MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football head coach Joey Jones, defensive end Anthony Taylor and running back J.J. Keels sat down with the media Monday to recap Saturday’s win over Henderson (Ark.) State and preview this week’s Thursday night contest with Mississippi Valley State.

A few highlights from Monday’s press conference are below.

Head coach Joey Jones
On Thursday’s contest:
“It is a short week, and it changes your schedule somewhat. There isn’t a lot of preparation time. We’re used to getting a lot of preparation time in for a team, but it’s something we have to deal with and fortunately the other team does as well and they have to travel. We feel good about it, and the coaches have done a good job simplifying the game plan. What you have to do is execute in a game like this. You don’t want to put too much in and then the kids don’t get it and don’t perform well on Thursday night. Sometimes change is just good. As coaches, we are about routine. We have our routine and everything is planned, but sometimes a change is good not only for the staff but for the players. The great thing is that after this game on Thursday, we have a short week. They are going to get some time off, and that could really help us for that last ball game.”

On how the quick turnaround affects the game plan:
“We had to have it ready by Monday morning. Not only did we have to speed things up, but we also had to simplify a little bit to make sure we can execute. The biggest thing I stress is we have to be able to execute. We can’t put in too many things, and we just have to be smart about what we do.”

On Mississippi Valley State:
“They are athletic on both sides of the ball, and got their first win of the season last week. They have a quarterback who is a tall, rangy guy who can run and throw. He is the key to their offense. Defensively, they run a lot of different fronts and multiple blitzes so it’s making us simplify our game plan even more – the fact that we have a short week and they run a lot of things defensively. The biggest challenge for us is the multiplicity of what they do defensively.”

On Saturday’s win over Henderson State coming off of a loss:
“We were challenged by that [Georgia State] loss, and we needed to respond not only as a team but as men. I thought we did that. The kids came out and played hard again, which they always do, and got after and played passionate football. The challenge this week is that we have to do it again. We’ve talked about winning the game during the week – at practice. And they have continued to work hard and it has been a good deal.”

On the defense’s performance:
“We had seven takeaways and I think we just got after them early and they just never got going. I thought we played extremely well defensively in the first half. It ended up being 28-0 at halftime, and I think it just took them out of the game.”


Defensive end / linebacker Anthony Taylor
On his first career interception in Saturday’s win:
“The interception really turned it around, because they [Henderson State] were moving the ball on us. We had a zone blitz called, and I dropped back into the right coverage and made the first pick of my career. It was a big moment for me and my team. I’m just happy I’m out there making plays for them. I got a newfound respect for what running backs do on that play. There is a lot going on and a lot of colors running together. The first thing I did was get out of bounds. But it was a big play and was really exciting.”

On playing on Thursday night:
“Not everyone is playing on Thursday so you’re really a main focus throughout the nation. I think it’s a good opportunity to show  everybody what we can do when we are put on a stage like this. We will prepare and come out and give them a good show.”

On the defense’s preparation for the Henderson State game:
“Coming off the loss to Georgia State, our coaches really emphasized running to the ball. We really got back to that last week, and I think that showed. We got seven takeaways – that was a record-setting performance. I think getting back to the little things really helped us – just being an all-around swarming defense.”

Running back J.J. Keels
On Saturday’s win:
“I think the turnaround started at practice. Coming into the game off of a loss to Georgia State, everyone felt like we had to do better. During the week at practice, everyone knew that it was our week. These last three weeks will be the last games we will ever play with some of these people. This side of the ball, everyone came off with fire and so much passion that coach [Joey] Jones was excited and he was happy with that.”

On his first career start last Saturday:
“I was happy and excited and tried to do my best to show everyone why I was recruited. Hopefully I can show that for the rest of this year and next year. I didn’t know I was going to start until our walkthrough before Saturday. It kind of took me by surprise, but it was the position I wanted to be in.”

On playing on Thursday night: