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00:00 I thought it was a productive day today.
00:03 We got good work and introduction of what we have for this week.
00:06 Some things, some areas of things we need to be able to clean up as we head
00:11 into tomorrow.
00:12 But, you know, get to a championship week, man, it's still about the improvement.
00:17 It's still about the growth.
00:18 It's still about the fundamentals, you know, bringing that edge
00:20 and everything that we're doing.
00:21 We've got some good competitive work against each other, offense versus defense.
00:26 Cut down a little bit just in time of time being out here, you know,
00:32 being at this point.
00:33 But, you know, I thought there was some good work that was done.
00:36 And we'll come out tomorrow and continue to push to be better.
00:40 Going into this week, it's the last time after 2000 that both Ford State
00:45 and Samuel won the college championship.
00:48 What would that mean for the city and what does it mean?
00:52 Well, you know, I obviously got a lot of respect for Coach Simmons
00:54 and the FAMU program.
00:56 They've done a remarkable job, you know, what he's done in his time there.
01:00 You know, football is important here.
01:01 And, you know, we have an obligation of how we play and who we represent.
01:07 And, you know, I know FAMU has the same ideals and thoughts
01:11 and philosophies when it comes to that.
01:12 We talked before the season, and, you know, I was rooting for him
01:15 and for their team.
01:17 It would be huge for our city and community just having both the colleges here
01:22 being able to push and achieve at a very high level.
01:26 So, hopeful that both of us can get that done.
01:29 [Indistinct talking]
01:33 I will now.
01:34 [Laughter]
01:36 I meant to ask you yesterday, the play where Brock rolls out and throws it,
01:40 is that an RPO kind of decision before the snap?
01:44 You laughed when I brought it up to Coach Atkins.
01:46 He laughed about it.
01:48 What does it say about that kid in that moment?
01:51 Believe in himself.
01:53 You don't have to worry about his belief in himself.
01:55 [Laughter]
01:56 What were you saying in that moment?
02:00 We're all continuing to work.
02:02 [Laughter]
02:05 It was good.
02:06 I'll say that that was a great moment for him to be able to go in
02:13 and have to execute.
02:14 He saw what he saw.
02:16 And, you know, there's opportunities to grow.
02:19 And, you know, I wasn't mad about the decision,
02:24 especially with the response of what he said, situation,
02:28 all those other things that come into it.
02:31 But, I mean, he puts a lot of time and study.
02:34 He's really smart, you know, very confident.
02:39 But, you know, his approach and his humility to work is something I just love about him.
02:44 And, you know, it's going to be a fun one to watch grow.
02:46 And he'll be ready if his time is called.
02:49 Was it a good one?
02:51 It was getting there, yes.
02:53 Okay.
02:54 All right.
02:55 [Inaudible]
03:00 Hugh's done a great job throughout this year.
03:02 You know, he's somebody that you've got to remember a year ago he was in high school playing mostly receiver.
03:07 You know, he's a personal athlete.
03:10 He did so many good things.
03:12 You know, the guy that we offered, you know, he'd come to camp.
03:14 You know, he liked his film.
03:16 He came to camp.
03:17 And, I mean, I really was just so impressed with, you know, the work, you know, the ability.
03:22 You know, and he's continued to grow.
03:25 You know, being here in the spring, you know,
03:27 really put him on kind of a fast track to a guy that we thought would have a chance to play.
03:30 And he's gotten better throughout the fall.
03:32 And so, you know, I think that's showing up.
03:35 You know, it's still technique and fundamentals and consistency with that.
03:37 But, you know, he's going to have a bright future.
03:40 This is kind of a weird question, but why is it important to you for the players to always have, like, natural suits on?
03:46 On the road?
03:47 I just think it's -- yeah, presentation matters.
03:50 And, you know, it's -- you know, when you -- you know, when you take time to go get ready,
03:56 and on game day, you know, we wear suits at home.
03:58 We wear a suit and a tie because we get to walk through the -- to be able to do our legacy walk.
04:03 I mean, in football, there's so many times that you don't get a sense of who the player is.
04:09 You know, when they step on the field, they put on a helmet.
04:11 You don't get the face-to-face recognition.
