CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football head coach Russ Huesman discussed the Mocs' upcoming game at No. 1 Georiga Southern with the media on Tuesday afternnon at McKenzie Arena. Senior linebacker Ryan Consiglio (Franklin, Tenn.) also added some comments on preparing for the Eagles' top-rated triple-option attack.
The Mocs battle No. 1 Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga., on Saturday at 3 p.m. The game is on the SoCon Sports Network and can be viewed in the Chattanooga area on WTCI Chattanooga Public Broadcasting as well as Georgia's PBS stations and ESPN3.com.
Head Coach Russ Huesman
Opening Statement:
"Obviously, a tough lost this past Saturday. To be leading 27 to nothing and then lose a game is not very good. We didn't play very well in the second half and give The Citadel credit because they played really well. I was saying on the Southern Conference teleconference today. We are up, 24-0, and we cause a fumble and get the ball on the nine yard line, and their defense could have came in and folded the tents and mailed it in, but they fought. They held us to a field goal and you have got to them credit. I mean they continued to play and we didn't. In the second half if we make a play, a couple first downs, we convert when its first and nine and had gotten a touchdown there, then the game is probably over. We didn't make anything happen in the second half.
"Defensively, we had some stops in the second half. We gave them two long runs that hurt us. The second long run should have been stopped at the line of scrimmage and it wasn't and they obviously score on that drive. We had chances on both sides of the ball and special teams and we didn't get it done. We've got to play better and continue to improve as a team. I think we will."
On playing Georgia Southern Saturday:
"We need a win. We've got two losses in a row. I don't think it would make any difference, who we are plaing. I don't think at the end of the year anyone's going to say, 'You got your third win against the No.1 team in the country.' We just need a win. It doesn't make any difference who it is."
On preparing for the triple-option attack of Georgia Southern:
"They are a hard game for everybody. They are thumping everybody they are playing. They are good, well coached and know what they're doing. Everybody wants to talk about their offense and their offense if really good. They're leading the country in total offense. But their defense is pretty good. When they have their first team defense out there and they need to stop people. They stop people. I think they have given up some yards towards the end of games, almost garbage yardage, that looks bad on the statistics, but they are really good on defense also. They're well coached. They know what they want to do and they do it well."
Senior Linebacker Ryan Consiglio
On the job of a senior in leading the team after a tough loss:
"It is key. I feel like that this team has a great mixture of younger guys that are really playing well and a good mixture of guys that have been here a few years like myself. The biggest thing is trying to stay focused on goals that we set out at the beginning of the season because they are all still attainable. I know it does not seem like it right now because we are down in the dumps, but we just have to get back to work and plugging along."
On the support from campus:
"It is a lot different than when I first got here. I felt like a lot of students did not even know that we had a game on Saturday. I got into class on Monday and today. They were real supportive because they feel like we have a good football team, which we do. A lot of them that were out there on Saturday asked what happened. You just have to give them the best answer that you can, so that you can keep getting their support."
On the opportunity of playing Georgia Southern this weekend:
"Georgia Southern is a rival school anyways. I have been telling some of these guys that are going down there for the first time that they are really going to enjoy the atmosphere. The way the fans are down there. They hate your guts just for being the other team."
