Ball State University Athletics
Q&A With Football Coach Brady Hoke
October 01, 2007 | Football
Opening Statement
"Obviously it is always good to win for the simple fact that we didn't let Nebraska beat us twice. As a team we were able to get past that game and get a strong victory over Buffalo. Our leadership from the seniors and juniors got us mentally prepared for Buffalo and they were a big part of the reason why we won that game. We want to make sure we keep the preparation and play for each team consistent. I want to tell the students that again we will be wearing red. The fans were great, I would like to get more of them there but those who were there did a good job of cheering us on. The fans will be important this week because we are going up against a team that leads the Mid-American Conference in the West Division with a 2-0 record. They are a very strong team offensively. I want to make it hard for them so I want our fans to be loud. There are a few negatives to last week's game. I thought we got complacent a little bit into the second quarter and that can't happen. We want to get better each week as a football team. We also had too many penalties."
Q: Right now the front runners in the MAC West Divison are you, Central Michigan and Western Michigan. Do you think that this game has something of an appeal to it, like it's a bigger game for you guys?
A: "We are going to approach this game like we always do every week. I think Central Michigan is a good football team. We need to play better than we did a week ago if we want to beat Central Michigan. It is a long season there is still a lot of football that needs to be played. We have to have the ability to focus in and to execute on the field and really understand on what we need to do in all phases of the game. This league is so tight and so close and anything can kill you any given game. This game is only different because it is a west division team but it's no different from how we've prepared for Nebraska or Buffalo or any other team we've played thus far. "
Q: How do you feel this year's team will play against Central?
A: The team knows that in the last couple of years that they haven't executed the way we needed to against Central. We haven't been able to come out on top when we have had some opportunities to finish and we didn't finish. They understand that this is Central Michigan and it is a west division game.
Q: How does the team need to play against Central?
A: We have to do a good job of playing tighter coverage. And the biggest thing is don't give up big plays.
Q: What are your thoughts on Central's quarterback?
A: Dan LeFevour is an All-American football player. He is a threat to anyone who is playing against him. He can make big plays, he can run the ball well and he is a big strong guy.
Q: Talk about Koreen Burch?
A: "The toughness and speed we knew were there. He was on defense and he was on the kick off team and in practice would return punts. If you would have told me he would rush for 60 yards I would have said I would like to see him do it. But, I don't know if I would have said he would have done it."
Q: Talk about Davis and the Central Michigan's quarterback? How do the two compare?
A: "They are both outstanding quarterbacks. But this game is going to be played on the front seven on defense and the front seven on offense. In some people's mind this game is going to be about the two quarterbacks and this game isn't going to be about that. It is about the surrounding cast and the front seven on each team." This game is about being a good quarterback in some regards but again you cannot be a good quarterback if you don't have the protection. You also have to have guys catch and run plays well. They are both powerful but it is a team effort and that will determine the outcome of the game."
