It’s a custom of the college football season for head coaches across the nation to meet with the media towards the beginning of the week and discuss the prior week’s matchup and preview their upcoming test. Fans are often privy to the quotes coming out of their own team’s HQ, but what about their upcoming opponents’?
Let’s take a look at some of the quotes that Kennesaw State’s head coach Jerry Mack had to say that referenced Indiana specifically in his Monday press conference.
Q: Old Dominion was able to hang in the game with Indiana, what did they do well that was able to slow Indiana down?
“I think the first play of the game says it all. Those guys hit an explosive run, well designed mid-line type play on the first play of the game for about 75-yards. So, I do think too as the course of the game went on, I think they were able to do some things in the passing game as far as attacking some of the coverages that Indiana was playing to try and hit some of those open receivers. At the same time, they did let a couple of those tipped balls get away from them where they ran through windows a little bit late, so the quarterback ended up throwing a few interceptions. But, from the standpoint those guys were there, just a little bit off, which is normal this time of year as you’re developing that chemistry and timing with quarterbacks and receivers. I also thought as the game went on, those guys did a good job of trying to contain Indiana’s offense. They had a good plan of attack, kept them off rhythm, disrupted some things. Overall, we learned and took some things from their game. Some things fit us, some things don’t.”
Q: On flipping the page and taking learnings from week one…
“The thing we’re looking forward to the most at Indiana is just another chance to get on the grass and compete. These guys are hungry, these guys play with a chip on their shoulder, and they understand how important an opportunity like this is to play a team that went to the College Football Playoffs last year and have a chance to match their game up against some of the best in the country.”
Q: What jumps out about Indiana offensively? Have you ever crossed paths with Coach Cignetti through your years?
“I have never crossed paths with Coach Cignetti. Always watched him from afar and really respected what he did at Elon. I was at North Carolina [Central] his first year at Elon and then followed his career at James Madison and then obviously the first year at Indiana. The thing that jumps out to me the most about those guys offensively at least, is the quarterback and the receivers. They have some dynamic, explosive, tall, and long guys on the perimeter. Their quarterback, he struggled a little bit, but we all saw what he did at Cal, the arm talent is real that he has. And then at the running back position, they rotated and played a couple of guys, but all those guys did a heck of a job breaking tackles. They really imposed their will up front on ODU; rushed for over 300 yards. Just from a standpoint of all phases of offensive football, they have a chance to beat you running the ball, they can beat you through the air, so you really have to be oiled up in all your coverages, techniques, and schemes.”