Scot Loeffler Friday Press Conference Transcript (WMU)

Scot Loeffler Press Conference 
Nov. 16, 2023 
Bowling Green, Ohio 
 
LOEFFLER: Good afternoon. Happy Monday. Your Thursday. I think that's right. When I started out, I think over the last five weeks our football team is playing as well as anyone in our conference. I think we, uh, really started becoming consistent. Playing good football, finding ways to play good ball with some key players out, and that's what good teams do. And the fact of the matter is, on Tuesday night you had two really good football teams, played each other in a great rivalry game, and the game was very, very similar to last year. Great football game. That's what that game supposed to look like, and I've been on both sides of great rivalries where you've won in your lost and it hurts like no other whenever you don't find a way to beat your rival. And just like last year's game, it came down to two or three plays on each side of the ball, and that's what happened. We didn't make two or three plays on offense in the second half. We didn't make two or three plays on defense in the second half. You make half of those, you win the game and we found a way last year to make those two or three plays in the second half to give ourselves a chance to win, so I'm very, very proud of our football team. We finally have gotten to that rivalry the way that it's supposed to look, and obviously we will always want to come on the other end of that, but unfortunately it didn't happen, but that's why they're rivalries. Crazy things that happen and but just like I said, I'm really, really proud of our kids, our coaches, and I'm really proud of how we've become a better football team. You always have evaluate do you become better as the year goes on and we have and we've had injuries and all that and it started out poor. I thought the beginning of the season, uh, we got hurt in the Michigan game and didn't find our way till about the 5th week, six week of the season and we're playing good football right now and we're going to have to continue to do that. We're playing a team that in my opinion, they played the second toughest schedule in this conference, we played the toughest, without a doubt, not even close. But these guys have played some really good football teams and we're going to have to go up and we're going to have to play extremely well, just like we have been. And you know, we're banged up, fact of the matter is we're beat to death and but that's that time of year and it's that time of year and we've got to go find a way to go play our very best and that's what we want to do in this month so we got a challenge ahead of us.

QUESTION: Is there something from the second half against Toledo that stood out to you?
LOEFFLER: Offensively, we blocked them well, in the in the first half, in the second half, there was really no adjustments. We just struggled blocking them, plain and simple, and the times that we did block them, we had three opportunities to put the game away, one of which was down here in the red zone. The other one was our turnover, which they made a terrific play. We harp on ball security and 56 does a great job hustling and stripped Cam from the back end and it was a violent strip. It was how we coach our guys to strip the ball and there was another opportunity that we let slip away and then defensively we didn't hold them, they made an unbelievable play on 3rd down to put it to 4th and two and then we had two busts on 2 coverages. So, that's how those get that game goes, though. I mean, those great rivalry games, it's up down. You do great, you stutter, and at the end of the day you're trying to find a way to make one more play than they did in. Unfortunately, they made one more play than what we did. That's the fact of the matter and as much as that hurts, as painful as that is, we got to experience the other end last year and this year we didn't and that's why rivalry games are awesome.

QUESTION: What’s the message to the team to respond after the loss?
LOEFFLER: I don't see us acting any different. We've got the opportunity to have the first winning team winning record here since 2015. We got a chance to win 8 ball games with the toughest schedule in the Mac and we're good football team, we found who we are and I think our program just keeps on getting better and that's what I want and that's what we our whole goal is. Every year we've gotten better and we need to finish. Now we got to finish against Western Michigan who is a damn good team. Just like I said, they're scheduled if you look at who they played. Wow. I mean for a brand new program and having that schedule come on now, they've been through the ringer. So, we've got to go out and find a way to play our best football and we're beat up. So we got to get guys to step up and I don't see a let down and if so I'd be really disappointed, but we've got great character on our team, we've got great character as a staff and I we're not going down up there and just playing again. We're going to go up there and try to win our seventh ball game. Be the first team that's had a winning record here, and then take a little break. Get healthy and go find a way to win a bowl game.

