Ball State Football Weekly News Conference Quotes, October 21: Game 8
Coach Neu
Opening statement: “It’s obviously disappointing coming off a loss. You never want to lose, but trying to focus on the positives here, I am extremely proud of the fight, and I'm extremely proud of the physicality that our football team played with for four quarters. We fought and battled really put ourselves in a position there in the fourth quarter. I think there's a lot of positives that we can draw from as we turn to a five-game season right now. We're back in MAC play for the remainder of the year here, and I think there's a lot of positives that we can bring from the other night as we move forward here.”
Q: “[MAC games] are always going to be close. How do you prepare for those situations?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “This conference forces you to be at your best week in and week out because it's proven any given weekend that anybody can beat anybody. Our focus is on what are the things that we can continue to build on that have been positives for us? What do we need to keep attacking to try to get better at it? And so, this is a great conference. It always has been. It always will be.”
Q: “In this five-game stretch, you've got some of the best teams in the MAC who you're playing against. What are some of the ways that you feel like you can keep focused rather than thinking about who's next?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “Every team, as we all know, presents different challenges, but it still starts with us. No matter what, no matter who we play – it all starts with us. We’ve got to come out. We’ve got to execute and be the best version of us.”
Q: “Do you feel like the defense, in particular, is finally starting to find its confidence and its stride?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “No question about it. That was the most complete game for us the other night when you talk about four quarters, and again, I thought we’re certainly getting better. It all starts with being able to stop the run and be good against the run. I've seen significant improvement for our guys against the run.”
Q: “What about [Northern Illinois] makes them a team that really can compete with anybody?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “First of all, they’re gonna want to run the football. Every year we’ve played Northern, they've always had a two-headed monster – a running back plus a quarterback that can also run the football. And it's no different this year. They’re playing as good a defense as anybody is in the MAC right now. They've been very consistent sitting at the top in a lot of different categories that way. So, you're going to get a team that has great discipline.”
Q: “The last six games against NIU have been a one-possession game at the end. Are you kind of preparing or expecting a close game here?” – Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “Yeah, obviously this conference, there’s been more one-possession games probably in Mid-American Conference play than any other conference. So, you know it’s going to be a dog fight. We're preparing ourselves for a street fight, and knowing that, you know we're gonna have to be physical, and we have to bring it for four quarters.”
Tanner Koziol
Q: “What would you say this offense’s identity is?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “Honestly, whatever your job is asking – get it done. We We have guys all across the board that can make plays. We have every spot on the field that can make a play and is doing their job. And really, I wouldn’t say the advantage is in one position group or anyone on a team.”
Q: “The fact that it was close and we were leading after the first quarter, are you coming out of that game feeling better than maybe a different loss?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “There's no moral wins. We said that our team meeting the other day, but there were definitely strengths that we showed that we haven't before, and there's things that we know we’ve got to clean up. We have another game on film.”
Q: “How cool is it to see [Kiael Kelly] score that touchdown?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “He embodies handling adversity. Whatever's asked him, he does it. There’s no pouting from him in the locker room. He’s doing whatever's asked of him. His head has been held high, and no matter what his job is, he puts his best foot forward. He's doing it, and he’s just an athlete.”
Q: “The offense scored on the first drive of each half [against Vanderbilt]. How do you think the offense can learn from those two drives and continue that momentum throughout the whole game?” – Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “We just have to understand the importance of – we say it all the time and preach it – one drive at a time. We’ve got to continue to buy in each and every play like it’s its own play. That’s the most important job I have right now.”
Brandon Berger
Q: “Do you feel like these past few games have been a step in the right direction [on defense]?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “For sure. Our defense has stepped up a lot these past two weeks. We’ve seen what we’re capable of playing last week against a good opponent. We’ve just got to keep stacking games like that and carry that into these last five games.”
Q: “Does it feel different when you get a MAC win versus a non-conference win?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “For sure. MAC wins are the ones that count there to get us to the big game at the end of the day. Those MAC games: there’s a little more attention paid to those. It feels a lot better when we get those wins. Those are the guys that we’re competing with to try to get that championship.”
Q: “Given the fact that it is a trophy game [against Northern Illinois], do those mean even a little bit more?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “It’s always an awesome atmosphere, just all around Muncie, and then especially here in the football facility. To go put that trophy out there in the lobby after the win and to just take that in all week, it’s a great feeling.”
Q: “Given the fact that it’s a trophy game, it’s a MAC game, and it’s Homecoming, how do you keep all those in mind as motivators, but also go about this week like normal?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “You’ve got to keep your process the same. Just prepare the same way that we have, but you’ve just got to have that in mind, as well. It does mean a little bit more than usual.”
