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00:00 All right, first off, just really proud of our football team.
00:05 Come out early start today, be able to play 60 minutes,
00:10 start off talking about our defense.
00:13 I mean, that was a great performance.
00:16 I saw that they battled throughout, made the plays that were necessary,
00:20 was able to create some takeaways, and just really played at a high level.
00:24 And that was an offense that had a lot of variations to what they could do.
00:28 I thought we were able to contain the run game.
00:30 I thought we did good things in third down situations.
00:34 And just really thought our guys played hard and played physical.
00:37 And that's something we've been challenging them with,
00:40 is to put together that complete game defensively.
00:43 I thought we were able to do that.
00:44 There's still a couple plays here and there that we'll be able to improve upon.
00:49 That was big.
00:49 And I thought our special teams unit really responded well.
00:53 I mean, obviously, the punt returns by Keon,
00:55 all 10 guys that were there around him did a wonderful job.
00:59 I thought our guys, our coverage units,
01:02 being able to flip the field, all the different things.
01:05 I was really proud of how those guys did offensively.
01:08 There were some moments where we weren't as efficient as we needed to.
01:12 Obviously, we've been great in the red zone this year and
01:15 had a couple opportunities that I've got to be better.
01:18 I told the offense, it's on me and we'll be better when we're in there.
01:23 Because we've done a great job throughout the course of the season.
01:25 There can't be a time that we get down there and we don't score.
01:27 So offensively, on the ball, right?
01:31 Didn't have a turnover and that was one of the big keys to today.
01:36 That was the defense that had created 12 of them.
01:38 And we knew if we'd come out on the positive end of the turnover margin,
01:41 we'd put ourselves in a good position.
01:43 But our offense kept playing and they kept hammering away at it.
01:47 And I thought they did a nice job in their response.
01:50 And obviously, what we were able to do,
01:52 we got a chance to play a lot of different players.
01:54 It was good seeing guys.
01:55 You get in there and make the most of their opportunities.
01:59 And just all in all, it was a good team win.
02:02 And for us to be able to continue to take positive steps for
02:06 ultimately where we're trying to get to.
02:07 And just that continued improvement.
02:11 And I do want to say, it was great for 12 o'clock kickoff.
02:15 Our fan base, back to back, you sell out for this week.
02:20 We have three straight home games.
02:21 And for everybody coming in, obviously the energy, the excitement,
02:29 something that our team really fuels off of from this morning at the Legacy Walk.
02:34 The marching chiefs were awesome.
02:36 I thought it was a great atmosphere there in today's game.
02:39 So I do want to thank everybody for coming out
02:40 and just to really appreciate all the support.
02:43 First question will be on the right.
02:46 Keon's had really good performances since he's been here.
02:49 Did you get a sense, I don't know, with Johnny out or for whatever reason
02:52 that he took his game to another level today?
02:55 I mean, it's how he prepares.
02:57 And you never know what it's always going to look like,
03:00 but you've got to be ready for your opportunity.
03:02 And I thought he did a really nice job with that.
03:06 Whether it was in special teams, obviously, you know,
03:08 offensively had some big plays, some great catches.
03:11 I told him he had a couple missed opportunities
03:14 where it could have possibly even been better.
03:16 But, you know, just, you know, I love the way he works.
03:20 And, you know, he really is a very unselfish player.
03:24 You know, today the ball got to him and, you know, he tried to capitalize on that.
03:28 You know, guys around him doing a good job.
03:30 But, you know, it can't – it will never be, you know, okay just to show up
03:37 because somebody else is doing it.
03:39 It's always about us.
03:40 It's about, you know, going out there and being the best we can be.
03:42 And, you know, obviously I thought that Keon was –
03:46 played at an extremely high level today.
03:48 And, you know, but you watch him work in practice
03:50 and I thought he had a great week in practice in how he attacked each rep.
03:58 Coach, with your team now 6-0 at the halfway point of the season,
04:01 with six more to go, how do you keep them focused
04:03 and playing at such a high level week to week?
04:06 I mean, I want us to be better.
04:08 You know, I am grateful to be 6-0.
04:11 I'm so proud of this team of doing the things that were necessary
04:14 to get to this point because you get one shot at it.
04:18 You get one shot at each game.
04:19 You get one shot at each play.
04:21 You know, ultimately there's been – there have been plenty of moments in games
04:24 where, you know, things haven't gone exactly how we wanted to
04:27 and, you know, we get a chance to showcase our response.
