Clawson Presser, Rumor Edition

Coach Clawson held his first presser since before the Buffalo game, and there was a lot for him to talk about.  I recommend heading over to bgsufalcons.com to take  a listen.  He was relaxed and pretty interesting to listen to.

A couple of reactons/newsy items.

First, he was asked about the coaching rumors, if in a kind of backward way.  He said, first, that "he plans on being the coach at Bowling Green," a statement which most normally sends chills down the back of the average football fan.  Urban Meyer said it (more or less, let's not go through that agin) and Darrell Hazel said it just this year, and then, of course, plans change.  In the case of our Coach, I actually it is true, which is not to say he wouldn't leave for the right job.  The jobs are closing up and I think he might be one really good season from being very attractive.

He said he doesn't address rumors with the players because they are just rumors....he doesn't think it is appropriate.  I don't know why you can't say "Hey twitter says Wisconsin wants me but Alvarez was in town for a Packo's Hot Dog..."  Which, come to think of it, tells me that what he meant was that he didn't want to comment on rumors that were true.

Finally, he said every year he has been at BG he has been contacted by someone.  Love to know who contacted him after that 2-10 season....can't imagine the stock was very high.

He talked about our team, which has improved 3 wins each of the last two seasons.  He noted the number of guys we have coming back--which is high--and his satisfaction with the defense and the running game.  He acknowledged that the passing game was not great, but noted that as we play our young WRs, maybe we will get a dividend in the future, as we did when we played all the young guys on defense during that 2-10 season.

Which is an interesting thought...about the WRs.

He also talked about the San Jose team.  They are good...losses only to Stanford and Utah State (who beat Toledo), play great offense and have great defense.  He said you expect to play a good team in a bowl game, and we are.

He did talk about how many of their guys were all-conference, which is apparently everyone on the roster, but then again, it is the WAC, the conference which dies at the end of our game.

They are a very good team, however, and it is a big challenge for the team.

This is one of the few bowl games where the two teams have this many wins (18).  He also noted that two years ago the number would have been 4 or something.

He talked A LOT about the extra practices, if there was extra time to put some new stuff in, if you watched more film, yadda, yadda, yadda.

The most interesting thing is that the Military Bowl has a highly ranked gift bag.  It is ranked #10 by Bleacher Report.  The players--ALL the players--get an ipad mini, a timely watch (logo watch) and a beanie (which is a winter hat).   So, apparently the players are excited about that.

And why not?

Finally, he was asked if there was pride in the MAC in the bowl games.  He said he'd rather have the conference go 1-6 if the win was by BG then he would with the MAC going 5-2 and BG loses.

Which is honest....

Anyway that's the story of the presser for this week.