Ball State Football Weekly News Conference Quotes, August 25: Game 1 at Purdue
Coach Uremovich
Opening Statement: "[The team] had a great camp. I am really excited about where we're at. Much of our young guys have improved a lot, especially some of the freshmen that got here in January, being able to relearn everything over the summer and then getting another installment in fall camp. Obviously, the guys are excited for game week. The coaches are excited. Everybody in the building is excited to go play. You put in all this work and you get 12 sacred Saturdays, so we're going to do everything we can to be ready to go."
Q: "The first game for you as Ball State's coach is coming at your alma mater. How unique of a situation is that?"
A: "It's unique. I mean, my son's a freshman there, so, it is something we've talked about a little bit. But honestly, once you get in there and get ready for warm ups, a game's a game, and you focus on the game."
Q: "With this being week one, do you approach it differently than any other week?"
A: "The only difference is [Purdue] doesn't know who's going to start for us, and they're not releasing it too deep, so we're not going to know theirs either. Offensively, they are a bigger question mark for us because the offensive coordinator wasn't with them, and they've got some different guys on their staff, so we'll have to figure out how they're going to try to attack us. And, honestly, in the first game of the year you're feeling yourself out anyways, because you don't know what things have changed. I know that they're watching all the Butler film they can watch on us offensively, but we're going to do some things we did it at Butler, and some things we're not because our personnel is different here. So, week one of every season is kind of unique."
Q: "What's the atmosphere in that locker room like, knowing in just a few days you're doing this for real?"
A: "It's exciting. Guys are stopping by just to talk about cut ups we send them to watch, and they're all excited to play. They should be. They worked really hard, and our guys are excited to go play and show all the work they've put in."
Q: "What do you feel has been the team's biggest accomplishment or biggest area of growth?"
A: "I'm really proud of the way the players and coaches have come together toward a common goal and go in the same direction. It's a challenge because you have all those transfers come in, you've got new staff come in, and in May we had a bunch of other players come in. It doesn't always come together like you want it to, but it came together really fast here this summer. The guys are all working together. I see starters helping backups, and I see older guys teaching younger guys, so that's been fun to watch."
Q: "How have you seen Kiael [Kelly] progress through camp and up to this preparation in week one?"
A: "He was a great leader when we got here, and he's just getting more and more comfortable with the offense. You've got to remember, he hasn't played quarterback in a long time, so sitting back there and going through your progression and making the throws and getting us in the right play is not easy. He did a nice job in the spring, but he really looks a lot more comfortable right now."
Joey Stemler
Q: "How have you seen the defense progress through training camp in preparation for game one?"
A: "We've really just focused a lot on the little details to really understand the playbook. Everybody understands what their jobs are, so we're flying around get to the ball, playing and just having fun with it. If you don't have fun with it, you know you're not going to put yourself in a position to win games and get what you want out of it. We're really growing that way, and I'm excited to see what we can do on Saturdays."
Q: "Have you seen an energy shift knowing that this is the first week [the team] will see a game?"
A: "Oh, yeah. It's finally here when we get to hit somebody new. We don't see the same plays over and over or the same guys all the time, and we get to put what we've been working for since the winter on full display in front of 65,000 people and do it the Ball State way."
Q: "Being in Indiana, how much do these state games mean?"
A: "It means a little bit more to everyone, even if you're not from the state. You always want to to try and own the state and be the best program in that state, so it means a lot to us."Â
Q: "Purdue is in a similar spot as Ball State with so many new players and entirely new staff. How do you guys embrace the challenge of preparing for a team that you don't know a whole lot about?"
A: "We obviously don't know personnel wise what they're going to do. We have some things lined up, but they're going to throw things at us that we haven't seen before, and vise versa. We're going to do what we do, play how we play, and just go out there. If something happens, we'll fix it one the field and get it adjusted."
Q: "As we get into game week, what are you and the older guys on defense focusing on to lead the team?"