04:30 But then you have to learn from it.
04:31 We can't make the same mistakes over and over and over again.
04:34 And so those are the things that, you know, it's not about –
04:36 it's not about the teams that we're playing.
04:38 And I all do respect who we play.
04:39 I mean, I've got, you know, there was a team that – a talented team.
04:45 You know, obviously they got in some tough situations.
04:47 But, you know, our guys, you know, it's about us.
04:49 It's about how we continue to push, how we continue to improve.
04:52 Making sure that, you know, that needs to be our ultimate focus.
04:56 You know, next week we'll have another very talented team
04:58 that is going to present all the challenges that they bring.
05:02 But for us it's about just making sure that our details,
05:05 our fundamentals, our communication, you know,
05:07 making the most of the opportunity when the play comes to you.
05:11 You know, and that's – that is our focus.
05:14 So it's not just about what the record says.
05:16 Because, you know, ultimately, I mean, it's –
05:19 I want to be better than what that record says with how we play.
05:23 Two quick questions.
05:26 The first one on Keyon's catch in the first quarter.
05:29 I mean, that's one of the highlight real plays of the season.
05:32 Does it surprise you at all anymore?
05:34 And what did you – are you even saying anything to yourself when he catches it?
05:36 Or are you just on to the next play?
05:38 Like you allow yourself a chance to look at the video board and watch the replay?
05:41 I say, wow.
05:44 And then I call the next play.
05:46 Just quickly.
05:47 But no, I mean, it's a – you know, we've got a lot of great playmakers.
05:51 And I think, you know, when you see them, you know,
05:54 put themselves in good positions, you know,
05:56 that was as good of a catch as you're going to see.
05:59 And, you know, he goes to the next play.
06:02 And I'm sure, you know, when you get a break and you look back at it,
06:04 you know, something that you're – you know, we'll probably see a few times.
06:06 But, you know, ultimately that's what makes great players great,
06:09 is they expect to make the great plays in those –
06:12 you know, when opportunities present themselves.
06:15 But yeah, no, I definitely appreciated it.
06:18 And then with Jordan, there were times on the field
06:20 where he seems visibly frustrated.
06:22 But I assume that you like that, you want him to be invested.
06:25 It's a positive, not a negative.
06:27 But is that – it just seems like he's been more visibly frustrated
06:31 than he has any time in his career.
06:33 Is that because he knows this offense, as good as it's been,
06:36 can be even better?
06:37 Yeah, I mean, he's the ultimate competitor.
06:39 And, you know, he expects perfection out of himself.
06:43 And I love – because it's not – you know,
06:46 there's some guys that get frustrated that can be bad for your team.
06:51 There's some guys that get – if they don't – if it's not directed.
06:54 I mean, it's – for him, like he wants to be everything to the elite level,
06:59 which it should be.
07:00 That's how it should be for another great football player.
07:03 And, you know, to hear him on the sideline,
07:05 to hear the ownership, you know, it's – I told him,
07:08 there's a set that I didn't like.
07:11 I didn't like some of the things I did.
07:12 I didn't like some of the calls I made.
07:13 So, you know what, get better.
07:15 I mean, I'll yell at myself, that's part of it, right?
07:17 But, you know, he can continue to bring that energy.
07:23 Because even though you see maybe a visibly upset,
07:26 like he's still an – like it's encouraging to our team
07:30 when a guy comes over and if it's him or if it's something that he sees,
07:33 he's taking ownership, hey, we'll be better in this.
07:36 Hey, I'll do this.
07:37 That's where, you know, because there's times you'll see players
07:41 that get visibly upset and if it becomes a negative,
07:43 well they definitely can pull down your team.
07:45 But he is a – he is an unbelievable leader for our guys.
07:49 And, you know, I'm glad that he wants to be perfect.
07:52 And I'm going to continue to push him to be his best.
07:55 But it still comes down to the response.
07:57 And, you know, he got – a couple times he got hit today.
08:00 I mean, that's a – that defense, you know, there's –
08:02 there's going to be a lot of pressure.
08:03 He's had a lot of different things that can challenge an offense.
08:08 You know, the touchdown pass to Keon, you know, was pretty remarkable.
08:14 I mean, to be able to stand in there and, you know,
08:16 he got – he took a good shot on that one.
