Blue White Illustrated

O c T O B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M 7 C O A C H S P E A K • E X C E R P T S F R O M J A M E S F R A N K L I N ' S P O S T G A M E P R E S S E R Have you ever been around a game that had that kind of 180 degree turn in the middle?  I think the fact that we were at home helped us. We have got to start faster, there is no doubt about it. That has been a thing all along. We're going to do some things that I have done in the past that we haven't done here and we're going to move forward in practice. I've seen us battle and play really well in the second half, maybe not enough to swing the game but it was like two completely different games. I think the most im- portant thing was that we made some plays in the second half. Irvin Charles' play was huge. He wasn't even looking for the ball, then all of a sudden at the last second it just kind of hits him in the chest. He is so big and strong and fast that he goes and makes a play. We tried to get him back in later and he's still cel- ebrating on the sideline with his bud- dies and we're trying to get him in the game. That is an example of our youth. We just have to continue to grow, and tonight is an opportunity to do that. I've been a part of some unbelievable come- backs before. I don't know if I've been a part of a first half, then a second half, then overtime like it was tonight. Tyler Davis has now hit 17 field goals in a row. What can you say about his approach? How much con- fidence does the coaching staff have in Tyler to go out there and make that kick? I didn't even talk to him before that kick [at the end of regulation]. Most of the time, head coaches will go over and say something to [the kicker]. I don't say anything to him. If the snapper and holder do their job, that guy will. He is money. He is just a mature kid. He con- sistently does his job in practice every day. He is the same guy all the time. He's confident right now. How much did this program need this kind of win? I think it was definitely something our players needed. Everyone needed it, there is no doubt about it. You kind of have some moments as a program. I re- member when I first became a head coach, we had a game against UConn that we won early on and it kind of built a lot of confidence in everybody. It kind of went from there and we needed that here. Tonight is one of those nights. Trace ran for 73 yards today. How much did his running open up your offense? He had a couple plays where he stepped up and took off. Obviously the one at the end of the game was huge. … I think obviously his rushing yardage was important, but I think probably the bigger factor was that we did a better job protecting him. I think he did a good job stepping up in the pocket, too.

• Cover