Ball State University Athletics
Q&A With Football Coach Brady Hoke
March 17, 2008 | Football
Opening Statement
“This is the 84th team and I think that it is important that the kids understand where they fall under the tradition of what
Q: Why do you say this will be your fastest team this year? Does that include both offense and defense?
A: “I really believe that we are going to be fast on both sides of the ball. Number one, I think some of the older kids who have played are faster then they were. I think some of the younger kids have progressed who spot played. BJ Hill is faster, Dante Love is faster, and there is not a fat guy out there. A lot of our players have really developed such as Kenny Meeks, Drew Duffin and they all have gotten leaner and faster.”
Q: What about the players who suffered from injuries last season? Will they be okay?
A: “Wendell Brown will be okay. He won't do a lot in the spring still. He is coming back and is making progress but he is not where he needs to be yet. Bryant Haines had surgery he won't do much in the spring. MiQuale Lewis is doing well but we will limit him a little bit in the spring. Trey Buice falls into that same roll coming off of surgery this winter. Brandon Crawford he will miss some of spring because of the surgery on the wrist that he played with during the season. Koreen Burch will be a little bit limited. They are all headed in the right direction and through the training room they will be all ready to play in August.”
Q: The 2007 season was one of many accomplishments for the program, where does this take the team for 2008?
A: “We achieved a lot of the goals we set last season, but that was last season, and we are now in preparation for 2008. We have had those expectations since I arrived here, but we put ourselves in better position in 2007. We have great kids in this program, and we want to be sure we put them in the position where they can make this program successful. We expect more. We have a lot of work to do.”
Q: While setting numerous records on offense, and returning nine starters, what is expected of the offense in 2008?
A: “Our running game needs to improve. We had some injuries in the backfield, but that happens in football. We need to run better and we need to block better up front. We did not get it done offensively in some key games a year ago, but we did protect the football and did not turn it over. We have to improve in many areas offensively, but we have some playmakers on that side of the ball.”
Q: What are your concerns on the defensive side of the ball?
A: “Statistically, we were better on defense than we had been in the past, but we are not where we need to be. We graduated some veterans on defense, but we have some players who have been in our system that are ready to make their mark. We also have some young players who have been waiting for their chance, and we will spend the spring evaluating a lot of positions on defense. We have to play defense with passion and competitiveness?
Q: Nate Davis had an outstanding season for the Cardinals, what are the expectations for his junior season?
A: “We have a system and he plays within that system. But, his abilities are the reason we can play that system. God blessed him with ability, but the way he has worked with that ability has been something to make a coach proud. He is maturing as a quarterback and as a person.”
Q: Will you approach this spring any differently than you have in the last five years?
A: “We want to continue to create a competitive environment. We have always had the goal of winning the MAC Championship and we have not done that yet. That is our goal. I am in coaching because of the kids. Being around them in the social, academic and physical areas. I am an alum of this university, and it is important to me that we are always putting our best foot forward. We want to win and we want to compete at a high level. We will coach as hard as we can because we do not want to cheat the kids. We want to develop them as players and as people.”
