ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry War Hawks football program held its first press conference of the 2019 season on Tuesday afternoon in the McMurry Athletics Annex.
First year head coach Jordan Neal and three of his players, senior quarterback Xavier Alexander, senior wide receiver Eriel Dorsey and junior linebacker Josh Smith, fielded questions from the media two days out from their season opener at Trinity University Thursday at 6 p.m. in San Antonio.
For footage of the press conference via Facebook Live, click here.
Below are some of the highlights from Tuesday's press conference:
Coach Neal's opening statement
"This is exciting for all of us, and personally very exciting for me to be back in my hometown and at McMurry. We've had incredible support from our administration and so many wonderful friends and relationships I've built over the years…it's just a real treat and a thrill to be back. I couldn't be more proud of our coaching staff for the job that they've done recruiting and planning, putting everything together to get this program off the launch pad. And I couldn't be more proud of my players, especially these three (sitting next to me) for their leadership, their dedication, their hard work and putting their faith in us (as a coaching staff). It's very exciting for us to be at this point just 48 hours out from our first game."
Coach Neal on moment's leading up to his head coaching debut
The thing you do as a coach and as a player is get into a rhythm. It was fun to get through our fall camp and finally get to a place where we have a game in five or six days. What you try to do is just stay on rhythm and do what you do five days before the game or four days before the game, etc. It's a bit of a different situation with a Thursday night game, but we're just trying to be ourselves and do our thing. When the ball drops at 6 p.m., we'll be ready to go.
Coach Neal on having a young team
We consider our youth and inexperience to be a huge advantage for us, especially from a mental side of things. A freshman coming in doesn't know the past and doesn't know that we're "not supposed to be this" or "not supposed to be that." They are just coming in looking for an opportunity to compete and play. For (our upperclassmen), having kind of a clean slate and a new start was something that was needed for them and something they are going to take full advantage of. We consider our youth to be a huge advantage. When you look into the future, you get excited about what you can develop. I'm sad that some our seniors will only get to be around us for one season and vice versa, but we want to take advantage of the moments we have with those guys right now.
Xavier Alexander on being named the starting quarterback
It means a lot to be the starting quarterback, and I know that comes a lot of responsibility. I'm ready to take on that role and help the team win. I've been waiting on this moment for a long time, and I think I'm prepared and ready. We're just ready to get the ball rolling and play football again.
Eriel Dorsey on the offensive changes
Coach Neal has brought over a great game plan from Hendrix. He came in with a mindset of changing the offense, moving the ball down the field and scoring points. X (Alexander) is a great passer and a great leader on the field, and we're hoping to excel this year."
Josh Smith on adjusting to defensive changes
The biggest thing for us is that we are beginning with a clean slate with our new defensive coordinator, Coach John Jennings. He brings in a lot of expertise and insight from other winning programs and winning defensives. Just the mastermind he has on that headset has a lot of guys playing outside of themselves.
Coach Neal on naming Alexander the starting QB
It's depressing that I only get him for one year. The thing about X is that when you see him throw the ball, the ball jumps out of his hand. He throws a tight spiral which is crucial out here in the West Texas wind. He's a "heads-up" player that understands what we're trying to do. I'm just ready for him to get back out there and get that feeling of throwing that first completion again and leading the team down the field to produce a touchdown-scoring drive. I know he's going to play confident, he's going to play fast and he's going to play loose.
Josh Smith on the defensive culture changes
For me personally, and I'm sure (Dorsey and Alexander) can say the same thing from the other side of the ball, just the culture we have on defense as a whole is entirely different. A lot of the things that we do off the field before we go out to take practice insinuates what we are trying to do as a program. As far as the defense with the new coaching, the new pre-game that we go through, pre-practice, that's a lot of the stuff that you guys will see when it comes to turnovers or big plays. A lot of those things, culturally, are building the fire and the aggression that we want to have in our defense.
Josh Smith on leaving a legacy for the seniors and carrying the torch into the future
Personally, I feel like you couldn't have a better person (as head coach) than Abilene's finest here. I totally agree with everything he's said from the moment he got here, and this little random mustache guy he brought in (Strength and Conditioning Coach Hagen Little). His heart means well and he's a Godly man. Everything he's done for each player on this team and everyone in this organization…you can tell this place means something to him. The legacy he plans to leave, I'm full-heartedly behind it, as I am with the legacy I plan to leave myself and the gentlemen next to me and the legacy they plan to leave.
Xavier Alexander on Coach Neal and the new momentum of the program
I agree (with Smith) especially me being a quarterback. I know Coach Neal used to be a quarterback, as well, and can still sling it. I think he's the perfect guy for this job and I'm glad we have him. He's just holds us at a higher standard than we're used to, and I'm just glad we have him here.
Eriel Dorsey on Coach Neal and the new momentum of the program
Like (Alexander) said, Coach Neal is pushing us towards being great. He doesn't let us slack around. He wants all of us to be a better player, but also a better man.
