Jacksonville State Head Coach Jack Crowe
November 8, 2010
The Southeast Missouri Game
JSU FOOTBALL GAME NOTES (.pdf)
Opening Comments:
“ We had a loss this weekend in our trip to Eastern Kentucky and we talk about their tradition and measuring ourselves against that tradition every time we play them. It's hard to say that we played as hard as we could have played. We gave up five touchdowns of over 20 yards and prior to this weekend, we had only allowed one in conference play. Obviously, we didn't play our best football, but give credit to their play makers. They had some guys make some great plays. We didn't help ourselves with the mistakes we made. Give credit to EKU and if there is one thing to take away from the game is that we didn't lack effort. We were missing the details of some assignments and execution. We didn't play as physically intense, but we did play physical. That will be the challenge this week is to get back to that physical-ness that we have shown throughout the season.”
On Southeast Missouri:
“Against this team (Southeast Missouri), it will be the most physical team that we have played so far. Tony (Samuel) has done a great job there and one thing that stands out is that they have 21 seniors. They have the second-leading rusher in the conference and some of their numbers are just astounding. Their rushing numbers are phenomenal and their third down conversion numbers are outstanding. I think Tony has had a plan and slowly out it together in his fourth year. They were tough on us last year, so we know what we are in for.”
On a top-10 match up this weekend:
“I don't know what the rankings will say and it wont really matter, except that we are two top 10 teams playing for the same thing. These are the best football games because it is two great teams, late in the season with the same stakes on both sides. It's the best football gets. It has been a long time since two top 10 teams have played on this field. It is suppose to be good weather and our students have been great. We need our students to key the environment along with our great band. For the general public, I don't think there will be a better match up around here. It is the last game for our seniors and we have put together some numbers on this senior class. This 2010 graduating class is 30-12 during their career and it's the winningest class since we moved to the FCS. Football means a lot to this class as evident by that record. Since we have been in the OVC and you take all the other conferences as well – We have the highest winning percentage (among conference games) in the FCS.”
On the expectations of the polls this week after what happened Saturday:
“If we fall out of the top 10, I would be very disappointed. There hasn't been a team that won it without a loss, so having one loss does not kill you. There is a lot of football left to be played and its all out there in front of us and where we want to be. It would mean a lot to me and to our fans to have a home playoff game here in this stadium. Everybody that bought season tickets gets an extra game out of the deal – we giving something back because of what you have done for us.”
On cleaning up areas from the EKU game:
“We are missing assignments up front on offense. We have to be able to possess the ball, which means you have to have run-pass balance. We really didn't get an opportunity to do it last week, so clean up is – to have run-pass balance and defensively we have to keep everything in front of us and tackle them.”
On coming back from the loss and still having a shot at the OVC Championship:
“A loss always hurts. We had a 12-game winning streak going and we are getting to start another. I think it gets harder the more you win. It's probably good that we have a game of this magnitude looking at us in the face. We don't need anyone feeling sorry for themselves.”