Aug. 25, 2008

LOGAN, Utah -

Utah State Football Press Conference Quotes - 08-25-08

USU head coach Brent Guy, senior quarterback Sean Setzer and senior linebacker Jake Hutton review fall camp and preview Saturday's season-opener at UNLV.

Head coach Brent Guy

Overall evaluation and impressions of fall camp:

"It was nice last night to finish up camp. It was the longest camp that we've had since I've been here. We started August 1st and then finished up with our last practice yesterday evening in the stadium. We've done the last week in the stadium because we wanted to try to simulate the heat as much as we could."

On heat, with temperatures expected around 100 degrees at game time as Las Vegas, Nev.:

"The biggest difference on a surface like this is there's a big difference between surface level and eye level. For example yesterday all the surface level was about 116, so your feet are standing at 116. Waist level it goes all the way to 98 so there is a big difference in that area of the field. That's one of the things we've been concerned about from the beginning, because I coached in the desert for four years and being prepared mentally, not so much physically, but mentally for the type of heat that you're going to feel coming off that surface. I think it was 101 at almost midnight last night in Las Vegas so we know we're going to have to deal with some heat and it doesn't cool down much after the sun goes down. So that has been one of the things during this camp we have tried to work on."

On team's depth:

"The other thing has been for us as a staff the most pleasant is the depth that we have at almost all positions, the competition we have at almost all positions including special teams. We have had some surprises that have popped up in our freshman class. I anticipated early that a lot of our freshman would not be able to help us but it looks like we are going to have about five kids that will probably play at some point during the season and probably early in the year especially on special teams that are going to help us and make the trip to UNLV. So that has been a pleasant surprise for us."

"We haven't had any major injuries with the exception of Jacob Actkinson. He has been battling a shoulder injury from last season. He had it in the spring, it came up again, and it's going to require surgery to fix it. Jacob is not going to be available. Surgery's scheduled for this Thursday. We're going to have the surgery and anytime you get in there with rotator cuff and things like that it takes a long time. Hopefully he'll be back for the spring but we won't be sure until we get in there and see what's happened with the shoulder. We've been working to try to strengthen it but we weren't successful doing that so he is going to miss the season with that surgery."

On difference in practicing at home the whole time or going away for fall camp:

"At Arizona State we did the same thing as UNLV. We went to camp up in the mountains and the reason you do that is because their bodies are already conditioned for heat. They've been there all summer and your body adjusts to that. I think them going is just the ability to practice twice a day. You have to go do that in the cooler weather. They've changed that now and right now they are back in the heat. Their bodies will acclimate real quick back to the heat. What I mean by that is not dehydrating as fast. It's amazing what the human body will do just to adjust to those types of conditions. For us to prepare for the heat is more rest and hydration. We've been working real hard on hydrating our guys and carrying water jugs around and drinking water as much as you can. Once you dehydrate in those types of conditions you can't get it back in you fast enough. So we're real concerned the rest of the week with making sure that get rest and hydrated as best they can and then mentally just being prepared for it. So we'll be on the grass Tuesday and Wednesday and then go back in the stadium Thursday and have a full day of it. On Friday we are actually going to go to the stadium, which is not that far from where we are staying and let the kids walk through the stadium. It will be about 4:30 in the afternoon so it is going to be really hot. A lot of these kids have not been there and they'll get a feel for what the turf is going to feel like."

Assessment of staring quarterback Sean Setzer's progress and of quarterback position:

"I would say Sean's separating as much as he has continues to be focused like he has been through the summer and even in the spring with the way he goes about things. Diondre continues to improve and Diondre is going to play. Sean knows that because of the things that he can help us with. Sean has the confidence of the guys in the huddle. His personality is just a little bit different. Diondre is a little bit quieter guy what you talk to him. Sean is not that type of guy. So I think all of those things are improving and getting better. But Diondre is continuing to improve."

