The main topic of discussion today was, of course, the Mocs' season opener on Saturday against No. 3 Appalachian State.  Below are some outtakes from each interview.  For the full dialogue, be sure to click on the videos at the top of the page.  A full photo gallery is also available at the top of the page. 

Head coach Russ Huesman
Opening Statement:
"I can tell that game week is here because everyone has been coming up and telling me that it is game week. So many people have come up to me and told me that we are ready for Sept. 4 and can't wait to get cranked up. We are going to be there. We are excited about it. Well, it is here."

"I have been asked, has the team felt that it is game week yet. I think today is the day where they start to feel it. This is a normal game week. Normally, during the season, we come and do our stuff on Sunday, then Monday is an off day. Tuesday, we start the preparation. I think today's practice will kind of sink into our guys that it is game week for sure. We have been practicing Appalachian State stuff for the past four or five days. We have started that process and have been game planning as a coaching staff."

"It has been on everyone's mind, but I think today at practice, it will finally hit home that we are here and it is time to get going. We have had a great camp. I feel real good about where our football team is. I think that we have a better football team right now than we did last year. We lost some good football players from last year's team. I like our team speed and the attitude of our football team. They work hard. For the most part, they come out and go to work. Some days we are not as focused as others, but that happens. We have a good football team and I feel good about them."

Senior Offensive Lineman Chris Harr
On opening against Appalachian State:
"Definitely opening up against them is going to bring a lot of excitement to the team and city. Always the first game is where we have the most people because it is the beginning of the football season. It is definitely amazing to open up against the best in the conference."

On knowing it is game week:
"I think definitely it is going to hit today. We have been in camp for so long. Even on Sunday, it still felt like we were in camp. I think today is going to start us with that game week mentality."

On opening the season with a win:
"For our confidence, it would be great. Going into it, they are a great team. We are too. A win would help us get that much closer to our goals, going to the playoffs and winning a conference championship. They are always the team at the top of the conference."

Senior Defensive Back Buster Skrine
On opening against Appalachian State:
"Of course, everyone is excited about the game. They are No. 3 in the country. We have been getting ready for this game. All the hype around the game has excited the team."

On preparing against them without Armanti Edwards:
"Appalachian State has a lot of athletes, so we are preparing the same was as if he was there. The quarterback can still run for them and passes well, too."

On the defensive line having success on Saturday:
"We are replacing Josh Beard, the defensive player of the year, with Chris Donald. He gets off the ball as fast as anyone out there and he is a great athlete."