Southland Conference Media Day Quotes

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The head football coach and two student-athletes from each of the 11 Southland Conference institutions were joined at the Southland Conference Football Media Day. Below are quotes compiled by the sports information directors at each conference school.
 
ABILENE CHRISTIAN
Head Coach Ken Collums
On ACU’s young offense…
“I really can’t answer too many questions about our offense because we’ve got some guys who haven’t done much for us on the field. But we know what we’re doing and we’ll put guys in a great position to be successful. But we had a ton of production walk out the door after last season so we’d better have some guys make some plays or we’re not going to score.”
 
On ACU’s defense…
“We’ve got 15 guys coming back on that side of the ball that played significant amounts of time for us, and that’s huge. Our defense will be fine. We emphasized that side of the ball very heavily in recruiting, so we’d better make stop or we’ll get 50 points rung up on us week after week. We’re going after big people on both lines (offense and defense), and I think we’ll see that start to pay off in the next couple of seasons.”
 
On ACU’s first season of Southland football since 1972…
“We’ve played good football at ACU for a long time now, and we’re used to winning. We know these next couple of seasons are going to be tough as we transition to a new level, but we’re striving to be as good or better at this level as we were at the previous level. But I know this: the other coaches in the Southland don’t care about what we’ve done in the past. We have to establish credibility within this league, and the way you do that is to go about your business the right way, work hard, out-recruit people and win games.”
 
Tight end Jonathan Parker
On not being eligible for NCAA postseason…
“Yeah, it’s disappointing. I came into an established (NCAA) Division II program four years ago that expected to win and go to the playoffs, and now we know that no matter what our record might be, we can’t go to the playoffs. As a competitor, it’s very disappointing. But we are competitors, so we’re going to play hard for 12 games, no matter what.”
 
On his long hair and beard…
“Coach (ACU head coach Ken Collums) usually gives us a hard time about our hair. But being at ACU is about more than our ‘look’ or football. It’s not just about what happens on Saturdays. He’s working on us being better husbands and fathers in the future. It’s a great atmosphere, and it’s been a great four years for me.”
 
Defensive end Nick Richardson
On playing in the Southland Conference…
“We’ve had really good teams at other levels of football, and now we have a chance to show that we’re an elite team and compete with the best. We want to win. Everybody that signs up to play wants to win. As long as you come out and win, people will notice you, no matter what.”
 
 
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Head Coach Steve Campbell
On the upcoming season…
“I’m excited about the leadership we have on this team. They have stepped up and taken care of everything that has come up. When any type of adversity has raised its head, they have taken it upon themselves to handle it. They’ve stepped up and taken it up a notch. And that’s exciting as a coach. Because we all know there will be times in practice, in a game, in a season, when you have adversity.
 
“When the players themselves have the ability to take care of that and keep everything going smoothly, that’s what you want.”
 
On opening with Texas Tech…
“We know what we are up against, opening with a team that beat the PAC-12 South champion (Arizona State) in the Holiday Bowl. I think our players and our coaches are excited about going to Lubbock to face the Red Raiders. It’s been a motivating factor for our players throughout the offseason, knowing that we get Texas Tech right out of the gate. They’ve been working hard in the offseason heading into the season opener.”
 
On the Southland Conference…
“I’ve stepped into a situation where we have a lot of outstanding young men. We do have some returning players on both sides of the ball, so that makes it an exciting situation. I know and respect the history and tradition of the Southland Conference, having played at Southeastern Louisiana. I’m familiar with most all of these outstanding football programs. I’m really looking forward to our first trip through the Southland.”
 
On the team…
“Our guys have been working extremely hard since I came on board in December. I thought we had an outstanding offseason program. The guys really took to the new coaching staff well and went to work during offseason, and then transitioned into spring training. We implemented new schemes offensively, defensively and in the kicking game, and the guys really did a tremendous job. A lot of great junior and senior leadership. We’re really looking forward to the season.”
 
