12/3/2002 - Football
Paul Johnson Press Conference For Tuesday, Dec. 3
Transcript of Navy head football coach Paul Johnson's Press Conference Following Practice on Tuesday, December 3
Q. Talk about the enormity of the Army-Navy game?
A. There?s no question that it?s a big game. For everybody that serves in the Armed Forces it?s a day that they all get together and watch and it gives them bragging rights for the whole year. It?s a big, big football game for us.
Q. A lot of people say that if you win this game that the season will be a success, but you don?t feel that way do you?
A. No. We want to win this football game because it?s a big rivalry, but we have to win more than the Army game to be successful. We are just starting to get the program rebuilt and it would be great for us going in to recruiting and the offseason with a win and some momentum so it is an important game for us.
Q. You had so much success turning the program around at Georgia Southern. Do you think you?re making the progress you made there and can you see the possibility of things really turning around here?
A. Yeah, I think we are making a lot of progress. It?s not going to be as fast as it was at Georgia Southern because we had a lot of good players when we got there, it was just a different situation. I think our team is better, we haven?t won as many games as what we would have liked, but there is no question that we are better than we were when we started and we are looking forward to getting out and recruiting and seeing if we can get this thing going.
Q. I was talking with one of your coaches and he said that the morale has never been higher, would you agree with that?
A. I think it?s great. We stayed last week and practiced and the guys got to spend some time together. I think everybody is excited about playing. That?s the one thing that?s really encouraging to me. We haven?t had as much success as you would like but the football team has been resilient and the attitude has been great.
Q. Can you talk about the fact that there are so many cities that want this game in their town. How do you feel as a coach and what do you say to your players, do you care where you play?
A. I don?t think it matters where we play, that?s for other people to decide. Right now if you ask us we would like to go where it?s warm. I don?t think it matters. It?s a game with such history and tradition. It?s going to be a huge game no matter where you play it.
Q. Does it say something about the teams or the tradition that so many cities want you?
A. I think it?s both. I think it?s what both schools stand for. A lot of people watch the Army-Navy game that don?t watch another football game all year, because of what it stands for, the student-athletes on the field, and what these guys are going to do for their country when they finish so it?s a special game and I think it always will be.
