JSU GAME NOTES (.pdf)

Opening Comments:
"It was a great Homecoming win against Austin Peay.  I thought we played very well as a team and we are taking steps forward as a team.  We are not staying the same or going backwards because that is when upsets happen.  If you don't get better or progress, you can get beat down the road.  Our team came out and took care of business last Saturday and took some steps forward as we played well in all three phases of the game.  We pretty much got out of that game healthy, which is a huge for the stretch run with some big opponents coming up.  The biggest key to winning an OVC Championship is going to Eastern Kentucky this weekend and winning.  I think this team has matured and has taken each week at a time and not really looking at the opponent, but more of how we play.  Hopefully, we will have a good week to prepare for a tough road game.  Last weekend was a lot of fun and we had a great Homecoming crowd."
 
On a balanced offense:
"We want to be balanced and I think there always has to be balance in the offense.  To be a great offense, you have to have balance and you can't become one-dimensional.  On defense, we want to make the opponent one-dimensional and to do that you have to take away the run.  We always talk about doing things that we want to do and when we want to do it.  We are going to run the football and we are going to throw it to keep you off-balanced.  We have some guys in the passing game that can make plays and all of our quarterbacks throw the ball very well.  If you want to load the box, then we will take advantage down the field.  We want to take shots down the field in any game that we play to try to create explosive plays in the passing game.  We feel like we can run the ball as well as we can and then get one-on-one match ups.  We want to be a physical offense and we want to run the ball."
 
On Eli Jenkins effectiveness at quarterback:
"There are certain times that it prevents folks from playing man against us because he runs so well and can pull it down at anytime and go.  He can throw the football and is very good with every route that we have out there.  He has a great arm to make you defend the pass.  He has done a great job at when something breaks down, he takes off running and can be explosive.  He makes great decisions and it has been fun watching him get better every time out there.  I think we scored on every possession that he was in the game last Saturday.  Our offensive line is playing well right now, so that helps him and the entire offense.  It is like playing with 12 when your quarterback can run."
 
On Eastern Kentucky:
"They are a solid football team and Coach Hood does a great job with their program.  They are solid in all three phases and he (Coach Hood) coaches special teams, so you know they will be good there.  They run a lot of different sets in special teams for kick offs and kick off returns.  The difference in them this year is that they are scoring a lot more points.  Defensively, they are very solid and they stay in their assignments.  They keep everything in front of them and they tackle very well.  The quarterback was young last year and he has progressed, and then they have a transfer in from Cincinnati that has been splitting snaps a lot like what we do with our quarterbacks.  They have two big split ends on each side and both can run, and it will be the tallest receiving corp that we have faced since Michigan State.  To me, the difference in them is the runningback – he leads our conference in rushing and is one of the top in the country.  He is a transfer from Kentucky and he is the difference for them, and they didn't have that guy last year.  He is a dominant player and is an SEC player playing in the OVC.  We have to do a good job of getting him on the ground.  This game will come down to 4-5 plays, and whoever blocks and tackles the best will win this game.  It will be two great football teams out there on Saturday."
 
On LaMichael Fanning:
"LaMichael (Fanning) is just a great talent.  He signed out of high school to Alabama and was there a few years and then came to us.  We are glad he is here and part of our family.  He is doing a great job in the classroom and how he handles himself.  You can see how much ability he has, and he has shown that the last few weeks.  He has been consistent and is getting better each week.  He plays with a lot of energy and passion and he is progressing as a player and glad he is a Gamecock." 
 


Eli Jenkins
R-So., Quarterback
On an effective running game this year:
"It all goes back to the offensive line establishing the holes and controlling the line of scrimmage early.  We have three great runningbacks and I run the ball some."
 
Max Holcombe
Sr., Offensive Line
On an effective running game this year:
"Our running game is just a mentality for us upfront.  I think it is a goal for us to be the most physical team on the field and our goal as an offensive line is to run the ball for 300 yards a game.  Our mentality going in to the game to control the line of scrimmage and do what we want to do and throw the ball when we want to.  Our work and preparation throughout the week makes us so successful on Saturdays."
 
On his consecutive starts:
"It is a little bit of luck.  I think it is the testament of our off-season program and our sports medicine staff making and keeping me strong.  I came in at the right time when I had an opportunity to play as a freshman and have had a successful career."
 
LaMichael Fanning
R-Jr., Defensive Line
On getting off the field on third down:
"My job on third down is to get to the quarterback, so I go as fast as I can to get there. When I do that, I am ready to get right back out there and do it again."