Sept. 21, 2004

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

WHAT WILL YOU TAKE OUT OF THE FURMAN GAME TO HELP YOU THIS WEEK AND FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON? "The biggest thing we are going to bring out of it is that we can't look at 45-10 and think that is a good measuring stick of our football team. We have to look at all aspects, and do that individually and collectively as a unit. We did a lot of good things, and we had individuals who did a lot of good things in that game. They were a better team and made more plays than us that night. But, for us, there is a lot to be taken away from that game in areas that we moved forward and improved in. Now, we are not where we need to be, and we have an opportunity to improve this week. We need to continue to take steps as a team to be more consistent, and to play better at each position."

HOW DID THE OFF WEEK AND THE DAYS OFF DUE TO HURRICANE IVAN EFFECT THE TEAM? "We were very fortunate that we didn't have to play last week, with the situation involving the hurricane. I know a lot of the players had their minds on their families and friends. We have several players from the south Alabama, north Florida and south Georgia areas. It worked out well, and I am glad that everyone got back on campus safely without any major catastrophes in our immediate football family. So, it did come at a good time for us. The negative side to it is, yesterday, you could tell we had several days off. It's like anything else, you have to continually work on it to stay sharp and stay focused on it, and to execute. But, we are going to look at it as a positive, it helped us get our legs back under us. Also, there is a definite separation between our preseason schedule and our conference schedule. It is almost like a new season is starting, and now we just have to go up to SEMO and play well."

DOES THE TEAM SEEM TO BE MORE FOCUSED WITH THE BEGINNING OF CONFERENCE SEASON COMING UP? "I think they are, and they should be. They know that this time last year, this was a big win for us. They also know two years ago, we went up there and were beaten pretty badly. That's what playing in a conference is all about, you get to go back as a player and as a coach and compare notes from the year before. You can feed off of the positive things and try to eliminate the negative things and try to change the things that didn't go quite so well the last time. So, there is no question, we have talked about what this game meant to us last year, and what it can mean to us this year. The bottom line is it is the first chance to win a conference game. It is also a road game, and in order to be anywhere close to the top of the conference at the end of the season, you have to steal a couple of games on the road."

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN FROM SOUTHEAST MISSOURI WHILE PREPARING FOR THIS WEEK'S GAME? "They are well-coached. They are a big unit, they have some size. They have some transfers that have come in and helped at some key positions, the quarterback, for one, from Arizona State. He is a tall player who can sit back in the pocket and throw the ball. He has a lively arm. I think at receiver, they have two or three who are really upper echelon receivers. They have good size and have really improved in that area. They are physical up front on the offensive line. Defensively, they are solid. They return about half their starters from last year. They are going to play well on that side of the ball. In the kicking game, their punter has a tremendous leg, he has done a great job. They have played two I-A teams, and a I-AA team that is as good as anyone in the country. So, you can throw their 0-3 record out the window, because they have played some very good competition. They have a good football team. The games that count start this Saturday with the start of conference play."

DOES PLAYING WELL AGAINST THEM LAST YEAR GIVE THE TEAM CONFIDENCE COMING INTO THIS YEAR'S CONTEST? "I would think it does. It also shows them, with the good start we got off to in that game, that it is important how we start the game. There is no question that being able to move the football and score some points early last year gave us some energy. We also had outstanding field position in that game. The offense gets the credit for scoring the points, but when you start a drive from midfield or their side of the field, then that gives you a chance because of either special teams play or play by your defense. So, it was a total team effort last year, and it is going to take a total team effort this year to get the job done."