Ball State Football Weekly News Conference Quotes, October 31: Game 9
Coach Neu
Opening Statement: “It was a great win last weekend for Homecoming. Great job by our guys fighting there for 60 minutes all the way till the end. It took all 60 minutes there, but great job delivering when we had to there at the end. Obviously, we've shifted our focus full speed here to Miami. It's nice to have back-to-back home games for the first time, but it's also nice to have our first break. We started the season with a bye week to begin the year before we played game one, so this is the first time our guys have had a few days.”
Q: “Is that by design that you really want to make sure your guys know [this is a rivalry game]?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “No question. Obviously, last week, going into that game a week ago, it was a five-game season. Well, now it's a four-game season, and we're playing some good football teams coming up, and we're only concerned about Miami right now. They're playing as well as anybody is in the conference right now – playing very good complimentary football. They're playing well in all three phases. And yeah, absolutely, when you have a chance, it's a trophy game. On top of that, there's certainly something at stake.”
Q: “What has given this team trouble when it comes to facing Miami four years in a row?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “There’s no question we’ve had some gut-wrenching losses to some of those games the last four years. There’s no excuses. We didn’t get it done. You can point to a number of things, but at the end of the day, we didn't get it done. You give them credit because they did what it took in order to be able to get the win in a close game at the end -- we did not. So again, I don't really think there's a whole lot that needs to be said to our guys in terms of motivation or anything like that. We are preparing ourselves for a 60-minute war.”
Q: “[Brett] Gabbert been a big reason for Miami’s success this season. How is the defense approaching this week?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “He's playing really well. Obviously, last year we did not face him. He played the first six games of the year before suffering a season-ending injury. He's as tough as they come. He went out for a stretch of the game last weekend against Central Michigan, but he came back. He's tougher than nails, and he'll be back in there. He'll be in there this week, and you can see his experience show up every time you turn the tape on.”
Q: “As it pertains to the secondary, there were a few penalties late in the game that probably shouldn't have happened from young guys. Is it even more critical that those don't happen when you're facing a quarterback like Gabbert?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “Yeah, obviously there's going to be time-to-time when there's a pass interference call that happens. It's an aggressive play. If you're tight in coverage, the ball could perhaps be under thrown, and then all of a sudden, it leads to a pass interference. The ones that are that are not acceptable, is a personal foul penalty that happened late in the game. We worked hard to get ourselves off the field and then to have a post-snap personal foul penalty – there's no place for that. I addressed that the day after the game here with the team, and that won't happen again.”
Q: “You mentioned playing on ESPN in front of a national TV audience. Is there do you think any like added pressure or anxiety, or is that like a motivating factor?” – Cade Hampton, Star Press
A: “I don't think so. I think for some of the guys whose families perhaps might not be able to travel to Muncie here on Tuesday night – guys that might live in Florida, guys that might not live close to the Midwest – it's awesome for their families, friends and loved ones to be able to tune in and watch the game. That's awesome, but I don't think it adds any pressure to it. I think guys embrace that. They love that. You know you're the only show in town.”
Q: “After the kind of rough start to the season, do you think this team has adopted an underdog mentality?” – Cade Hampton, Star Press
A: “I do. We're getting better. I told the team that Sunday, the day after, we're getting better every week right now. We’ve already kind of discussed the beginning of the schedule, the non-conference schedule. It is what it is. But, what I see from our team is we're getting better every week, and we're working extremely hard on the practice field and working extremely hard in the meeting room.”
George Udo
Q: “How far does last week's win and forcing as many turnovers as you did go in establishing confidence?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's a big thing because winning the turnover margin by plus four, that's how you win games, or at least that's how you help the team win games. So, it's given us a real big confidence boost. And, even as the season has gone on, we've been continuing to get better as a defense and understanding it.”
Q: “What has been the difference these past couple weeks for this defense?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “I believe it is just energy. Coach Neu has been emphasizing bringing the juice every single play, and I think that's what's been the big change because before the energy wasn't really there.”