QUESTION: What difference has resulted in the increase in sacks for the defense?  
LOEFFLER: Yeah, we're doing it a different way. Last year, when we had Carl, you could sit and rush for and Carl was equivalent to Russian six. I mean, he was an unbelievable pass rusher and it really helped our young secondary to be quite honest with you. Uh, we're better in the secondary. We're way we're hands down, head and shoulders so much better at the corner position. So much better at the safety position. So now we're able to pressure and the I think our guys do I know Campy and Steve and Sammy all those guys in there doing unbelievable they understand protection and they're going to attack your protection and force you to either re-mike force you to change your protection and that's why we're hitting the quarterback in the head essentially is because we're doing a great job with attacking protection.

QUESTION: Did you feel you took a step forward limiting mobile quarterbacks?
LOEFFLER: I don't know I have no idea I know that we were trying to keep him in the pocket as much as we could but he's a hell of a player that played made on 3rd down to put it to 4th and two was spectacular and you know that's what people do in that game our kids made some big plays their kids made some big plays unfortunately they made one more.

QUESTION: How critical has Cashius Howell been this year?
LOEFFLER: Well, when we get to, you know, everyone forgets about Hardaman here and you get Hardaman and Cashius Howell on the field together next year. They’re going to, you know, it's going to be equivalent and again, I'm never going to…I think Karl Brooks is a phenomenal football player, but I really honestly believe with Cashius lined up in one position that's in the same position, we move a Hardaman over to the rush. Those are two guys that are really, really hard to block and you know, the fact of the matter is, you know, as a defensive guy, you really would love to just to rush for because you're able to protect your secondary. And I think next year with those two guys on the field, we're gonna be able to protect our secondary and then be really unpredictable on the blitz. And that's when you're good. So yeah, I love Cash. He's come a long way. It's been fun to develop him and you know, we understand the transfer portal, we get it. We got to do it, but this is why we recruit high school kids because Cashius we've got our hands wrapped around him and he was talented when we recruited him. But we're really molding him to who he is and I hope you know, we don't as coaches get away from still recruiting high school guys because that's what this is all about development. Molding your players, and trust me, I understand you gotta do what you gotta do, and the transfer portal, but the end of the day, you're foundation better be from high school kids.

QUESTION: How is Demetrius Hardamon doing?
LOEFFLER: Yeah, I talked to him today. It's exciting. He's going to hopefully at his next doctor's appointment, be able to be cleared to start lifting and working out and you know, as awful as that injury was, I'm thankful that it happened because there was stuff that they found in there that if you would have got into a car accident after football or something, it could have really caused major problems. So it's fixed, and he's gonna be able to play football. He's gonna be able to have a good life and God finds his way of making things right. Let's just put it that way.

QUESTION: How does Harold Fannin Jr.’s play impact the rest of the offense?
LOEFFLER: My take with Harold is this. He's one year away from he needs another year in our program. One more year and uh, there's some things that he needs to get cleaned up to take the next step. Example being he came in to training camp not shape. He pulls his hamstring on Rep #8 of Skelly. He misses 5 weeks and so he needs to learn how to be a a big time player and that's that takes a heck of a lot more than just practice. It's taking care of your body, handling all. You're off the field deals. He's a great kid. Don't get me wrong, but there's some things that that he needs to learn uh before he leaves Bowling Green and we can help them and we have helped him. He's taken tremendous steps, but he has that one more step to take and he's been through a bunch with his personal life, with his family, and we need to get Harold Fannin playing the way he's playing right now all year long because he didn't do that and we know that our relationship with him. Uh relationship with his mom. Relationship with his high school coach that we can give him that and get him prepared to take that next step in his career and that's my message to him.

