Opening Comments:
From a football standpoint, just to piggyback really quick before we getting into football, Adam, Katherine (from MidAmerican Energy), we as a football program can’t be more grateful for your belief in where we’re going, where our football program’s going, and you’re willingness to invest in us. I know from Jamie’s standpoint and from our standpoint, we can’t be more grateful. I think the power of what today gives our football program is, when we bring student-athletes into our university and we’re going through the recruiting process, we get to tell this amazing story of Jack Trice.
And now you get to piggyback that opportunity with the excellence that MidAmerican Energy stands for, the company stands for, the leadership within that company and what it’s done for this state. I think it’s really powerful as we continue to tell our story and we continue to reach out to the student-athletes and the young people we bring into our facilities. So I know we’re really excited. The second piece of that obviously is the performance center and Jamie talked about that. That’s got a chance to be not only great for football, but that has an opportunity to really enhance all of our student-athletes through this entire process and I know we’re certainly excited for those facilities to kind of unfold itself and get themselves to where we want to be and where our university has a chance to become.
From a football standpoint, we’re a day away, our kids report tomorrow. Our first practice is Friday. There’s a lot to look forward to. I’m excited to get our kids back at this point. I think everybody in the country is. And we’ve got a lot of work to do and certainly look forward to getting to that point. But if anybody has any questions for me right now before we get rolling, I’d certainly answer them.
On Jack Trice’s legacy and the stadium being named after him:
I think from our end of it, what’s been really enjoyable as the head football coach here is to sink into that story and the power that it’s played with the young people and the families that we’ve been able to interact (with) as they’ve come and started to find out about Iowa State University. The power that that story has. I think uniquely we’ve talked about different ways, and not only some of the great players and great stories that’s we’ve had in its past, of how we can continue to honor all those people. I think Jamie and myself will continue to go through ways to continue to do a great job of telling the story of Iowa State athletics and Iowa State football for sure.
On opening with new FCS powerhouse South Dakota State:
Really I don’t know if it changes a whole lot in terms of the reality of football camp no matter when you’re going into it. You feel like a lot of work needs to be done no matter when that schedule comes out or whom you play. It just so happens this year that from day one and game one, you’re talking about a team that’s coming in here that is Final Four in FCS football. A team that I think is currently ranked number two in the country and a team that’s got one of the best quarterbacks - some would say no matter what level of football – coming in here. So I think for us, we know the urgency behind our football team and I think the thing about it for me is – as you know, you’ll be sick of hearing me say it – it doesn’t matter who we play. It matters where we are. I think that’s the biggest thing right now for this football team is the sense of urgency that I’ve really appreciated that our kids have had all summer long. I think it’s more how we left things, maybe what we left out on the table a year ago and what we need to get corrected for us to continue to take a positive step forward as a program as much as who we play.
On some of the position group unknowns going into camp:
I think, number one, the offensive line. How does that shake out? I think we talked a little bit about, at Big 12 media day, one of the things for me that I am excited about is there’s more names and there’s more guys that deserve the right to be mentioned that are fighting for those spots. But the five starters: who are they? I couldn’t tell you that right now and that’s going to unfold itself over the next three weeks. I think the linebackers spot, who are the three guys that start the game there? I think that’s still a little bit fluid as well enter the season, especially with Reggan Northrup and O’Rien Vance certainly in hot competition for that right now. Both guys have really done great things and it’s great to have some talk there. And then safety; who earns the right to be starter at safety a little bit? Even though I think we feel really comfortable with Greg Eisworth. Certainly the rest of that group and some of those young guys have improved. It will be a really fun competition through the fall to watch what unfolds there as well.
On Northrup and Vance and emerging as a starting linebacker:
To me it’s just consistency. It’s like any of those positions. I’ll have this speech tomorrow for our football team. We’ll play who I trust. That aspect of it really becomes earning that over the next couple of weeks and earning that through what they’ve done, really, over the last six months. It so happens that those two guys have really stuck out because they’re two guys that, that’s what great about having competition now in your football program. It brings the best out of everybody. I think that group is unique but consistency, especially at MIKE linebacker, that guy’s got to not only be a consistent performer, but that guy also has to be a consistent leader on that football field. He’s got to be a great communicator; he’s got to set the tone. It starts usually at that MIKE linebacker spot for us.
On other linebackers competing for playing time:
There’s a lot of options. It’s unfair to not talk about Jake Hummel cause Jake had a very good spring as well and I think his name certainly needs to be thrown into that mix. And Tymar Sutton. And I would say that there’s a group of freshmen that have been impressive; all three of those linebackers that have come in that freshman class. In two weeks we can have a real conversation about like where are these guys really at.