04:13 And so, you know, during the legacy walk, I mean, I want to present our guys, you know, the way that they should be presented.
04:20 You know what I mean?
04:21 They're first class, first class individuals, first class young men.
04:23 And when you see them and they've got the suit and the shirt and the tie on the road, we wear polos, you know,
04:28 because obviously we're going straight to the stadium.
04:30 But it's also the right, wrong, or indifferent.
04:33 It's just you take a few extra minutes to get ready.
04:35 And, you know, when you do that, you know, I've always -- whenever you dress up to go to something,
04:40 it's just signifying the importance of the event.
04:44 And, you know, you get so few in college football.
04:47 You know, I just want them to get it all.
04:54 Talent and execution help win games, but your experience coaching these conference championship games,
04:59 as a coach, do you feel like you have kind of more impact on a game plan the way they play out?
05:05 Yeah, I mean, we all do.
05:07 I mean, everything gets ramped up as you get into the postseason.
05:10 You know, everything is -- the competition level obviously is taking another step.
05:17 But, you know, it's everybody being all point, the details, the execution, the situations.
05:24 You know, taking -- there's more film on you now than there's ever been.
05:29 And you get to this point, I mean, you never know fully what to expect.
05:32 But you've got to be able to adapt and adjust.
05:34 And so, you know, it's one of my favorite experiences.
05:39 I've been fortunate to be in a few of them.
05:40 And, you know, this is a -- it's a fun week to be a part of.
05:45 And it takes us all.
05:47 Some of these games recently, I know for Stretmo and then obviously for Pierce-Holford,
05:51 you guys have done a really good job of eliminating some of their key players.
05:54 How big of a focus is that?
05:57 I mean, it's -- you know, these guys, they have some very talented receivers.
06:01 And, you know, it's going to take all hands on deck to be able to try to eliminate
06:07 some of their big playability.
06:09 You know, they do a great job of being able to create angles in a run game,
06:13 you know, a variation of schemes that they'll run.
06:16 You know, so it's big.
06:19 You know, obviously you've got to limit explosive plays,
06:22 and these guys are very explosive players on the perimeter.
06:24 And if you get caught slipping them, they'll make you pay.
06:28 So, you know, our guys have done a nice job in the last few weeks
06:32 and really throughout the season, just in our past defense.
06:35 I've been really proud of that.
06:36 But we've got a big challenge this week, so we've got to rise to the occasion.
06:39 [Inaudible]
06:53 Yeah, I mean, that's a big thing is, you know,
06:55 make sure the guys are going to be able to go out there and execute a game plan.
06:58 You'll be able to give all that they have.
07:01 And, you know, I know they've been working hard at it.
07:04 But it is.
07:05 You know, when you go out on the perimeter, it becomes such a matchup game.
07:10 And, you know, I love having the depth and the versatility to be able to play
07:15 that game, you know, within the offensive line as well.
07:18 And so I think our guys have done a nice job in showcasing their versatility
07:22 but also being available and ready, you know, when they need to be.
07:26 How challenging is it to balance this time of year signing days,
07:31 approaching portals about to open?
07:33 Extremely.
07:34 Extremely challenging.
07:35 And that's where, you know, somebody asked me yesterday,
07:38 they said what's the difference in just in college football?
07:41 And you play in a championship game, you know, one of the good things,
07:45 I would say right now, is at least there's a dead period for this week.
07:48 And, you know, I know most schools are meeting with their players
07:51 and having those one-on-one conversations
07:53 and getting an understanding for the next steps.
07:56 You know, you see with the early signing date, I mean, it is every minute matters.
08:02 And so, you know, we try to be as efficient and organized as possible
08:07 to make sure that we're getting a good balance.
08:09 But when it comes to evaluations of players that might be available
08:14 or, you know, the constant communication with the guys we are recruiting,
08:19 you know, preparing a game plan, you know, this week for a championship game,
08:23 I mean, it's a lot.
08:25 But I'm grateful to be in that position and, you know, for the opportunity.
08:29 You've got to be very organized, and we take a lot of pride
08:33 in trying to be efficient with that.
08:35 -You're good? -All right, guys. Thanks so much.