COACH SPEAK : SEPTEMBER 1
By Leo Haggerty
NAVY HC KEN NIUMATALOLO
LH : There’s two things you can’t coach and that’s size and speed. In a majority of your games, the opposition is bigger and faster. How do you counteract that?
KN :
LH : What team in the AAC do you consider to be your biggest rival?
KN :
LH : The AAC lost three head coaches that took head coaching jobs at Power 5 Conference schools. Does that validate the level of football that’s played in the AAC?
KN :
SMU HC CHAD MORRIS
LH : What has been your biggest challenge since coming to SMU from Clemson?
CM :
LH : What team in the AAC do you consider to be your biggest rival?
CM :
LH : The AAC lost three head coaches that took head coaching jobs at Power 5 Conference schools. Does that validate the level of football being played in the AAC?
CM :
BAYLOR HEAD COACH MATT RHULE
UCF HEAD COACH SCOTT FROST
LH : Coming off your first full season at UCF, what’s the biggest challenge you still need to address.
SF :
LH : What team in the AAC is your biggest rival?
SF :
LH : The AAC lost three head coaches to Power 5 Conference. Does that fact validate the level of football being played in the AAC?
SF :
USF HEAD COACH CHARLIE STRONG
LH : You were down 16-0 to San Jose State at the end of the first quarter last Saturday. There seemed like there was no panic on your sideline and, by halftime, you were up 28-16. Did it just take a little bit longer than you anticipated for offense to rev up?
CS :
LH : Does the two blocks thrown by WR Tyre McCants on Johnson’s TD run epitomize the kind of hard work and hustle your trying to instill in your team?
CS :
LH : You decided to play zero week this year. What are the positives of opening that early?
CS :
MINNESOTA HC P.J. FLECK
LH : What was the major factor in you going to Minnesota?
LH : What has been your most significant challenge since coming to the Twin Cities campus?
LH : In you mind, is being in a city with an NFL team a help or hindrance to your program?
PENN STATE HC JAMES FRANKLIN
LH : No more two-a-day practices. In your opinion, good thing or a bad thing?
LH : On Fox, you said and I’m paraphrasing here, “The Big 10 is so strong the champion should always make the playoff”. Is that the closest we’re going to get from you that the Committee last year got it wrong?
LH : At what position have you seen the most competition in fall practice?
USC HC CLAY HELTON
LH : No more two-a-day practices. In your opinion, good thing or a bad thing?
LH : At what position have you seen the most competition in fall practice?
LH : Almost everyone is picking USC to get to the Pac 12 Conference championship game. Is there a different mindset with your team now that they’re the hunted and not the hunter?
WASHINGTON HC CHRIS PETERSEN
LH : Outside of LSU, you played Alabama the best from a defensive standpoint. Is that something you can build on for this year?
LH : By playing a 14th game last year, did you have to adjust offseason workouts or spring or fall practice to allow for body recovery?
LH : Targeting has become the hot button issue in NCAA football. You never see it called on an offensive player when they lower their head before contact. Are defensive players being punished more severely than their offensive counterparts?
LH : No more two-a-day practices. In your opinion, good thing or a bad thing?
LH : LH : At what position have you seen the most competition in fall practice?
LH : Going from Florida to Oregon, what’s been the biggest change for you?
GEORGIA TECH HC PAUL JOHNSON
LH : Clemson has played 15 games the last two years. Almost an NFL schedule. Did you have to back off some of the offseason programs to allow for body recovery?
LH : On Saturday, you are going to stand at the top of the hill at Death Valley next to Howard’s Rock facing a sea of Orange and see the National Championship Banner. Have you allowed yourself to think about what your emotions will be at that moment?
LH : How important were Taj Boyd, Gaines Adams, Sammie Watkins, Vic Beasley, DeAndre Hopkins, Mackensie Alexander and a host of others in getting Clemson to the top of the mountain last year?
NORTH CAROLINA HC LARRY FEDORA
LH : You have always been a big proponent of a second bye week. Still have the same opinion?
LH : I’ve written there’s two teams I wouldn’t want to play in the opener and one is Alabama because of the way their season ended and they will want to make amends starting with the Week 1. Does that concern you?
LH : In fall practice at what position have you seen the most competition?
