Marshall University Athletics
Transcript of Head Coach Doc Holliday's Tuesday Press Conference
10/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 25, 2011
Opening Statement:
As you know we have a UAB team coming in here that, to be honest with you, is a very scary and dangerous team. They have a lot of talent on their football team as they showed last week in the win over UCF. It's the same team from a year ago that went to Southern Miss and beat Southern Miss. They have extremely skilled athletes. Their quarterback Jonathan Perry, everyone thinks the UCF game was his first start, but he has gotten playing time throughout the year. He gives them a shot to throw the ball vertically down the field. They have taken about 50 shots vertically down the field in the last five games. We have to be able to defend that and it's going to be a great challenge for us.
On Marshall's focus with UAB beating UCF:
Our team has to understand now that if we overlook anybody, then we are going to get beat. We have to take one game at a time. Like I said, if we don't prepare every day and every week, then we aren't going to win. We aren't there yet. We are not at that point and our kids need to understand that. For UAB's sake that was a great win because they now know that they can be a good football team. That will give them confidence coming in here and we have to play extremely well for us to win this football game. We have to have a great week of practice for that to happen. Hopefully our kids understand what kind of team we have coming in here because they are very skilled. Those wide receivers they have ran right by UCF and Mississippi State. That quarterback can give them a spark. He can beat you with his feet and he is very accurate down the field, so he can create some problems for us. One of their kids said they are going to win their last five games and go to a bowl. They still have that opportunity. That is their mindset right now. That is what the UCF win did for them, it kept their hopes alive. They will come in here and I know they will play extremely hard.
On UAB having a lot of seniors:
They do have a lot of seniors. I believe four of the five offensive linemen are seniors. They have seven starters back on defense that played us here a year ago. You wonder why they have the record they do until you look at who they've played. They've played two SEC teams, Tulsa, which is an excellent football team. That Mississippi State game was tough up to the end.
On Troy Evan and Antavious Wilson getting involved on offense:
It was great to get that offense going a little bit. Offensively we did some good things. Unfortunately, we didn't win the game which is the most important thing. I thought the offense grew up a little bit in that game and I thought some individual players grew up. We have to continue to get better offensively.
On A.J. Graham's passing against Houston:
From game one to game two there is no question he threw the ball a lot better. I feel like he made great strides between games and it has to continue in game three. I want to see him continue to grow because he did throw the ball a lot better, threw more balls on time and I thought the kids stepped up and made plays to help him out. That is always good to see.
On what made Graham step up:
I think he prepared during the week and did well in practice. I believe that carries over in to the games. That being said, he did play a lot better. The reason he played better is because he practiced better. The best day of practice he has had since I've been here was (last) Sunday. You can just see him getting more confident with what he is doing and how he carries himself. That needs to continue.
On Graham being the man or Cato still in the running:
As long as he (Graham) plays well then it's his team. If he continues to play like he is, then it's his team.
On the focus of the defense following the Houston game:
They're alright. What I like about this team is that they have done everything we have asked them to do. We had them in at 6 A.M. this morning and not one guy was late. Everyone has done exactly what we tell them to do and they work extremely hard. We have to continue to do that because we have to have a great week this week.
On winning four of the last five games last season and possibly preaching that now:
A year ago we finished well and we have to finish well again. I just talk to the players about getting better every week. What I told them for this week is that we have to put every ounce of energy in preparing for this game against UAB because we have two weeks to catch our breath. We haven't had a break since August 1st. We have to be the best prepared team we can for Saturdays game and after Saturday we'll catch our breath.
On Houston having success with the quick three step drop:
I think what happened against Houston is they out-athleted us in open space. It's pretty simple. We had guys in position to make plays and we couldn't make them. It's as simple as that. That is an excellent football team. Last season they didn't go to a bowl because that guy taking the snaps wasn't there. He is really good and he is going to do that to a lot of people and he has. We have to play better. That is not how we expect to play and that is not what our defense is built on. It didn't matter if we were max blitzing or what, when we had a chance to make a play on them we simply didn't. For us to get where we want to go we have to have guys that will make those plays. The guys we have now will get better at doing that.
