Nov. 1, 2006

Winston-Salem, NC - Winston-Salem State University head football coach Kermit Blount answered questions from media members on Wednesday afternoon at WSSU's weekly football press conference sponsored by Romano's Macaroni Grill.

Saturday will this be the last time you play against St. Augustine?

"It will be the last time we play them this year, I can't speak for the future. We never know what is going to happen for the future. Whether or not we will be able to play any division II school or be able to keep them on the schedule I can't say. Right now this is the last time we are going to play St. Augustine."

Can you talk about the Hampton game last week, you had some success running the ball and were able to get down the field four times, but unable to convert.

"I think our ball club played extremely well last week, considering the circumstances, but as I look back at film, offensively on every drive we made mistakes at crucial points. Two forth and one we made mistakes up front. On another drive, if we had made a block we would be in the end-zone. Of course this is all hindsight. We need to take this week to work on the things we did extremely wrong and work on the things we did half way good to make then better. The overall play of the team was well, from the start of the game to the end, I think our guys gave a great effort and that is all I can ask of as coach."

Talk about the defensive, everyone talks about the Hampton offense being so well, but you were able to hold them to just 13 points, that's pretty good for a team that doesn't have the scholarships of a MEAC team.

"We are proud of the way that team has played all year. We gave up a third and sixteen, which I kind of hated, but they made plays when they had to make them. The early touchdown on the first drive we had a chance to step up and make an interception, but we didn't do it. Overall I think our defense played very well. I am very please with our defense right now."

Last week you were 4 of 15 on third down conversions and only 29% on the season, do you think third down alone could be the difference between winning some games and losing some?

"I can't attribute it all to third downs (there is a reason you are in a third and long). I think it is the situation more so than just the downs. When we get to a point where we are second and long or third in long, that is a tough place to be. You want to be second and medium and then third and short, or second and medium or third and medium. Anytime you offense is facing a third and long the odds are against you. I don't know how true or accurate the stat is or whether we would win some more games or lose some more games, but I am pretty sure somewhere in the mix it plays a factor."

When you left the field, what did you say to the team after the game?

"That I thought they played hard for four quarters (the whole game), and that is what I asked them to do. I think our players are smart enough to know where we are scholarship wise compared to who we are playing and they understand that. At the same time they felt they had the opportunity to win. As coaches we felt that we had the opportunity to win. I told them to keep their head up. I think they represented themselves and this university very well. I was pleased with that part of it, but disappointed that we didn't get some more points and win this game, but knowing that you had the opportunity to do so, that is all part of the game."

Two games left, St. Augustine this week, a bye and them the last game of the season against Norfolk State, you could quite possibly go 5-6. How would you rate a 5-6 season, your first season as a division I-AA team?

"5-6 is not really where we want to be. We feel right now we are three games from where we want to be. We felt that we gave away the FAMU game, we stayed in the game at Bethune and then had the opportunity to win, and we had an opportunity to win this past Saturday. So if you add those three games in we are looking at being an 8-3 team. The first year in it, I never set any goals as to where we would be or where I wanted us to be. We are taking it one game at a time. All we are looking for right now is a win."