Championship Media Day
1/6/2012 8:37:00 AM | Football
Here are quotes from select Sam Houston State players and head coach Willie Fritz following today's practice in preparation for the 2012 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game Saturday at Pizza Hut Park.
Sam Houston State quarterback Brian Bell
On the playoff run to the championship...
"It is pretty surreal just to be undefeated right now and to be sitting in this spot as a team. Our coaching staff tells us not to think about being 15-0, but just think about taking it one week at a time and just be 1-0 every week."
On the championship atmosphere...
"I think it is going to be a great atmosphere because it is already sold out and everything. This will probably be the biggest crowd we have every played in front of this year. It is going to fun and nice facility. They are doing everything first class."
On Richard Sincere...
"Richard is just the athlete that he is. He is huge for our football team and our offense. Having him as a running attack and as a receiver, he is a great X factor for our football team."
Sam Houston State running back Tim Flanders
On the undefeated regular season...
"We had a blessed year, a very blessed year. Our coaches did a very good job with all our game plans. The offensive line did a good job blocking. Our receivers did a good job blocking and receiving the ball from our quarterbacks. It all started last spring. Once the spring started, everybody had the same mindset of winning the Southland Conference and then winning the national championship."
On North Dakota State...
"They are really good and assignment sound. They have a good coach. I am pretty sure they will be ready for us. They have to have something to stop our offense because that is where it all starts with us. The reality is that it is going to be a real good and tough ballgame."
On Sam Houston State's offense...
"They have to stop [either me or Richard Sincere]. They have to either stop the dive read, the option or the passing game. We have so many weapons on the offense, but anybody can score at any given time."
Sam Houston State defensive back Robert Shaw
On coach Willie Fritz...
"He's a great guy. He loves discipline, and I thank him for that because before he came there wasn't any discipline. Now, he has changed the program around. Just being around him is good. He is a good guy that knows the game of football. If he tells you something, most of the time he's right. There might be some times he is wrong, but he is going to come up to you after and admit it and apologize, and I thank him for that for being a man. But most of the times, he is right."
Sam Houston State head coach Willie Fritz
On being in the National Championship game...
"Last year I was fortunate enough to come and watch the national championship game between Eastern Washington and Delaware, and I went back and told our players about it. I told him that here at the types of things we need to do in order to play in that type of ballgame, and here is our plan to achieve it."
On North Dakota State...
"They are very balanced overall. There are no apparent weaknesses. They are very sound. They are just a very disciplined football team, and they don't beat themselves. They do a great job taking care of the football and they play with outstanding leverage. Defensively, they play over the top. They really know where their guys are supposed to be, and they have excellent coverage units."
On North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl...
"I heard a lot of great things about coach Bohl. I didn't really know him prior to meeting him a couple of weeks ago, and listening to him talk about what his program is all about, I think we share a very similar philosophy on how to run a football program. It's always neat when you play a classy team. I really do believe the top two teams in the country at the FCS level are playing in this game, and I am really excited about the challenge that North Dakota State presents for us."
