Dec. 5, 2005
SAN DIEGO - SDSU Press Conference Quotes
Dec. 5, 2005
SDSU Athletic Director Jeff Schemmel
General Comments
"We have decided to make a change with the football head coaching position at San Diego State. This decision was made with great difficulty, lots of consternation and, as you all know, we took a long time to do it. I can't stress enough how difficult (this decision) was - Tom Craft has clearly made the program better than when he got here and the contributions he has made are there. You need to look no further then the talent on the field to see that. That is, obviously, what made (the decision) even more difficult for me. Lastly, (Tom Craft) is an Aztec. He gave his heart and soul to (San Diego State). It means more to him then it might mean to someone else who doesn't have Aztec blood in his veins.
"There were a couple of things I thought the program lacked. First of all and probably most important, what I like to call a positive energy that the community could get excited about. Tom and I talked about that at great length. I think a change can bring some of that positive energy and excitement back to San Diego and the Southern California area. Secondly, I certainly sensed a lack of confidence in the program - where it was going, where it was headed, whether we could take that next step. Clearly we need that confidence to take the next step. I firmly believe that this program could be a top-10 program. I am more convinced today then when I first got here. We can do what Utah did last year. I think that our assets that we have in place here are greater than (Utah's). We're determined to get there - it can happen. In this position, you have to ultimately ask yourself the question of whether the person in charge could get you where you wanted to go. I think it was time for a change.
"It's been a busy morning. Tom and I met early this morning. (Senior Associate Athletic Director) Steve Becvar and I subsequently met with the coaches. We also met with four players - Kevin O'Connell, Freddy Keiaho, Jonathan Bailes and Chaz Schilens. Then we met with the team. It's a difficult day for all those who care a great deal about coach Craft, the assistant coaches and, the friendships and attachments that are there. It was certainly tough on some of the players.
"But it is also a day that is an exciting turn in the page for Aztec football. The search process starts immediately - it starts today. We will have a nationwide search. I am very pleased that (University) President (Stephen) Weber is committed to provide us the resources it will take to get, not only a head coach, but an assistant coaching staff that we will need to have in the top 10 and to gain national notoriety."
"One last thing on the search, for those of you who I know will ask, I will not comment on the search after today until it is complete. I owe that to the candidates who I speak to and really to San Diego State."
On possible candidates
"I'm confident we're going to find a great head coach. I don't think any A.D. would be doing his job if he didn't already have some names in the back of his head. We'll pursue those and do that quickly and thoroughly."
On looking for a big name head coach to attract notoriety
"We're not necessarily looking for (a big name head coach). In my experiences, we hired a person at Kansas State - a guy nobody knew named Bill Snyder. I think it's more trying to find the right person. It certainly could be a head coach. In that case, we would look for a successful one. It could also be an assistant coach with a great track record."
"It's too early in the process to have a favorite. We need to evaluate, not only our interest in the candidate, but their interest in us. I really want this done by Christmas."
On the qualities he is looking for in a new coach
"Leadership, ability to communicate, organizational skills, someone who can energize the community and who has the ability to and is willing to do that. There are many (coaches) who aren't willing to (energize the community), and quite frankly, I think we need that in the community."
On waiting so long to make the announcement
"I hadn't made the decision because I really felt like I had only been here since July, didn't have all the information and hadn't spent enough time to at least make a decision like this. It really was a personal decision for me. It was a gut feeling when you were ready and when you are not, and I just wasn't ready (before) now."
On setting the program back by not making the announcement sooner
"I think any setbacks would be temporary, certainly not in the long run or I wouldn't have made the decision. Related to current recruits, those sorts of things are very important to us, but in the long term we needed to focus on two, three or four years down the road."
On Tom Craft's reaction to his dismissal
"He took it as well as you could expect - very professionally. We shook hands. Obviously, (he was) extremely disappointed, but as you might expect from Tom, very classy.
On the players' reactions
"Most of them were very quiet. We talked a lot about how important the next two weeks are for these guys. It's finals time and we don't want them thinking, "I don't have a coach, I don't need to pay attention." We spent a lot of time talking about making sure that their top priority was academics."
Sophomore quarterback Kevin O'Connell
General Comments
"Coming into today Athletic Director Jeff Schemmel talked to the captains first and let the rest of the team know after. It was rough on the guys, but that is expected. (Tom Craft) has always supported us. That's why we have so much respect for the man and it's going to be tough to see him go."
On getting over Craft's departure
"This is the first time this has happened to me. Guys like (Freddy) Keiaho and some of the others who were old enough to be here when the last change happened are helping us through these times. It takes a lot of chemistry and leadership from these guys to keep everything together. I have all the faith in the world that Jeff Schemmel will get us a wonderful coach.
"You've got to let the team know that academics are big for us right now. When the new coach comes in and we get ready for spring ball, we can't have any academic casualties or anything like that. A lot of work needs to get done. It's just going to be a hard couple of weeks. It's a tough time."
On the future of San Diego State football
"We have a lot (of people) coming back next year. Coach Craft did a heck of a job in putting us in this position (to win). If a couple of wins and losses go a different way this year, we might be talking about what bowl game we're playing in a month."
On his initial reaction to the news
"I was a little surprised. The decision was made by (Jeff Schemmel), a man who everyone in this program has tremendous respect for and we're going to go for it. I know that coach Craft and the other coaches are all going to do wonderful things because they are all good people. They have always had tremendous character and people like that are going to end up in the right place and doing the right type of things."