Q: “Is [forcing turnovers] part of the new sniper position?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “I’d say the sniper position is really just a combination of everything in the defensive backfield. Sometimes we'll line up at corner, we'll play a deep half drop of the post, cover slot receiver or tight end. It's just being really versatile in those roles, and being able to do all those things is what the sniper position is.”
Q: “How are you feeling about playing on a Tuesday night at 8:00? I mean, that's something that you really have never experienced.” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's going to be interesting. Yeah, it's going to be my first time playing on a Tuesday. So, we have just been treating it as we normally would a game week. We got a couple days off, but we’re getting back to practicing like we normally would during a week.”
Vaughn Pemberton
Q: “Have you ever really been a part of the duo like this [with Braedon Sloan]?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “I really haven't been a part of a running back duo, not in high school or yet in college, except for now. I think we help each other with our different running styles. He's more of a make-you-miss type of guy, and I’m more of a power, run-through-you type of guy. We can both do what each other does, but he's better at one of them and I’m better at the other. So, I think we just help each other in that way. The defense doesn't necessarily know what to expect.”
Q: “How do you go about preparing for a game when it's at 8:00 on a weekday? I know Mike [Neu] talked about there being long gaps in the hotels with not really anything to do. What do you do during that time to stay focused?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity to play, and not everyone gets these opportunities to play D1 football. So, I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I love this game, and I know my teammates do too. I know they're going to be ready, and I'm going to be ready when the time comes. So, I don't think it's a matter of being stuck in a hotel.”
Q: “Is there more excitement that comes with being on ESPN?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “One hundred percent, knowing that we’re the only show in town. If you like football, you could you turn on the game at some point on Tuesday night. So, I think that's definitely exciting, knowing that everybody has access to it.”
Q: “How big of a difference is it when you lose a rivalry game?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's a game still, but there's definitely a little bit more hurt to it, especially last year's game against Miami – the way that went down at the end of the game. And, I just think it just fuels us even more to go win this week.”
Coach Neu
Opening Statement: “It was a great win last weekend for Homecoming. Great job by our guys fighting there for 60 minutes all the way till the end. It took all 60 minutes there, but great job delivering when we had to there at the end. Obviously, we've shifted our focus full speed here to Miami. It's nice to have back-to-back home games for the first time, but it's also nice to have our first break. We started the season with a bye week to begin the year before we played game one, so this is the first time our guys have had a few days.”
Q: “Is that by design that you really want to make sure your guys know [this is a rivalry game]?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “No question. Obviously, last week, going into that game a week ago, it was a five-game season. Well, now it's a four-game season, and we're playing some good football teams coming up, and we're only concerned about Miami right now. They're playing as well as anybody is in the conference right now – playing very good complimentary football. They're playing well in all three phases. And yeah, absolutely, when you have a chance, it's a trophy game. On top of that, there's certainly something at stake.”
Q: “What has given this team trouble when it comes to facing Miami four years in a row?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “There’s no question we’ve had some gut-wrenching losses to some of those games the last four years. There’s no excuses. We didn’t get it done. You can point to a number of things, but at the end of the day, we didn't get it done. You give them credit because they did what it took in order to be able to get the win in a close game at the end -- we did not. So again, I don't really think there's a whole lot that needs to be said to our guys in terms of motivation or anything like that. We are preparing ourselves for a 60-minute war.”
Q: “[Brett] Gabbert been a big reason for Miami’s success this season. How is the defense approaching this week?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “He's playing really well. Obviously, last year we did not face him. He played the first six games of the year before suffering a season-ending injury. He's as tough as they come. He went out for a stretch of the game last weekend against Central Michigan, but he came back. He's tougher than nails, and he'll be back in there. He'll be in there this week, and you can see his experience show up every time you turn the tape on.”