Wide receiver Dezmin Lewis:
On the UCA’s new leadership…
“We’re very excited about this year. I feel like the team has bought in well to the new schemes, bought in offensively and defensively. So now it’s just a matter of taking the right preparation steps to get ready for the season against Texas Tech.
 
“We have a great strength program. Coach Campbell brought in Coach (Robert) Stiner, a wonderful strength coach. He gets us right, conditioning and weight-room wise. We’re ready for the season to start to get it rolling.”
 
On adjusting to the new coaches…
“It really wasn’t very difficult for me to get used to this new system, but it is a lot different than our old system. There are a lot of things build in, blocking-wise, quick game, screen-wise, so you really have to understand the play completely so you know what you are doing. Everything is important in every play.”
 
On the team’s mentality…
 “Like coach (Campbell) said, it’s mainly about being unselfish. The unselfish teams win the majority of the games. Now with the new strength program, everything we do is as a whole. Whatever we do, we’re depending on someone else to get the job done. We’ve become a lot closer. Everyone communicates on the field and off the field.”
 
Defensive end Jonathan Woodard
On the new coaching staff…
“It’s a great staff, and I’m really excited about the upcoming year. Coach Stiner does a great job and he’s been working us really hard. I’m just ready to see how everything is going to translate to the season.”
 
On the team’s new defense…
“The transition hasn’t really been hard. Coach (Dan) Augustine stayed with the program and most of the things he teaches have been the same in this defense. Having him there has really made everything easier. As a whole, I think everyone has really bought into the scheme. Coach (Greg) Stewart is a great leader. Everything has been pretty easy so far.”
 
 
HOUSTON BAPTIST
Head coach Vic Shealy…
On joining the Southland…
“The Southland brand within the coaching world has a respect that has been achieved in terms of quality football from top to bottom – the placing of the conference nationally right now, you would be hard-pressed to find a better conference and I believe the Southland is the best FCS conference in the country. So with that coming in as a new program, while it’s an honor to be attached to that and there’s credibility having that name attached to you, we understand the tall order it is to compete.”
 
On maturity from last season…
“Last year we opened up against Sam Houston and most of the people in this room probably thought there wasn’t a better team that could compete for a national title, and we took, obviously, a very young roster in there and the game was not close. We chose to play that game, because we thought at this point in time in our program that we would be a better football program. There’s no doubt that there’s been days this summer that you think about getting beat by a team you’re going to see again. It gives you great motivation to work harder and sets the bar higher for our players to understand what one of the best teams in the country, not just the conference, looks like.”
 
On expectations this season…
“I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t find a way to win football game in the Southland Conference. Obviously it doesn’t take much to look at the preseason polls and what a great honor it is to sit down there at the very bottom, because what that means right now is that no one believes that we can get that done. I know I’ve got a group of coaches and a group of players that have worked too hard to not see a lot of our goals met, so I expect us to finish better than we are predicted.”
 
Tight end Kenneth Bibbins
On leaving a legacy at HBU…
“I really want to install a work-hard mentality — always working, always trying to get better — and just create more of a team and family atmosphere. I feel if I install all of that before I leave, I feel that will be a good thing for this program and the future of the program.
 
On improving as the season progressing…
“I feel it’s going to start off a whole lot faster than last year for me. It had more to do with the team; everybody had to connect on different pieces. The O-line had to get better with the protections and the quarterbacks had to understand the schemes better, so I just benefited from them getting better. I feel they’ve gotten better since last season and my season will be a very accomplished season – hopefully.”
 
On providing senior leadership…
We have a lot of guys – I feel everyone has gotten better – but some of the guys that have really stepped up are a couple of seniors like Darian Lazard, inside receiver, and TC Jones, offensive lineman. It all starts with TC, because the O-line is the foundation of the offense, and they’ve improved a lot, so the sky is the limit for us.
 
