Mike Leach Previews 93rd Battle for the Golden Egg
November 23, 2020 | Football
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's Mike Leach held his weekly press conference on Monday (November 23) to preview the Bulldogs' matchup with Ole Miss in the 93rd Battle for the Golden Egg.
Below are the quotes from Leach's press conference.
Q: You were down some guys at Georgia last week, do you think that will be the same case this weekend at Ole Miss?
ML: I don't know. It has been very random. That has been one of the things that is tough this year is adjusting to that. Some of these things you find out at awfully short notice.
Q: What do you know about the Egg Bowl?
ML: Well, I suspect I don't know quite as much about it as you, to be perfectly honest. I do know that over the years, even as I was a kid, I know it was always an incredibly intense game. I know it's very meaningful to people and I know that it's in conversation all year round. Everyday. There's not a day that I don't hear somebody mention the Egg Bowl. So, I know it's a very meaningful game. I also know that there's been plenty of them that were exciting to watch, long before I was ever in the state of Mississippi. It's exciting to be a part of it and it's a great opportunity to have a chance to play in one.
Q: How do you lean on your staff that have played in the Egg Bowl to help prepare the players?
ML: I think it's really important. I mean because we definitely want to celebrate the past and then help utilize that for our foundation moving forward for the future. I think all of those guys, even Tony Hughes is in that mix, too. Everybody that's been here and helped build this place, we want to draw what we can from it. The toughest thing is you've got to do it in a really succinct fashion...We definitely want to recognize and make sure everybody understands that they're an important part of the history of this. We've got to make ours now.
Q: Have you sensed a mentality change since the Georgia game, given how well things went in Athens?
ML: We just have to keep working hard. I don't think we've hit our potential yet. I think that we're a group that's young enough that we're definitely going to change to the positive. That's where the biggest strides come is when the younger they are, the more they're developing and we're right there. All of our points last week were scored by freshmen. We need to just keep working, keep developing, keep getting better and create some depth to our positions, both sides of the ball.
Q: What do you attribute your offense's success to? What was your assessment when you watched the film?
ML: Well, we've had to pull people back and forth in positions. Whether it's a series of trying to figure out which young guy, or who's furthest along, is best to play. Obviously there's been some transition at quarterback. Then, the lineup has changed nearly every week, whether it's COVID or other factors. I think that part's been challenging. I think we're starting to hone a pretty good lineup. I thought that our offensive line did play better [at Georgia] and that was definitely a factor, at least offensively.
Q: How would you describe your relationship with Lane Kiffin?
ML: I guess we both know Monte [Kiffin]. Lane knew Monte Kiffin first and then I met Monte. Monte introduced me [to his son] Lane, so, I guess we're both mutual friends with Monte. That kind of brought us together. Just over the years seeing him around coaching and spending time with him. I mean he's an enjoyable guy. The worst thing, especially in this day in age, and then coaching for life or anytime that you're doing something as repetitious as football, you try to avoid as many boring people as you can. Lane's not boring, so I've always been excited to spend time with him. If you're stuck at one of these coaches meeting things that everybody pretends are so important, Lane lightens it up a little bit. I for one am happy that he's [at the coaches meetings].
Q: What did you learn about playing in a rivalry in the Apple Cup against Washington? What is it about rivalries that might be different in preparing for this week?
ML: Well, we were a lot more successful in our rivalry with Texas A&M when we were at Texas Tech. So, I'm going to try to draw as much from the Tech/A&M rivalry as opposed to the Washington/Washington State one. The biggest thing at Washington State was we played Washington late. We were a little out-manned as they were dumping, in particular, defensive players into the NFL. It was a funny triangle. We had a funny triangle there. We'd beat Washington or we'd beat Stamford, then we'd lose to one of them or we couldn't beat Washington. The biggest thing is just keeping your players alert and focused, try to prepare as well as you can, and everybody will already be engaged. You guys all know, you're about it all year round. Everybody's plenty engaged. I mean, we have everybody's attention. That's not really the issue but focus and prepare well. I think that's the biggest issue.
Q: What stands out the most about Ole Miss to you?
ML: I just think they are kind of collectively explosive on offense. I would say how explosive they are on offense, that's probably the thing that jumps out the most. I think they're good in their other phases of the game, too.