Q: “As it pertains to the secondary, there were a few penalties late in the game that probably shouldn't have happened from young guys. Is it even more critical that those don't happen when you're facing a quarterback like Gabbert?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “Yeah, obviously there's going to be time-to-time when there's a pass interference call that happens. It's an aggressive play. If you're tight in coverage, the ball could perhaps be under thrown, and then all of a sudden, it leads to a pass interference. The ones that are that are not acceptable, is a personal foul penalty that happened late in the game. We worked hard to get ourselves off the field and then to have a post-snap personal foul penalty – there's no place for that. I addressed that the day after the game here with the team, and that won't happen again.”
Q: “You mentioned playing on ESPN in front of a national TV audience. Is there do you think any like added pressure or anxiety, or is that like a motivating factor?” – Cade Hampton, Star Press
A: “I don't think so. I think for some of the guys whose families perhaps might not be able to travel to Muncie here on Tuesday night – guys that might live in Florida, guys that might not live close to the Midwest – it's awesome for their families, friends and loved ones to be able to tune in and watch the game. That's awesome, but I don't think it adds any pressure to it. I think guys embrace that. They love that. You know you're the only show in town.”
Q: “After the kind of rough start to the season, do you think this team has adopted an underdog mentality?” – Cade Hampton, Star Press
A: “I do. We're getting better. I told the team that Sunday, the day after, we're getting better every week right now. We’ve already kind of discussed the beginning of the schedule, the non-conference schedule. It is what it is. But, what I see from our team is we're getting better every week, and we're working extremely hard on the practice field and working extremely hard in the meeting room.”
George Udo
Q: “How far does last week's win and forcing as many turnovers as you did go in establishing confidence?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's a big thing because winning the turnover margin by plus four, that's how you win games, or at least that's how you help the team win games. So, it's given us a real big confidence boost. And, even as the season has gone on, we've been continuing to get better as a defense and understanding it.”
Q: “What has been the difference these past couple weeks for this defense?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “I believe it is just energy. Coach Neu has been emphasizing bringing the juice every single play, and I think that's what's been the big change because before the energy wasn't really there.”
Q: “Is [forcing turnovers] part of the new sniper position?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “I’d say the sniper position is really just a combination of everything in the defensive backfield. Sometimes we'll line up at corner, we'll play a deep half drop of the post, cover slot receiver or tight end. It's just being really versatile in those roles, and being able to do all those things is what the sniper position is.”
Q: “How are you feeling about playing on a Tuesday night at 8:00? I mean, that's something that you really have never experienced.” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's going to be interesting. Yeah, it's going to be my first time playing on a Tuesday. So, we have just been treating it as we normally would a game week. We got a couple days off, but we’re getting back to practicing like we normally would during a week.”
Vaughn Pemberton
Q: “Have you ever really been a part of the duo like this [with Braedon Sloan]?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “I really haven't been a part of a running back duo, not in high school or yet in college, except for now. I think we help each other with our different running styles. He's more of a make-you-miss type of guy, and I’m more of a power, run-through-you type of guy. We can both do what each other does, but he's better at one of them and I’m better at the other. So, I think we just help each other in that way. The defense doesn't necessarily know what to expect.”
Q: “How do you go about preparing for a game when it's at 8:00 on a weekday? I know Mike [Neu] talked about there being long gaps in the hotels with not really anything to do. What do you do during that time to stay focused?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity to play, and not everyone gets these opportunities to play D1 football. So, I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I love this game, and I know my teammates do too. I know they're going to be ready, and I'm going to be ready when the time comes. So, I don't think it's a matter of being stuck in a hotel.”
Q: “Is there more excitement that comes with being on ESPN?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “One hundred percent, knowing that we’re the only show in town. If you like football, you could you turn on the game at some point on Tuesday night. So, I think that's definitely exciting, knowing that everybody has access to it.”
Q: “How big of a difference is it when you lose a rivalry game?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's a game still, but there's definitely a little bit more hurt to it, especially last year's game against Miami – the way that went down at the end of the game. And, I just think it just fuels us even more to go win this week.”