Murray State University Athletics
MSU Hosts JSU Saturday - Griffin Meets Media
9/25/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
It's game week at Murray State as the Racers and Jacksonville State Gamecocks meet at 3 p.m. Saturday at Roy Stewart Stadium.
MSU and JSU have played four times since the Gamecocks joined the OVC in 2003. The Racers won the first meeting in 2003 in overtime at home 23-17, but JSU has won the last three including their last visit to
As the Murray State Racer football team prepares for Saturday's contest,
Is the team where you thought it would be after four games?
“You want to get better every single game and practice. This past game, I know I sound like a broken record and our coaches sound the same, but we've got one guy not doing his job and 10 who are doing their jobs on a given play. It's not always the same guy making the mistake. The easiest way to correct that is with personnel change, but what do you do? Replace a freshman with a freshman? Does that make us better? There is no excuse for assignment mistakes, not at this point in the season. I look at myself first, then to the staff and how we're teaching them.
What are your thoughts about the Tennessee Tech game?
“There were so many plays that one guy isn't doing his job. We threw an interception when we were down 14-7 (at the TTU four yard line). Then I'm thinking we've got them pinned down so we'll make them punt and come out of it with good field position. They drive 96 yards and score and 58 yards of that was a run only because we had one guy misaligned. It's a game of momentum and how you handle it when it goes against you is a core character of your team.”
“I'm pleased with how we handled the third and fourth quarters. We scored to open the second half, but on the kick off we give up a touchdown. Our players kept playing hard. We've got to keep coaching them hard and positive.”
What about the play of MSU special teams?
“I did something in the game that went away from our identity. I went away from what we do. We won't do that again, if we're a second year team or a fifth year team, we're going to get back to our foundation, back to the basics.”
What do you think about the progress of quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt?
“I think he's played well. He's as good as any quarterback in this conference, if not the very best. There are some areas you address when you start a football program, one is defensive line, in particular defensive tackle and the other is quarterback. I like the way Jeff is playing and he's coming along.”
What do you think about the offensive and defensive line?
“Again I'll say about the same thing, on defense we have three of four doing their jobs and on offense four out of five on any given play. Am I pleased with their effort, yes. They play hard and physical, but assignment-wise they aren't there yet.”
What do you think about the play of Paul McKinnis and the other runningbacks?
“I think we projected him properly, a kid who should be competitive. As of last Thursday, we felt not one of our three backs (Mckinnis, Charlie Jordan, Josh Jones) had taken the job. This week will be the same thing, the player that practices better will be the one playing on Saturday.”
What do you think about
“It looks like JSU is having some of the same problems we're having. They're playing as many young players as they have in a while. Coach Crowe has mentioned, like us, some assignment issues. They have kids that can flat out play. On offense they're a little more spread this year, but they still line up and try to smash you. JSU is a good football program, Jack is in his eighth year, and his staff has been together for a while. This is a tough task, as everyone will be the rest of the season.”