Linebacker Garrett Dolan
On being the fifth member of his family to play in the Southland…
“It means a lot for me to be at media day, because I have so much family history in the Southland Conference with all my uncles and my brothers. It feels nice again to represent my family in the Southland Conference and being a freshman, it’s been a really fun experience being here with all the other guys, it has been a blast.”
 
On being part of the building process as a freshman…
“I want to build a championship squad and I plan on doing that this year from day one. We’ve been in the summer day in and day out just grinding trying to build that team where we can actually excel in the conference and not just be mediocre. We are looking to be top tier and trying to compete with everybody else day in and day out.”
 
On being counted on as a leader
“It’s a challenge, but I love it and I live for it and I’m just ready to get in and get after it. I don’t feel that we’re that far from everybody else, so I’m just ready to get in there and get after teams. It’s special here at HBU. It’s the ground floor and we’re here –the first recruiting class, the first official season for us. Everybody else has low expectations for us, but we’re coming in with fire in our guts ready to fire some people up next year and hopefully shock the world.”
 
 
UIW
Head coach Larry Kennan
On having Ricky Williams on staff…
“Ricky Williams has been a tremendous help.  The biggest problem we face is that no one knew who we were.  When we walk into a home and bring Ricky Williams with us it is a big deal.  He is probably still the biggest celebrity in Texas football.  He has been a tremendous help and is a wonderful human being.”

On the tough schedule…
“I don’t worry about ‘them.’  We are way better than we were last year.   I’m not worried about wins and losses because I know our guys will play up to their abilities.  We are still young, but we have a lot of guys back.  We are going to do the best we can and hope our efforts turn into some wins.”
 
On playing North Dakota State…
“They are the best program in FCS and I thought it would be great to see how they do it.  You can’t be the best unless you play the best and you have to know what that is first.”
 
On recruiting to San Antonio…
“We don’t worry about UTSA.  We rarely run into them in recruiting because there are so many guys in Texas.  When we get a player to come on a campus visit we have a good shot to get them to come.  We have been able to recruit better players every year.”
 
 
Quarterback Trent Brittain
On the offense…
“We were young last year and it was still a building year.  We got some experience.  I think maturity wise we are on the right path.  I have a lot of faith in the young guys.  We are going to put a lot of pressure on us which is good.  We have a few more years to continue to improve and learn what it takes to win.”
 
 
LAMAR
Head coach Ray Woodard
On adjusting to a new defensive coordinator…
“Craig McGallion has taken over for Bill Bradley, and has done a fine job. Craig worked with Bill each of the past two years, and he was key in the installation of our defense. Craig has picked up right where Bill left off. Now any time you have to replace so many starters it presents a challenge. It has been a work in progress, but I’m happy with that progress. We have a lot of guys who can run, and really get after the football.”

On the team’s defense…
“I think our recruiting classes have become deeper and more talented every year. Because of that, we have some very young, talented players here who just haven’t had their time to shine yet. Now the opportunity has come for them to make a name for themselves. Obviously, young guys will make some mistakes early on but as time goes on their talent will shine through. Eventually, they will have experience to go with and I believe we can be a pretty good defensive team.”

On Lamar’s experienced offense and inexperienced defense…
“Most people don’t remember that we replaced the majority of our starters on the offensive side of the ball heading into last season. So we are in the exact opposite situation this year – veteran offense and a young defense. We hope things work out in a similar fashion to last year. Early on though, our offense struggled at times but they kept working at it, and went on to have a great season. You could see the improvement on a game-by-game basis. We will expect more from our offense early, and look for our defense to grow and mature at a similar pace to last year’s offense.

On the team…
“If you’re going to have to replace so many guys on one side of the ball, the best time to do that is when you return a ton of guys on the other side. No matter how talented a team is, everyone is going to have to replace talent from the year before. That is the nature of the beast. Overall, we are a very young team and we have a lot of guys that will be returning for several years. We are very excited about that.”

