Oct. 12, 2010
SDSU Football Weekly Press Conference Quotes.
Aztec Athletics Center
Head Coach Brady Hoke
Opening Statement:
"It's obviously an exciting week. It's Homecoming and we're back home, which is great. We're also playing a tremendous top 25 football team that does a lot of things right, running the ball being one of them. Obviously, after our performance against the rush last week, we have a lot of work to get done and we will. They're a team that plays very hard, smart defensive football. They can do a lot of things to try and rattle you. We have a tough task ahead of us in all three phrases, but I know our guys will do a great job."
On responding after a loss:
"(The team) came here Sunday and they were disappointed and hurt, things you should be after a loss. But at the same time, they did a fantastic job in the weight room and film sessions. I like our football team an awful lot, and I don't say that I like something very often. But I do like the direction our seniors have given us to this point in how they approach every game."
On what to improve from the BYU game:
"I think we played well in spurts. We have to get more production up front, and that's my responsibility because I coach those guys. We have to improve on getting off blocks, and I think we slowed down on our blitzes. We got a little too cautious and showed a little bit at times. Those things hurt us some, but it still comes down to tackling and getting off blocks.
On Air Force:
"They're very well coached and smart. They have lots of different formations that they give you. They give you lots of ways to show option football and then they go back and give you zone and I-back football. They have good players at those skill positions, guys that do a really good job."
On the key to stopping the option:
"Stop the fullback. You have to be disciplined, but you have to take the fullback out of the game. It starts with him. If you can pound and take him away, then you help yourself. They have good fullbacks. You have to make them two-dimensional with speed options. They're awfully committed to what they do, so it will be a task."
On the missed calls at BYU:
"This is two games in a row with some missed calls. The conference reviewed it and agreed that they should have overturned the fumble. They didn't get the feed to the replay official, even though The Mtn. and everyone else had it there. The interference call, they said that was missed too. They can say, `I'm sorry,' but it doesn't do much for the 115 kids on Sunday. But that's football."
Former Aztec Running Back Marshall Faulk
Opening Statement:
"As an Aztec, it's great to see the team doing well. You fall behind 14-0 at BYU, and that used to be the end. They somehow made it a game. It's easy to play from ahead, but tough to play from behind. Coach Hoke and his staff are doing a great job of instilling the fight into these kids in order to win games and championships. For me, it's been a long time since I've watched or checked scores and thought that we had a chance. That's part of why I'm doing what I'm doing with my foundation. I'm trying to let these kids know that we care. I remember what it was like to play and have that stadium be full, or to have it look full. I believe that they're working towards that, and that will draw people. I talked to the team earlier this year and said, 'If you win, they will come.'
On how his foundation is helping spread excitement about the program:
"Lots of media stuff, things like this. We've reached out to former players and alumni to get them involved. When (Stephen) Strasburg was drafted, there were people that went, 'Oh, I went to that school!' Those are things that they should have been following. The kid has been good his entire time here. It's about keeping them in tune with what's happening. Those are the kinds of things that I'd like our alumni to be embedded in. It'd be nice to have them involved in every sport, and not be surprised when the first pick comes from San Diego State."
On Homecoming:
"It's about creating an atmosphere around Homecoming that gets people exciting. It's about developing camaraderie for your alumni, community and fans. As players, you want to look at Homecoming as, 'just another game.' But then you come out and see your fanbase excited about this game being Homecoming, it ignites you and puts something in you. We obviously all went to high school and remember what high school homecoming was like. College homecoming shouldn't go down; it should be on a bigger scale. That's what we're trying to create in terms of tradition. That's not just with Homecoming, but throughout the season regardless of sport."
On Ronnie Hillman:
"I've gotten the opportunity to watch him. The kid has a special skill set; I think they're doing a good job of not overloading him with carries. As he matures as a runner and his body develops in the weight room, you'll see a guy who's playing on Sunday. It's easy to see, he has that kind of talent."
On being a college athlete with today's media coverage:
"It's harder. If you want to make it to the next level in football, the word "character" follows you around. It's not just back to your freshman year; they'll go back to high school and talk to your teachers. I probably wouldn't have made it with today's media attention. I had fun in college; I had fun at San Diego State. It was a fun school, and it still is. I can't say that I did everything right. Some things that I thought were adolescent and fun, you're not allowed to make those mistakes anymore. They don't say, 'he's a freshman and messed up.' They just say, 'he messed up.'"
Junior Linebacker Miles Burris
On the importance of executing assignments against the run when playing Air Force this week:
"You've got to execute all the time and that's important every week. Then again, this is a great team we're playing this week and they run the ball all the time. So it's absolutely crucial that everyone is doing their job fitting blocks the way they're suppose to and being at the right place at the right time."
On keeping Air Force out of the end zone the last time the two teams met:
"I think a big part of that game was everyone knowing where they were supposed to be and everyone playing hard. When you watch the film, you see everyone flying around to the ball. When you fly around to the ball and you play hard, good things happen. "
Senior Center Trask Iosefa
On the frustration of being held off the field for such a large portion of the game against BYU:
"I think (BYU head coach and defensive coordinator) Bronco Mendenhall did a great job of keeping us off the field. We were still able to score 21 points, but we were only on the field for 15 minutes."
Senior Defensive Lineman Ernie Lawson
On what needs to be addressed to improve against the run:
"Executing our job and getting off blocks. We didn't do a very good job of that up front. When we have the opportunity to make plays, we need to make plays. Playing assignment smart football all game is going to be key for us, because if you don't know your job, they're going to gash you (for yardage). That will obviously be the biggest thing for us this week."
On playing against an offensive line for Air Force that has only one starter returning from last season:
"I imagine it would help to a certain extent, but those guys are coached so well and they're so technically sound that they can really replace guys and it won't be too big of a deal."