Coach Neu
Opening statement: “It’s obviously disappointing coming off a loss. You never want to lose, but trying to focus on the positives here, I am extremely proud of the fight, and I'm extremely proud of the physicality that our football team played with for four quarters. We fought and battled really put ourselves in a position there in the fourth quarter. I think there's a lot of positives that we can draw from as we turn to a five-game season right now. We're back in MAC play for the remainder of the year here, and I think there's a lot of positives that we can bring from the other night as we move forward here.”
Q: “[MAC games] are always going to be close. How do you prepare for those situations?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “This conference forces you to be at your best week in and week out because it's proven any given weekend that anybody can beat anybody. Our focus is on what are the things that we can continue to build on that have been positives for us? What do we need to keep attacking to try to get better at it? And so, this is a great conference. It always has been. It always will be.”
Q: “In this five-game stretch, you've got some of the best teams in the MAC who you're playing against. What are some of the ways that you feel like you can keep focused rather than thinking about who's next?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “Every team, as we all know, presents different challenges, but it still starts with us. No matter what, no matter who we play – it all starts with us. We’ve got to come out. We’ve got to execute and be the best version of us.”
Q: “Do you feel like the defense, in particular, is finally starting to find its confidence and its stride?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “No question about it. That was the most complete game for us the other night when you talk about four quarters, and again, I thought we’re certainly getting better. It all starts with being able to stop the run and be good against the run. I've seen significant improvement for our guys against the run.”
Q: “What about [Northern Illinois] makes them a team that really can compete with anybody?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “First of all, they’re gonna want to run the football. Every year we’ve played Northern, they've always had a two-headed monster – a running back plus a quarterback that can also run the football. And it's no different this year. They’re playing as good a defense as anybody is in the MAC right now. They've been very consistent sitting at the top in a lot of different categories that way. So, you're going to get a team that has great discipline.”
Q: “The last six games against NIU have been a one-possession game at the end. Are you kind of preparing or expecting a close game here?” – Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “Yeah, obviously this conference, there’s been more one-possession games probably in Mid-American Conference play than any other conference. So, you know it’s going to be a dog fight. We're preparing ourselves for a street fight, and knowing that, you know we're gonna have to be physical, and we have to bring it for four quarters.”
Tanner Koziol
Q: “What would you say this offense’s identity is?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “Honestly, whatever your job is asking – get it done. We We have guys all across the board that can make plays. We have every spot on the field that can make a play and is doing their job. And really, I wouldn’t say the advantage is in one position group or anyone on a team.”
Q: “The fact that it was close and we were leading after the first quarter, are you coming out of that game feeling better than maybe a different loss?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “There's no moral wins. We said that our team meeting the other day, but there were definitely strengths that we showed that we haven't before, and there's things that we know we’ve got to clean up. We have another game on film.”
Q: “How cool is it to see [Kiael Kelly] score that touchdown?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “He embodies handling adversity. Whatever's asked him, he does it. There’s no pouting from him in the locker room. He’s doing whatever's asked of him. His head has been held high, and no matter what his job is, he puts his best foot forward. He's doing it, and he’s just an athlete.”
Q: “The offense scored on the first drive of each half [against Vanderbilt]. How do you think the offense can learn from those two drives and continue that momentum throughout the whole game?” – Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “We just have to understand the importance of – we say it all the time and preach it – one drive at a time. We’ve got to continue to buy in each and every play like it’s its own play. That’s the most important job I have right now.”
Brandon Berger
Q: “Do you feel like these past few games have been a step in the right direction [on defense]?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “For sure. Our defense has stepped up a lot these past two weeks. We’ve seen what we’re capable of playing last week against a good opponent. We’ve just got to keep stacking games like that and carry that into these last five games.”
Q: “Does it feel different when you get a MAC win versus a non-conference win?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “For sure. MAC wins are the ones that count there to get us to the big game at the end of the day. Those MAC games: there’s a little more attention paid to those. It feels a lot better when we get those wins. Those are the guys that we’re competing with to try to get that championship.”
Q: “Given the fact that it is a trophy game [against Northern Illinois], do those mean even a little bit more?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “It’s always an awesome atmosphere, just all around Muncie, and then especially here in the football facility. To go put that trophy out there in the lobby after the win and to just take that in all week, it’s a great feeling.”
Q: “Given the fact that it’s a trophy game, it’s a MAC game, and it’s Homecoming, how do you keep all those in mind as motivators, but also go about this week like normal?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “You’ve got to keep your process the same. Just prepare the same way that we have, but you’ve just got to have that in mind, as well. It does mean a little bit more than usual.”