On the possibility of playing sophomore backup quarterback Diondre Borel:

"Diondre will be in the games because he adds a dimension. He adds a running dimension and he also adds pressure on Sean to do exactly what he is told to do, because he can go in and play and run the offense. So that is the other dimension he adds is that Sean knows we are not in any way concerned about putting Diondre in the football game. So he adds a second dimension in that regard."

On when Borel would see playing time:

"We are not going to say the first play in the second quarter or anything like that. We are just going to wait for the situation or right time where we the offense staff feels like we need to change it up or do something different or if Sean is struggling. If we could script these things out I wouldn't be in the situation I am in right now. We try to prepare as much as we can and know when we would be able to use him and when not. We just never know when that is going to come in a game."

On difference in starter or backup at both quarterback and safety:

"Sean's just got a little gun-slinger in him. He wants to make a play every single time and sometimes you just need to throw it away or tuck it in and pick up four yards on the ground. He just always wants to make a play and I call it gun-slinger. He has a tendency to take some risks and chances instead of just taking what they give you or throwing it away. Those are the situations in practice where Coach Dickey says go ahead and do it, we'll put Diondre in and see if he can do it. That's what you want to have. It is just like at safety. We really have three starters sitting back there in Caleb Taylor, De'von Hall and James Brindley. Those guys are going to rotate and play a lot and it adds a lot to the team."

On punter:

"We could go either way. Chris Ulinski is kicking the ball as well as Peter Caldwell right now. He has made the most improvement of anybody in the kicking game. Ulinski has the strongest leg and he consistently can put the ball at the goal line. He's done better with his accuracy in field goal kicking. But if we had to start right now we would say Peter would kick field goals Chris is our kickoff guy. Pete would probably punt the first one and we would not be afraid to put Chris in there. "

On kick and punt returners:

"Kejon Murphy and James Brindley will probably be the first to guys out there catching the punts. Curtis Marsh and Kejon, Chris Harris has also been back there for KOR (kickoff return). We could use a combination of guys. We will keep evaluating this week."

On freshmen who might make an immediate impact:

"Quinn Garner and Bobby Wagner are both linebackers that are going to be used. The other guy would be Ronald Scott possibly at the fullback position. We're struggling a little bit there trying to find the right guy. Ronald has shown a lot of running ability but the blocking schemes are the hardest to pick up. Ronald has shown some promise and will be on the trip. We anticipate him playing this year."

On depth and impressions of running back corps:

"Robert Turbin is having a really good camp along with Curtis Marsh. Derrick Cumbee is good in certain situations. Marquise Butler has been the surprise there. He only got the carry the ball 45 times his senior year. He was moved around a lot and played both sides of the football in high school. We really didn't realize how natural a runner he is until we got him to his first inside drill and he was six of six. Marquise showed real natural ability early and has continued to do that. He hasn't had much trouble hanging on to the ball which is what you really worry about with a freshman running back. So we are real pleased that we have those four."

On defensive line:

"Junior Keiaho has had a really good fall, I'm really pleased with him. From an athletic standpoint I think he is going to help us at end. We have a lot of guys that we can rotate in and out. Gregg Clark has played end and tackle. Ben Calderwood has played end and tackle. Cedric Reeves, the redshirt freshman tackle has had a good camp. Right now we have 12 guys we could take to UNLV if we wanted to and play with. Normally we have had eight or nine but right now we have 12. We do feel better. We still have to get to a game. Like I've always said, four man pressure is the key to defense. So we think we have enough guys to move them through there and keep them fresh."

On importance of winning opener and difference between he and UNLV head coach Mike Sanford, who both have the same record (6-29) entering their fourth seasons:

"Everybody wants to win their opener. I mean there is no difference in that. Everybody prepares and wants to win the opener but you don't want to put everything on one game. People are drawing comparisons because Mike and I got hired at the same time. Mike and I inherited some pretty similar situations in personnel and lack of scholarships. They had a little bit better facility situation and recruiting advantage than we had. We do have a better community to recruit to because it is a safe environment. We are in similar situations, playing in the type of conference we are playing in. In drawing comparisons to the game everybody wants to win their opener. They started off well and didn't finish off as well as I felt we did. So does it have a residual effect? Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. I think it still depends on your football team."

