WKU HEAD COACH TYSON HELTON
When asked how this team turned it around today:
“Well, you know the team just has a lot of fight and grit and they believe in each other. You are on the road at Marshall, and you knew it was going to be a tough game and Marshall had momentum in the first half. We went in the locker room at halftime and regrouped and told each other we were going to go out there and do it and man we put the pedal to the metal, and it started with the defense. They got after them and then offense got the big touchdown early then momentum swung our way and stayed our way. I can’t say enough about our staff and players, it was just a great game all around.”
On what Marshall did well defensively in the first half and the adjustments that were made:
“I thought they did a really good job in the secondary covering us. They played some man coverage, and they were able to stop us. But our offensive staff did a great job adjusting where we could get off some of that press man coverage and creating motions, stacks, and different things. That really played in our favor. So, you know, that is why you have halftime so you can go out there and make adjustments for this exact reason. It was just a great job by our staff at halftime.”
On how this program has done a great job finishing seasons over the last three years:
“Well, it’s not about me, it’s about the team. Our guys are just great men. Our locker room has a great culture. Our players are a direct reflection of our staff. The staff does such a great job of making sure our players are well trained and that they are good men doing what they are supposed to do. And that is what you need because it is a long season, and it is not how you start it is how you finish. We talk about that all the time and we have been able to finish strong the past couple of years. We got one more to go this year, we have to finish strong.”
HILLTOPPER PLAYERS
Graduate senior quarterback Bailey Zappe
When asked about the one thing he is most proud of about tonight’s performance:
“Just the way we played as a team. At the very beginning of the season, we talked about how we need to play as a team, offense helping defense out and defense helping offense out and special teams helping both out. And in this game, like we have talked about multiple times we came out flat and the defense was there to bail us out. They bailed us out until we were able to get going, and with how the defense was playing all game we were put 53 on them. We scored 47 in a half so if that ain’t team football I don’t know what is. Now we are looking forward to Friday it is going to be great competition against UTSA again and hopefully we come out on top.”
Redshirt junior wide receiver Daewood Davis
When asked about seeing UTSA again in the Conference USA Championship:
“I just feel like it is a great opportunity. Last time they came to our place, and we fell short, and we took it with a grain of salt. We came back to work then headed here won the C-USA East division and now we get to go play for all the marbles.”
Redshirt junior linebacker Jaden Hunter
When asked about the team controlling its own destiny:
“It’s been a roller coaster you know what I’m saying. The first five games we didn’t know where we were going to go. We had to come together as a group, we met as a group after the UTSA game and dialed in and locked in on just the small details. The small details are the reason why we are where we are now.”
Senior defensive back Antwon Kincade
On being able to compete for a Conference USA Championship in his last season:
“It means a lot man. It’s just like my senior year of high school when we went to the championship, it feels just like that. It’s a dream come true to just get another game with these guys. We’ve got two more games – a bowl game and the championship game – so just getting as many games as I can in. It’s been a long grind, and I know I’m going to be emotional the last game we play, but I love these guys and I hope they continue to progress.”
