**Nick Saban said he likes the energy level from practice today.
**He said he's trying to establish a standard as a team in terms of execution.
**On Joshua Jacobs: He's done a good job. He's made nice progress. He's a nice special teams players for us too.
**Robert Foster and ArDarius Stewart are both questionable with Kent State.
**On Damien Harris: His evolution is something we kind of hoped for in him taking the next step.
**Damien Harris has always been a hard worker.
**On Tony Brown suspension: We know, but I'm not sure if we can announce it. Everything has been done that needs to be done.
**On helping Kent State win 1972 conference championship: You never forget being a part of a championship team.
TRANSCRIPT
OPENING STATEMENT
"Alright guys, pretty good energy at practice today. Obviously focused on trying to get some corrections made and some improvement made and try to continue to develop the standard as a team in terms of our execution. We certainly respect the opponent that we're playing and the Mid-American Conference is known for sneaking up on people. We want to focus on starting fast and finishing strong in this game and trying to improve as a team. The big test is whether we can correct and execute better, which I think we've done a little bit better job in practice this week.
"From an injury standpoint, you guys know ArDarius Stewart is questionable for the game. He's certainly questionable for the game. Robert Foster tweaked his knee yesterday in practice and he's also questionable for the game. So those are the two guys that are questionable for the game."
Can you talk about Joshua Jacobs progression at running back?
"He's done a good job. He's making progress. I thought he did a good job in the game. He's a good special teams player for us and did a good job in that part of the game as well. He and Bo, both are guys we need to continue to grow and develop and have a role on the team at running back. He's certainly done a really good job."
What needs to happen to improve the deep passing game?
"First of all, we've got inexperienced players who are out of position in some cases. In other cases, guys aren't playing the ball properly. In other cases they misjudged the ball. I guess we need to have more deep balls in practice and get more opportunities for guys to play deep balls, especially against good people."
Ryan Anderson a joker? Does he keep the locker room light?
"Ryan is a well-liked guy on the team. I think a lot of people respect him as a player and I think he's got a great personality. I know he does a great job in terms of setting a good example in terms of leadership and work ethic and doing the right things on the field. I think he effects other people in a positive way. But I also think it's done in a way that everybody appreciates his sense of humor and his personality. I think those are all positive qualities for him to have."
You've won several titles as a coach. How special and unique is the conference championship at Kent State in 1972?
"I don't think that you ever don't remember how special it is to be a part of a championship team. I think you've heard me say this before, there's a sign up in Monongah, West Virginia -- which I'm not encouraging anybody to get on Travleocity and try to visit there -- it says 1968 state champs. That still means a lot to me. The players who played on that team, the work that they did, togetherness we had, it was special. It certainly was something special at Kent State. It was something they hadn't done very often and it was a long time coming. We actually, being a part of Don James' program, those guys did a great job of coming together and winning a championship.
"That's not something that you ever really forget how special it is to be a part of that. Each one that we've been a part of since, because of the great group of people, the coaches and players, the togetherness, the team chemistry, all those things are what you always work for and I was always proud to be a part of that. So, it really means a lot. I know when I watch film and I see that little banner they have in the end zone that says '1972 Tangerine Bowl,' it reminds me of something that… the players that did the work to do it, and the coaches, and Coach James and the great leadership he had as coach."
How much did Damien Harris' maturity help him assume this bigger role this year?
"Well, it's kind of what we were hoping for in terms of the kind of ability that Damien had. I think that all freshmen have to go through development in a lot of ways. Personal, academic and athletic in terms of knowing what it takes to be sort of a productive player at this level relative to playing in high school. I think all players, all go through that. The unique guys can do it when they're freshmen. A lot of other guys, it takes a little time. Damien has always been a hard worker. I think he's been serious about it. I think after the little bit of experience he got last year and the success he's had this year, all the way back to the spring game, all those things helped him develop the confidence and maturity he needs to be kind of a bell cow guy for us at that position."
Tony Brown's suspension? Any update?
"We do know. I'm not sure that we're allowed to announce it. I'm being honest with you. I'm not trying to keep anything from you. I was told not to announce it."
Alabama SID Josh Maxson: "Guys, we'll follow up on that."
"Let me just put it this way: Everything has been done that needs to be done for him and Johnny Dwight both. So that's all I can say about it."
**He said he's trying to establish a standard as a team in terms of execution.
**On Joshua Jacobs: He's done a good job. He's made nice progress. He's a nice special teams players for us too.
**Robert Foster and ArDarius Stewart are both questionable with Kent State.
**On Damien Harris: His evolution is something we kind of hoped for in him taking the next step.
**Damien Harris has always been a hard worker.
**On Tony Brown suspension: We know, but I'm not sure if we can announce it. Everything has been done that needs to be done.
**On helping Kent State win 1972 conference championship: You never forget being a part of a championship team.
TRANSCRIPT
OPENING STATEMENT
"Alright guys, pretty good energy at practice today. Obviously focused on trying to get some corrections made and some improvement made and try to continue to develop the standard as a team in terms of our execution. We certainly respect the opponent that we're playing and the Mid-American Conference is known for sneaking up on people. We want to focus on starting fast and finishing strong in this game and trying to improve as a team. The big test is whether we can correct and execute better, which I think we've done a little bit better job in practice this week.
"From an injury standpoint, you guys know ArDarius Stewart is questionable for the game. He's certainly questionable for the game. Robert Foster tweaked his knee yesterday in practice and he's also questionable for the game. So those are the two guys that are questionable for the game."
Can you talk about Joshua Jacobs progression at running back?
"He's done a good job. He's making progress. I thought he did a good job in the game. He's a good special teams player for us and did a good job in that part of the game as well. He and Bo, both are guys we need to continue to grow and develop and have a role on the team at running back. He's certainly done a really good job."
What needs to happen to improve the deep passing game?
"First of all, we've got inexperienced players who are out of position in some cases. In other cases, guys aren't playing the ball properly. In other cases they misjudged the ball. I guess we need to have more deep balls in practice and get more opportunities for guys to play deep balls, especially against good people."
Ryan Anderson a joker? Does he keep the locker room light?
"Ryan is a well-liked guy on the team. I think a lot of people respect him as a player and I think he's got a great personality. I know he does a great job in terms of setting a good example in terms of leadership and work ethic and doing the right things on the field. I think he effects other people in a positive way. But I also think it's done in a way that everybody appreciates his sense of humor and his personality. I think those are all positive qualities for him to have."
You've won several titles as a coach. How special and unique is the conference championship at Kent State in 1972?
"I don't think that you ever don't remember how special it is to be a part of a championship team. I think you've heard me say this before, there's a sign up in Monongah, West Virginia -- which I'm not encouraging anybody to get on Travleocity and try to visit there -- it says 1968 state champs. That still means a lot to me. The players who played on that team, the work that they did, togetherness we had, it was special. It certainly was something special at Kent State. It was something they hadn't done very often and it was a long time coming. We actually, being a part of Don James' program, those guys did a great job of coming together and winning a championship.
"That's not something that you ever really forget how special it is to be a part of that. Each one that we've been a part of since, because of the great group of people, the coaches and players, the togetherness, the team chemistry, all those things are what you always work for and I was always proud to be a part of that. So, it really means a lot. I know when I watch film and I see that little banner they have in the end zone that says '1972 Tangerine Bowl,' it reminds me of something that… the players that did the work to do it, and the coaches, and Coach James and the great leadership he had as coach."
How much did Damien Harris' maturity help him assume this bigger role this year?
"Well, it's kind of what we were hoping for in terms of the kind of ability that Damien had. I think that all freshmen have to go through development in a lot of ways. Personal, academic and athletic in terms of knowing what it takes to be sort of a productive player at this level relative to playing in high school. I think all players, all go through that. The unique guys can do it when they're freshmen. A lot of other guys, it takes a little time. Damien has always been a hard worker. I think he's been serious about it. I think after the little bit of experience he got last year and the success he's had this year, all the way back to the spring game, all those things helped him develop the confidence and maturity he needs to be kind of a bell cow guy for us at that position."
Tony Brown's suspension? Any update?
"We do know. I'm not sure that we're allowed to announce it. I'm being honest with you. I'm not trying to keep anything from you. I was told not to announce it."
Alabama SID Josh Maxson: "Guys, we'll follow up on that."
"Let me just put it this way: Everything has been done that needs to be done for him and Johnny Dwight both. So that's all I can say about it."
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