Team meetings

Top photo, head coach Steve Patton addresses the players before the start of individual team meetings Saturday morning in the conference room of the Holiday Inn. Second photo, defensive line coach Mike Doolittle talks to his players as the specific units broke up into groups.

This is one of the parts of the trip that I was really looking forward to ... being able to sit in on the pre-game team meetings to hear some "X's and O's" talk. I sat in on the offensive meeting for the most part as offensive coordinator Joe Pizzo broke down the MSU defense on the projector screen. It's amazing the detail that goes into each play at each position. Indeed, football is about blocking and tackling, but I feel the thinking aspect of the game is often underappreciated.

Defensive line coach Mike Doolittle on the importance of team meetings
"It's touching up and remembering the finer points. We go through all the signals and to make sure everybody is straight ... make sure everybody is on the same page.
"This weekend, we especially wanted to remind them about the opportunity they have."

Doolittle on gearing up for Mississippi State
"We're telling our guys to weather the storm. You're going to get rocked a little bit. That's fine, you're going to rock them a little bit. Keep your composure and focus at all times.
"Get this thing into the fourth quarter and at that point the pressure goes all to them. From there, you just finish the job."

Defensive end Leon Hudson (So., Fayetteville) on team meetings
"You just pay attention to the coaches and make sure you know your assignments ... know what you have to do and go out there and be ready to play.
Each time you are in the meetings, something new comes up."