HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss football coach Jay Hopson met with the media Monday morning in the Duff Athletic Center to discuss this week’s homecoming contest against North Texas, as well as review the team’s first bye week.
This weekend’s game takes place this Saturday, at 6 p.m. It can be seen on Stadium on Facebook, and heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network from Learfield IMG College.
Here is some of what Hopson said to the media on Monday:
Opening statement…
“We are just getting back to game week. It was a good open week and we got some things done fundamentally. Now we are moving on to game week, and we know we have a good opponent, so we need a great week of preparation. It’s a big game here Saturday at The Rock.”
On taking advantage of the bye week to get players healthy…
“It (meaning the bye week) definitely helps. We are hoping that we will have some guys ready.”
On game planning during the open week…
“You do (game plan). It’s part of the process. You game plan, but you also only get so many chances in midseason to get back to fundamental stuff so you try to get a two for one right there.”
On student-athletes being able to use the bye week to return home to see family…
“We have segmented our season this year into three seasons. We are through with season one and now we have a three-week stretch for season two and we will finish up in November with season three. Our open date weeks fell fairly well. We have stretches of five, three and four games. I think that is good. Football is a game where you get some guys banged up and that certainly was the case for us so we are hoping that we will get some guys back and ready to go.”
On having two open weeks during the season…
“This is the first time in my coaching career that I’ve ever been around for two open date weeks. Of course that is the way that the schedule has been changed in the NCAA, so it will be interesting to see (how it plays out). Open dates can be very beneficial when you are injured. I do think that this (open week) fell at a good time for us, because we had some guys banged up. That’s a million dollar question, sometimes (bye weeks) are great and sometimes they are not so great. Again, I do think it fell at a good time for us this year.”
On the running game so far this season…
“They (running backs) are doing well, I really do. When we have needed positive yards, they have done an outstanding job. Again, De’Michael (Harris) and KP (Kevin Perkins) are guys that have really done a great job running the football. They are kind of a one-two punch. Certainly when you look at Steven (Anderson) and guys like Darius (Maberry) and some of those guys, we have good depth there and we have back that can do things with the football. I have been pleased with the running game, I really have. When we have needed to run the ball, we have run the ball. We just have to keep doing that and getting better every week.”
On North Texas…
“They are a team that has our respect. They have had three tough losses, but to three good football teams that they have played. We know this is a big conference game. It is no surprise to us, we know they are a good football team and records do not mean anything.”
On North Texas quarterback Mason Fine and the North Texas rushing attack…
“They are balanced. North Texas has always been like that. They are a balanced football team. They can run the ball and, of course, with Mason, he throws the ball extremely well. He is a dual-threat guy. He is a guy that is the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, so if you do not have respect for him, you are crazy. We know he is a good football player and we understand that we have a challenge this weekend. Again, we know that we have a big game against a good football team that we have to prepare for.”
On the defense against North Texas…
“You've got to play good defense. Anytime you play against good quarterbacks, you have to make sure you bring your A-game. The thing about North Texas is that they’re a balanced football team. You have to respect them in all areas; you have to respect their run game, you have to respect their pass game. We know we have to play well and prepare well this week. We know Mason (Fine) is an outstanding quarterback that will make us play our best, and that’s something good quarterbacks do.”
On Drake Dorbeck…
“He’s done well, I’ve been very, very pleased. Drake’s had a good year, he really has. Just looking off the naked eye, guys like Arvin (Fletcher) and Drake and Trace (Clopton), those are guys that have really played extremely well so far and we need that to continue.”
On the open week…
“It’s always helpful I can tell you. Coaches got on the road, most of them were on the road Thursday, and all were on the road Friday. Some were even on the road Wednesday. It allowed us three days. We even had one or two guys on the road Saturday. We got our days in and we have another open date week (later in the season). Speaking of open date weeks, that kind of makes it a little bit different for you because in years past you’d go out on a Friday of a game week. But this year, we have two completely open date weeks so it gives you time to keep the coaches around during game weeks and we’re able to get them out on the road during the open weeks. In that regard, the two open date weeks are really helpful so your coaches have a little bit more time to prepare during game week.”
On the last meeting against North Texas…
“It just kinda got away at the end. Certainly give North Texas all the credit, they won the game and deserved to win it. We had our chances. We went inside the 25- and 30-yard lines quite a few times and came away with nothing. When you do that, you’re not going to win football games. That’s something that we have to do; we have to sustain drives and then we have to score and put points on the board. It was one of those games for three quarters, going into the fourth quarter, it was 10-7. Give North Texas credit, though, they did what they had to do and they wound up finding a way and pulled away at the end, but we’ve got to convert. There were a couple fourth-and-ones we weren’t able to convert and those are things you have to do if you want to win. We certainly understand we have to play better this year than we did last year.”
On the guys up front on defense…
“Football is kind of funny – sometimes you play really good and you don’t have a stat. Football is not necessarily a game based on stats. I think those guys up front are playing well, we need that to continue.”
On Darius Mayberry…
“It’s what you have to do when you get your opportunity. He got in and did some good things, he definitely turned heads at the end of the game. I think Darius is a young man who has plenty of potential. We’re excited about his future.”
