Troy University Athletics
Football Press Conference - Nov. 17
11/17/2020 4:23:00 PM | Football
Troy Football Head Coach Chip Lindsey
Opening Statement
Obviously, we are disappointed that we couldn't play last weekend. The way our conference has our policies and protocols is a good system and it puts the well-being and health of our student-athletes at the forefront. It was a decision that we made knowing that COVID-19 is affecting people all over the country. However, I think we are better because of the week off. Things change quickly when you test every week. We are hopeful that we are past the worst part of it. We had a great practice with great energy Sunday night. I expect us to get out there today and bring the same energy. The 2020 season is like no other season we have ever experienced. I think we have talked about it all year. We have told our players all year to control what you can control. We have done a really nice job of just acting accordingly. Our players understand that everyone in the room could have a role on any given Saturday. We have had to focus on trying to give reps to as many people as we can. We are focused on another great week of practice with Middle Tennessee coming into town this weekend.
On Middle Tennessee
It's an old Sun Belt rivalry, which I was a part of as an assistant here in 2010. It's exciting to have another opportunity to play for the Palladium Trophy because it is a big thing for both schools. We know their guys are coming in ready to play. We have to have a great week of practice to be ready.
On Middle Tennessee's Offense
Everything starts with their quarterback. He is a good player, a dual-threat guy. He leads their team in both rushing and passing and is a dynamic guy that we are going to have to have a good plan for. When we played them earlier this season, I think that we held him in check pretty well. I'm sure they are going to have some other ways to take advantage of his skill set. Jarrin Pierce leads their team in receptions. He is a guy they are going to get the ball to. I am impressed with his ball-handling skills and he does a great job of being around the ball. These guys are two big factors in their offense. Tony Franklin, their offensive coordinator, is going to do a great job of coming up with adjustments and having them ready.
On Middle Tennessee's Defense
Defensively, it starts with their safety Reed Blakenship. He is a really good player; he leads their team in tackles and showed up a lot in the first game. He is all over the field, when he is around the ball, good things happen for them. (Blakenship) is a leader on their defense.
On Middle Tennessee's special teams
They are not going to give us many opportunities in the return game, especially with punt returns. They are very well-coached and very solid.
Overall, they are much improved. They have scored more points and have played games where they have played really sound defense. I think both of these teams are very different teams now. We played them as our first game, and I think Middle Tennessee has made great improvements. We just need to focus on our team this week and execute at a high level. I think it is going to come down to the same things that it does every week: limit our turnovers, don't give up explosive plays and execute on both sides of the ball.
On Gunnar Watson
He practiced Sunday. It looks more likely that he will have an opportunity to play if he has a good week. He hasn't recovered fully yet, but the extra week did help him. With his injury, it has been more about time in terms of getting him healthy. Hopefully, he will be ready to go on Saturday, but at the same time, we are getting other guys ready to go as well.
On the Week Off
Any time you get extra days to recover, I think that helps for sure. We got caught up on COVID-19 a lot, but we still have regular injuries in football that need recovery too. With COVID-19 and regular injuries, sometimes it makes things tough and that is what we ran into last week. I think the time can help us. We had a couple of guys that were banged up but should be ready to go by Saturday now. We tried to take it as a blessing, especially since we were in a situation because of early cancellations that we were going to have to play 12 weeks without a bye. We are trying to look at the positives and let our team catch their breath.
On Playing the Same Opponent Twice
It is unique in college football. I think it has only happened one other time in my time in college football. You also see it in high school football, playing teams in the regular season and playoffs. At the end of the day, teams are who they are. It is just going to come down to us executing. We can't all of the sudden reinvent the wheel and become something we're not."
On Kicking Field Goals
We are competing every week. I have been asked about that a lot, but we had a guy leave us, and it left us short in the kicking game. Evan has done a great job in adjusting to the situation we were in. Evan and Jack are still competing. I can't say enough about how Evan and Jack are handling the situation and taking up the extra duties. Evan does a nice job in practice. We are continuing to work on it. It comes down to the whole operation; we have to line up and protect him. We put them in game-like situations every day. We haven't been as good as we need to in games, but I think it is something that our kickers know.
On Being a Coach During a Pandemic
Sometimes we tell our teams things that we are also trying to remind ourselves. We are really trying to focus on controlling what we can control. I can't control COVID-19, but I can encourage our players to follow the protocol and guidelines to keep them safe. At the end of the day, we have to react to whatever happens every week. When you test every week, you are going to have some positives. We have been dinged a little bit each week, last week was just more than usual. It is tough, but you just have to focus on what you can control. You have to focus on getting the guys that are available ready to go. We are blessed to be able to play these games and be on the field. I don't think our team has lost sight of that.
On the December Games
It is a little unusual to be playing regular season games that late, but championship games and bowl games are usually happening then. I know our team wants to play these games, and I am excited we are going to be able to do that. Hopefully, we won't have any more hiccups as we go.
