Jacksonville State Head Coach John Grass
December 7, 2015
The Charleston Southern Game
 
Opening Comments:
"It is good to be sitting here and playing football this week.  You can be around the game of football and coach in a lot of games and not be in a game like we had on Saturday.  I think everyone got their money's worth and it was a great game.  We were fortunate to make a few plays and you knew going in it was more like a quarterfinal or semifinal match up and I still believe that coming out of the game because it was two quality teams playing each other in a very physical game.  The game had a lot of change in momentum and we were able to make some plays to win it at the end.  The last two games against them (Chattanooga) have been great games and to win in overtime against them, I take my hat off to our guys.  Chattanooga has a great program and is well-coached and they have great players.  I am proud of the way we handled the adversity that we were put in because there were a couple of times during the game that we could have put them away.  They make a great drive right before halftime to cut it to within a touchdown and then in the second half we think we go up 35-14 and they reversed the call and then we missed the field goal.  They came back and scored three straight times and took the lead and we had our backs against the wall.  There was no panic on our sideline at all and our tram showed a lot of confidence and poise.  We got a stop defensively and we get the ball with about four minutes left and didn't panic with a pass happy mode.  We stuck to the game plan and kept it on the ground and we were able to spring one.  I didn't think our defense played bad, I just think they made some plays.  We were able to make a key defensive play with Brandon Bender's interception in overtime.  That was a big-time play by him at a great time in the game.  Offensively, I think we stuck with our game plan and only turned the ball over one time.  When you have 400 yards of rushing, it tells you how good your offensive line is playing.  I think our offensive line played extremely well and we had two guys rush for over 200 yards.  When you look at Eli's (Jenkins) statistics its 196 with the two sacks included.  He was at 208 without the two sacks."   
 
"Moving forward, we are glad to be still playing football and we are excited about being on ESPN 2 Friday night.  Our student body and fans have begged for a night game, so we have it here Friday night and I can't wait to see our crowd.  Our fans do not know how much they mean to us and it was great that we had right at 22,000 in the stands on Saturday and our student section was rocking.  Chattanooga wanted to stay away from that end in overtime.  Our fans were loud and impacted the game and it was a great atmosphere."
 
On preparing for a Friday night game:
"It bumps everything up a day.  We ended up practicing yesterday and it was our Monday practice.  It is the same routine; it is just a day ahead than it normally is.  Our guys accepted the change really well and you have to be able to adapt at a moment's notice.  They are excited about coming to practice and they know that they have to put the work in to catch up because you lose a day of prep against a team that you have never played before.  Charleston Southern is a great team and they wouldn't be playing in the quarterfinals if they weren't.  They have the No. 1 or No. 2 defense in the country statistically and offensively they pose a lot of problems with some triple option stuff and get you in some single coverage and throw the ball over the top.  We have to play assignment football and we have our work cut out for us.  I don't think playing on Friday night affects us one way or another.   Both teams will be ready to play and it will be an exciting football game.  I am excited about getting the national exposure on ESPN 2 for sure and our guys are excited about that as well."
 
On the staff preparing for the game:
"You get in a little earlier on Sunday morning to start your prep because you are going to lose about four hours with practice.  It hasn't been a big factor and I felt like when we left here last night that we were right were we normally are on a Sunday.  We have it down to a routine and our coaches know what they have to get done on certain nights."
 
On playing at home on a Friday night:
"It has its advantages and especially this week with final exams going on.  It is a tough week with finals going on and I think it's a tough week of prep with guys taking final exams.  Exams are important and our guys are doing a great job there and we have a great semester going on academically and you add that on to the fact that you have to move everything up a day.  We had to reschedule a few finals on Friday to accommodate game day, so it presents a problem.  It would have been a nightmare for me to have to travel during finals weeks."
 
 
Brandon Bender
Sr., Safety
On playing on Friday night:
"Your body is kinda banged up after playing on Saturday, but it was good to get out there yesterday.  We felt good about going out to practice and it is the same schedule, just pushed up a day.  We are just blessed to be playing another week."
 
Blake Burks
Sr., Offensive Line
On playing Friday night:
"We were sore going out there on Sunday, but it is a blessing to be still here playing in December.  I am just happy that we have another week to show everyone what we are about."
 
Eli Jenkins
Jr., Quarterback
On playing Friday:
"It doesn't change that much.  We practiced on Sunday like it was a Monday practice and today will be our Tuesday practice.  We are ready to play and it is the same mindset.  It is a regular week for us."