Fresno State Athletics
Quotes from Fresno State's Weekly Press Conference
11/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 14, 2011
Interim Defensive Coordinator Tim Skipper
On the resignation of Randy Stewart as defensive coordinator
"It's always tough when it's a change midseason, coach Stewart made a decision that was best for him and I am in the position now as defensive coordinator and I'm excited about it. I played defense here and have seen some good defense here and I want to get back to that type of defense."
What would you like to see from the defense these last three weeks of the season?
"I think technically and fundamentally we need to get a lot better. We need to tackle and we need to force more turnovers. That will be the emphasis of practice. We're going to get back to square day-one--just tackling, wrapping people up, stripping up the ball, running, hitting and executing."
Are these three weeks an audition for you to be the permanent defensive coordinator?
"All I know is I'm getting ready for Hawai'i, the future is whatever is. Hawai'i is going to be there Saturday. I come from a coaching family. I'm ready to do it."
Head Coach Pat Hill
On the resignation of Randy Stewart
"Randy's a heck of a coach, he's been with me here for 10 years. I think he coaches the position of secondary technique better than anybody. What were doing in the secondary right now is nothing like how we've coached, and that's very frustrating."
"I've been here for 15 years, I've never fired a coach--I've never had to, they usually get hired away. This is a first for me, but were in really tough times and Randy felt right now the change in defense will hopefully spark our football team."
"I wasn't going to make a coaching time at this time. It's hard to make a change with three games left."
On Tim Skipper moving into the role as interim defensive coordinator
"I think Tim Skipper is one of the bright, young upcoming coaches, now does he have a great challenge ahead of him."
"I have no doubt that he is going to be a very good defensive coordinator. He's getting a lot tossed at him, we're short one coach, we're short players, we're moving receivers over to the defense--it's going to be a challenge. I can't think of a better person for the challenge though. Tim Skipper was an outstanding player, he's been a coach his whole life."
On the game this weekend at Hawai'i
"There's going to be two teams, Saturday fighting to get back on track."
