Oct. 18, 2011
SAN DIEGO -
Head Coach Rocky Long
Opening Statement:
"I appreciate everyone coming since we don't play this week. It seems like a long time since we played last, too, but it was nice to win (at Air Force). We're going to basically go back to training camp this week for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and then start working on Wyoming on Sunday."
On the weird schedule with games in the Eastern Time Zone, on Thursday and two bye weeks already:
"It's completely different than anything I've been through before. These two byes seem like they are back-to-back with the games in between so close together. It seems like we had a bye week, then we played a game, and then we had another bye week. It's really weird. I didn't even think of about the two trips to the Eastern Time Zone, that makes it even more different."
On what he means by training camp in the opening statement:
"It just means we're not working on a game plan. We're going to have ones (starters) against ones and twos (backups) against twos. We have some competition drills that we did during training camp that are going to come back out this week. There's some 1-on-1 stuff that we do with offense versus defense. There are a few different drills that we do that are competition with offense versus defense. It's more live action than normal. Once you get into the season, you do very little live action stuff. The young guys are nothing but scout team guys, so they don't even learn your offense and defense. At the end of practice, we let them scrimmage, but the whole day they are working on your offense and defense. You get a week with the younger guys and that helps a lot."
On if he pays attention to all the conference realignment talk:
"I listen and read, and try to stay informed, but it's happening so fast and things are changing so quickly. I don't think it's going to stop anytime soon. I think it's just starting and is going to go on for another two or three years. Eventually it will settle down, but I don't think it's anytime soon.
On if the conference realignment is good for college football:
"I would reserve judgment until I see exactly how it ends up. I think that they'll end up with five or six super conferences, and eventually have a national championship tournament that they should have had all along. I don't know how many teams that entails. That could entail 60 teams, that could entail 100 teams, but everybody is moving around trying to balance budgets and make sure they're involved in the new landscape. Everybody is doing everything they can to do that."
Quarterback Ryan Lindley
On if it seems like forever since they've played a football game:
"Maybe in a week it will, but it's kind of a long break considering we played on a Thursday. Now we're getting a bye and we'll have some extra time. But I think we need it. We need some guys to heal up. We'll get back on track and back to the basics just like we did on our first bye week."
On if he's excited about playing against the first-team defense this week as opposed to the scout team:
"It's different. During training camp we got sick of it, but we're at the point now where it's fun to get back and have guys go against each other. I'm sure Tommy (Draheim) and Miles (Burris) always enjoy going against each other."
Offensive Lineman Tommie Draheim
On if he's excited about playing against the first-team defense this week as opposed to the scout team:
"It's nice to keep the game speed up and keep the competition level up. It's always nice to go against Miles (Burris), one of the better pass-rushers in the conference. It always keeps me on my toes."
On if getting the team's first conference win on the road boosted confidence:
"We're a very confident bunch. We've got a lot of seniors, we've got a lot of older guys, a lot of guys who have played before. During those two losses, we just got away from what we like to do. We didn't play as physical as we needed to play; we weren't as aggressive as we needed to be. It was just getting back to being physical and being mean."
On the weird schedule with games in the Eastern Time Zone, on Thursday and two bye weeks already:
"It's definitely something we're not used to, something we've never had to deal with before. It's something we've had to adjust to on the fly. The team's handled it well. People are able to heal their injuries, relax and get ready for our next six games leading up to the bowl game.
"Any time you can take some time off to watch football on Saturday, not have to worry about a whole lot, let your mind relax and get away from it all, you come back refreshed and ready to attack the next game."
Linebacker Miles Burris:
On if the team felt an attitude change on the plane ride home after getting its first conference win on the road:
"Yeah, it felt great. I've said it before, but Air Force is always a tough place to play with the altitude and just the feeling in general that they're a tough bunch of kids. Playing them at (their) home is always tough. It was definitely a great feeling to get a win. Any win is great, but it was our first conference win. They were a really good team and are going to have a great season as well."