Wide Receiver Reggie Begelton
On records set last season…
“Last year we had a very good season from the standpoint that a lot of guys really started to click. Obviously, the wins weren’t where we wanted them to be – and that is the primary goal – but we took huge steps forward last year. Offensively, we have a lot of guys coming back so we expect a lot more from ourselves this season. In the end, the individual records don’t matter – it’s the wins. I believe if we stick together, and can stay healthy we can win those games.”
 
On the team’s returning players…
“We have some talent returning, but the special thing about these guys is that they are all staying humble. The records that were set last season don’t really mean anything to this year’s team. We know that people are going to be geared up to stop us, but we have to keep our heads. We want to continue the forward progress from last season.”
 
On the upcoming season…
“We are no longer a ‘brand new program.’ Last year we were competitive in all of our games, but we didn’t get the wins we wanted. We now have to start thinking like winners. The next step is to pull out the victories in those close games. “
 
Quarterback Caleb Berry
On his record-setting junior year…
“To be honest, the records didn’t really mean much to mean. We step on the field to win games, not to set records. We are here to win games, that is our main job. My job is to help this team win, and that is all I focus on.”
 
On his confidence entering his senior year…
“When you are surrounded by so many guys who can make plays, it gives me a ton of confidence. These guys are going to go out and make plays for the team every time they step on the field. It’s a great feeling to be a part of this team.”
 
On working with new center Chance McCormack…
“Any time you lose someone like Kyle Gillam, he is obviously going to be missed. He was a great player and a heck of a guy. If I made a mistake he had the ability to correct the offense and keep us headed in the right direction, but Chance came in during the spring and did a really nice job. He continues to do a great job, and I think he is going to be a special player.”
 
 
McNEESE STATE
Head coach Matt Viator
 On spring and summer workouts…
“We had a really good spring and a great summer.  We had a tremendous turnout for our summer voluntary workouts and we’ve got a great group of guys coming back.”
 
On players returning…
“I’m real excited about the players we have returning and also the transfers we have in.  Losing guys in key positions is tough but hopefully our program is in good enough shape to where we have guys fill in the spots nicely.”
 
On expectations entering the season…
“The expectations are high here every year.  It makes it fun.  You set the bar high and push yourself.  If we do things right and keep progressing, I think we have a chance to be a pretty good football team.”
 
Offensive lineman Antione Everett
On the offensive line… 
“I’ve been here for a long time and been playing with these guys for a while.  We’ve got three guys on the line coming back that made all-conference and four starters.  We’re all more mature and moving forward.  We’re looking forward to hopefully what is a great year.”
 
Defensive lineman Everett Ellefsen 
On the upcoming season…
“Very excited for the season to begin.  We’ve been working hard during the offseason and ready to get going.  Last year hurt by coming so close to the ring.  I saw Southeastern’s ring and took a picture of it.  I’m going to print it out and place on everyone’s locker during camp as a reminder for what happened last year and what we’re playing for this year.”
 
 
NICHOLLS
Head coach Charlie Stubbs
On Nicholls’ quarterback situation…
“I have a good group and they’re very competitive. Right now, Tuskani Figaro, he was being redshirted last year but was forced to play after injuries to Beaux Hebert and Kalen Henderson. But Tuskani set an all-time record last year in rushing yards and didn’t even play in three games. He had over 1,100 yards rushing and even passed for over 1,000, so he’ll enter fall camp as our No. 1 guy. Henderson is a very talented quarterback who transferred in from Tulsa a few years ago, and then I have Hebert who has starting experience. The hardest thing will be dividing up the reps to get them ready. But I’ll have to make some tough decisions and they know that.”
 
