West Virginia University
Players and Assistant Coaches Media Session
November 23, 2015
Iowa State Week
LINK: http://wvusports.co/1R20dOj
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (November 23, 2015) – West Virginia University assistant coaches and select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2015, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant coach (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Tony Gibson
On what the senior class means to him
A lot. You can’t replace these guys. It’s going to be a sad day for everybody, especially for me and these position coaches going in and coaching the last home game with these guys, and then the following week we go to Manhattan (Kansas). We get a bowl game with them now, so we get a couple more practices and games. This is a special group. They have done a lot for this program. They are the first full class through the Big 12, and I am proud of them. I told them today after practice, we have accomplished something here defensively that I don’t think people thought we could do. We had our first shutout in the history of West Virginia in the Big 12, so that’s something they can be proud of for a lifetime. We will be the first defense to go down with the first shutout in the Big 12, and I am proud of that for them.
On the resiliency of the senior class
These guys have been through so much, as far as coordinators, position coaches and the transition. Some of the guys that were here at the end of the Big East run and then they were thrown into the Big 12. They overcame a lot, and they continue to play hard and practice hard. I am really proud of this group, and I wish I could coach them forever. I wish they didn’t have to graduate and move on.
On how many defensive players got into Kansas game
Thirty. Every guy that traveled on defense played, so that was good. They all got a piece of that shutout.
On being the reason the senior defensive players are happy they stayed at West Virginia
It means a lot when it comes from the kids. That’s what it’s all about, and that’s why we (coaches) do what we do. We are in a special place. We have special guys, and I know everything doesn’t always go our way, but I have never been around a whole group of kids that prepare and practice and put all in to get ready for games. They are a special group, and I think they are great. They are great kids, and they are great to coach, and I enjoy it.
Assistant coach (defensive line) Damon Cogdell
On having players over to your house for Thanksgiving
I will probably have about 20-25 kids coming over. I think it will be great. The kids are excited about it, and I am excited about it too. It’s great to have that bond. It’s a great time for us to talk about football and life. When I get those kids by myself, I don’t like to talk about football. I like to talk about life stuff. The kids are locked in, and I think they are doing a great job this season.
On the WVU senior class and their legacy
‘Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer.’ You like when you hear the song Country Roads. I remember we were at home one game, and the guy (Brad Paisley) was singing it live. It was pretty awesome to be on Mountaineer Field that day, and hearing that for the last time as a player is pretty special. It’s a great thing for these kids to finally win six games in the Big 12. We are going to try and win seven games here this week. We want to set a record for us with the amount of wins we have in the Big 12.
On the high emotions of Iowa State on Saturday
We are worrying about us right now. We control our own destiny right now, and it is up to us as young men and coaches to pull together and rally. We have to get eight wins. Our goal is to achieve eight wins and take one game at a time. That is what we are doing this week against Iowa State, and we are focused on that.
Assistant coach (offensive line) Ron Crook
On Iowa State’s spread
We will spend most of the day watching more film and getting to know a little bit more of our game plan. Their nose (tackle) is really big and athletic. He has a great motor. They play hard. They’re going to fly around. They throw a lot at you from a blitz standpoint. It’s going to be another fun challenge. I think our guys will be up for it.
On how much he prepares his guys for surprises from Iowa State
What’s going on with their entire program is not entering into our approach. We’re focusing on us, and how we can improve, and how we can get better at what we do as opposed to really focusing in on what’s going on with their dynamic.
On having a running game that eliminates some of the other things on the other side
We like to think so and we can’t say it enough. You mentioned it about getting the ball back for us to put us in a position to be successful and being able to wear down a defense throughout the course of a game. Those things you can’t quantify, but you can’t deny how important it is.
On if he was pleased after the Kansas game
Yes, I was happy with the way they approached the game. I was happy with the way they came out and took control of the game throughout the course of the game. In the first series, we were a little slow. We didn’t get going right away, but when the defense got the ball back for us, we went to work and kept it up pretty much throughout the whole game.
