Jacksonville State Football Press Conference
August 26, 2021 - UAB Week
 
Head Coach John Grass
Opening Comments:
"It is a little bit unusual playing on a Wednesday night, but we have started game week today and are just progressing toward the game. We got out of camp last week with school starting. We had a good camp and we are ready to play somebody else besides hitting on ourselves. What a challenge it will be to open the season with UAB. We have a tough start to the season with UAB and Florida State. The average college football fan would underestimate UAB over Florida State and I think UAB might be better than Florida State. We won't start the year with an average Group of Five team, it is a team that has their conference three times out of the last four years and Coach (Bill) Clark has done a tremendous job of rebuilding that program. It is kinda unheard of with how they built that program and I don't think they get as much credit as they should after you kill a program and then you bring it back. They are well-coached and they have a great team. They have team speed on both sides of the ball both defensively and offensively. They have added to what they had last year with some transfer guys, so they will be better defensively than they were last year. You are going to see a good brand of football all across the country because everyone has a lot of people back. We pretty much have everyone back and we didn't lose many guys."
 
We have our work cut out for us this week and we are hoping our team plays well. I really don't care who we are playing, it is all about how we play and execute. It will be about how we execute in all three phases of the game. I know our guys have been looking forward to getting into a game week situation because wants it starts, that season rolls on through. I think we handled playing in the spring really well after going through the summer and camp. I think our guys are in a good place mentally and that is what you want to have this time of year." 
 
On the relationship with UAB Head Coach Bill Clark:
"We are like brothers and I don't know if I have a better friend than him and he is just a lifelong friend. I am excited that he gave me an opportunity to get to the college level after Jacksonville State gave him the opportunity to be the head coach here. We turned this program around really quick and it speaks for itself in the first year after what we were able to do."
 
On playing against UAB Head Coach Bill Clark:
"It is very tough going against him and I can't say that either of us is excited about us squaring off next Wednesday. We are used to talking to each other once a week and probably have not talked since the middle of June. I don't think it is very pleasant for either of us and when you look at the style of play, it looks like looking into a mirror. Our programs are built off the same mentality. We started out coaching together and we both have the same philosophies – we want to stop the run and we want to run the football. You always know that his teams will be fundamentality sound."
 
On being on the national stage with ESPN:
"I think it is huge for both programs and it is the only game on that night. It kicks off the season even though there are a few games the weekend before, but one of the first to kick off and get that national exposure. I know for our program it means a lot and for both programs to be spotlighted, it is going to be a huge advantage. We want to play well and not get embarrassed on national television. We have our work cut out for us and it should be a great game."
 
Nicario Harper, R-So., Safety
Opening Comments
"I am thankful that I am healthy and all my teammates that are healthy going into this season. We are very excited and we know what kind of game we are going onto this week. We are coming in with the mindset of playing our best game and starting the season right."
 
On JSU's quarterbacks:
"Both have been making very good decisions. (Zerrick) Coop has making all the throws and is very confident. He is calm and collective and you can see that he is older out there. Matthew (Caldwell) looks really good out there for a freshman and he has definitely stood out and he has a nice arm and he is mobile."
 
On UAB:
"They are a really good team and they are well-coached. They had a good season last year with a conference championship. They are going to want to repeat."
 
On playing on the big stage of national television:
"This is an opportunity of a lifetime for me and my teammates to be able to play a team like UAB and on television to start the season is very big to us. We are not going to let this game be to big, but we understand the stage that we will be on. We have something to prove and we are excited for this opportunity."
 
 
 
Zerrick Cooper, R-Sr., Quarterback
Opening Comments
"I am excited to get back out there after the injury in October. I am ready to play and looking forward to the game on Wednesday."
 
On playing on the big stage of national television:
"It means a lot. Auburn, Alabama – those are some of the top programs in college football, but it is nice for us and UAB to have the spotlight of playing on ESPN. I know both teams will come ready to play.