Jax State Gamecocks College Football Pregame Quote, 11/14/2023

I am really proud of our senior class, it is a small class of about 11 guys and some of them have been here a long time and some have only been here a short period of time. As a collective group, they have shown leadership, helped us establish the culture, good players and everything that you would want out of a senior class. A lot of time that is hard because if you didn’t stay with the same staff for four or five years, you don’t get to know them, but these guys have bought in from the start and the ones that came in this year have contributed. It’s a special day for them and I told them I think the greatest honor you can have as a player and it is tough these days is to complete your senior year, particularly if it is at a place that you have been here the whole time. We will honor them in our own way on Thursday and then I hope in front of a big crowd on Saturday, the fans can show their appreciation for them as well.

On this senior day and the transition of the program:

I think in a lot of ways, not only with the transition, but these guys have been in a temporary home now for two years now, so they won’t get to use the new building. They can always come back and workout in it , but they have been in a temporary home, they were in a transition and not able to go to the playoffs last year and we are still hopeful that we will be able to get to a bowl game for this year and they can be proud of the fact that they were the first Jax State football players to be n a bowl game, so that is our hope as well. They have certainly have helped and made an impact in this transition from FCS to FBS.

On having two seventh-year seniors on the team:

It is really unique an there are a couple throughout the country and we have two ‚Äì one on each side of the ball. They have played great football, but more than anything, they have been really good leaders. I have always said when practice is going on and when we have meetings, I am not worried about leadership because that is what the coaches are there for. It is during the games, in the locker room, off the field is when your leadership really needs to take hold. I don’t want guys to get outside of who they are, whatever is your personality, hopefully they will lead by that. Some guys are more vocal and some are more quiet and Zion and Jeremiah are quieter guys, but they have a lot of respect because of how they have worked and what they have been through. I guess if you are a college player for seven years, you have a lot of stories.

On Louisiana Tech:

This is a really talented team. Louisiana Tech has recruited very well and I have coached in that state before and I know the kind of talent that they get and they can pull from different parts of the state. We have friends that have called us and said they might have the best group of skill guys in our league and we have seen that on film. It will be a challenge and I am hoping for a great crowd and we play great football.