Nov. 15, 2005

Q. Can you give up the update on Matt Hall?

A. Yeah, he's probably out, not probably he is out for the season. They said they are going to do another evaluation, but the preliminary diagnosis was an ACL and MCL.

Q. Both?

A. Yeah. We will have the doctor's look at him for a second opinion tonight and we will let the swelling go down and then they will try and fix it. He should be back in six months.

Q. We didn't even notice what happened in the press box.

A. It was a freak thing. That's the way it happens sometimes. It wasn't on a big hit or anything. It was a glancing blow. It's unfortunate because he was really starting to play well.

Q. What did you feel like he was starting to do?

A. He was starting to play well, not that he had played poorly before that, but I think he was just getting himself into a groove and had gotten himself to where he was playing well.

Q. He seems pretty disappointed.

A. I'm sure he is and I'm disappointed for him. He's worked hard. It's like I told him though, the good news is that this is 2005 and it can be fixed. When I was in school that would be the end of your career. They will get it fixed, they fixed Eckel, he had some problems, and Matt will work hard to come back.

Q. Can you tell us a little more about what Adam Ballard needs to do to become a complete fullback?

A. Just be way more consistent. Adam has ability and that's why I get after Adam a lot because I tend to get after guys that have more ability than some others. When I see Adam get arm tackled I get excited because he's a big physical guy and nobody should tackle him with an arm. He should be a physical blocker. He and Trey are both going to have a huge chance to play.

Q. Are you going to open it up for competition this week?

A. Adam will probably be the starter, but they both are going to play.

Q. Just because he was No. 2 on the depth chart and he deserves the chance?

A. Yeah and he played a little better in the game.

Q. Does that mean that Trey won't be playing anymore slot back?

A. Probably not, but he hasn't been playing a lot of slot back anyway.

Q. We have talked about Adam running lower, lowering his center of gravity, has he gotten better at that?

A. Yeah, he's gotten better. He's making progress. At times he still doesn't get as low as I would like him to, but on his touchdown run against Notre Dame he ran through an arm tackle and got by the safety. He has ability now. He definitely has ability. Trey just has to get a feel for the position. Trey is a cut back guy and he cuts everything back, even when he shouldn't. He just needs the experience of playing in there. Both of them can be good players.

Q. In your system, does the fullback have blocking responsibilities on anything other than a pass play?

A. Sure, he has blocking responsibilities on a lot of plays.

Q. Have you not gotten on Adam about that too?

A. I've gotten on Adam and everybody else on our team about blocking.

Q. But he isn't worse than everybody else as far as executing the blocks.

A. No. Again, I hold some guys to a different standard because I have high expectations for them. I have high expectations for Adam, because I think he has ability and I'm not going to lower my expectations he has to bring his up to me. I'm not dropping mine to his.

Q. Any further thoughts on Temple? You told me yesterday that they have some athletes.

A. Yeah, if you look at their schedule everybody they have played with the exception of Maryland and us are bowl eligible. It's a pretty wild schedule. They have a lot of JUCO guys. They have several good athletes; there is no question about it.

Q. Do you think this is the case of a program that is, I'm not going to use the word disarray because I'm not familiar with what's been going on in their program, but the head coach has resigned already and they are kind of in flux between conferences do you think that wears on a team and might affect your ability to perform on the field?

A. I don't know. I have enough problems worrying about my own team. I don't have any idea about Temple. I just know that when I turn the tape on they have some impressive looking guys. They are big and fast. I'm sure they have some problems, but all I can do is look at their players and they have my attention.

Q. I think you told Kent that Maryland did not run over them.

A. The first half it was a game. When they have gotten in trouble is when they have made mistakes, just like any team. They have enough players to play with folks.

Q. When Navy played them four years ago I seem to recall that Bobby Wallace was running somewhat of a pro formation, is that what they are still doing?

A. They are multiple. They run the NCAA offense. The last two times they have played Navy I don't think Navy had 200 yards offense in either game. I know one game they held them to about 70 yards. Navy hasn't beaten Temple since 1997.

Q. Was Tidwell hurt Saturday?

A. He got dinged. He got a slight concussion.

Q. But he should be OK for this week?

A. He should be OK. We will probably hold him out for a day or two. I think he has strep throat too. He is just kind of banged up a little bit. He will be all right.