On true freshmen with a chance to play this season:
I really think at this point it’s probably a little too premature to say names. I will say this: I really like this freshman class. It’s a different freshman class for us because the bulk of this freshman class are the skill positions, with the amount of safeties and amount of linebackers and certainly the amount of wide receivers that have come in this class. It’s really unique. Sometimes when you have a high skill group coming in, sometimes those guys can emerge to the forefront quicker than sometimes offensive and defensive linemen can. So it’ll be interesting to see. We’re really excited about the growth of that group. They’ve really been here since June with us. I’ll probably have a really good idea about that sometime midway through camp.
On what is looked for when it comes to true freshmen readiness:
Again I think it’s changed so much. Back ten years ago, you’re just coming in four or five days (early) and it’s all overwhelming. The neat thing about freshmen today is they’ve been on our campus since June 8th, 9th, 10th, somewhere in that realm. The homesickness, the jitters, those are gone a little bit. And now you can actually prepare them to compete in camp. So I think that my biggest expectation is how quick can they literally start to understand the verbiage. It’s like anything, you’re going from English to Spanish in a way. I called this in high school this, now I’ve got to adapt it to what I’m doing now. It’s certainly interesting and then it’s who can adapt, and who can conform to our culture. The neat thing now is you’re talking a program that has a culture. I think it was a lot easier for those early guys because some of those guys were becoming leaders as freshmen or sophomores. Where now you look at our team, you say well each position group, there’s great leadership. And you have to conform to the culture. You’re not going to do it your way. You’re going to do it the Iowa State way. And I think that’s really big. So I think those two are the biggest things we’re looking for in those freshmen and it will be interesting to watch and see.
On playing multiple quarterbacks this season:
In two years, we’ve played a million quarterbacks. Do I want to do that? I don’t know. But we’ll do whatever is best for the football team to be successful. It just so happens in my opinion, I really think that room is as good as it’s been since I’ve been here. We’d be naïve not to talk about Brock Purdy. There’s a kid that’s also come in and flashed and done really good things. But for those freshmen, until they get under the lights and they perform and the pressure and all those things that come with it, we’re talking hypotheticals. Zeb (Noland) has proven that he can play at this level and win games. And obviously Kyle (Kempt) has proven that he can do that. So I think we’ll see how camp goes. We’ll see where our football team is. Ultimately it’s my job to make sure the right guys are on the field to give us the best opportunity to be successful.
From a football standpoint, just to piggyback really quick before we getting into football, Adam, Katherine (from MidAmerican Energy), we as a football program can’t be more grateful for your belief in where we’re going, where our football program’s going, and you’re willingness to invest in us. I know from Jamie’s standpoint and from our standpoint, we can’t be more grateful. I think the power of what today gives our football program is, when we bring student-athletes into our university and we’re going through the recruiting process, we get to tell this amazing story of Jack Trice.
And now you get to piggyback that opportunity with the excellence that MidAmerican Energy stands for, the company stands for, the leadership within that company and what it’s done for this state. I think it’s really powerful as we continue to tell our story and we continue to reach out to the student-athletes and the young people we bring into our facilities. So I know we’re really excited. The second piece of that obviously is the performance center and Jamie talked about that. That’s got a chance to be not only great for football, but that has an opportunity to really enhance all of our student-athletes through this entire process and I know we’re certainly excited for those facilities to kind of unfold itself and get themselves to where we want to be and where our university has a chance to become.
From a football standpoint, we’re a day away, our kids report tomorrow. Our first practice is Friday. There’s a lot to look forward to. I’m excited to get our kids back at this point. I think everybody in the country is. And we’ve got a lot of work to do and certainly look forward to getting to that point. But if anybody has any questions for me right now before we get rolling, I’d certainly answer them.
On Jack Trice’s legacy and the stadium being named after him:
I think from our end of it, what’s been really enjoyable as the head football coach here is to sink into that story and the power that it’s played with the young people and the families that we’ve been able to interact (with) as they’ve come and started to find out about Iowa State University. The power that that story has. I think uniquely we’ve talked about different ways, and not only some of the great players and great stories that’s we’ve had in its past, of how we can continue to honor all those people. I think Jamie and myself will continue to go through ways to continue to do a great job of telling the story of Iowa State athletics and Iowa State football for sure.
On opening with new FCS powerhouse South Dakota State:
Really I don’t know if it changes a whole lot in terms of the reality of football camp no matter when you’re going into it. You feel like a lot of work needs to be done no matter when that schedule comes out or whom you play. It just so happens this year that from day one and game one, you’re talking about a team that’s coming in here that is Final Four in FCS football. A team that I think is currently ranked number two in the country and a team that’s got one of the best quarterbacks - some would say no matter what level of football – coming in here. So I think for us, we know the urgency behind our football team and I think the thing about it for me is – as you know, you’ll be sick of hearing me say it – it doesn’t matter who we play. It matters where we are. I think that’s the biggest thing right now for this football team is the sense of urgency that I’ve really appreciated that our kids have had all summer long. I think it’s more how we left things, maybe what we left out on the table a year ago and what we need to get corrected for us to continue to take a positive step forward as a program as much as who we play.