Senior Quarterback Sean Setzer

Evaluation of camp:

"I feel like we had a real good camp, everybody worked hard and we got a chance to really prepare for UNLV a little earlier than we did last year. We are really excited to get out there and go against somebody else other than ourselves."

On being in mix for starting quarterback last season and difference this season in being the starting quarterback:

"I thought I was in the mix last year, but I got hurt and things happen like that and you can't really dwell on the past. Now being in the leadership situation and having a chance to help our team win it feels good. I've been preparing and working hard to play as well as I can and get this first win."

On difference in offense from last year to this year:

"We've got our same basic stuff. With (offensive coordinator) Coach Dickey coming in last year we had to all learn a new system and now we've all got it down pretty well so we can continue to add on new things and open our offense more and more. The more we learn the more we can install."

On being referred to as a "gun-slinger":

"I guess that's kind of my style a little bit. I like to throw it downfield. I don't like to hold anything back. I like to make the smart plays and everything. I'm looking for the big plays first. I feel like I have a strong arm and I'm confident and I try to stick it in where I can."

On how sophomore back-up quarterback Diondre Borel makes him a better quarterback:

"Diondre is a great quarterback, he's got a great arm and is a very athletic kid. He definitely does push me because he can throw just as far and as high, very accurate guy. He definitely helps push me. He helps me to get my skills up every day. I can't ever get lax."

On UNLV's defense:

"I expect them to be real aggressive and blitz a lot. They did lose a linebacker and a defensive end, but they are still going to be a strong defense and we still need to prepare the same way."

Senior Linebacker Jake Hutton

Overall assessment of fall camp:

"Camp went good, we had a lot of guys come back so camp went really fast this year. We really didn't have to learn much and with all these returning guys it really helps the new guys learn fast. I think overall camp probably went better than it ever has since I've been here. Since we have so many guys coming back we've have a lot of team chemistry out on the field and I think we are playing a lot faster than we ever have."

On Las Vegas heat:

"We've been practicing out on the turf here and I think it will be cool enough by the time the game starts. It may be hot and sunny when the game starts, but usually people will hose the field down so that might cool it off a little bit. I just don't think that will be too big of a problem."

On the freshmen linebackers:

"They're really good athletes and they are coming on pretty quick. We've been able to help them out a little more since we know things and when they screw up we can help them out faster and they are definitely great special team guys. So if one of us goes down I think one of them filling in will do a great job."

On season-opener at UNLV:

"I think this is definitely a big game for us to get our season rolling. Since I've been here we have kind of gone back and forth with UNLV we win, they win. I think we have a good rivalry going and this is definitely a big game for us to get our season off on the right foot."

On difference in winning or losing last year's opener:

"I think if we would have gotten a few wins in the beginning of the season we would have gotten the ball rolling. I think that is why this is a big game for us to get the ball rolling at the beginning of our season this year."

On facing a quarterback in the spread offense, like UNLV's system and the Rebels' sophomore quarterback Omar Clayton:

"One of the biggest challenges with a guy like their quarterback is he makes you defend 11 guys. He's really fast, he's really good at running with the ball. That is definitely a big challenge. They spread the ball out a lot and they show you a lot of different things so you kind of have to practice a lot more things than you normally would. You just have to be ready for anything."

"Our defensive line is going to have to corral the quarterback and definitely have their eyes open for him all the time."

We need our defensive line to give him pressure and with stand their rush line so they can't get away like Dixon did last year. We can't let them scramble like that because he really ran through us on the ground in the second half last year and Clayton's definitely a really good runner too and we need to watch out for that."