Assistant coach (running backs) JaJuan Seider
On if running the ball is a way to win in the Big 12
It is bridging the gap, because when you take away one, (part of the offense) you can lean off the other. We are getting close to the point where we can be really balanced again. When you look at Dana’s (Holgorsen) best years as a coordinator, that’s when it was balanced. I saw the Houston team and the Oklahoma State team that they had. They had 15 yard rushes, but they also threw for 3,000 yards. It is a good place to be at, and when your look at a team in our conference right now who is successful, it is TCU and Baylor running the ball. Baylor runs the ball more than we do. It is a form of success. I think you have to have it, because in this conference you have weather games. When you come here in late November or December you are going to have to deal with weather. Whether you are used to it or not, it is still the elements, so you have to hang your hat on running the ball and playing great defense.
On if the type of player they recruit translates into success running the ball
No, I think the stuff that we do here, you can teach it. The stuff that they do in Texas is no different than what they do in Florida. Being a Florida guy, and being biased, every time a Florida and Texas team plays one another the Florida team comes out on top. Florida has been doing it for a long time. Everyone always asks about the spread. What is your form of the spread? Are you a team that throws it a lot, or are you a team that spreads it out and runs a lot? To me, it is just the dynamics that makes your offense go.
On junior running back Wendell Smallwood’s improvements from last season
It goes back to the message that I told him as a freshman. I told him not to take a backseat to anybody. Last year, he was the ‘backup’ to (redshirt junior running back) Rushel (Shell). The roles were reversed this year. The thing with him is, what else can you do to motivate him? Last week, I told him that he was six yards shy of being the leading rusher in the Big 12, and he asked what else he could do to get that done. The thing I’m challenging him now with is that he is the best running back in the country when he runs 10 yards. How about he goes out there and runs 50, 60 or 70 yard runs when we have that safety in the middle of the field. We have to be able to make him miss. You have to constantly find new ways to challenge him and make him become a better player.
Junior quarterback Skyler Howard
On if he sees the movement from defenses
They have certain tendencies that we pick out during the week, and I study those tendencies and look for them every play when that play call is there. We have certain progression, either run or pass. I just play ball.
On how important it is to get into the right play
As far as everybody else’s thoughts, I’m really not concerned with those, but if we’re winning and we’re moving the ball that’s all that really matters. It doesn’t really matter what everybody else thinks behind the scenes if I’m operating it or not. If we’re moving the ball, then we’re good.
On if the line shuffle affects him
No. It doesn’t affect my job at all.
On if Thanksgiving is his favorite time of year
Yes, it is. It’s always around football season, that’s one. When I was at home, I loved it because of all of the food and all of the family. It’s nice.
Redshirt senior tight end/fullback Cody Clay
On when he feels that the WVU run game is clicking in a game
It depends on the very first play for me. If my first play is good, then I am going to play well for the rest of the game. I need one good play to really start clicking, and I feel like that is the run game as a whole. Once we have one really good run, then we are going to be rolling the rest of the game.
On how he feels about the successes of the WVU run game
I remember at the beginning of the year, we were throwing really well, and I thought that’s what we were going to end up doing. I can’t really remember when I figured out that the run game would be what made our offense really successful. I’m not saying that we can’t pass the ball, because we obviously can, but right now, I think it’s pretty clear to everyone watching that we can run it well after rushing for 400 yards last week. It’s funny, because we joke around as an offense. My buddy (redshirt senior tight end Darren Arndt) and I never thought that (head coach) with Dana Holgorsen’s offense, we would run like we do. I think at halftime, we ran 40 times in the last game. The spread has been like 60 runs out of 90 plays or something like that for us. I never really expected that.
On how the WVU power run game has been enjoyable for him
Yeah, I like it. I like coming downhill and just hitting somebody. The fullback is more that than the tight end position. You can run at somebody at fullback. Playing fullback you get to run somebody down and block them, while tight end you’re a few inches away from the person you’re blocking. It is really a different kind of blocking game. Whatever they tell me to do I’m doing.
