Jacksonville St v. UTM - Post Game Talk With Coach Stewart

Defensive Coordinator Greg Stewart was kind enough to give us some comments following the dominating performance over UTM.

Q: What were your overall thought on how the Defense played today?

A: We thought this would be one of the best running teams we played this year including Florida State, so we really stressed playing old fashioned football - stopping the run. We did a pretty good job of accepting the challenge. [Our] guys play so hard. Every day at practice they bust their tails. They've figured it out- you do it all during the week good things will happen to you on Saturday. They've done a good job- they've got six to go, but we are very pleased with whats happened.


Q: Did you do anything special to shut down all OVC Wr Michael Hicks?

A: He hurt us last year. We knew he was a really good player. Basically, [while it was not specially designed for Hicks] we told them just don't let them throw it over our head . . . we called coverages to keep them from throwing the ball deep. We played 3 deep a lot, we played the corners deep and if they threw it underneath we said lets just go tackle them.

Q: How did TJ do today [on Hicks and others]?

[Hicks] had a couple of plays on TJ last year. TJ did not ever say this, but I know TJ had a personal vendetta today- he wanted to do good and he did. [Heath had 3 picks, 2 returned for TDs. Coach Stewart recalled former NFL All Pro Eric Davis having a similar performance against Martin in the early 90s].

Q: Did you take pride in the way you shut down UTM QB Cade Thompson?

A: Last year he [played really well] against us. Today- we got a little pressure on him. . . . When we did that we were successful.

Q: What are the keys to why this team is so successful so far?

A: I don't know if I can answer that. I just know that every day [the team] practices really hard. We have Monte Lewis, he pukes every day in practice he practices so hsrd. The guys want to win. They are playing hard. We are just going to keep trying to keep it going.

Q: Tell me a little about Kevin Dix who is really bringing some pressure off the edge?

A: He's [originally] from Georgia, he came to us from a junior college out in Kansas. He's been spectacular. He [has the] work ethic. He' a great kid to be around, he's good people and we are fortunate to have him.

Q: Tell us about #35 Eric Russell it seems like he has really burst on the scene at linebacker.

A: He has. He's just a sophomore. [He is very good on special teams]. He has great speed. He loves the game. He is a young guy that has a very bright future at Jacksonville State.

Q: Is it a challenge to keep these guys grounded?

A: The kids we have right now . . . the way they approach every day, the way they practice . . . I don't think it will be a problem with these guys. They are pretty grounded and Coach Crowe does a good job of keeping them grounded.

Q: What's next for you guys?

A: We go to Murray, Kentucky. We take one play at a time, one game at a time. That's how we are going to do it.

Congrats to Coach Stewart and the Gamecock D on a great defensive performance against a very talented team!