A: "As far as leading the team, the number one focus is communication on all ends of the field, starting with the defensive line, safeties and linebackers. We always say, if we're all wrong, we're all right together. If somebody doesn't get the call, it ultimately falls on me. I've been blessing as the leader of the defense, so if they don't get the call. That's on me. I need to make sure everybody gets the call, make sure everybody understands what they're doing."
Q: "How much growth have you seen as far as embracing Jeff Knowles and his system?"
A: "The defensive backs have done a great job of really diving into the playbook and understanding what their job is. They are making the calls and seeing shifts and helping [the linebackers] and defensive line and everyone else get on the same page."Â
Ty Robinson
Q: "What has the preparation been like for you?"
A: "It's been fun. It's been a long offseason trying to get back to this first game. It's been a process since the winter and spring. I was pretty much out for all of spring ball, so I've been in the weight room and getting treatment to get right. I'm super excited to get going."
Q: "As far as the offseason goes, how much growth have you seen from your quarterback?"
A: "I really like the way [Kiael Kelly] has embraced that leadership role in the offense. He's taking control of the huddle, making the efforts, getting with all the receivers to study plays and watching film together. He's a really fun dude to be around. I think we're going to do big things. He really knows how to lead this offense."
Q: "Have you sensed a new energy around it being the first game week?"
A: "I feel like this has probably been one of the most fun camps I've been a part of. The energy is just higher. Practice means something. If plays aren't being made, guys are upset. We're trying to win. The coaching staff has done a great job keeping the energy high and they expect big things from us. That carries over to the players as well. Everyone big things out of each other."
Q: "How have you see the versatility of the receivers play out so far."
A: "We have a lot of young dudes who can play. We also have a few older dudes like myself who are leaders. The younger guys are pushing every day in practice. They look to us, and we're going out of our way to get with them to watch film and do extra things like that. If any of the receivers step onto the field, they'll make plays."
Q: "Has Coach [Uremovich] and his staff changed the way you think about the game?"
A: "Throughout the winter when I was hurt, all the coaches and all the staff were super supportive, telling me how they expect big things out of me this season. I think that I've just been super grateful this past year, just trying to get back. The coaching staff has been not just supportive of me, but of everyone."
Coach Uremovich
Opening Statement: "[The team] had a great camp. I am really excited about where we're at. Much of our young guys have improved a lot, especially some of the freshmen that got here in January, being able to relearn everything over the summer and then getting another installment in fall camp. Obviously, the guys are excited for game week. The coaches are excited. Everybody in the building is excited to go play. You put in all this work and you get 12 sacred Saturdays, so we're going to do everything we can to be ready to go."
Q: "The first game for you as Ball State's coach is coming at your alma mater. How unique of a situation is that?"
A: "It's unique. I mean, my son's a freshman there, so, it is something we've talked about a little bit. But honestly, once you get in there and get ready for warm ups, a game's a game, and you focus on the game."
Q: "With this being week one, do you approach it differently than any other week?"
A: "The only difference is [Purdue] doesn't know who's going to start for us, and they're not releasing it too deep, so we're not going to know theirs either. Offensively, they are a bigger question mark for us because the offensive coordinator wasn't with them, and they've got some different guys on their staff, so we'll have to figure out how they're going to try to attack us. And, honestly, in the first game of the year you're feeling yourself out anyways, because you don't know what things have changed. I know that they're watching all the Butler film they can watch on us offensively, but we're going to do some things we did it at Butler, and some things we're not because our personnel is different here. So, week one of every season is kind of unique."
Q: "What's the atmosphere in that locker room like, knowing in just a few days you're doing this for real?"
A: "It's exciting. Guys are stopping by just to talk about cut ups we send them to watch, and they're all excited to play. They should be. They worked really hard, and our guys are excited to go play and show all the work they've put in."
Q: "What do you feel has been the team's biggest accomplishment or biggest area of growth?"
A: "I'm really proud of the way the players and coaches have come together toward a common goal and go in the same direction. It's a challenge because you have all those transfers come in, you've got new staff come in, and in May we had a bunch of other players come in. It doesn't always come together like you want it to, but it came together really fast here this summer. The guys are all working together. I see starters helping backups, and I see older guys teaching younger guys, so that's been fun to watch."