On signing JUCO and FBS transfers…
“I like to bring in high school players to develop them, and we’ve developed some very good ones, that’s no question. But that takes a lot of time. So what I wanted to do is blend in some players who have a little bit more maturity and a little bit more skill, and I’m very excited about this group”
 
On changes with the defensive staff…
“We averaged nearly 30 points a game last season, so we’re improving on offense and we still need to do much better, but being an offensive coach, I know what’s tough on an offense. What’s tough is making you put 12, 14 plays together to get in the end zone. If you do that, the offense will make a mistake on its own. So while I would like to see our defense be sound, lined up correctly, fly around to the ball and create turnovers, the biggest thing is that I don’t want them to get scored on quickly. The game has changed a lot, but I want us to be very sound in everything we do. I want to simplify the defense and have our best athletes out on the field.”
 
 
Offensive lineman Rafe Plaisance 
On learning for last year’s season…
“Davin (Bovie) and I are seniors now, so we’ve been through a lot since we’ve been here. You never officially put it behind you, but you can improve on it and use it for next year and that’s what we plan on doing. It was a tough way to end the season last year after starting 4-2 and winning our first conference game. That was excellent for us, but we need to learn how to continue that success and finish.”
 
On opening the season against FBS opponents…
“It will definitely help us know where we are as a team. I think it will help our young guys mature because once we step out on that field against Air Force, the bullets are flying and you have to play your A-game in order to beat a team like that.”
 
On the status of the offensive tackle position…
“It’s hard to replace a guy like Abasi Salimu, but we have some guys who can step up. Our main focal point going into fall camp is to get our tackles right. I believe we have the guys who can do it, and with our three main interior linemen returning, it will only help.”
 
Linebacker Davin Bovie
On coming back from injury…
“It’s been eight months since my surgery, and the rehab is going great. Not being on the field, it helped me take a step back so I could sit and learn everything. I was able to pay attention to the young guys, and learn from the older guys as well.”
 
On Nicholls’ preseason conference ranking…
“It’s going to be a tough conference. Everybody’s going to be good this year, but we definitely have a chip on our shoulder. We’re always trying to prove our self.”
 
 
NORTHWESTERN STATE
Head Coach Jay Thomas
On the upcoming season…
“Our guys are really looking forward to the season, and it has been a really good summer for us. We are looking to build off of the momentum we created at the end of last year. We felt like we really finished the season strong down the stretch.
 
“We look forward to opening the season on Aug. 28 with Missouri State at home. That is a Thursday night game and it ought to be exciting.  We have a very interesting schedule, and we’re looking forward to it. It will be a challenge for our guys.”
  
On strategy to win on the road…
“That is something we know we need to address.  Last year at home we played really, really well. Our guys are going to understand that were going to have to be ‘Road Warriors’ this season for the stretch at the beginning of the season.  They will be up for the challenge, and I always enjoy the road.  We have to can continue get better on the field and create depth in positions. That (depth) is what helps win you go on the road.”
 
On finishing strong to end the season…
“The players made their mind up that they wanted to finish strong.  I think it is largely due to our staff, as well.  As we go through the course of the season, we count repetitions. We really felt like that we could have played a month after the season. We made a commitment that we wanted to finish strong in the month of November.”
 
On the Southland Conference…
“The Southland Conference is so tough, from top to bottom.  You really have great football players, and good coaches too.  Week in and week out, it is a struggle. Closing the gap, you have to be very balanced.  You look at our offense after last year, and we had seven new starters. All of those guys are back and Zach (Adkins) is one of those guys.”
 
Quarterback Zach Adkins 
On the upcoming season…
“It’s going to be my last games touching the field, so I’m very excited. I just want to go out there with my team and give it all I’ve got and see what can happen. With the way we finished last year, and the work we’ve put in since then, everybody is excited about the opportunity we have this fall for a great season.”
 
On his record-setting season last year…
“It was exciting to break those records last year, but I want to be more productive and be a better quarterback this year. That would mean even better numbers and most importantly, more wins and getting to postseason. I have a lot of talented players to get the ball to, and some very good players up front clearing the way for our run game and giving me time to throw.”
 