Senior wide receiver Jordan Thompson
On WVU’s team mindset
The team has the same mindset from when they were going through the tough stretch in October. There is a lot of improvement, despite the three wins that we had back-to-back. We still want to get better. We won Saturday, but that’s in the past, and we have to look to this Saturday. We have a quality opponent with Iowa State coming to Morgantown on Saturday, on senior day. We are looking to finish our senior year and final game at Mountaineer Field with a win.
On the best player that he has played with during his WVU career
That’s easy. Tavon Austin. Hands down. He single-handily took over every game.
On what he learned from Tavon Austin
I learned the little things from him. The way you block and run routes. He taught me how to find the open spots in the middle, because we go across the middle quite a bit. He taught me to remain calm and have confidence when things are going bad.
Redshirt senior defensive lineman Kyle Rose
On his career at WVU
It has gone by really fast. A lot of good memories, and I have met a lot of good people here. I love this place, and I have had a really special experience here. Thanks to everyone that has had my back during times of adversity, and knew that I was going to prevail and knew that our team was going to prevail through those tough times. We lost four in a row, and we all came together and are putting together a season that we can be appreciative of. Knowing that we have two more games left is kind of surreal. I enjoyed my time here, and I don’t regret anything that has happened here. I think everything happens for a reason, and I think we can put something special together, finish this season strong and send these seniors’ out the right way. That is something every class is trying to do a good job of. Everyone has tried to send the seniors out in winning fashion, and that is something that we pride ourselves. We play with tenacity and an edge, and I think that’s something that our senior class has brought to this team. I’m really proud to have been a part of it.
On how WVU has turned its season around after a tough October stretch
Absolutely. Football is a sport where you have to have confidence. Anytime you start to get down on yourself or have doubt, which losing does, you can go two ways with that. You can either tank it and get down on yourself, or come together and turn it into a great season. We never thought to tank it. We have always taken pride in ourselves of being a blue collar team and wanting to win.
Redshirt senior linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski
On if the seniors played a big role in the turnaround after the four-game losing streak
We did. We had a meeting. It started before the month of October, and we said keep your spirits high and take your mistakes and transition it into the next game and try to improve. It was one of those things that once we were out of that stretch, we knew what we had to do, so we tried to keep the same methods game after game. We took the mistakes and improved. We played the next game.
On Iowa State
They have a lot of good players. They have a good backfield that can run the ball. They have big receivers. Overall, they have a solid team. It’s similar to what we’ve seen in the Big 12 in the last couple of weeks, but they definitely have some weapons and guys who can get out and make big plays.
On if he has thought about his emotions running out of that tunnel before the game
Honestly, no. Like I said, it only hit me this week with it being my last game (at home). It’s going to be a sad feeling. It probably won’t hit me until that day when I’m playing my last game. It’s hard to say right now.
Redshirt senior linebacker Jared Barber
On the mental state Iowa State is in right now
I know those guys really respect that coach (head coach Paul Rhoads) and really loved him. They liked playing for him. I’m sure it’s hard for them. I can’t speak because I’m not in the locker room, in the weight room or playing with those guys, but I’m sure they’re going to come in here wanting to get a win for that coach. They will do their best to get that win.
On Iowa State’s talent and skill positions
Yes. They have big wide receivers, and they have a really good freshman running back. I think he has 1,300 yards right now rushing the ball. They’re pretty good skill wise.
On what it means to him to be a part of this senior class that transitioned into the Big 12
We came in being the first class to be in the Big 12. We now have the opportunity to finish the best we’ve ever finish in the Big 12. Obviously we’re going to focus on this game, getting seven, but finishing 8-4 in the Big 12 is something we’re going to be proud of. If we get to that, that’s what we’re working for. It means a lot to us. Hopefully, we will leave this place with the younger guys having something to look forward too and even beat us.
