Ball State Football Weekly News Conference Quotes, September 7: Game 1 vs. Missouri State
Head Coach Mike Neu
Opening statement: “It was a great win for our guys. Obviously, sitting there 7-7 at halftime, held the ball for 23 minutes in the first half. Only had seven points and a lot of self-inflicted wounds. Had a few injuries to start the game with. We didn't play as well as we needed to, but really proud of just guys coming out after half. Obviously, the game ebbs and flows.”
Q: “What do you think allowed that offense to really open up, especially later in that second half?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “I just think it was that we just kept battling. There's been a lot of good work put in here. It was great to see that many different guys get their hands on the ball in the passing game.”
Q: “You talked about defense, what were you impressed with the most on the defensive side of the ball?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “It was awesome in the first half. Hadn't quite seen a first half like that to be honest with you. I think they had 14 or 16 plays. So, it was a good job that way.”
Q: “We talked about that home crowd on Monday; what were your feelings on that?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “The student section over there was awesome every second during the game. When I caught myself peeking up, like ‘Man, stay in there with us.’ So, it was awesome. It was a great day. It was a great crowd.”
Q: “It was the first time starting off the season at home since 2021. How big of a step is it to start off the season?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “Obviously, you only get so many and you want to make them all count. It’s been a long time since we played football. We had to be patient. I'm just glad it's a win, and obviously, it's great to go attack some of the things you need to clean up on tape after a win.”
Myles Norwood
Q: “We talked about that injury in camp here. What does it mean to you to be back on the field today?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “It was special. The first couple drives, I was nervous — you know, first game of the year. But, it felt great to get back out there and play. It wasn't my best game, but it was a good game to come back from.”
Q: “First half, just -11 rushing yards as a defense. How much pride do you guys take in that?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “We took a lot of pride in that. As a defense, you don't want to get over 50 yards rushing, and for us to be like that at the beginning, it was amazing.”
Q: “Can you talk about sort of the defense turning it up on third down?” — Cade Hampton, Star Press
A: “Third down is money down. That's the time to get off the field. We want to get the ball back to our offense.”
Braedon Sloan
Q: “You made your Ball State debut today. What's it like to score twice in that first game here?” — Cade Hampton, Star Press
A: “That's awesome, just being able to get the opportunity to play, and then getting the end zone. I get to the sideline like, ‘Welcome to Ball State. Welcome to Ball State.’”
Q: “What was going through your head when you had the breakaway 40-yard touchdown?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “On the sideline before we had talked about it, maybe if you break away to go down. You know it was still in the back of my mind, like ‘Should I go down? Should I not go down?’ But, I was like, ‘We're here now; you might as well go ahead and finish it off.’”
Q: “What’s it like working with [the offensive line]?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's awesome, just the experience that they have. This experience that we both bring and things that, as we continue to go throughout the season that we can work on, and just as we all continue to mesh together, I think it's gonna be a real, real special year in the ground game.”
Kadin Semonza
Q: “What did it feel like to [start] again?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's been a long time coming. I'm sure everyone who's played a game and been away for some time knows how that feels coming back from such a long time off. So, to get that first one in my belt, it felt good.”
Q: “You had the interception early, but obviously, you bounced back. What do you think in your head made you switch that mentality so quickly?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “We had a miscommunication on our end, and we shot ourselves in the foot. So, we didn't blink, and we had to keep playing. That's what we did — proud of the guys.”
Q: “How important was it to see the defense out there holding it down for you in the first?” — Nick Shelton
A: “It's what kept us in the game. If they don't do that, if they don't do what they do in the first half, who knows what the outcome of the game is? So, Keionte [Newson] kept telling me, ‘We got your back.’”
Head Coach Mike Neu
Opening statement: “It was a great win for our guys. Obviously, sitting there 7-7 at halftime, held the ball for 23 minutes in the first half. Only had seven points and a lot of self-inflicted wounds. Had a few injuries to start the game with. We didn't play as well as we needed to, but really proud of just guys coming out after half. Obviously, the game ebbs and flows.”
Q: “What do you think allowed that offense to really open up, especially later in that second half?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “I just think it was that we just kept battling. There's been a lot of good work put in here. It was great to see that many different guys get their hands on the ball in the passing game.”
Q: “You talked about defense, what were you impressed with the most on the defensive side of the ball?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “It was awesome in the first half. Hadn't quite seen a first half like that to be honest with you. I think they had 14 or 16 plays. So, it was a good job that way.”
Q: “We talked about that home crowd on Monday; what were your feelings on that?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “The student section over there was awesome every second during the game. When I caught myself peeking up, like ‘Man, stay in there with us.’ So, it was awesome. It was a great day. It was a great crowd.”
Q: “It was the first time starting off the season at home since 2021. How big of a step is it to start off the season?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “Obviously, you only get so many and you want to make them all count. It’s been a long time since we played football. We had to be patient. I'm just glad it's a win, and obviously, it's great to go attack some of the things you need to clean up on tape after a win.”
Myles Norwood
Q: “We talked about that injury in camp here. What does it mean to you to be back on the field today?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “It was special. The first couple drives, I was nervous — you know, first game of the year. But, it felt great to get back out there and play. It wasn't my best game, but it was a good game to come back from.”
Q: “First half, just -11 rushing yards as a defense. How much pride do you guys take in that?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “We took a lot of pride in that. As a defense, you don't want to get over 50 yards rushing, and for us to be like that at the beginning, it was amazing.”
Q: “Can you talk about sort of the defense turning it up on third down?” — Cade Hampton, Star Press
A: “Third down is money down. That's the time to get off the field. We want to get the ball back to our offense.”
Braedon Sloan
Q: “You made your Ball State debut today. What's it like to score twice in that first game here?” — Cade Hampton, Star Press
A: “That's awesome, just being able to get the opportunity to play, and then getting the end zone. I get to the sideline like, ‘Welcome to Ball State. Welcome to Ball State.’”
Q: “What was going through your head when you had the breakaway 40-yard touchdown?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “On the sideline before we had talked about it, maybe if you break away to go down. You know it was still in the back of my mind, like ‘Should I go down? Should I not go down?’ But, I was like, ‘We're here now; you might as well go ahead and finish it off.’”
Q: “What’s it like working with [the offensive line]?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's awesome, just the experience that they have. This experience that we both bring and things that, as we continue to go throughout the season that we can work on, and just as we all continue to mesh together, I think it's gonna be a real, real special year in the ground game.”
Kadin Semonza
Q: “What did it feel like to [start] again?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's been a long time coming. I'm sure everyone who's played a game and been away for some time knows how that feels coming back from such a long time off. So, to get that first one in my belt, it felt good.”
Q: “You had the interception early, but obviously, you bounced back. What do you think in your head made you switch that mentality so quickly?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “We had a miscommunication on our end, and we shot ourselves in the foot. So, we didn't blink, and we had to keep playing. That's what we did — proud of the guys.”
Q: “How important was it to see the defense out there holding it down for you in the first?” — Nick Shelton
A: “It's what kept us in the game. If they don't do that, if they don't do what they do in the first half, who knows what the outcome of the game is? So, Keionte [Newson] kept telling me, ‘We got your back.’”