Oct. 6, 2005

Q. Can you give Scott the money to buy a new tape recorder?

A. He's already got the biggest budget and the largest staff in the country.

Q. What do you think is going to be the crucial elements of this game? Do you agree with Fischer that it will be a low possession game?

A. It usually is.

Q. This would be a pretty big game for both teams even if it weren't a rivalry game. One of these teams is going to be .500 and the other is going to be in the hole.

A. Yep.

Q. It's kind of being masked because it's Air Force and it's a huge rivalry.

A. There's no question it's an important game, but it's still an early game for us.

Q. Do you think there may be more of a sense of urgency from them since they are later in their season?

A. I hope they aren't any more urgent than we are. I think both teams will play hard. I have no doubt that they are going to come in here ready to roll. If you don't think that's going to happen then you're not very smart. I guarantee you that we are going to get their best shot. They are going to come in here hell bent for leather.

Q. Do you think this is going to be a really good indicator of where your team stands?

A. It's going to be an indicator, but sometimes you have to play four, five, six games before you have a really good take on your team. Last year, it was probably five or six games in before we really had a take of where we were. I think if we can come out and play well on Saturday that will be a positive.

Q. Have you done any special teams preparations yet this week?

A. No, we don't ever practice special teams.

Q. Are you prepared for the rugby kick and all the options that they have off of that?

A. Nope. If they spring it on us we are probably in trouble. Do they rugby punt? We don't get a chance to watch the special teams tape until Friday morning sometime.

Q. Another thing you probably haven't seen is that they've been switching fronts, even play-to-play the last two games.

A. They've played a 4-3 pretty much all year.

Q. You said you don't care what defense they line up in, but does it matter if somebody is changing from play to play?

A. We have blocking rules. If our guys understand their rules it won't matter. It doesn't change our option count or our blocking rules. I've played Air Force 13 or 14 times and I think every time they've lined up the same way.

Q. Richard Bell has been around about 100 years hasn't he?

A. He hasn't been the coordinator every time I've played them. Now, they played some 4-3 against us last year in the first half and in years past they've done some different things like the triple stack. We try to get ready for everything during the week.

Q. This is a weekly thing for you guys, but they are pretty big for an Academy team.

A. Boy they are. They are huge. I don't know what they are eating.

Q. I was looking at their offensive line and I didn't know you could get guys into school that size.

A. They are big boys.

Q. That's something you face every week though.

A. Yeah, pretty much.

Q. Does the dedication of the stadium and all the hoopla that goes with it have any bearing on the team or the game?

A. I didn't even know it was happening until somebody told me today.

SS. You read it in my game notes.

A. I didn't read your notes.

Q. Isn't the head football coach kept abreast of all those matters?

A. I'm more concerned about the game than all the celebrations, the march-on and the fly-by. That stuff doesn't affect us. If you are playing the game or coaching you don't know what's going on outside the locker room. We are trying to get ready to play.

Q. Certainly your team should be motivated.

A. If my team's not motivated for this game then they're brain dead.

Q. This has been kind of a boring week in terms of all the trash talking compared to last year. Are you surprised at all about that?

A. Not really.

Q. Do you think both sides kind of got tired of all the back and forth? Last year it was a little more than usual.

A. Boy, you guys love that stuff don't you? I think everybody kind of embellished it and made it out to more than it was last year.

Q. Have you talked to Fischer since last year's game?

A. Yeah, I saw him at the convention.

Q. And everything is fine?

A. Everything was always fine between us. We are going to put six guns on, that will be part of the celebration of the stadium, 30 seconds before kickoff we are going to have a quick draw contest.

Q. They said something about a 21-gun salute; I didn't know it was going to be between you and DeBerry.

A. We are going to use six shooters and draw.

Q. Do you have a new third string quarterback this week?

A. Not really.

Q. Troy Goss is back practicing though.

A. Troy and Joe Taylor are both running with the three's.

Q. It's been a while for him (Goss).

A. Yeah, he hurt his foot.

Q. God forbid, if Lamar and Brian both got hurt, who would be the next guy to play?

A. Either Joe or Troy. Depends on the situation.

Q. Which one runs the scout team?

A. Neither one. Jarrod Bryant runs the scout team.

Q. Which one plays JV?

A. Jarrod Bryant.