Ball State University Athletics
Q&A With Football Coach Brady Hoke
September 24, 2007 | Football
Opening Statement
"We met yesterday as a team and we always try to meet on Sundays. Good, bad and indifferent we meet to put the last game behind us so we can move forward. We talked about the opportunities that we had to win the game and it is disheartening because we felt we had plenty of them offensively, defensively and with our kicking game. So that being said, we have moved onto Buffalo and the things we have to do as a football team for our game this week. I would like everyone to wear red. Again we had opportunities and we just couldn't capitalize on them."
Q: What do you know about Miquale's injury?
A: "He is probably going to be out, it could be season ending. They have to still do an MRI so I don't want to be too specific because I really don't know what the status of his injury is at this time. He's got some damage to his knee and that is all I know. I know he will not play against Buffalo and that creates adversity and opportunities for other players on the team. That is the one thing we talked to our kids about yesterday. Frank Edmonds will have to grow up fast. He is going to be thrown into a critical role and he will do a great job. Jacolby Bond is a guy who has been here long enough and it is time for him to take on more of an active role. Koreen Burch will move from defense over to running back."
Q: How much confidence do you have in Frank taking on this role?
A: “I think we have a lot of confidence in Frank. I know I do. I would have to go back to the Navy game and see how many carries he had and how many plays he had total. He's been out there and has played at a high level of competition. I feel good about him; to be honest, if we didn't feel good about him we wouldn't have recruited him."
Q: Have you had any thoughts of moving B.J. around?
A: "No, B.J. Hill is one of the best defensive players we have. We wouldn't take a guy who is a starter on one side of the ball and make him a halftime starter on the other."
Q: How do you feel Nate played this weekend?
A: "I think he played pretty well. Obviously, I would like to take the interception back and he would too but you know he played pretty well. He got out of trouble when he had to, he used his feet when he had to and he did a good job with accuracy."
Q: How were the players after the game?
A: "The players were heartbroken. I am glad and they should have been. We had opportunities to win. I couldn't say that four years ago about our team because these guys went there to win. We just have to execute better to win these games and that is what we have to do."
Q: What are your thoughts on Buffalo?
A: "Buffalo is a much improved team from last year. You watch the Penn State game and that was a great game until about a minute left in the first half. They have played good football programs this year. They took it to Temple offensively and defensively. We have a lot of respect for Buffalo and their coaching staff. I think their quarterback is a lot better than what people think. He is a dangerous guy. They don't run the ball as much as they want to but they are very capable of being a great team."
