Player/Coaches Media Session: K-State
November 17, 2014 03:33 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2014, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Shannon Dawson
On if coming into the program already familiar with the tradition helped Trickett
Yeah, I think so. He grew up in this building basically, so I mean he had some pride about the program. He understands it, so I mean it definitely helps, but I don’t know how much. Ultimately you have to play the game, so you want kids to care obviously and understand the tradition and history and buy in. That doesn’t mean you have to be from here. You just have to understand and embrace the traditions of this place. He wanted to play here anyway so that’s good.
On if the pressure of being familiar with the program’s history was ever a negative
I don’t think so. No matter where you play you should want to win, so if that becomes a negative than that’s a problem – a personal problem, so wanting to win is not a negative or wanting to do good.
On if this game is one where you have to patient with the offense
They want you to methodically drive the ball down the field. They’re going to stay behind you, and I think their overall philosophy is letting you make the mistakes. We just have to do a great job of taking care of the ball and, like you said, take in what they give. It’s basically who gets impatient first. If they get impatient first, we can hit them deep.
Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator) Tony Gibson
On the Health of the defense
It’s really good. Everyone is healthy and practicing. We’re as healthy as we have been all year. It came at a good time. We needed a break mentally and physically. We had a lot of big games right in a row, and we needed to get back on track and regroup.
It’s really good. Everyone is healthy and practicing. We’re as healthy as we have been all year. It came at a good time. We needed a break mentally and physically. We had a lot of big games right in a row, and we needed to get back on track and regroup.
On Kansas State’s offense
They’re very sound with what they do scheme wise and their quarterback is a very good player. They probably have one of the best wide-outs in the country. They’re going to run the ball, and they are going to try to keep us off balance. They have a very good offensive line so we’ll have our hands full.
They’re very sound with what they do scheme wise and their quarterback is a very good player. They probably have one of the best wide-outs in the country. They’re going to run the ball, and they are going to try to keep us off balance. They have a very good offensive line so we’ll have our hands full.
On Kansas State’s wide receiver Tyler Lockett
He has great feet, he runs well, and he has great hands. He catches everything around him; he’s very athletic.
He has great feet, he runs well, and he has great hands. He catches everything around him; he’s very athletic.
On Kansas State’s quarterback Jake Waters
He is very patient and lets everything develop. He has an option to run out of everything too. He’s very mobile and makes great decisions. He can hurt you a lot of different ways.
He is very patient and lets everything develop. He has an option to run out of everything too. He’s very mobile and makes great decisions. He can hurt you a lot of different ways.
Senior Quarterback Clint Trickett
On What TCU was able to do against Kansas State
They have a very good quarterback who makes plays, and a running back who does the same thing. They were able to run the ball, and it wasn’t so much scheme as it was just guys making plays. It was thoroughly impressive because Kansas State has always had a good run defense. They even did a good job of shutting down Auburn for the most part. TCU had some fast guys who made them miss, and we have some fast guys that can make them miss.
They have a very good quarterback who makes plays, and a running back who does the same thing. They were able to run the ball, and it wasn’t so much scheme as it was just guys making plays. It was thoroughly impressive because Kansas State has always had a good run defense. They even did a good job of shutting down Auburn for the most part. TCU had some fast guys who made them miss, and we have some fast guys that can make them miss.
On senior night
It will be bitter sweet. I’m happy that I am out there, but it will be the last time as a player. It’s something that I have always dreamed about, and it’s something that I never thought would have happened, but I’m glad it is.
It will be bitter sweet. I’m happy that I am out there, but it will be the last time as a player. It’s something that I have always dreamed about, and it’s something that I never thought would have happened, but I’m glad it is.
On Kansas State’s defense
They make you earn every yard, and they’re going to let things get caught underneath of you. They aren’t going to try to make a huge play like Texas did. They’re just going to let you make mistakes, and it’s honestly really smart. That’s why Coach Snyder is one of the best coaches in college football history.
They make you earn every yard, and they’re going to let things get caught underneath of you. They aren’t going to try to make a huge play like Texas did. They’re just going to let you make mistakes, and it’s honestly really smart. That’s why Coach Snyder is one of the best coaches in college football history.
Junior wide receiver Jordan Thompson
On developing as a player over the last few seasons
Throughout the years, I’ve gotten better with experience knowing what my role is on the team, and also me feeling more confident and building more confidence in order for me to be productive on the field. Going through and looking at my last two years it’s kind of disappointing but this year is different, I’ve felt different. I feel like the game has slowed down and that comes with experience so I feel more comfortable being on the field.
On if he is starting to feel like a more consistent option in the passing game
I feel like I’m more confident, Clint Trickett is trusting me more along with Mario Alford, Daikiel Shorts and Kevin White, so I feel like he is looking for me and he trust me to put the ball in my area and I’ll come down with the catch.
On the mindset going into Thursday night’s game
The mindset is to show the nation that we still have a lot to prove and that this season isn’t over, there’s a lot to play for and depends on the bowl game and positioning but going into the Kansas State game, they’re a good football team and very disciplined. They’re hard working and very blue collar, but we have to play our game, be confident and play for all four quarters, not just a half. Texas we played for a half, but it was too late so we’re going into this game with the mindset that we have to play all four quarters and this is going to be a battle.
Junior Safety KJ Dillon
On the bye week
I think it was needed very much so we can get everyone healthy so we can play this Thursday night game.
I think it was needed very much so we can get everyone healthy so we can play this Thursday night game.
On Seeing the Seniors Play Their Last Game
It’s always sad to see seniors go out, because they have done their time here. We want to send them out on a good note and get a win.
It’s always sad to see seniors go out, because they have done their time here. We want to send them out on a good note and get a win.
On Kansas State’s Offense
They have two good receivers and their quarterback is pretty good. They are very well disciplined and well coached so we’re going to have to be really tuned in to beat them.
They have two good receivers and their quarterback is pretty good. They are very well disciplined and well coached so we’re going to have to be really tuned in to beat them.
On The Sense of Urgency to Win
We still have things to fight for like a good bowl game. No one is down, everyone still wants to win for the seniors this Thursday and wants to win and finish out a good season.
On Being Prepared for a Thursday Night Game
We just have to be ready to play. Everything is moving faster since the game is on Thursday, so we had practice on Sunday and Monday. Everything is just moving quicker and more up tempo since we don’t get a full week of practice. Everything is just moving faster.
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Kyle Rose
On if the team has bounced back from the Texas loss
Absolutely, we have a lot of things to look forward to; our guys have a lot of things to play for. We can still have a 9-4 season which is a solid season but not what we wanted with not getting in the Big 12 championship, but a lot of things to play for, and we’re excited to play.
On Kansas State being a proficient ball team
They’re well coached, disciplined and it’s going to take your best game to beat them. They’re not going to make any mistakes, and you have to bring your A game every time you play them. They’re a good team with a lot of size, good speed and they can run some tempo so it’s going to be a good challenge for us.
On what TCU was able to do against Kansas State successfully on defense
They ran tempo, and they ran quick. How Kansas State blocks, their offense and TCU did some good things up front. We have to be dominant up front to win this game; it’s going to fall on the defensive line for sure. Linebackers are going to have to make plays, and they have a good wide receiver obviously in Tyler Lockett, so there are a lot of things to guard.
On not beating Kansas State yet in Big 12 play
Yeah, you know every week is different. Every week you’re playing a Big 12 offense that’s solid and are always going to be good so we haven’t beat them yet and that would be nice to get a win at home for sure against these guys.
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