08:19 But, you know, he's just – he's a complete quarterback
08:21 and he's continuing to get better.
08:22 You know, I thought he did good things with his legs when he needed to today.
08:25 And, you know, there's still plenty of plays
08:27 that we'll all be able to get better from.
08:31 Coach, you mentioned that Syracuse presents
08:33 so many different looks offensively.
08:35 They're in a lot of different formations.
08:37 They had a lot of crossing routes.
08:38 How do you think the defense fared in communication today?
08:40 I thought it was much better.
08:41 That's one of the things that, you know,
08:42 we've really been putting a lot of time and emphasis
08:44 in our communication and trust in our eyes.
08:47 You know, there's still a couple of plays where, you know,
08:50 just we can clean it up, you know, even to another level.
08:54 But, you know, I thought our guys did an outstanding job
08:57 and really did a good job of trying to keep everything in front
09:02 and be a force them to have to earn it.
09:06 Hey Coach, having the '93 team back today, just having them back,
09:10 what do they mean to this program
09:12 and what does it mean to you to recognize them today?
09:14 You know, I mean, there's so many great players
09:15 that have come through this program.
09:16 So many great teams.
09:18 You know, for that one to – you know, they broke through.
09:23 They were the ones, the first national championship team.
09:25 You know, what they did, how they did it.
09:28 What I love about that group, I mean, I was a fan.
09:30 I mean, I know I said like I remember that 1993
09:34 national championship license plate was up on my wall
09:37 and I get to represent these guys that were here last night
09:40 and be around our team and it's just such a great responsibility.
09:43 But it's not just the jersey numbers they wore.
09:46 When you get to understand the men,
09:47 when you see them together and the relationships,
09:50 you see how much they care.
09:51 That is what's special about being a Florida State Seminole.
09:55 Right?
09:56 Because, I mean, those guys, they were here,
09:58 they were part of our walk last night.
10:01 And I mean, just to see them embrace each other, it's special.
10:05 And I'm forever grateful for that group.
10:07 You know, I'm really close with a bunch of them.
10:09 And, you know, they're always welcome back.
10:11 But, you know, as I told them last night,
10:13 I mean, they did something that, you know,
10:15 is forever remembered and celebrated
10:17 because they were able to break through
10:19 and bring that first national championship
10:21 here to Florida State.
10:23 But who they are off the field,
10:25 it tells you why they were able to accomplish it on the field.
10:28 The defense limited Garrett Schroeder
10:33 to negative 10 yards today, rushing on the ground.
10:36 Did it help that you guys had experience
10:37 against Castellanos and Daniels?
10:39 Did it help the defense going into this game,
10:40 facing kind of a mobile quarterback
10:42 and shutting him down?
10:43 I mean, we played -- it's been crazy
10:45 just how many, you know, dual-set
10:47 running quarterbacks we've played.
10:48 So it's good to see us getting better in that.
10:51 But, yeah, I've got so much respect for Garrett Schroeder.
10:54 I think he's tough. I think he runs physical.
10:57 I mean, we knew we had to disrupt him
10:59 because, you know, I've seen it work both ways.
11:02 I mean, if he gets in a rhythm and he gets going,
11:04 I mean, he could really make you pay.
11:06 And, you know, I told him after the game,
11:08 I mean, he's one of those quarterbacks
11:10 that when I watch, I mean, I see a real guy.
11:12 And so, you know, I wish him the best
11:14 all the rest of the season.
11:16 But, you know, I was proud of our defense
11:17 and how they responded and how they were able to execute
11:18 the plan that we had in place.
11:20 I thought our safeties came up and, you know,
11:22 really did a good job in their run fits.
11:24 And, you know, you saw Shaim Brown.
11:26 You know, we had two guys broke the rock today.
11:28 You know, I thought we needed --
11:29 you absolutely needed a defensive representative.
11:32 And, you know, Shaim did -- had a great game.
11:35 You know, and just what he did, how he played.
11:37 And then, you know, obviously, Keon.
11:41 I think speaks for itself.
11:44 The touchdown that Hykeem Williams had,
11:46 obviously a lot of impressive athleticism there.
11:48 But for him to even get rewarded,
11:49 like he was blocking, I think, the touchdown play before,
11:53 how important is it to see that freshman
11:54 kind of buying into the making?
11:55 Man, he is just absolutely ascending.
11:58 And, you know, he's had to go through it.
