our best and trying to have that momentum, trying to put this thing back together over and over and over again. One example I had was we had a kid that hit a punt at practice about two weeks ago. One of our other players said why is he not our punter? He was like that was crazy, he hit that. I was like, you know, the thing is if he hits it like that every single time, he would probably play on Sunday. The bottom line is he's got to get to the point that he can do that every single time. We're just still working on getting our kids to understand that it doesn't matter how you played last week, good or bad. The thing is what type of performance are we going to work to put together this week? So, it is about learning how to forget the past and move towards the future. Then still, too, working to give your absolute very best every time you show up on the field.
Q8: Still have a crack at a winning season should you win out. How much of a message is that these last two weeks or is that something more like just worry about the process and giving your best in this week?
I think it's something that's important for us to know. So, every game win or lose this year, I've come in, and we just talked about the game we just played and getting ready for next week. That was one thing that came up Saturday, and I think it's something that our guys need to be aware of. I think it's something that's worthy of fighting for. I'd be a terrible coach if I didn't tell them that and give them the opportunity to know what's happening and now, we have to go fight for that.
Q9: The game on Saturday featured a lot of passes. You threw 28 times. Haven't had that happen since you were playing 1996 in the national title game against Northern Colorado. Is that just take what the defense gives you or can that be a part of the process?
Yeah, it is part of the process because in order to get to where we ultimately want to be, we've still got to be able to throw the football better than we have, so it is good. Saturday's game, to be able to throw the football to win is something that I think for us as an offense, we've got to prove that we are capable of doing that. People will put us in that situation to force us to have to prove it. So, to be able to accomplish that last week, you know, now we've gotten it done, so we can do it if we need to. We go back to that word again. Can we consistently do what we need to do to get to where we need to be with our passing game?
Q10: As a result, you had some players step up and do some things. Meeks into the end zone for the first time. Zack Chalmers with his first career reception. You utilized Tyree Nelson in the passing game in ways that you hadn't all season. How nice is it to see the results bear out for some guys who no doubt have worked hard throughout the season?
I think that's your big thing is seeing the results. With Tyree, just getting those out there to know, okay, we can play throwing catch. It's not awkward when we have that guy out there. But then it's even in the game with Zack where he catches the ball, and he's standing there. I'm like next time catch the ball and get up field, you know? But it was his first catch. I said, was that really your first catch? He's like, yeah that was my first catch. He's played in ball games, but he just hadn't gotten his hand on the ball yet. So, now I think when he goes out there and we target him several other times, that expectation of I'm not just out here because Braxton went to the sideline because he just ran around a long route. I'm out here and there's a chance of me being able to get in the game, affect the game, and make plays, you know? So, hopefully that's something that would propel him to continue to pick up his progress and develop as a player. Cade has played consistently for us all year. He's done a great job blocking on the perimeter, caught some footballs, and then a spectacular catch in the end zone. He is able to get one foot down at a critical point in the game to where we really need a touchdown. So, that was exciting to see.
