Morgan State University Athletics

September 2, 2014
 
QUESTION - Last week you turned some heads in the game against Eastern Michigan, including a late 3rd quarter lead for the Morgan Bears. Can you give your thoughts on the season opener?
 
LEE HULL - “The guys played well and hard, with confidence and I think as a first time head coach I was very proud of the effort they made on offense, defense, and special teams. For the first time running a new offense and defense, I thought they did a great job picking up the little nuances that we wanted. We obviously made a couple of mistakes, we had opportunities to win the game, but with a new offense and defense there are some things we just have to fix for this week.”
 
Q - Your quarterback Robert Council had 285 yards passing and 55 on the ground. What were your thoughts on his leadership on the field?
 
LH - “I thought he did a great job leading us on the field. I think as a quarterback, you look at their leadership on the field and he did a great job being his first time on the new offense. That was one of the first questions coming in was how he would perform running the new offense, and I think he did a great job. He was very poised, scrambled, was looking downfield, and sometimes took off and ran. We have some read plays in our offense and I think he did a great job making the right reads.”
 
Q - Looking ahead, you play Holy Cross any insight on the upcoming matchup?
 
LH - “Obviously, Holy Cross is a Patriot League school in (city) Massachusetts. Actually it’s my alma mater, it’s where I played, so it’s going to be an emotional game going back to where I played. They have been a pretty good team lately -- Coach Gilmore has done a pretty good job getting those guys ready to play each week. I know coach Gilmore very well so he will have those guys ready. They play very physical; they are very well coached, very disciplined, and a very solid football team. They have a very good quarterback, he likes to scramble, but he looks to throw first and starts everything for their offense. Their defense is very sound, but they’re a type of defense that makes you move the ball down the field and hopefully make a mistake on a 10, 12, 14-play drive.”
 
Q - With your showing on the 3-point loss, how was the response on the team having lost to an FBS opponent by three points? Especially since the program against FBS opponents hasn’t fared as well?
 
LH - “They are upset because they thought they were a better football team then they were. They outplayed them with 479 yards in total offense compared to there 397; I think it was, during the game. Obviously, defense felt that they should’ve stopped the run a little better, but the players were very emotional since they thought they should’ve won the game putting their heart and souls on the field. Right now they're upbeat, they know that there were mistakes made and that there was nothing Eastern Michigan did to them in those mistakes. It was all on us, we made a few mistakes and left a few plays out that we could’ve made, that would’ve been a difference in the game.”
 
Q - What are some of the things that you and the coaching staff have seen in Robert Council coming in? With the numbers that he put up were phenomenal and maybe some of the best numbers in his entire career at Morgan.
 
LH- “Robert is a great leader and the guys rally around him and trust him. I think that’s a very big thing when being a quarterback and being a leader you have to have that trust and admiration with fellow teammates. That’s what Robert does; he has done a great job of studying each area and has done a great job in understanding exactly what we want him to do. He’s a great leader, and I expect nothing but great things from him this year.”
 
Q - Going on and facing Holy Cross, knowing the atmosphere and the league itself, the Ivy League, how would it help your team, in terms of what you say to them before the game and how they play up there?
 
LH - “I think there’s, not an advantage, but a little heads-up on it. I’ve played there and have coached at Holy Cross for five years, so I know the atmosphere and the league. It gives us a little advantage far as I’m concerned.”
 
Q - In terms of getting into a shoot-out, similar to what almost happened with Eastern Michigan, Holy Cross kept their opponent to only 260 yards last week against the offense. What are your concerns with their defense as you take them on?
 
LH - “They’re, as I said in the opening statement, a don’t break type defense and are fundamentally sounded. They’re going to be at the right spots, they don’t give up big plays, and they’re going to make you earn it. We have to be very disciplined and we are going to have to make sure on every play we have to execute because they are looking for you to make a mistake.” 
 
Q - Coach, they have a sophomore to sophomore at quarterback to wide receiver combination, with the wide receiver having a career high in receptions last game, what can you tell about him and the quarterback (name here)?
 
LH - “Their quarterback is a very good athlete and has put up great numbers last year. He is a great thrower, very accurate, and makes you make mistakes. They throw a lot of short passes and throw down the field here and there. His wide receivers are good, they’re quick, catch the ball, tough, and know how to get open.”
 
Q - Holy Cross has always had a hardnose style of play, will your team have to be physical and play disciplined?
 
LH - “Yes, you know you’re exactly right. They have to be disciplined and have to play physical, especially on defense. I thought our team against Eastern Michigan was very physical. We have to wrapup on defense, but we have to be physical. Holy Cross is a disciplined team and they’re not going to make mistakes so we have to be fundamentally sound.”