– Media Day
Today was media day for the University of Louisville football program. The 3 coaches to take the podium were Head Coach Charlie Strong, Defensive Coordinator Vance Bedford, and Offensive Coordinator/QBs Shawn Watson. All coaches had great things to say about how the team was progressing but each remain cautiously optimistic about how their young group will perform when the lights come on.
Coach Strong’s opening:
“Each day it’s all about getting better. The team, what we need to do is establish an identity, and we know only nine seniors. But enough guys have played that we can have some guys step up. The guys have responded well so far.”
Coach Bedford’s opening:
“Right now, we are really excited about our defensive line. We have a lot of depth there.”
Coach Watson’s opening:
“We look like a Division I football team should be,”
QUARTERBACKS:
Coach Strong – “Teddy continues to get better every game. He has become a student of the game.”
Coach Watson – “The thing I want to see out of Teddy is him manage the game. The different aspects of the game, he has to manage those things.”, “He’s taken to heart increasing his strength and durability. He’s a totally different looking player.”
RUNNING BACKS:
Coach Strong – “Each one of the five have a different quality. We have enough guys there. We have five guys there.”
Coach Watson – “We’re going to have to go through training camp. Get into scrimmage situations” before a decision made on the starting running back. “They are all not letting up. They all want to be the starter. Competition is a great thing.”
RECEIVERS:
Coach Strong – “Moving Gaines to wide receiver has added to the group. Each day he’s talking to his own guys and just adds enthusiasm to the group. All the guys are stepping up and a really good group.”
Coach Watson – “We have a lot of speed, we have a lot of speed.”
OFFENSIVE LINE:
Coach Strong – “we know we have five solid.”
Coach Watson – said Mario & Kupper “are the thump and the voice,” of offense. “If something needs to be fixed, those two guys will fix it.”
DEFENSIVE LINE:
Coach Strong – “I told Vance this may be the group that we go rush four and hope we can get some pressure on the quarterback.”
Coach Bedford – “Right now, we are really excited about our defensive line. We have a lot of depth there.”, “We just don’t know. On paper we like what we see… but when the lights come on? I don’t know what we’re going to do. They might start crying. I might need pampers.”
LINEBACKERS:
Coach Bedford – “Compared to our first two years, athletically we’re a lot better.”, Mount & Mauldin: “They are going to play up, down, all around. We’re going to play them all over the place.”
DEFENSIVE BACKS:
Coach Bedford – “Hakeem Smith is by far one of my favorite players. Not big enough, not fast enough but makes plays.”,
Kicking:
Coach Strong – “is a major concern”
Other things of importance:
Coach Strong on:
-Zeke Pike – “We talked about this program and our focus and he’s accepted how this program is ran.” Coach Strong also mentions how the goal is to help change lives.
Fan Support – “The fan support here has just been tremendous. When you have the fan support, then the players start believing in themselves.”
Team Balance – “You like to have balance and like to have it in all three phases of the game. Offensively, a year ago didn’t know what QB situation was going to be and offensive line we were so young. Even on defense just so young. You do feel like you have a balance there because enough guys that have played.”
Education – “I want to see every young man in our program to graduate. I told them if you don’t get a degree then you don’t need to be in this program.” Strong said that it “carries over onto the field.”
Playing home games – “The games at home, we have to win. So tough to win on the road. We pack it in here and fans come to watch us play. Tell the guys, they are here for a reason, so lets go give them a show. We have to do a better job of defending out home stadium.”
This really could be a big year for our Louisville Football team on many different levels. First, the football program has the potential to take a big step forward. Strong is making that happen. More importantly, the current unsettled climate of conference membership could well have U of L moving to a new home in the coming years. No matter where that is, Strong is taking measures to make sure the football team will fit into any new environment quite well.