Quotes from Crowe and Simpson from OVC Press Conference

No bulletin board material, but the following are selected quotes from Coach Crowe and Coach Simpson leading into the big matchup between Jax State and UT Martin.

QUOTES FROM COACH CROWE:

ON THE ROAD GAMES

We feel very good about winning on the road having won the last two on the road. We feel good about coming home. . . . The last game we played I thought we really had a complete game in the kicking game and on the offensive and defensive side of the ball we accomplished some of our primary objectives and that's the first time we have done that.

ON INJURIES

We are dinged up. So we probably have some people that are going to be slow to get there, but I think they're all going to be there for this game.

ON UT MARTIN

We certainly have our hands full with Tennessee Martin. Martin has beaten us 2 out of the last 3 years. The time we did beat them we beat them on the last play of the game or right at it. They've got quality players. The names of [their] all conference players are all over the place. It starts at quarterback, they have the pre-season conference player of the year in Cade Thompson. I think their offense is playing now better than anybody. Our defense is going to have an enormous challenge.
Our offense has to continue to become a complete offense. We make plays but we have not been consistent against a defense that really forces inconsistency. We have an enormous challenge there. But, we are excited about the opportunity. Nothing like playing at home and being challenged by somebody you have great respect for to possibly bring out our best. It will take our best effort to win against a really quality UT Martin team.

ON JSU'S MOTIVATION CONSIDERING APR SANCTIONS

We have a lot of pride. . . I don't think it would mean any more if we were playing for the conference championship. . . . We have established a pattern of winning in this league and that pattern is very important to us. . . . We are playing at home in front of our fans. We have invested a lot in winning football games . . .

ON PERRILLOUX

He is a developing player. His development has continued into this season. It should be the best year he's ever had. He gives every appearance of making full use of the games he has . . . to play. He is what he is- I mean the guy was recruited as the #1 player in America and that wasn't a mistake. He is a great player. [There are scouts from the NFL here every day].

QUOTES FROM UT MARTIN COACH JASON SIMPSON

ON THE SEMO GAME

A good college football game. A fourth quarter game. Both teams played hard. Southeast Missouri is very sound, very physical on defense. They tackle really well. I'm very impressed with their team and the quarterbacks giving them a spark. Offensively they did some good things against us.

We are not doing things tradition that we've done in the past. . . . Penalty wise we had twelve again this week. We put ourselves in a lot of situations . . . Its going to catch up to us if we don't get that fixed. Obviously, we play a pretty strong this week, on the road. . . Its definitely an unbelievable task for us this week.

DOES IT MATTER THAT JSU CAN'T WIN CONFERENCE TITLE

I don't think either team thinks about it. We are playing a team that had Florida State beat until the last few seconds. Florida State was very fortunate to come out of there with a win. We play a team that just hung 60 on a quality opponent and has as much or more talent as anyone in the league. . . . Whoever Jacksonville State plays is a marquee game because I'm not so sure they're not the best team in the conference.

ON PERRILLOUX

His name is on [the OVC Player of the week] about 8 times in the last two years and deservedly so. He's a great player and its fun to watch him, not necessarily against your team but against other teams. He's fun to watch.

ON MIKE HICKS BEING INJURED

Its different not having Hicks full speed. He played a little bit last week. He can't practice. That's why he only caught one ball last week. . . . We do have some guys growing up a little bit and making some plays. It was good to see Dexter Anoka finally make the transition and make some plays. . . . We may not have one guy that's going to make a bunch of catches but that's ok . . . its kind of a long year until we can get it together.

ON HIS RUSHING GAME (preseason OVC RB Young has been injured but Miguel Barnes has had back to back 100 yard games)

I think we are getting better. I thought we got better offensive line play this week even though we had a starter out this week. . . . We are a run play action team so if we can't run the football its hard to get those play actions going. I'm pleased with the effort and the tempo and the physicality that the running backs are playing with right now.