JSU GAME NOTES 

Opening Comments:
“We entering into the four biggest weeks of the year for us and I think if there is one thing about this time of year – there is no such thing as a 100 percent football team.  Both the guys we have here today are carrying bumps and bruises, and the game feels a lot different than it did in August.  We look back and the things that we have accomplished and what it represents. 

“The good thing about where we stand right now is that we are at the halfway point in the run for a conference championship.  We are 4-0 and the other teams are trying to beat us and we are the only one that controls our destiny. We are playing a team this week (Tennessee Tech) that is the reason we did not win the conference last year.  We didn't finish a football game against them and didn't finish the season very well.  I do think that this football team is in a considerably different state of mind at this point in time, than we had last year.  I don't know if there is even a comparison of where we are now and this time last year.  Right now we are getting focused to play.

On Tennessee Tech
“We have an enormous challenge with Tennessee Tech.  They are somewhat like us because we are a No. 3, 4 and 5 team in every statistical category and they are the same way.  We are a good football team as our record would say and they are a good football team by their record this season.  It's all about how we play and how well we take a game plan and scouting report and turn it into performance. 

“They are getting outstanding quarterback play out of (Tre) Lamb and I think we are getting great quarterback play out of Coty (Blanchard).  I think both quarterbacks have to play well to give their team's a chance to win and whoever plays the best is probably going give their team the biggest advantage in this game.  Both team's have quality running backs.  I think it is a pretty even match up, it's just who is going to bring their best preparation coming into this game.  We have to win up front and that is where it starts on the defense and the offense.”

“Their quarterback comes from a family of football people.  The Lamb's are all coaches, players and he is a coach's son and his uncle was head coach at Furman.  He was hurt last year and did not play against us.  He is a lot like Coty (Blanchard), he is a duel threat and makes good decisions.  He has a burst of speed and they are running a quarterback-driven offense.  It is a spread offense and they changed their style of play because they found this spread in the second half against us last year.  They have created some momentum after beating us last year and they have continued to follow that path.  Their runningback is one of the top guys in the league and in the country.”