On some of the position group unknowns going into camp:
I think, number one, the offensive line. How does that shake out? I think we talked a little bit about, at Big 12 media day, one of the things for me that I am excited about is there’s more names and there’s more guys that deserve the right to be mentioned that are fighting for those spots. But the five starters: who are they? I couldn’t tell you that right now and that’s going to unfold itself over the next three weeks. I think the linebackers spot, who are the three guys that start the game there? I think that’s still a little bit fluid as well enter the season, especially with Reggan Northrup and O’Rien Vance certainly in hot competition for that right now. Both guys have really done great things and it’s great to have some talk there. And then safety; who earns the right to be starter at safety a little bit? Even though I think we feel really comfortable with Greg Eisworth. Certainly the rest of that group and some of those young guys have improved. It will be a really fun competition through the fall to watch what unfolds there as well.
On Northrup and Vance and emerging as a starting linebacker:
To me it’s just consistency. It’s like any of those positions. I’ll have this speech tomorrow for our football team. We’ll play who I trust. That aspect of it really becomes earning that over the next couple of weeks and earning that through what they’ve done, really, over the last six months. It so happens that those two guys have really stuck out because they’re two guys that, that’s what great about having competition now in your football program. It brings the best out of everybody. I think that group is unique but consistency, especially at MIKE linebacker, that guy’s got to not only be a consistent performer, but that guy also has to be a consistent leader on that football field. He’s got to be a great communicator; he’s got to set the tone. It starts usually at that MIKE linebacker spot for us.
On other linebackers competing for playing time:
There’s a lot of options. It’s unfair to not talk about Jake Hummel cause Jake had a very good spring as well and I think his name certainly needs to be thrown into that mix. And Tymar Sutton. And I would say that there’s a group of freshmen that have been impressive; all three of those linebackers that have come in that freshman class. In two weeks we can have a real conversation about like where are these guys really at.
On true freshmen with a chance to play this season:
I really think at this point it’s probably a little too premature to say names. I will say this: I really like this freshman class. It’s a different freshman class for us because the bulk of this freshman class are the skill positions, with the amount of safeties and amount of linebackers and certainly the amount of wide receivers that have come in this class. It’s really unique. Sometimes when you have a high skill group coming in, sometimes those guys can emerge to the forefront quicker than sometimes offensive and defensive linemen can. So it’ll be interesting to see. We’re really excited about the growth of that group. They’ve really been here since June with us. I’ll probably have a really good idea about that sometime midway through camp.
On what is looked for when it comes to true freshmen readiness:
Again I think it’s changed so much. Back ten years ago, you’re just coming in four or five days (early) and it’s all overwhelming. The neat thing about freshmen today is they’ve been on our campus since June 8th, 9th, 10th, somewhere in that realm. The homesickness, the jitters, those are gone a little bit. And now you can actually prepare them to compete in camp. So I think that my biggest expectation is how quick can they literally start to understand the verbiage. It’s like anything, you’re going from English to Spanish in a way. I called this in high school this, now I’ve got to adapt it to what I’m doing now. It’s certainly interesting and then it’s who can adapt, and who can conform to our culture. The neat thing now is you’re talking a program that has a culture. I think it was a lot easier for those early guys because some of those guys were becoming leaders as freshmen or sophomores. Where now you look at our team, you say well each position group, there’s great leadership. And you have to conform to the culture. You’re not going to do it your way. You’re going to do it the Iowa State way. And I think that’s really big. So I think those two are the biggest things we’re looking for in those freshmen and it will be interesting to watch and see.
On playing multiple quarterbacks this season:
In two years, we’ve played a million quarterbacks. Do I want to do that? I don’t know. But we’ll do whatever is best for the football team to be successful. It just so happens in my opinion, I really think that room is as good as it’s been since I’ve been here. We’d be naïve not to talk about Brock Purdy. There’s a kid that’s also come in and flashed and done really good things. But for those freshmen, until they get under the lights and they perform and the pressure and all those things that come with it, we’re talking hypotheticals. Zeb (Noland) has proven that he can play at this level and win games. And obviously Kyle (Kempt) has proven that he can do that. So I think we’ll see how camp goes. We’ll see where our football team is. Ultimately it’s my job to make sure the right guys are on the field to give us the best opportunity to be successful.
