OPENING STATEMENT
Message of support to UVA, Tony Elliott and AD Carla Williams
They have a number of relationships there
Adam Smotherman is their strength coach, Dez Kitchings is there
Our hearts are heavy and we stand behind them
This weekend is their Turner’s Heroes game (Turner Cockrill’s foundation)
Excited to welcome his family Randy, Noelle, Parker
Cody Markel will be back, he started the non-profit in Turner’s name
This is an honor to represent Turner
It’s nice to be here after being with the team on Saturday and experiencing a conference win
That was a special moment but they have to put it in their rear-view mirror
They want to build on that performance
It wasn’t their highest level but they were strong enough throughout to win
They will practice and prepare as if they lost their last game
They need to be more consistent in terms of penalties and turnovers
Twice they took points off the board, once with a personal foul, once with an interception
They want to be more consistent with structure on defense, they allowed a breakaway run at the end.
They enjoy learning from victories, want to continue to do that
Stiff challenge in Florida, they’re getting better throughout the year, run the ball well, disruptive defense
Cox, Castillo, Davis, Diakate updates
Cox and Castillo have LT recoveries, aren’t available now, probably not next week
Diakate was hurt around the finish to their second bye week, he could return, targeting next week but not sure that’ll happen
Davis took competitive reps today in scouting and good-on-good periods, that may not give him a chance this week but he expects him next week
If he can do something vs. Florida, he’d be excited about that, not shutting the door on that yet
What’s Ray Davis meant for the team this year?
Offensively, when their run game is going, he’s been productive, you saw that Saturday
Same vs. SC
He’s a tough competitor, had hard yards this year, especially when teams are loading the box
He’s a resilient runner, has had success late in the season
3 starters out on OL, Jake Ketschek plays his first snaps and goes the whole way and you win, what’s that say?
That unit has been a next-man-up unit, it has played multiple guys in different spots
Hansen is a tackle who’s now played inside for two weeks
Team is unselfish and plays together
They liked what they saw from Ketschek in camp, he’s had injury setbacks this year
What that unit has done all season has been impressive
They’re done well in protection and been physical in the running game
Last year they had issue just getting plays off, they weren’t on the same page in protection
It took them all year last year to find cohesion
This year that’ve had that with a bunch of different people
They’l play against a really good defensive front
Swann this week
Right now he’s questionable
They need to see if he can get back in time to prepare and play at a level that helps them win
That’s up in the air right now
If AJ is healthy who starts?
The one who gives them the best start
AJ is their starter but there’s a certain level of prep necessary
Mike’s a proven winner and has been a starter
If he’s available and is ready he could be the guy
Is there a consideration of shutting him down?
If they can get him back healthy, he can play if he’s cleared
If there’s gray area, they want to protect his LT health but that’s not an issue right now
His emotions after the KY game, what did this win mean?
There are a lot of things externally they don’t allow to define us
We concern ourselves more with the internal narrative
His emotion was a reflection of the respect he has for his team
He’s impressed with how his team responds and its coaching staff
They know what’s happening internally with the program, to be a part of a Saturday when the team got over the hump, that meant a lot to everyone and that’s what his emotion was about, not external narratives or things that create a perception outside their program
To see small signs of progress manifest in a win is a big moment and one he won’t forget but they plan to have many more
But this one will be special because it was on the back end of effort and fighting and falling short and you just don’t see that level of resilience any more
UVA funeral, will Nick Howell be there?
It’s important to Nick to honor his former players by being here for his current ones
They spent time as a program reflecting on those lost
How important is discipline against Florida, they’ve got the fewest penalties and best turnover margin in the SEC.
They’re well-coached and disruptive
SC was never able to get breathing room
Florida punctuated early drives and got turnovers
They’re long, big and cover ground well
The issues they’ve had around ball security, they need to be attentive to that
Fumble issue at WR, is that a point of emphasis?
It’s being coached and being coached with detail, one is the fundamental, technical aspect of how to carry the football
The other is when the occur and common factors
On Saturday, Sheppard made a nice catch and move and was dealing with a front-side defender while a back-side defender made the play, you have to create an iron cross there
Barrion Brown didn’t do much against them, how does containing him speak to improvement on defense and special teams
They talk a lot about tackling on the perimeter
That was better on the whole Saturday
They were proud of the way they contained him.
Impact on recruiting from the win?
They’ve stayed the course
Those who get in touch with the energy in the program see that
They’re confident about how the class will help them take the next step
They celebrated with families and recruits
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