On having year of experience at Northwestern…
“It’s always better going around a second time. I knew coming in this was a very competitive conference and now I’ve seen it first-hand. We’ve seen Top 10 caliber teams across the field from us and we’ve gone toe-to-toe with them. Personally I now have a better understanding of what I need to do to be better and help us get in position to win more conference games.”
 
Linebacker Imoan Claiborne
On the upcoming season…
“We have a lot to build on, a lot coming back on both sides of the ball and on special teams. We also have a lot to improve upon in all three phases. That’s what we’ve worked on since walking off the field after the SFA game.”
 
On offenses throwing away from him…
“”I just try to maintain focus on my side of the field, doing my job. I have to be ready for the ball to come my way every snap and in my position, if you slip up, it could be a touchdown for the other team. It’s not just about the passing game. I’ve got to do a good job on the run and tackling, because a missed tackle at my position is always costly.”
 
On instant replay…
“You see so many games at the FBS level change due to instant replay. I think it will be a huge plus for our conference. The officials do a great job. This will help them be even better.”
 
SAM HOUSTON STATE
Head coach K.C. Keeler
On this year’s team…
“With this program’s record of success during the last three years, our coaching staff has inherited a group of outstanding young men who know what it takes to win at this level. During spring ball, it was exciting to see the way everyone bought into what we are trying to do.”
               
“Yes, this team will look different from past groups. We’ve thrown a lot of new things at the players during the spring and preseason camp. But there’s an old term I’ve told the kids. If we play clean, we win. We have enough talent here that if we play clean, we’ll win a lot of football games. That’s going to be the challenge.”
 
On quarterbacks Don King III and Jared Johnson…
“The skill sets that Don and Jared have are, I think, probably as high a level as you’ll find in this league: arm strength, intelligence, mobility, leadership and all those things. They have it all there. Now can they perform under fire? That’s going to be the big question.”
 
On the schedule…
“Right now, these is just one team on our schedule and that is Eastern Washington Aug. 23. They’ll be the No. 1 team in the country and we’ll be playing at their place. We’re focused on getting ready for that game.”
 
On the offense…
“We’re looking to be an up-tempo team, but they may take a while. With the pace we’d like to play offensively, we’ll be rotating our running backs and wide receivers. Early on, it will be more important that we play without mistakes, but there’s going to be lots of opportunities for young players to step in as we progress offensively.”  
 
Running back Keshawn Hill
On following All-American Timothy Flanders…
“I’ve started most of my career, so it’s not that different. We lost some outstanding leaders, but it’s just natural that as seniors we step up. We’re running a different style offense this year, but football is football.  Coach (K. C.) Keeler is a proven winner. He has the same goals all the players do.”
 
Defensive back Michael Wade
On this year’s team…
“Football is football. We’re doing some different things this year, but we’re on the right track. There’s been tremendous enthusiasm this summer with the guys working together. We’re here to win. The coaching staff and the players are on the same page. We want to do more than just win a conference championship. We’re looking to do well in the playoffs as well.
 
 
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
Head coach Ron Roberts
On the upcoming season…
“We’re very excited about 2014. I don’t expect to jump on anybody by surprise. We’ve had a great eight months of preparation. The momentum from the playoffs carried over into the offseason, having a great spring on the field and in the weight room. Our guys’ commitment has been great throughout the summer. The Southland Conference is a great conference and you have to be prepared to play week in and week out.
 
“We feel going into this season we’re a better team on paper than we were last year. We’ve got to take care of business, remain humble, work and stay dedicated on all phases.”
 
On being the preseason favorite…
“You’ve got to enjoy that as a competitor. With a bull’s eye on your chest, your opponent is going to bring their best. Hopefully that means you’re going to bring your best and they’re going to bring out the best in you. Over the process of time they’re going to help us. If we can handle the challenge then it will helps us be the best football team we can be in 2014.”
 