Opening Statement
Obviously, we are disappointed that we couldn't play last weekend. The way our conference has our policies and protocols is a good system and it puts the well-being and health of our student-athletes at the forefront. It was a decision that we made knowing that COVID-19 is affecting people all over the country. However, I think we are better because of the week off. Things change quickly when you test every week. We are hopeful that we are past the worst part of it. We had a great practice with great energy Sunday night. I expect us to get out there today and bring the same energy. The 2020 season is like no other season we have ever experienced. I think we have talked about it all year. We have told our players all year to control what you can control. We have done a really nice job of just acting accordingly. Our players understand that everyone in the room could have a role on any given Saturday. We have had to focus on trying to give reps to as many people as we can. We are focused on another great week of practice with Middle Tennessee coming into town this weekend.
On Middle Tennessee
It's an old Sun Belt rivalry, which I was a part of as an assistant here in 2010. It's exciting to have another opportunity to play for the Palladium Trophy because it is a big thing for both schools. We know their guys are coming in ready to play. We have to have a great week of practice to be ready.
On Middle Tennessee's Offense
Everything starts with their quarterback. He is a good player, a dual-threat guy. He leads their team in both rushing and passing and is a dynamic guy that we are going to have to have a good plan for. When we played them earlier this season, I think that we held him in check pretty well. I'm sure they are going to have some other ways to take advantage of his skill set. Jarrin Pierce leads their team in receptions. He is a guy they are going to get the ball to. I am impressed with his ball-handling skills and he does a great job of being around the ball. These guys are two big factors in their offense. Tony Franklin, their offensive coordinator, is going to do a great job of coming up with adjustments and having them ready.
On Middle Tennessee's Defense
Defensively, it starts with their safety Reed Blakenship. He is a really good player; he leads their team in tackles and showed up a lot in the first game. He is all over the field, when he is around the ball, good things happen for them. (Blakenship) is a leader on their defense.
On Middle Tennessee's special teams
They are not going to give us many opportunities in the return game, especially with punt returns. They are very well-coached and very solid.
Overall, they are much improved. They have scored more points and have played games where they have played really sound defense. I think both of these teams are very different teams now. We played them as our first game, and I think Middle Tennessee has made great improvements. We just need to focus on our team this week and execute at a high level. I think it is going to come down to the same things that it does every week: limit our turnovers, don't give up explosive plays and execute on both sides of the ball.
On Gunnar Watson
He practiced Sunday. It looks more likely that he will have an opportunity to play if he has a good week. He hasn't recovered fully yet, but the extra week did help him. With his injury, it has been more about time in terms of getting him healthy. Hopefully, he will be ready to go on Saturday, but at the same time, we are getting other guys ready to go as well.
On the Week Off
Any time you get extra days to recover, I think that helps for sure. We got caught up on COVID-19 a lot, but we still have regular injuries in football that need recovery too. With COVID-19 and regular injuries, sometimes it makes things tough and that is what we ran into last week. I think the time can help us. We had a couple of guys that were banged up but should be ready to go by Saturday now. We tried to take it as a blessing, especially since we were in a situation because of early cancellations that we were going to have to play 12 weeks without a bye. We are trying to look at the positives and let our team catch their breath.
On Playing the Same Opponent Twice
It is unique in college football. I think it has only happened one other time in my time in college football. You also see it in high school football, playing teams in the regular season and playoffs. At the end of the day, teams are who they are. It is just going to come down to us executing. We can't all of the sudden reinvent the wheel and become something we're not."
On Kicking Field Goals
We are competing every week. I have been asked about that a lot, but we had a guy leave us, and it left us short in the kicking game. Evan has done a great job in adjusting to the situation we were in. Evan and Jack are still competing. I can't say enough about how Evan and Jack are handling the situation and taking up the extra duties. Evan does a nice job in practice. We are continuing to work on it. It comes down to the whole operation; we have to line up and protect him. We put them in game-like situations every day. We haven't been as good as we need to in games, but I think it is something that our kickers know.
On Being a Coach During a Pandemic
Sometimes we tell our teams things that we are also trying to remind ourselves. We are really trying to focus on controlling what we can control. I can't control COVID-19, but I can encourage our players to follow the protocol and guidelines to keep them safe. At the end of the day, we have to react to whatever happens every week. When you test every week, you are going to have some positives. We have been dinged a little bit each week, last week was just more than usual. It is tough, but you just have to focus on what you can control. You have to focus on getting the guys that are available ready to go. We are blessed to be able to play these games and be on the field. I don't think our team has lost sight of that.
On the December Games
It is a little unusual to be playing regular season games that late, but championship games and bowl games are usually happening then. I know our team wants to play these games, and I am excited we are going to be able to do that. Hopefully, we won't have any more hiccups as we go.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballTroy vs. Kent State (Full Highlights)
Tuesday, November 04
Troy vs. Toledo (Full Highlights)
Tuesday, November 04
Scott Cross Postgame Press Conference (Kent State)
Tuesday, November 04
Players Postgame Press Conference (Kent State)
Tuesday, November 04