Players and Assistant Coaches Media Session
November 23, 2015
Iowa State Week
LINK: http://wvusports.co/1R20dOj
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (November 23, 2015) – West Virginia University assistant coaches and select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2015, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant coach (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Tony Gibson
On what the senior class means to him
A lot. You can’t replace these guys. It’s going to be a sad day for everybody, especially for me and these position coaches going in and coaching the last home game with these guys, and then the following week we go to Manhattan (Kansas). We get a bowl game with them now, so we get a couple more practices and games. This is a special group. They have done a lot for this program. They are the first full class through the Big 12, and I am proud of them. I told them today after practice, we have accomplished something here defensively that I don’t think people thought we could do. We had our first shutout in the history of West Virginia in the Big 12, so that’s something they can be proud of for a lifetime. We will be the first defense to go down with the first shutout in the Big 12, and I am proud of that for them.
On the resiliency of the senior class
These guys have been through so much, as far as coordinators, position coaches and the transition. Some of the guys that were here at the end of the Big East run and then they were thrown into the Big 12. They overcame a lot, and they continue to play hard and practice hard. I am really proud of this group, and I wish I could coach them forever. I wish they didn’t have to graduate and move on.
On how many defensive players got into Kansas game
Thirty. Every guy that traveled on defense played, so that was good. They all got a piece of that shutout.
On being the reason the senior defensive players are happy they stayed at West Virginia
It means a lot when it comes from the kids. That’s what it’s all about, and that’s why we (coaches) do what we do. We are in a special place. We have special guys, and I know everything doesn’t always go our way, but I have never been around a whole group of kids that prepare and practice and put all in to get ready for games. They are a special group, and I think they are great. They are great kids, and they are great to coach, and I enjoy it.
Assistant coach (defensive line) Damon Cogdell
On having players over to your house for Thanksgiving
I will probably have about 20-25 kids coming over. I think it will be great. The kids are excited about it, and I am excited about it too. It’s great to have that bond. It’s a great time for us to talk about football and life. When I get those kids by myself, I don’t like to talk about football. I like to talk about life stuff. The kids are locked in, and I think they are doing a great job this season.
On the WVU senior class and their legacy
‘Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer.’ You like when you hear the song Country Roads. I remember we were at home one game, and the guy (Brad Paisley) was singing it live. It was pretty awesome to be on Mountaineer Field that day, and hearing that for the last time as a player is pretty special. It’s a great thing for these kids to finally win six games in the Big 12. We are going to try and win seven games here this week. We want to set a record for us with the amount of wins we have in the Big 12.
On the high emotions of Iowa State on Saturday
We are worrying about us right now. We control our own destiny right now, and it is up to us as young men and coaches to pull together and rally. We have to get eight wins. Our goal is to achieve eight wins and take one game at a time. That is what we are doing this week against Iowa State, and we are focused on that.
Assistant coach (offensive line) Ron Crook
On Iowa State’s spread
We will spend most of the day watching more film and getting to know a little bit more of our game plan. Their nose (tackle) is really big and athletic. He has a great motor. They play hard. They’re going to fly around. They throw a lot at you from a blitz standpoint. It’s going to be another fun challenge. I think our guys will be up for it.
On how much he prepares his guys for surprises from Iowa State
What’s going on with their entire program is not entering into our approach. We’re focusing on us, and how we can improve, and how we can get better at what we do as opposed to really focusing in on what’s going on with their dynamic.
On having a running game that eliminates some of the other things on the other side
We like to think so and we can’t say it enough. You mentioned it about getting the ball back for us to put us in a position to be successful and being able to wear down a defense throughout the course of a game. Those things you can’t quantify, but you can’t deny how important it is.
On if he was pleased after the Kansas game
Yes, I was happy with the way they approached the game. I was happy with the way they came out and took control of the game throughout the course of the game. In the first series, we were a little slow. We didn’t get going right away, but when the defense got the ball back for us, we went to work and kept it up pretty much throughout the whole game.
