About the
Bearcats:
“We are coming into our 26th
practice of the season today, after starting on Aug. 6. We as coaches
really like the fact that we’re healthy, Number one, other than losing Mike Daniels. Corey Smith is coming along, but other than that we are very
healthy as a football team. That’s very important coming out of the
preseason and that’s what you want to be. “
About Eastern
Kentucky:
“We are excited about the game
against Eastern Kentucky. Eastern Kentucky is a program that I have a lot
of experience playing against over the last 20 years. When I was at Akron,
we played against EKU in the OVC and while I was at Youngstown State we played
them five straight years.”
“It is a program with a great
tradition at the I-AA level. They have won national
championships.”
On the Eastern
Kentucky Offense:
“They are anchored by Josh Greco
who is one of 16 players considered for the Payton Award. He threw for
3,000 yards last year as a redshirt sophomore. He had a tough freshman
year after redshirting his first year.”
“Also on that offensive football
team, they have Patrick Bugg who is a first-team All-American at tight
end. He’s listed at 6-5, 220 pounds. He’s more of a pass-receiving
type tight end. He’s a preseason All-American again this year.
(Mark) Dunn is the tailback and he is a very exciting runner. Bobby Washington is a transfer from N.C. State.”
On the Eastern
Kentucky Defense:
“Defensively, Mark Cristiani is
their top player. He plays nose tackle and Brandon Rosser is one of their
top linebackers and they are both all OVC picks. It’s a defense that
returns seven or eight starters.”
“This is a program with
tradition. Danny Hope has been the head coach for three years and he has
had a winning record each year. They finished second in the conference
last year, behind Eastern Illinois. Danny coached at Purdue from
1997-2001, so he is a Joe Tiller Guy. A lot of the concepts that they use
offensively relate to what Purdue does.”
“Without question this will be a
challenge, but we are looking forward to it. We are excited about it, we
had a great practice last night and our players are getting ready to
go.”
On naming Dustin Grutza the starting quarterback:
“We’ve made a decision on the
quarterback. Having been here for a second year Nick Davila is much more
in tune with what’s going on offensively in terms of game management. He
was running neck and neck with Dustin Grutza. We have rotated those two
guys with the first offense through the preseason. I think he has earned a
chance to play.”
“Grutza has had a good camp.
In particularly, in the last couple of practices, he has looked sharp. I
think he is an improved quarterback as well. I look at this as a luxury
that we have two quarterbacks of a proven caliber.”