University of Massachusets Athletics
Don Brown's Monday Morning Teleconference, Previewing Lafayette Game
November 20, 2006 | Football
Nov. 20, 2006
Here is the transcription of Don Brown's Monday morning teleconference previewing this weekend' playoff game with Lafayette.
Q: What are your general thoughts on the season?
Brown: I think the one thing that shines through every year in the Atlantic 10 is how difficult it is to make it through our league unscathed, no matter what the talent level is. For us to do that is quite an accomplishment, and something that our players and coaching staff feel really good about. Saturday was not based on style points. I thought offensively we had two key fumbles. One going in for a touchdown, the other one when we were on a drive. We dropped a punt giving Hofstra a short field. But at the same time, Baylark had over 100 yards rushing. Liam threw the ball okay once he settled down. He ended up 18 for 31 for 218 (yards). Once again he had no interceptions which has been a big key for us. Defensively, we had four bad plays. We chased Anton Clarkson around pretty well. Seven sacks, 16 knockdowns of the quarterback. We had six three and outs. We had a couple miscues that were uncharacteristic. Zarrilli made a great 52-yard kick towards the end of the game. Clarkson, Sullivan, and Shaine Smith all played really well. Hofstra came up and gave us their best effort. But the reality is we found a way to win and go 8-0 in our conference, which is the first time we've been undefeated in our conference since 1978 when we were 5-0. A lot to feel good about, first time since 1997 when Villanova accomplished the feat. Some of it was not artistic, but at the same time we're proud of our accomplishments.
Q: After your first game against Colgate, you opened up the press conference by saying it was a long off season. How much was that a motivating factor for your team this year?
Brown: I think it was. Being 7-2 last year after nine weeks coming off a 35-7 win at Delaware and knowing that we were going to Army in the tenth week, was certainly not an easy trip and not an easy game to play. But we still felt like we had a chance, and getting bumped off there and losing to Hofstra at the end, left a hole in our players, and gave our senior leadership something to drive them all season long. We've stayed the course. We've maintained our focus and focused hard on one game at a time. I thought that experience, however difficult, showed the way this year, and our guys were committed to not coming up short.
Q: Two out of three A-10 teams will be on the road in the playoffs. Are you surprised by that?
Brown: I don't know much about the selection process. I was a little surprised, but not overly surprised. Those guys have a tough job to do. The bottom line is that in this tournament there will only be one team happy at the end. Regardless of what you do and where you play, you're going to have to win. I'm glad we're in it; I'm glad we have three A-10 teams in it. I know everybody will play hard and give it their best short.
Is having three teams from the A-10 in the tournament the right result for what the conference accomplished this year?
Brown: Based on how it all played out at the end, I thought it was. I thought we had an outside shot of getting four teams in. Based on what occurred during the last week, I thought that was fair.
Q: Coach Frank Tavani said he is friends with you from the past. I was wondering if you ever talked about strategy, what it would be like if you ever faced each other. Now you actually get that chance.
Brown: I know they're doing a great job of coaching. I've watched them on tape now for the better part of last night and this morning. Frank's done a tremendous job down there. I love their offensive scheme, I love their tailback. Their quarterback is an exciting player. They have a couple of interesting receivers. On defense, they come from everywhere; we're in the same mold. They're doing a great job of coaching, they're playing great football the last four weeks, that's for sure.
Q: Did you ever talk to Frank about coaching philosophies back in the old days?Brown: A: We did. Back then, we were both coordinators trying to make a living. We used to spend a lot of nights banging it out on the old grease board. There wasn't a lot to do in Shippensburgh, PA.
Q: The New England Patriots have been the dominant pro team. Have you seen the influence of the kids in high school? Does it get them more in to playing football and weight training? Brown: I think so. I have a couple of close friends who have sons that are quarterbacks. I think Brady's calmness and poise is infectious in our regions. Brady, more so than the Patriots, has had an influence in our region.
Q: John Hatchell was a transfer from Lehigh. He's had a good season for you. Could you talk about him?
Brown: He's a great human being. He is one of the toughest individuals I have ever been around. He is also the most frightening guy in the weight room you have ever seen. He holds the UMass record, he bench pressed 540 pounds. He squats over 600 pounds. He is one of the most well spoken guys off the field, and on Saturday mornings, he turns in to a beast. He is a pleasure to coach and a great football player. His brother, who is a junior for us, is an outstanding player as well (over 100 tackles at linebacker). They're both cut from the same cloth.
