Clawson Presser--"School Up North" Edition

So, there's  been a little increase in BG fans and the media referring to UT as "The School Up North" or tSUN.  I think Coach Clawson says it too.  I don't like it too much....mostly because it was a phrase Woody Hayes used to describe Michigan, which makes it both ripped off and ripped off from a certified lunatic.

Anyone, Clawson talked a lot about the rivalry game during his presser.  Essentially, he does bring an Eastern aloofness to the whole issue.  He visibly grimaced when someone asked him if he taught players to "hate" UT.  He said the right things, but he's not going to get involved in hating someone or trash talking.

So, beyond that, there wasn't much news in all that.  Clawson was asked, if he was "King for a Day" when would we play this game, and he said the third Saturday in October.  November is tough in the MAC because the games are mostly on weekdays and there seems to be a consensus that we shouldn't have a rivalry game when the students can participate.

Anyway, it is the first game of the MAC season and early in the year.  Coach was grilled on this point, and it doesn't matter.  You have no control over the schedule anyway, so why worry about it.

He talked about Idaho one last time.  He wished we had blocked more passes and that the special teams were pretty even, which, given our depth, Coach doesn't feel like they should be.

He talked about UT.  He says they are playing more wide open then in the past and they are stretching the field vertically.  He feels they are well coached on defense and are playing well with their results against Arizona and Wyoming.

He is preparing for both Owens and Dantin, or he says he is.

He talked about Stan Watson who went to UT from BG when Matt Campbell got the job.  Coach said he wasn't surprised, since Campbell and Watson were best friends and Clawson even joked at a staff meeting that they'd probably lose him to UT.

Finally, they noted that BG had dominated special teams against UT the last two years.  Coach said that was due to some big plays (which, I hate to say, is what special teams dominance is all about) and not like a play by play "dominance."

Anyway, in total, he was very complimentary of the Rockets and remained professional about the rivalry.

I didn't see it in the presser, but Falcon Fodder noted that WR Heath Jackson has been cleared to play which means only Maynard and Tanski are out.