Sept. 19, 2004

WSSU 20, Virginia Union 13
Post Game Quotes

WSSU Head Football Coach Kermit Blount
Monte [Purvis] did fairly well in his first start today, don't you think?
"He did well. I think he pushed it a little too hard, he tried to make a couple of big plays, and I just wanted him to let the game come to him. But overall, I think that he directed our offense well."

How about the rest of the offense, Martin [Hicks] and Jed [Bines] did well again, don't you think?
"Yeah, we expect those guys to put it in the box, and were weren't as fluid as I would have like to have seen, but we were able to get it done and get the win, so that is the bottom line."

"It feels good. Feels good to get the monkey off of our backs. The monkey is gone, but we have got a lot of work to do." WSSU Head Football Coach Kermit Blount

Getting the first win, what is that like?
"It feels good. Feels good to get the monkey off of our backs. The monkey is gone, but we have got a lot of work to do. I was very disappointed with our output today, both offensively and defensively. I thought that our defense played pretty decently in the first half, but offensively we did not showcase a lot today.

Virginia Union Head Football Coach Arrington Jones III
How do you think this one played out coach?
"We just want to get to the point where we can play a complete football game with all of our, what we call, arsenal, and can compete in a football game. Today we had to start our third string quarterback because of disciplinary reasons, but he did a wonderful job directing our offense, but again, my hat is off to Coach Blount, I think that they really hung in there and played a hell of a football game.

How big was this for you, you come back, first time being a head coach, after formerly working here with Coach Blount, and we had a chance to talk to him earlier, and he said that you were more than just a coach, and he said that this one was going to be a hard one for him.
"Our relationship off the field is one that we cherish even more than any competitive game that you could put in front of us. The competition, we know that we both have a job to do, and we are both going to try to do it, and do whatever it takes to win. But even under circumstances like this, now that the game is over, he is still my man, and this is never going to change."

What I really liked, is that after the game, when there was a little tension, and it almost got ugly between the two teams, that you two guys jumped right in and cut it off completely.
"The thing that is always important, and he and I both know this is that the discipline of the system takes control in situations like that. Now even for it to come that close, both teams know better. You can have some emotions, but they can never lead to a break down of the system. You can never embarrass your program like that. And my guys will pay for it, and I know that Coach Blount will make his guys pay for it. I am sure.

The first half, Cates didn't play, for disciplinary reasons, and you have to set the law, right?
"The least I can say is that he is a very active young man. He is active, and he is always into stuff, and what he has got to get straight now is that no one person is bigger than the team or the program. And the program is going to have rules that you have to follow, and when you don't follow those rules you are going to hurt yourself, and hurt the team.

Where do you guys go from here, now that you are 0-4?
"The thing that is better than last week is that we don't have to go back and re-tool. We lead the country in turnovers, and we cut that down here today, and there are things that we have to work on, but we can go back and look at the film, and again, I think that we are getting there. I have never been prouder of a bunch of guys as we had to come in here, under these circumstances and to play like they did, I am very proud."