Nov. 2, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Below is a transcript of a question-and-answer session with Samford head football coach Bill Gray on Tuesday. Samford practiced for about two hours on the practice fields on campus Tuesday afternoon. The team will practice again on Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. at the Samford practice fields.

DOES HAVING WON THREE GAMES IN A ROW GIVE YOU MOMENTUM COMING INTO THE JACKSONVILLE STATE GAME?
"Our kids have had a good feeling for three-straight weeks. We were very fortunate to win these last two games with the mistakes we made in the kicking game. Anytime you have a punt blocked or a punter tackled like we have had the last two weeks, you usually lose the game. That is a concern of mine, but it has been much easier working on the next opponent coming off a win. Hopefully, we will get a good week of work in this week."

DOES JACKSONVILLE STATE HAVING AN OFF-WEEK GIVE THEM AN ADVANTAGE HEADING INTO THE GAME?
"I would hope not, but I am sure they are going to use it to their advantage. Anytime you have an off week, you have an opportunity to get some guys healthy and to get their legs back under them. You also have an opportunity to focus on the opponent for a little extra time. But, regardless, we can't be concerned about that on our end. We just have to go out and do what we do best, and continue to work hard each day we are out there."

TALK ABOUT THE PLAY OF Efrem Hill AGAINST TENNESSEE TECH.
"You get to the point where you think you have seen everything, but then he comes up and does something else you haven't seen before. The catch he made in the second half was just outstanding. He started the game for us with a big catch and I am glad we got jump-started early against Tennessee Tech. Efrem is starting to regain some of the magic he had last year. He has had a couple of good weeks and I hope he continues that the rest of the year. He continues to amaze his coaches and teammates."

DO THE PLAYERS PUT ANY EXTRA EMPHASIS ON THIS GAME WITH IT BEING AN IN-STATE RIVAL?
"The biggest thing is that it is the next game on our schedule. We are continuing to try to dig out of a hole we dug for ourselves at the beginning of the conference schedule. They are the defending conference champion, and are at the top in just about every statistical category in the conference. And then, add to that they are just an hour and a half down the road. A lot of the players have played on the same teams. There will be a lot of former teammates playing against each other. Mainly, they are the next team on the schedule and they happen to be at the top spot. They are another team above us as we try to climb back up the ladder. So, that is enough to make it a special game."

WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF JACKSONVILLE STATE?
"It is hard to find a weak spot, they are a very solid football team. Their quarterback gives two dimensions to the offense, he can hurt you with his arm and he can run the football. They have several tailbacks, but, obviously, Oscar Bonds gets a lot of their carries. He does a great job from the backfield. They are big, physical and strong. They like to play the power game and control the clock and the football. Defensively, they are equally big and physical and run to the football really well. Their kicking game is solid as well, and their punter is as good as anybody in the country. They have a good, well-coached football team and it is going to take a good effort from us to win."