Chattanooga Head Football Coach Rodney Allison talked with the media Wednesday afternoon as the team prepares for the Aug. 30 season opener at No. 4 Oklahoma.
Q: Is there an advantage to playing a game against a team like Oklahoma on the front end of your schedule as opposed to in the middle of the season?
A: That really doesn’t matter to me, but I like the way it is set up. I would rather play it earlier than later. We will really be able to see how much we like it after we play Florida State in our third game. I like getting these games out of the way, because it gives you more time to concentrate on your conference schedule. The way it is set up, I would really be happy if we come out well from an injury standpoint going into the Jacksonville State game (Sept. 20).
Q: What makes Oklahoma the No. 4-ranked team in the preseason polls?
A: They are really talented. I don’t know if there are any spots on their team that you can say that they aren’t athletic and skilled. Just from my past experiences though, they look like a school that will end up as a top-10 team in the country from a talent standpoint.
Q: How do you plan to defend against Oklahoma’s quarterback, Sam Bradford?
A: We are going to try to put pressure on him. That is what we are going to try to do against anyone we play. Will it be a little more difficult to pressure him compared to some of the other teams we play? Yes. But one thing we will try to do is stay out of man coverage situations. We aren’t going to get into that game. We are going to be smart about how we are going to try to attack him. The main thing going up against any kind of team like this is avoiding the big play. We were very fortunate in that area last season against Arkansas, and if we do that Saturday, then that will keep us in this game longer.
Q: What have you seen out of your players during preseason practice that should help the team improve from last season?
A: These guys have been totally committed to this team. They have done everything we have asked of them, and none of them have complained about it. We went into winter workouts last year and they did great, we went into spring practice, and they were fully committed. Then they did the same thing with summer and fall workouts. Every indication to me is that we have a bunch of guys that are willing to do what it takes to win games. To me, that is the most important thing. If they are willing to do that then we will win. I think that attitude is more prevalent then with any team we have had since I have been here.
Q: What are some of quarterback Jare Gault’s skills that attracted you to him upon recruiting him from junior college?
A: His ability to make plays when the protection breaks down is something that really impresses me. I really believe that is one of his strong suits. One word I have used to describe him is “gunslinger”, and I think he is that style of player. He plays a lot like Brett Favre. You may get a bad play every now and then, but I think you will get a lot of good plays because of that style.