QUOTING JSU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH JACK CROWE


On the UT Martin Game
“We finally got to play in front of our home crowd and play with our band, who I just keep hearing accolades for their performance. I said I didn't know what it would do to our performance to finally be playing in front of those elements, but I do think it was what you'd hoped it would be. I think it was an exciting opportunity that really brought out the best in our players. Even though the score showed a large margin, UTM is a really good football team and I think we just played at a higher level. We had a very consistent performance offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. There weren't as many plays made in the kicking game, but we still created the efficiencies you've got to have in that area. We seem to be playing at the highest level we've ever had a team to play at here this last few weeks. Primarily, because we have talented players. We got the most talented players, as a group, that we have ever had here. One reason we are having the results we are having is that we are playing with a bunch of talented folks that are committed to playing to those efficiencies. If you look at the statistical measurements, and I am not going to get into stats, boy we are doing a lot of things you got to do. One of the things that you've got to do is put pressure on the other teams quarterbacks."

On junior outside linebacker Kevin Dix
“Kevin leads the OVC in sacks. Kevin is an unusual athlete. He can run with the skilled people and he play on the line of scrimmage with the lineman. He is a big, skilled person, which is usually what it takes to be a pass rusher. He is a complete player, who plays the run as good as he does the pass. Kevin is an outside linebacker, not a defensive lineman, and really can be off in coverage or covering a back out of the backfield. He is just really a talent in that regard. Kevin is first year player with us. He came from junior college, but we also signed Kevin out of high school before he went to junior college. Honestly, he has been here since the fall, but we feel like we have known him since he got out of high school. Kevin asked when he first came here if he could play safety. Like all these guys that do this, he did not want to be stereotyped as a defensive lineman because knows his skills. He returned kick offs in junior college. I hope he has been satisfied at the outside linebacker position, because it has represented you well (talking to Dix).

On this week's game at Murray State
“Probably the number one factor in this game is the ability to put pressure on the quarterback. They move the ball in the passing game fairly consistently. Their two biggest playmakers, who are the number one and two all-purpose players in our league, are their wide receivers. They have been productive in receiving yardage, but likewise they have been productive returning kicks and punts. We need to be able to keep pressure on the quarterback. Last year, we had a hard time with their quarterback. He completed passes, but he also made a lot of plays with his legs. When you come after a guy that is equally good making plays with his arm and his legs that is not a stationary target, you have to be equally athletic. We should have all people ready to play next week. We are going on the road. We have done pretty well on the road. The biggest challenge for us is to get our focus again. We have been able to do that for a sustainable number of games here. It doesn't get easier, and in some regards, it gets harder to get to that level of focus. Our offense is playing against, probably the next best pass rusher in Austin Lane. It may be the preview of who is going to be the best at pressuring the passer and making sacks for the year, because you have the number one and number two pass rushers on the same field, playing against quality quarterbacks. We are challenged again by the ability to maintain balance between run and pass. It is going to be interesting to see if we can bring Calvin Middleton's numbers forward from week to week, where he and Jamal (Young) become a factor running the football. I feel like we are in a good position at this point in the season. If we can continue to improve, I think there is every indication that this can be the kind of year we expect it to be. Their quarterback is little different than some we have been playing against. He is probably more like Florida State's (Christian) Ponder. He is not a standing target and is a big guy that you can't arm tackle.

QUOTING JUNIOR OUTSIDE LINEBACKER KEVIN DIX
On playing Murray State
“Their offensive line looks pretty good, so I am just going to try my best to get to the quarterback when I can. He scrambles real well.”

On JSU's focus and chemistry
“We joke and laugh, but when we cross that white line everybody is always focused. When we make a mistake, we pick each other up and go on to the next play. Our defense has really come together. If one of us is not there, we know the other person is going to be there. We don't try to do each other's job. We try to make the plays that our coaches put us in position to make. I love playing for this defense.”