Marshall University Athletics
Quotes from Doc Holliday's Sept. 1 Press Conference
9/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Opening Statement:
Offensively we have Clint Van Horn, and (Michael) Selby on offense and we have D.J. Hunter and Jarquez Samuel on defense. We'll do that the same way that we've done it the past couple of years, which I've liked. We'll have captains every week based on the performance in practice, leadership, and how they played in the game. I think it's been great for us and that will continue. So these four guys have to make sure, along with the rest of the leadership on this football team, that we have a great week of preparation. That's what it's going to take to be able to compete with this Purdue team coming here. I have great respect for Darrell Hazell. I've had the opportunity to work with him. He's a tremendous coach. They've got an unlimited budget as far as recruiting and personnel go so they're going to have players. It's going to be a great challenge for us. This game will be won, not on Sunday, but by the way we prepare on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's an opportunity for us to showcase our program on a national stage and it's important we fill this place up and have a great time so that's where we are.
On the exposure of playing on Sunday:
It's great. It's great exposure and it's a great opportunity for us. It's the first time in history a Big Ten school is coming in here, so I know our fans are excited, our community is excited, and I know our players are. It's just a great opportunity. It's kind of like the bowl games we've played in in the last couple of years. You know it's just getting started and you know you're the only show on at that particular time. The exposure you get is going to be tremendous because of it. Everyone's been talking a lot about us the past couple years so I think everyone's a little anxious to turn that TV on and see what we're all about.
On facing Purdue's linebackers:
They're physical, very physical big kids who can play in space. Those three linebackers provide a lot of stability for them in there. That's the strength of their defense. Offensively they've got all five of those guys up front, all five offensive linemen are back and of course Appleby played a lot. (Anthrop) is a tremendous receiver. He makes a lot plays for them, so probably when you look at the strength of their defense, you talk about their inside guys and their linebackers. They're corners are awful good and, if you look at them offensively, they're all extremely physical up front.
On Purdue's offense:
It's the same way everywhere. If you're really good up front, and they are on both sides of the ball, that's where it starts. We started getting pretty good around here when our offensive line came together and our defensive line got better and that's the strength of their team. It's both their offensive and defensive line. That's where its starts and just having all of those guys back, I'm sure that's going to settle that quarterback down, and give him some confidence. They're good, it's going to be a challenge for us.
On matching the physical aspect of the Big Ten:
We have to. I think we're pretty physical too so and there's no doubt that they are, but great football teams are physical teams. That's normally the way it works so hopefully it's two physical teams going against each other. If that's the case, it'll be a heck of a game.
On facing Purdue:
I think a lot of that depends on what the defense gives us. That's our plan. Our plan is to go in and not try to put square pegs in round holes, just because we have a new quarterback handing off to Devon another ten or fifteen times. That's not what we do offensively. We take what they give us and hopefully we'll be able to execute that again on Sunday.