Assistant coach (running backs) JaJuan Seider
On if running the ball is a way to win in the Big 12
It is bridging the gap, because when you take away one, (part of the offense) you can lean off the other. We are getting close to the point where we can be really balanced again. When you look at Dana’s (Holgorsen) best years as a coordinator, that’s when it was balanced. I saw the Houston team and the Oklahoma State team that they had. They had 15 yard rushes, but they also threw for 3,000 yards. It is a good place to be at, and when your look at a team in our conference right now who is successful, it is TCU and Baylor running the ball. Baylor runs the ball more than we do. It is a form of success. I think you have to have it, because in this conference you have weather games. When you come here in late November or December you are going to have to deal with weather. Whether you are used to it or not, it is still the elements, so you have to hang your hat on running the ball and playing great defense.
On if the type of player they recruit translates into success running the ball
No, I think the stuff that we do here, you can teach it. The stuff that they do in Texas is no different than what they do in Florida. Being a Florida guy, and being biased, every time a Florida and Texas team plays one another the Florida team comes out on top. Florida has been doing it for a long time. Everyone always asks about the spread. What is your form of the spread? Are you a team that throws it a lot, or are you a team that spreads it out and runs a lot? To me, it is just the dynamics that makes your offense go.
On junior running back Wendell Smallwood’s improvements from last season
It goes back to the message that I told him as a freshman. I told him not to take a backseat to anybody. Last year, he was the ‘backup’ to (redshirt junior running back) Rushel (Shell). The roles were reversed this year. The thing with him is, what else can you do to motivate him? Last week, I told him that he was six yards shy of being the leading rusher in the Big 12, and he asked what else he could do to get that done. The thing I’m challenging him now with is that he is the best running back in the country when he runs 10 yards. How about he goes out there and runs 50, 60 or 70 yard runs when we have that safety in the middle of the field. We have to be able to make him miss. You have to constantly find new ways to challenge him and make him become a better player.
Junior quarterback Skyler Howard
On if he sees the movement from defenses
They have certain tendencies that we pick out during the week, and I study those tendencies and look for them every play when that play call is there. We have certain progression, either run or pass. I just play ball.
On how important it is to get into the right play
As far as everybody else’s thoughts, I’m really not concerned with those, but if we’re winning and we’re moving the ball that’s all that really matters. It doesn’t really matter what everybody else thinks behind the scenes if I’m operating it or not. If we’re moving the ball, then we’re good.
On if the line shuffle affects him
No. It doesn’t affect my job at all.
On if Thanksgiving is his favorite time of year
Yes, it is. It’s always around football season, that’s one. When I was at home, I loved it because of all of the food and all of the family. It’s nice.
Redshirt senior tight end/fullback Cody Clay
On when he feels that the WVU run game is clicking in a game
It depends on the very first play for me. If my first play is good, then I am going to play well for the rest of the game. I need one good play to really start clicking, and I feel like that is the run game as a whole. Once we have one really good run, then we are going to be rolling the rest of the game.
On how he feels about the successes of the WVU run game
I remember at the beginning of the year, we were throwing really well, and I thought that’s what we were going to end up doing. I can’t really remember when I figured out that the run game would be what made our offense really successful. I’m not saying that we can’t pass the ball, because we obviously can, but right now, I think it’s pretty clear to everyone watching that we can run it well after rushing for 400 yards last week. It’s funny, because we joke around as an offense. My buddy (redshirt senior tight end Darren Arndt) and I never thought that (head coach) with Dana Holgorsen’s offense, we would run like we do. I think at halftime, we ran 40 times in the last game. The spread has been like 60 runs out of 90 plays or something like that for us. I never really expected that.
On how the WVU power run game has been enjoyable for him
Yeah, I like it. I like coming downhill and just hitting somebody. The fullback is more that than the tight end position. You can run at somebody at fullback. Playing fullback you get to run somebody down and block them, while tight end you’re a few inches away from the person you’re blocking. It is really a different kind of blocking game. Whatever they tell me to do I’m doing.