Q: "How have you seen Kiael [Kelly] progress through camp and up to this preparation in week one?"
A: "He was a great leader when we got here, and he's just getting more and more comfortable with the offense. You've got to remember, he hasn't played quarterback in a long time, so sitting back there and going through your progression and making the throws and getting us in the right play is not easy. He did a nice job in the spring, but he really looks a lot more comfortable right now."
Joey Stemler
Q: "How have you seen the defense progress through training camp in preparation for game one?"
A: "We've really just focused a lot on the little details to really understand the playbook. Everybody understands what their jobs are, so we're flying around get to the ball, playing and just having fun with it. If you don't have fun with it, you know you're not going to put yourself in a position to win games and get what you want out of it. We're really growing that way, and I'm excited to see what we can do on Saturdays."
Q: "Have you seen an energy shift knowing that this is the first week [the team] will see a game?"
A: "Oh, yeah. It's finally here when we get to hit somebody new. We don't see the same plays over and over or the same guys all the time, and we get to put what we've been working for since the winter on full display in front of 65,000 people and do it the Ball State way."
Q: "Being in Indiana, how much do these state games mean?"
A: "It means a little bit more to everyone, even if you're not from the state. You always want to to try and own the state and be the best program in that state, so it means a lot to us."Â
Q: "Purdue is in a similar spot as Ball State with so many new players and entirely new staff. How do you guys embrace the challenge of preparing for a team that you don't know a whole lot about?"
A: "We obviously don't know personnel wise what they're going to do. We have some things lined up, but they're going to throw things at us that we haven't seen before, and vise versa. We're going to do what we do, play how we play, and just go out there. If something happens, we'll fix it one the field and get it adjusted."
Q: "As we get into game week, what are you and the older guys on defense focusing on to lead the team?"
A: "As far as leading the team, the number one focus is communication on all ends of the field, starting with the defensive line, safeties and linebackers. We always say, if we're all wrong, we're all right together. If somebody doesn't get the call, it ultimately falls on me. I've been blessing as the leader of the defense, so if they don't get the call. That's on me. I need to make sure everybody gets the call, make sure everybody understands what they're doing."
Q: "How much growth have you seen as far as embracing Jeff Knowles and his system?"
A: "The defensive backs have done a great job of really diving into the playbook and understanding what their job is. They are making the calls and seeing shifts and helping [the linebackers] and defensive line and everyone else get on the same page."Â
Ty Robinson
Q: "What has the preparation been like for you?"
A: "It's been fun. It's been a long offseason trying to get back to this first game. It's been a process since the winter and spring. I was pretty much out for all of spring ball, so I've been in the weight room and getting treatment to get right. I'm super excited to get going."
Q: "As far as the offseason goes, how much growth have you seen from your quarterback?"
A: "I really like the way [Kiael Kelly] has embraced that leadership role in the offense. He's taking control of the huddle, making the efforts, getting with all the receivers to study plays and watching film together. He's a really fun dude to be around. I think we're going to do big things. He really knows how to lead this offense."
Q: "Have you sensed a new energy around it being the first game week?"
A: "I feel like this has probably been one of the most fun camps I've been a part of. The energy is just higher. Practice means something. If plays aren't being made, guys are upset. We're trying to win. The coaching staff has done a great job keeping the energy high and they expect big things from us. That carries over to the players as well. Everyone big things out of each other."
Q: "How have you see the versatility of the receivers play out so far."
A: "We have a lot of young dudes who can play. We also have a few older dudes like myself who are leaders. The younger guys are pushing every day in practice. They look to us, and we're going out of our way to get with them to watch film and do extra things like that. If any of the receivers step onto the field, they'll make plays."
Q: "Has Coach [Uremovich] and his staff changed the way you think about the game?"
A: "Throughout the winter when I was hurt, all the coaches and all the staff were super supportive, telling me how they expect big things out of me this season. I think that I've just been super grateful this past year, just trying to get back. The coaching staff has been not just supportive of me, but of everyone."