HEAD COACH DANA DIMEL
On last weeks game against Tulane
"I was a little bit surprised about how well they rushed the passer. Pass
rush on the turf is always quicker and a little bit more intense. The speed
on the turf definitely surprised us. We did not play as poorly in that
game as I had originally thought. We just need to keep everything in
perspective and look at the big picture."
"After I took all of the emotions out of it and evaluated the way that our
football team played, I thought we played hard. We probably played well
enough to win the game, but we just did not make the plays we should have at
the right times. We had a couple of times when we could have put a knife in
them and we just didnt make the right plays. So that game is something
that we will learn from. This is all a process geared towards making our
football team better in the future."
On the future of the program
"We have made a lot of plans to have a great team next season. The question
is: Who do we play for the rest of the season? Well, if we can win our last
two ballgames we end up 5-6 overall and 4-3 in conference. To have over
.500 percentage in conference is a heck of an accomplishment for this
football team. To end up 5-6 and 7-4 two years in a row, which is over .500
for back-to-back seasons. That hasnt been done here since 1990. So there
are still a lot of things for this football team to play for and more
importantly, we will play to get ourselves continually better to beat some
top programs in the conference which I think that were just as good as. My
assessment of this conference is there is not a big difference between
anybody. Its about who ever is most prepared to play each Saturday."
DL JOSH TUBBS
On his game improving this season
"From the beginning of the season I think I've improved a lot. The first half of the season I was not used to seeing these really big guys, had to have the right attitude and get used to the speed of the game. These last couple games I think I've really come out and played a lot better. I think I'm used to the speed and will keep getting better."
On these final two games
"These two games I have to really assert my leadership. Next year I'm going to be a returning starter who has started every game, and there are only going to be a handful of guys on the defense or even on the whole team whole have done that. So, right now I think I need to assert myself as a leader on the field, get things going and back what I say up on the field."
On the game against East Carolina this weekend
"I doesn't now, I haven't really watched too much film yet. I think it's just playing how you need to play every game with 100 percent effort. I think their quarterback is going to be the main key for us. If we can get to him, which I know we will, and whether we take him down or not because he's a big guy and is real strong. If we can stop him and the offense can do their job we'll come out with a win."
