Day 4 Quotes (with photos)

[mr. pony]

Day 4 Quotes
By Rick Atkinson for cusa-fans.com



Coach June Jones
The Dallas Morning News’ SMU football preview yesterday referred to the program as “football purgatory” and a “laughingstock.” Is that a fair and accurate assessment of this program?
“You know, I don’t know. I don’t judge that. I just judge on what we’re doing. We’ve been called a lot of things, I’m sure. But you just try to get better every day and we’re getting better every day.”

Who’s leading now between Braden Smith and Kyle Padron for No. #2 quarterback?
“Braden’s way ahead of him because he knows what to do. Kyle’s getting a lot of reps but it’s a big process to learn everything. But the more he’s here the more it’ll keep computing and keep stepping up.”

Who’s been more accurate, mechanics-wise?
“It’s hard to judge a young kid that doesn’t know what he’s doing on mechanics. They’re not doing that right either because they don’t know where they’re going with the ball.”



Kicker/DB Kellis Cunningham
Where do think you'll contribute this year?
“As of right now, I’m on the depth chart as the holder, but it comes down to what [starting kicker] Matt [Szymanski] feels comfortable with and where he can help the team out most.”

“He worked with Braden Smith a lot in the spring with Coach [Frank] Gansz. ... I have no problem whatsoever with that. I mean, I used to be a kicker, and I still do kickoffs and stuff like that, but I completely understand his attitude where you need to feel comfortable with who you’re with.”

“If Braden’s that man, then I’m going to trust [Szymanski] on that. I just hope the coaches realize that I feel like I can contribute many other places. I’ve always told them I’d love to be on coverages with special teams stuff.”

"From the tackles I’ve had the past three years, just doing that on kickoff coverage, I just feel like I can contribute in many other areas other than just holding. Hopefully, I can get that chance this next year.”



You played some safety last spring?
“Yes, I did. I had that hit against Memphis and the coaches just felt I could definitely do something other than kick, so they wanted to give me that chance. What it came down to is we had like seven or eight defensive backs coming in with the recruiting class."

Talk about that big hit against Memphis last year, after you'd kicked off.
“It really came down to everything Coach Gansz taught me. … “I still remember I had kicked the ball and it was a god-awful kick. It was horrible. I took off sprinting and I remember the one thing going through my head, … ‘If I ever have a messed-up kick, I don’t want to disappoint Coach Gansz.’”

“As soon as I broke that last coverage guy, I dipped my shoulder and got just under him. Right as I came under him, … as I came up through, the return man was right on the other side. Anybody loves it whenever they get to watch some film and they see the guy’s feet up by their helmet and the mouthpiece flying through the air. It’s an awesome feeling.”



Linebacker Pete Fleps
How are you liking the 3-4?
“It’s working really well. We have a lot of experience from the spring. Our defense is really flying around. Guys understand exactly what they’re doing and really have a tenacity that we haven’t had before.”

You like having Youri Yenga back there with you?
“I love it. Youri is a tremendous athlete and having him at the edge and in coverage is really going to wreak havoc for a lot of people.”

What about this year's defense, overall?
“There are higher standards. Last year we had a lot of inexperienced players who didn’t really know the defense. But now that lack of experience is gone. We’ve got a lot of veterans who know what they’re doing and the expectations are high. So we have to deliver and our coaches expect that of us.”



OL Kelvin Beachum, Jr.
How's blocking the 3-4?
“It’s a little complicated. But it helps us as far as preparing us for some of the hardest stuff we get. Because you can do so much with the 3-4 scheme. … I think it’s going to help us out in the long run. Coach Jones, he always, always, always makes practice harder than the games. So all this defense is, is making it harder for us during practice than in the games.”

[SmooBoy]

Nice work as always. Just wish the pictures were bigger so the team did not look like tiny Elvis's in helmets.

[mr. pony]

I know. When I go the next size up on imageshack, they go to wallpaper. Suggestions?

[indianmustang]

thanks for report
is this posted on cusa fans website

[mr. pony]

no, not these vignettes. (I'm trying to sell them to SI, though. )

[JackSon 3]

Terrific info. Keep it coming..... Any word on the incoming Frosh kicker from Ca.? He's not on the roster.

[One Trick Pony]

I know. When I go the next size up on imageshack, they go to wallpaper. Suggestions?

Use photo bucket way easy way cool, these were shot today with a little I phone...

[mr. pony]

Thanks, hoss.

[mrydel]

Terrific info. Keep it coming..... Any word on the incoming Frosh kicker from Ca.? He's not on the roster.

I believe he is gray shirted.

[Hoss]

Thanks, hoss.

For what?

[mr. pony]

lower case hoss.

[SMU 86]

Nice photos.

[that's great raplh]

good stuff!

[southerncomfort]

Mike Loftus? Greyshirting.