Senior wide receiver Jordan Thompson
On WVU’s team mindset
The team has the same mindset from when they were going through the tough stretch in October. There is a lot of improvement, despite the three wins that we had back-to-back. We still want to get better. We won Saturday, but that’s in the past, and we have to look to this Saturday. We have a quality opponent with Iowa State coming to Morgantown on Saturday, on senior day. We are looking to finish our senior year and final game at Mountaineer Field with a win.
On the best player that he has played with during his WVU career
That’s easy. Tavon Austin. Hands down. He single-handily took over every game.
On what he learned from Tavon Austin
I learned the little things from him. The way you block and run routes. He taught me how to find the open spots in the middle, because we go across the middle quite a bit. He taught me to remain calm and have confidence when things are going bad.
Redshirt senior defensive lineman Kyle Rose
On his career at WVU
It has gone by really fast. A lot of good memories, and I have met a lot of good people here. I love this place, and I have had a really special experience here. Thanks to everyone that has had my back during times of adversity, and knew that I was going to prevail and knew that our team was going to prevail through those tough times. We lost four in a row, and we all came together and are putting together a season that we can be appreciative of. Knowing that we have two more games left is kind of surreal. I enjoyed my time here, and I don’t regret anything that has happened here. I think everything happens for a reason, and I think we can put something special together, finish this season strong and send these seniors’ out the right way. That is something every class is trying to do a good job of. Everyone has tried to send the seniors out in winning fashion, and that is something that we pride ourselves. We play with tenacity and an edge, and I think that’s something that our senior class has brought to this team. I’m really proud to have been a part of it.
On how WVU has turned its season around after a tough October stretch
Absolutely. Football is a sport where you have to have confidence. Anytime you start to get down on yourself or have doubt, which losing does, you can go two ways with that. You can either tank it and get down on yourself, or come together and turn it into a great season. We never thought to tank it. We have always taken pride in ourselves of being a blue collar team and wanting to win.
Redshirt senior linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski
On if the seniors played a big role in the turnaround after the four-game losing streak
We did. We had a meeting. It started before the month of October, and we said keep your spirits high and take your mistakes and transition it into the next game and try to improve. It was one of those things that once we were out of that stretch, we knew what we had to do, so we tried to keep the same methods game after game. We took the mistakes and improved. We played the next game.
On Iowa State
They have a lot of good players. They have a good backfield that can run the ball. They have big receivers. Overall, they have a solid team. It’s similar to what we’ve seen in the Big 12 in the last couple of weeks, but they definitely have some weapons and guys who can get out and make big plays.
On if he has thought about his emotions running out of that tunnel before the game
Honestly, no. Like I said, it only hit me this week with it being my last game (at home). It’s going to be a sad feeling. It probably won’t hit me until that day when I’m playing my last game. It’s hard to say right now.
Redshirt senior linebacker Jared Barber
On the mental state Iowa State is in right now
I know those guys really respect that coach (head coach Paul Rhoads) and really loved him. They liked playing for him. I’m sure it’s hard for them. I can’t speak because I’m not in the locker room, in the weight room or playing with those guys, but I’m sure they’re going to come in here wanting to get a win for that coach. They will do their best to get that win.
On Iowa State’s talent and skill positions
Yes. They have big wide receivers, and they have a really good freshman running back. I think he has 1,300 yards right now rushing the ball. They’re pretty good skill wise.
On what it means to him to be a part of this senior class that transitioned into the Big 12
We came in being the first class to be in the Big 12. We now have the opportunity to finish the best we’ve ever finish in the Big 12. Obviously we’re going to focus on this game, getting seven, but finishing 8-4 in the Big 12 is something we’re going to be proud of. If we get to that, that’s what we’re working for. It means a lot to us. Hopefully, we will leave this place with the younger guys having something to look forward too and even beat us.