QUESTION: Does the MAC get the respect it deserves in national conversations?
LOEFFLER: Yeah, of course. I mean, look, look how many uh pirate flags are out there? I mean, my goodness gracious, there's Miami of Ohio winning a huge one, Northern Illinois going to beat Boston College. I know I'm missing a bunch, you know, but us going down to Georgia Tech and not winning the game, dominating the game. So there's a lot of people right now that don't wanna play Miami of Ohio, Ohio, you Bowling Green, Toledo. There's a lot of people that don't wanna play those right now, especially when we get healthy. So that's the cool thing about the MAC. I remember being at places like Michigan, uh, Florida, and you're scared to death of those teams. They could come in and so we got some good teams in this conference, really good football teams, so the moral story is every Saturday doesn't matter what emblem you have on your helmet. You better show up and you better play. And it's the same thing that goes to this week. We got a team that I don't even know the record 1/2 games. Three games doesn't matter. You better show up. You better prepare you better play your tail off because anyone in this conference and anyone in football right now could be anymore. I mean so to answer your question about strength of schedule, I don't know. I'm not one of those big places, but I think. think our conference is very difficult because most of the time you're playing two people that that are way better than you. I mean way better than you and they have all the resources and all this. So, uh, I like MAC.

QUESTION: How are Ta’ron Keith and Terion Stewart?
LOEFFLER: Both backs will be game time decisions. You know, we still have a chance to get Stewart back, but we'll make all those decisions. I mean, they're just, everyone is beat up, so it's gonna be a lot of contingency plans. You know, it's hard to game plan right now because you gotta put 5000 ideas into your game plan because you don't know who you have and you won't know till you have until you know you wake up on Tuesday morning. And hopefully there's some guys that can battle through their challenges with their beat up bodies right now. I mean they there's not a position group that I could sit here and say that there are 100% right now. You know, so you gotta dig down deep and find a way. And really be mentally tough.

QUESTION: How did you feel about the wide receivers against Toledo?
LOEFFLER: We had big plans for the whole entire wide up group this season and things didn't necessarily fall into place the way that we wanted with them. They went through major injuries like from OJ to Abdul. I think actually Osborne is the only one that is truly stayed healthy. Everyone else is the entire season has been battling nagging injuries. We got into a position where we didn't know who our quarterback was day to day. A couple really poor weather games, so we would have loved to get those guys the ball more. But the fact of the matter is they were beat up, and sometimes your initial plans don't fall into place and you got to use your contingency plans. You gotta learn how to play through. Adversity and injury. So OJ stayed healthy. Last year. Tyrone Broden stayed healthy last year and we were able to get those guys to the ball much more. The fact of the matter is, is that OJ's been battling to be able to really run full speed and Abdul's the same way. Same way so and then Finn’s been hurt numerous times so, it's part of it. You gotta learn how to do it if you plan on playing at the next gig. Uh, there's only 52 guys on the roster or something like that. You gotta learn how to play through bumps and bruises obviously not being hurt, but bumps and bruises, which happens to those guys.

QUESTION: How did you feel about the offensive and defensive responses to Toledo’s first touchdown?
LOEFFLER: Yeah, I thought we played a really good half on both sides of the ball and we knew offensively this was not going to be a grind out game. You know, everyone is saying that we should have grinded the clock out and all this other stuff. Well, no. They were gonna score. We had to score to put the game away and we called the right play just didn't happen. We didn't make the play right. And you always remember, I mean, I can sit here and vividly remember the Ohio State, Michigan games that came down to stuff like that. I know the plays inside now. We never forget them. I'll never forget that play. I'll never forget the three that we screwed up on defense and the three that we missed on offense. That's why the rivalry games are so awesome. You never forget those, and they're constantly battling 365 days a year to make those plays and that's why those cool rivalry games I'm excited about the rivalry game now, because it's a game. Yeah, it is a game. Heck when we first started, we put everything in, we were terrible and just found a way to win. And then we got our tails beaten by them two years in a row because we still weren't ready to play. And now it's a game now, and that's the way it is in my opinion. I think they would probably feel the same. That game should be that way and look that way and taste that way. And hopefully we come on top more than they do. That's the way rivalry games are supposed to look.

QUESTION: How did it feel to see a packed house on Tuesday?
LOEFFLER: Yeah, we're gonna get to the point that we're going to be really good here. And the Doyt’s gonna look like that all the time. And you gotta put a good product out there. It's been a battle, but we're making headway. You know we're getting in our getting in a position to being a consistent team. Knock on wood. Gotta keep everyone strike right in the transfer portal. So if it was back in the old school days where guys couldn't leave and all that I’d sit here and probably say stuff that I probably shouldn't say, but you know, if everything works out the way it should be, we have a damn good team.

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