Murray State University Athletics
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Murray State's Matt Griffin Addresses Media At Weekly Press Conference
11/20/2006 6:00:00 AM | Football
Murray State University Head Football Coach
ON THE 2006 SEASON: “We certainly have a ton of improvement to make. We're excited about that. As I said Saturday, we're excited that we get to spend the off-season with all these young kids and develop through video. They get to see themselves on tape and really get to understand scheme more. The neat thing is, in what I've watched this morning, there are 10 guys out of 11 (doing the right thing). As soon as we straighten that up improvement will start. I'm excited to get going.”
ON WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THIS SEASON: “I think we set a foundation with young players. This is my second time doing this (rebuilding a program). We're not going to come off too much the last plan because I think we got to see some of the results of the last plan on Saturday. Having those guys (the freshmen) play and getting the experience is certainly valuable to them in year two. We were able to establish what we're going to do here offensively and defensively. The plan is not going to change a lot but the bodies will with growth physically and mentally. That's what we'll spend a lot of time with for the next two months. Recruiting has gone very well despite a record none of us are happy with or proud of and that has a lot to do with this university.”
ON THE NEXT FEW WEEKS: “I'm anxious to go recruit. I'm also anxious to see our kids get in the weight room. Our kids have hounded me all morning about when they start (weight lifting). We've already told them we don't start until next Monday, they get two solid weeks of a break. As a staff we'll be on the road recruiting. From next Sunday until December 15 or 16, if I'm not here on campus, I'll be in a kid's house or at his basketball game just about every day, from
ON IMPACT PLAYERS THAT HAVE NOT PLAYED THIS YEAR: “There were three or four that couldn't play this year (along with the redshirted freshmen) that will help us immediately on the fronts. That is where the help is most needed.”
ON RECRUITING NEEDS: “We'll take a quarterback every year, because if they can't be a trigger guy then they can play four or five other positions. They are generally the most competitive kid. They are generally the best athlete out of a high school. Their leadership qualities are good. We'll take a couple of receivers. We'll take two or three corners. We have two returning corners but in a year that cupboard is bare other than the two freshmen we have this year. We'll take another couple linebackers, an inside kid and an outside kid, four defensive linemen, two tackles and two ends, and five or six offensive linemen. We'll have a dozen or so kids visit here for December 8 for our first recruiting weekend. Before those kids visit I'll be in every one of their homes. I'm excited about that. I wasn't able to get to as many homes as I wanted to last year because of the timing of everything. We'll learn more about those kids.”
ON DOES ANYONE HAVE A POSITION LOCKED UP FOR NEXT YEAR: “There are no guarantees. We've said it to them everyday, the best player plays. The minute we get away from that we'll start losing ballgames a thousand times worse than we lost any this year. There has to be great competition. I want guys fighting for things everyday in practice.”
