WKU Hilltoppers College Football Pregame Quote, 10/17/2022

On this week’s game against UAB:

UAB week, great to be back home, had a really good rivalry win last week against Middle Tennessee, but I know our guys are excited to be back. Expecting a great atmosphere, expecting a great game. A lot of things are going on on campus, this is what you want college football to be. You know, I think everyone is anticipating a really good match up. UAB is a really good football team, they make you earn everything you get. There is no easy way with them. If you make a play, you earn it on all three phases, so they’re doing a great job. It should be a very competitive game but a game we’re all excited to get going with.

On UAB’s offense:

Coach Vincent is a really good play caller, so you know he’s going to take what you give him. If you load the box and stop the run, he’s going to throw it over your head so you’ve got to be disciplined in all phases. First thing is try to stop the run. You know they’re going to win the game running the football. Both those running backs are spectacular, the offensive line is very very physical, the quarterback does a great job managing the game and then Coach Vincent the play caller does a nice job of picking his spots and making plays when he needs to make them. So definitely a challenge for our defense for sure, but you got to stop the run first and then when the shots come you hold your breath and hope you match up with them.

On the importance of starting fast on Friday:

I think it’s critical, because possessions are going to be very limited. They’re a football team that on average you might get 11 possessions. So, we got to be able to play good defense and get the ball back to our offense and then we’ve got to make the most of our opportunities, so every possession is critical for us for sure, but we can’t get off to a slow start you know turnovers will be key in this game for sure. It is one of those games where you have to do everything right. You’re not going to get away with a turnover here or turnover there or missed assignment. I thought offensively last week we did some really good things, but we shot ourselves in the foot here and there and had turnovers, and was sloppy with that said we put up a lot of yards and moved the football but against a really good defense like UAB like I said they are going to make you earn everything you get. So, we got to hit on all cylinders offensively and play sharp for sure.