On developing depth…
“We say we’ve got eight starters back on offense, well we have 14. We’ve got eight receivers that all played in a rotation last year. Our ones and our twos are all back. We’ve got eight offensive linemen back. We have 17 defensive players back that all played. It’s all about building the program for longevity, doing it year in and year out and not having a one-hit wonder. It’ll be very disappointing to not win 10 games this year. The only way to do that every year is to prepare for the future instead of right now.”
 
Quarterback Bryan Bennett
On the upcoming season…
“We’ve had great effort on the football field and in the weight room. I’m excited to go out and play some football games and take care of business. We’ll go out there, have fun, respect everyone we play and play the best football we can.”
 
On changes in his career…
“It’s been a great summer. The past three years has been a great experience. There’ve been highs and lows, but it’s definitely helped me become the man I am now. You get to go through a lot of things that will shape you and I’m happy to have been a part of it. Coming down to Southeastern, being around some great coaches and teammates, I’m excited to go out and do it again this year. I’m thankful for the way this has all turned out.”
 
On 2014 expectations…
“In our locker room, we’ve always had high expectations. We go into every day wanting to be great. People on the outside are expecting more from us this year than last year, but for us it is all about us, the team, our relationships with the coaches and each other, and taking care of business the way we know how.”
 
Linebacker Isiah Corbett
On the summer workout…
“We’ve been working hard in the weight room, even in the film room, and most of the team has been there over the summer so everybody’s excited to get back. We can’t wait to get into fall camp and be around each other again.”
 
On preseason goals…
“Some of our goals are to win a conference championship and a national championship, but our first goal is to win the next game. You take it game by game and try to do your best.”
 
 
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
Head coach Clint Conque
On his team and his players at media day…
“It’s great to be here representing Stephen F. Austin State University. I’m very excited about our football program and the direction we’re going for this season and for the future. I have two outstanding student-athletes with me today. Trey Vallier to my right, a senior defensive back from Henderson, Texas, and Byron Williams, a junior offensive lineman from Dickenson, Texas, to my left. The young men have worked very, very hard, and it’s obviously been a whirlwind transition over the last seven months, but we are excited to put an end to one process and begin another next week or in 10 days or so with the beginning of fall camp.”
 
On bringing the winning tradition back to Stephen F. Austin… 
“Moving forward we inherit a little bit of a wounded program, and everybody here recognizes that. That’s part of the challenge. These two young men and their teammates back home have bought into the cultural changes we have put in place, the expectation level of how we want to go about ourselves and do business and the processes. It is a process, and we have to respect each phase and each part of that process. We’re gaining on it each and every day.”
 
On the Southland Conference…
“It’s been a pleasure to watch the conference grown and, (Commissioner Tom Burnett), I appreciate your leadership. I know it’s been probably expounded upon a great deal, but we are on the cutting edge in setting the trend now in FCS football when it comes to instant replay across the country. It’s really an honor to be in this conference as long as I have been.”
 
Offensive lineman Byron Williams 
On the team’s attitude this spring and summer… 
“I’m proud of my guys and the team. They showed a relentless amount of effort this summer, showed a lot of commitment. I’m really looking forward to this upcoming season.”
 
On the atmosphere with the new coaching staff… 
“The commitment these guys have put into this summer with Coach Conque and a good group of coaches on the coaching staff that came here with us. It’s going to be really fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
 
Safety Trey Vallier
On his excitement for the season… 
“Honestly, I can’t wait until the season starts. Me and my guys are ready. We’ve been working hard and preparing. It’s just about time to strap it on and get it going.”
 
On the team atmosphere with the new coaching staff…
“The atmosphere has changed very positively, from the weight room to the cafeteria, to us just being here in June and July and working hard. These coaches expect a lot from us, and we’re going to do what we’ve got to do to make them proud, and make us proud.”

 

 

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