Doug Martin Addresses the Media
9/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Opening Statement:
“We are treating this like our season begins this week. Conference games are obviously the most important thing for us and this is what we have been pointing to all year long. We're looking forward to getting this started and ours will be a tough task against Ball State. We're playing probably the best team in the conference right now just watching people play. They are really explosive on offense and playing really well on defense. They played a really tough non-conference schedule just like us and fared very well. We're really looking forward to the game. We're 0-0 right now so it is an exciting time and we are looking for a good start.”
On the injury to Ball State wide receiver Donte Love:
“That was awful. You hate seeing any player get hurt, in particular a player like that. We're just praying and hoping for a speedy recovery for him. It looks like things are going well for him right now from what I understand. Anytime you have something like that as a coach, that is your worst nightmare. I have been on the field for one of those and it is scary. You try not to think about those types of injury situations but they happen. It is difficult but I am sure they will rebound and Donte will recover fully.”
On the mood on the sideline and in the locker room:
“I have loved what I have seen from this team so far. They played their tails off in Louisiana Saturday night. It was a tough task and we are struggling, particularly on defense. Our offensive kids were trying to pick it up, talking about matching their scores, winning a high-scoring game. There was no panic on the sideline so all that was really good. I love the heartbeat of our team right now. I think we have a great heartbeat. We are at the point where we need something good to happen to us. We need to go out and make something good happen to us. We were in the same situation in 2006 and we went down and won a thrilling game at Miami (Ohio) to get our five-game winning streak started. If we get something going, it will be a lot of fun.”
On being 1-3 in non-conference play:
“We would have loved to be 2-2, and in my opinion, we should have been because we let the Iowa State game get away. Like I said, in 2006 we were 1-3 and went on a five-game winning streak and we were one game away from a MAC East championship. That is right where we are again. You look at most teams on the east side of the MAC, I think the best record is 2-2. Non-conference does not matter as much, you have to go out and win your conference games.”
Clarifying his preseason comment on Saturday:
“The conference is the most important thing. For us, you have to win in the conference to be successful. We're going to play eight conference games and those are our bowl tie-ins. All those conference games dictate what is going to happen to your season. You can go 4-0 in your non-conference, but if you lose in your conference games, that is a losing season and a bad year.”
On defending Ball State quarterback Nate Davis
“It is tough. He only runs when he really has to and he is really good at that. It is the getting to him: getting pressure on him is difficult. They do a great job of protection and he does a great job of decision-making and getting rid of the ball quickly. He does not spend a lot of time back there holding the football and that is frustrating because you try to get there and try to get there and it is hard. You've got to do a good job of mixing up defenses. If you continually blitz him he will pick you apart and if you continually play zone he will pick you apart. You have to give him a lot of looks and hopefully create some confusion.”
