University of Memphis Athletics
Justin Fuente Weekly Press Conference
Sep 29, 2014 | Football
Memphis Game Week Notes: Kickoff for the Oct. 11th game against Houston was announced on Monday. Kickoff for the Tigers' first American Athletic Conference home game of the season is set for 6 p.m. The game will be televised by CBS Sports Network ... The Houston game will be the second in as many weeks on CBSSN. The Cincinnati game is also slated for a CBS Sports Network Broadcast from Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati ... Also on Monday, Memphis senior cornerback Bobby McCain was named to the American Athletic Conference's Weekly Honor Roll. McCain had two interceptions, a pass breakup and three tackles in the Tigers' loss at Ole Miss ... Cincinnati wide receiver Chris Moore was named the league's Offensive Player of the week after setting an NCAA single-game record by averaging 73.7 yards per reception in Cincinnati's loss at Ohio State. He had three receptions for 221 yards and scored touchdowns on all three catches ... Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel and linebacker Jeff Luc joined McCain on the league's five-player Weekly Honor Roll.
Memphis Head Coach Justin Fuente
Opening Statement
"Our kids are excited about the challenge ahead. We're done with nonconference play. We finished 2-2 in nonconference and now we're ready to dive into the league. Obviously, we have a fantastic challenge head of us, going on the road to play at Cincinnati. They're a very talented team who you all picked to win the league, deservedly so. They've got great experience, great depth and great talent. I know you will ask, so I'll give you a little update on Doroland (Dorceus). He will not be with us the rest of the season. We will file to see if we can get him a redshirt for this year, but he will not be back. Everyone else that has been banged up is doing fantastic and we're optimistic to see them out here shortly."
With conference play starting, does it feel like the start of a new season?
"It's something that we're excited about. We've never really made a big deal about whether it's league or nonconference games, but for us now I think it's important for us to talk about conference games. It's our second time going around in the league. While there are some new teams in there, it's something we talked about to try to measure ourselves within this league. That is important to us. I think it adds a little bit to this week is that we're starting conference play."
What has the evolution of the team confidence been like? "We have played some fantastic squads, we really have. I know they're getting into conference play, the Pac 10 and the Southeastern Conference, but you saw what UCLA did to Arizona State at Arizona State. You saw Ole Miss up close and personal. I think we should gain some confidence knowing that if we do things the right way and take control of our destiny, if we continue to prepare the right way on both sides of the ball in all three phases, have great work ethic anD Pay great attention to detail, it will manifest within itself. I think we should take great confidence in all three phases that if we do things the correct way, we will give ourselves an opportunity to get success."
Could you talk a little bit about how your defense played against a physical Ole Miss team?
"Not just physical, but talent. They have skill kids all over the place. They have wide receivers and running backs. We did a great job getting them to turn the ball over, which is what you're going to have to have when you play people like that. We were able to get pressure on the quarterback. We were able to, for the most part, slow up the running game. They did get a couple of plays on us, but it was a really hearty effort from our defense. It was good to see as well. We know what we can be in that group. We know what it takes to play great defense, and at times we have done that. The challenge is to continue to do that week in and week out."
What did you learn about your offense after playing a defense like Ole Miss', and what do you need to do going forward?
"The bottom line is, we can talk around it all we want, but they are a fantastic defense. A top, however you want to rank them, defense. Combined with that, we did not coach or play well, and that manifested itself into that result. What we learned about it is we need to do things the right way every single time through our preparation and through our attention to detail in order to give ourselves a chance. When you don't do those things and you play against somebody who is talented like that, that's exactly what you get."
Memphis Senior Linebacker Charles Harris
On the loss at Ole Miss...
"Going into the game, I was expecting a good fight. Terry [Redden] and I had talked to Mark [Dodson] and he's always said if he had gotten a chance to play against us in high school that he would just run over us, so this was a big game for us. It was fun playing against him, Jaylen [Walton] and against some of the other guys we knew. Bobby [McCain] had an old teammate that he used to play with who caught Paxton [Lynch's] interception, Trae Elston. It was a lot of fun going into it just knowing a lot of the guys that I've really gotten to know. But a loss is a loss. I really wish we would've won and not had those two or three mental errors that cost us the game."
On Doroland Dorceus...
"Without a doubt, Doroland is a great running back. He's going to do great things here at Memphis and I'm really looking forward to seeing his progression throughout the next few years. Right now he's going through a tough time. He was really expecting to have a great season. He was really starting to get going when the injury occurred in the game. He's just keeping a positive mindset and looking towards the future and getting better." On Jarvis Cooper... "The players are starting to feel better about Jarvis. We haven't seen him as much like Coach Fuente said because of the leg injury in camp and he hasn't really gotten the reps he wanted to. However, last night I will say I went to go talk to Coach Cutchlow after practice and after team dinner, and Jarvis was the only person still in the weight room training, just working on footwork and his vision. I can say that Jarvis is ready to step up to the plate and ready to carry the team."
On first conference game of the season...
"Going into the season, Coach Fuente broke down to us the 9-0-1. Nine games to determine our season. Zero games where zero people think that we can win even two games and 1 game to start it off. We've already taken care of one of those nine but now we get to move into conference play. We are very much looking forward to playing this conference game. Cincinnati is a great team and it will be a great challenge for us. Coming off the past game that we had, offensively and defensively, I know that defensively we will have a lot of confidence going into this game and although we know that Cincinnati does have a great offense, our offense will be fired up and ready to get back on the field and show people that they are ready to roll."
Memphis Senior Defensive Tackle Terry Redden
On beginning conference play...
"Most definitely it feels like a whole new season. We're starting out fresh, 0-0 in conference play so we are looking forward to going out and representing for our city."
On confidence entering conference play from playing at Ole Miss...
"Regardless of whom we are playing and regardless of a hostile crowd, we know what we have to do. We have to execute on defense. We went out and we fought. We should've fought harder and we would've been more successful. With that being said, it's a learning process and we've grown closer as a team and we know what we have to do. We trust in the process."
On response from the community...
"On the way to the stadium, we saw people in the streets just waving their hands and fist pumping. People believe now and that's a great feeling for people to believe in what we've believed in since we got here." On the challenge of not getting a break defensively before conference play... "We're not looking for a break. We know we what we have to put on our backs every week or else it can get out of hand. Their offense can score points so it's our job to stop them."
On Bobby McCain's performance...
"That is what he looks forward to. I give him great pressure and we all give him great pressure to perform and we know he's going to handle his business. We set him up for success and he takes advantage of the opportunities. I believe in 21. I know he's going to make plays."
