Doug Martin News Conference Transcript
10/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Opening Statement:
We have a really exciting football game to play this Saturday. Another MAC East game, only our second home game of the year so it will be nice to be back here at Dix Stadium, we are looking forwards to a great student crowd, our students have been outstanding ever since last year and we are going to need every one of them in this football game and as many people as we can get to support this football team and it will take all of us to win this one.
On MIA:
They ran the ball the best this week as well as they have all year. They've done a good job in finding personnel to run the ball. I would expect to see Mike Kokal (at quarterback) more than anything. It just seems they are more comfortable with him. He plays very aggressively.
On Julian Edelman's performance at OU:
The game was totally in his hands. He did a masterful job of putting us in the right play. That's about as well as I've had a quarterback throw in a long time. He threw the ball very well. Throwing the deep ball is really a lost art in college football. I was preaching to him this week, you want great height on the ball and let that receiver go battle. You'll either get an interference penalty, a catch or an incomplete pass. He, like the rest of this whole football team is very, very coachable.
On penalties at OU:
Most of ours were actually holding penalties. They were going to call that game tight so we told our kids on the sidelines to keep our hands inside. I would be concerned if it were personal fouls or discipline penalties. They were fair and it was balanced both ways.
On Eugene Jarvis:
I'm not surprised by what he's done. Our defense has a hard time tackling him and we have a pretty good defense here. He's a special player. I remember the first time meeting him he had a monumental chip on his shoulder. To be that means you've got a kid who's going to go out every Saturday with something to prove. A number of our players are the same way and I like that. He tries to know the whole game.
On maintaining intensity in key stretch vs. AKR, OU and MIA
It's tough, we've had a really tough schedule handed to us. I think emotionally we've shown up every week. We've been intense, focused and played very physical. We need to be very smart in how we practice. It's really coming from within the team. The players are taking ownership of this team.
On special teams' performance to this point
Nate Reed has been fantastic. Nobody works harder. He's got great character and we knew he would be ok. Jon Drager has brought us hidden yardage. Not one punt hits the ground. The punt hit the ground 11 times last year and backed our offense up. That hasn't happened one time so far. Our kickoff return is second in the nation and first in the conference. McBryde and Vanderink have been big for us; they've both been tremendous. It's pretty much pick your poison with us right now with who you want to kick it to.
The Golden Flashes will entertain the Miami RedHawks on Saturday in the 2007 Homecoming Classic at Dix Stadium. Game time is 3 p.m.