12:02 And it's one of the benefits.
12:03 You know, he got here in January.
12:04 And whether it's tour duty, spring practice, you know,
12:08 he learned, you know, quickly, you know,
12:10 the shape that's necessary and, you know,
12:12 some of the commitments and sacrifices of what it takes.
12:15 But, like, that's one of my -- one of the best young men.
12:18 Like, the character of him, who he is, you know,
12:21 his smile, his approach, you know,
12:23 just the joy that he has for teammates.
12:26 And you see that selflessness as a blocker.
12:28 And then, you know, I was excited
12:30 because, you know, you got to see him with the ball
12:31 in his hand in open spaces.
12:33 And I think he took it to a whole new gear,
12:35 which was exciting for us to see.
12:37 So, he's -- I'd say probably the last month,
12:40 you've seen some really positive strides from him.
12:43 And he's building in his confidence.
12:44 But, you know, as a true freshman,
12:46 helping us in special teams,
12:47 obviously continuing to prepare for his opportunities.
12:50 And, you know, I thought that was a great play.
12:53 And great plays, even when he didn't have the ball
12:56 in his hands.
12:58 Going back to the 1993 team being in the stadium tonight,
13:01 do you think there was added pressure to perform?
13:04 And what was the mindset behind that?
13:07 I mean, there's -- you got to come perform every day.
13:11 Like, I'm grateful for everybody that we represent.
13:14 And, you know, to have that team here,
13:16 you know, we want to play well every day.
13:18 But it really can't --
13:22 pressure's going to be what you make of it.
13:24 There are expectations here.
13:25 There's expectations that we have as a program
13:27 that we want to play our best every time
13:29 we step on that field.
13:30 Expectations that we improve when we get better.
13:33 But if it's only about who's there with you
13:36 or, you know, in front of you, you know, it's not real.
13:39 And, you know, we respect every player
13:41 that's ever come through this program.
13:43 We respect, you know, obviously who
13:45 and what we represent in our fan base,
13:47 this wonderful university.
13:48 But that's -- you know, if you're going to say
13:50 there's pressure, it's every day.
13:52 And if you don't like that, don't come to Florida State
13:54 because this is a truly special place.
13:57 We'll have two more.
13:59 We'll go to Ira on the right.
14:01 It seemed like a few times earlier this season
14:03 when other teams got drives, sustained drives,
14:06 the defense had a hard time kind of stopping it.
14:09 At the end, like, they would maybe bend
14:11 and give up the score.
14:12 Today, it seemed like they did a better job of, you know,
14:15 even if they gave up some plays, shutting down the drive.
14:17 Was that something that --
14:19 No, they absolutely responded throughout the course of day.
14:20 And it was really just play the next play.
14:22 You know, I mean, nobody wants to give up a play.
14:24 Nobody wants something bad to happen.
14:26 But you go to the next play, trust your technique,
14:29 trust your fundamentals.
14:30 You know, one of the things we talk about is every play
14:31 is its own play.
14:32 And, you know, you got to learn lessons
14:34 from what you experience.
14:35 But, you know, still, when you get in that moment,
14:37 man, it's time for best.
14:39 It's time for, you know, going out there
14:40 and being able to execute.
14:42 And they did a great job with that today.
14:45 You know, it was one of our better performances.
14:47 So I was really proud of them.
14:50 Hey, Mike, we've talked about Keon as a receiver.
14:53 What about him as a returner?
14:54 What makes him so special in that aspect of the game?
14:56 I mean, he's a playmaker.
14:58 You know, it's not something that he had done
14:59 before he got here.
15:01 But, you know, you see playmaking ability.
15:03 You know, he's got confidence.
15:05 You know, he believes in what he can do.
15:07 You know, that was a big, I'd say,
15:10 question mark coming into the season
15:11 of who's going to assume that role.
15:14 But he's embraced that.
15:15 And, you know, you saw last week he had a 30-yard return.
15:17 You know, this week had a 70-yard return.
15:20 That's only -- he's finding his way into the end zone.
15:22 It was really close.
15:23 But, I mean, he's a -- you know, he is just
15:25 such a special young man.
15:26 And he's continuing to work to be better in that.
15:28 But you see that confidence is growing
15:30 throughout the course of the season
15:31 and just a real weapon for us.
15:33 So, you know, proud of him for the work he's doing there.
15:36 All right, thank you, guys. Have a great day.
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