Q: What is your general appreciation of rivalry games in a season like this?
ML: Well, I think you start with the fact that virtually every game's important. You only get ten of them. I think that sometimes on the outside there's a temptation to elevate games. You only get to play one game a week, so your full focus and effort needs to be on that one game. So, I think there is that. You want to kind of condition around that, but by the same token, this is a game that's memorable. It's very important to our fans. Even though they can't be in the stands as much as usual. People will be watching, and people will definitely take an interest in this game. They'll talk about it for a year. The biggest thing that we need to worry about is being the best team we can be and play the best we can.
Q: Is there any added pressure around the fact that people talk about the Egg Bowl year round?
ML: No, because I'm into all these games to do the very best I can. I mean, the best I can is all I've got. No there really isn't. You do your best and let the rest take care of itself pretty much. Then try to learn from what you did along the way and elevate after that. No, there isn't. It's like the old breakfast thing we talked about. I mean they pretty much got me all sum total. No, there's really not. I mean, there might be if I wasn't giving full effort, concentration or something like that. If somehow I was sandbagging and holding out. You got pretty much what I've got, so that's it.
Below are the quotes from Leach's press conference.
Q: You were down some guys at Georgia last week, do you think that will be the same case this weekend at Ole Miss?
ML: I don't know. It has been very random. That has been one of the things that is tough this year is adjusting to that. Some of these things you find out at awfully short notice.
Q: What do you know about the Egg Bowl?
ML: Well, I suspect I don't know quite as much about it as you, to be perfectly honest. I do know that over the years, even as I was a kid, I know it was always an incredibly intense game. I know it's very meaningful to people and I know that it's in conversation all year round. Everyday. There's not a day that I don't hear somebody mention the Egg Bowl. So, I know it's a very meaningful game. I also know that there's been plenty of them that were exciting to watch, long before I was ever in the state of Mississippi. It's exciting to be a part of it and it's a great opportunity to have a chance to play in one.
Q: How do you lean on your staff that have played in the Egg Bowl to help prepare the players?
ML: I think it's really important. I mean because we definitely want to celebrate the past and then help utilize that for our foundation moving forward for the future. I think all of those guys, even Tony Hughes is in that mix, too. Everybody that's been here and helped build this place, we want to draw what we can from it. The toughest thing is you've got to do it in a really succinct fashion...We definitely want to recognize and make sure everybody understands that they're an important part of the history of this. We've got to make ours now.
Q: Have you sensed a mentality change since the Georgia game, given how well things went in Athens?
ML: We just have to keep working hard. I don't think we've hit our potential yet. I think that we're a group that's young enough that we're definitely going to change to the positive. That's where the biggest strides come is when the younger they are, the more they're developing and we're right there. All of our points last week were scored by freshmen. We need to just keep working, keep developing, keep getting better and create some depth to our positions, both sides of the ball.
Q: What do you attribute your offense's success to? What was your assessment when you watched the film?
ML: Well, we've had to pull people back and forth in positions. Whether it's a series of trying to figure out which young guy, or who's furthest along, is best to play. Obviously there's been some transition at quarterback. Then, the lineup has changed nearly every week, whether it's COVID or other factors. I think that part's been challenging. I think we're starting to hone a pretty good lineup. I thought that our offensive line did play better [at Georgia] and that was definitely a factor, at least offensively.
Q: How would you describe your relationship with Lane Kiffin?
ML: I guess we both know Monte [Kiffin]. Lane knew Monte Kiffin first and then I met Monte. Monte introduced me [to his son] Lane, so, I guess we're both mutual friends with Monte. That kind of brought us together. Just over the years seeing him around coaching and spending time with him. I mean he's an enjoyable guy. The worst thing, especially in this day in age, and then coaching for life or anytime that you're doing something as repetitious as football, you try to avoid as many boring people as you can. Lane's not boring, so I've always been excited to spend time with him. If you're stuck at one of these coaches meeting things that everybody pretends are so important, Lane lightens it up a little bit. I for one am happy that he's [at the coaches meetings].
Q: What did you learn about playing in a rivalry in the Apple Cup against Washington? What is it about rivalries that might be different in preparing for this week?
ML: Well, we were a lot more successful in our rivalry with Texas A&M when we were at Texas Tech. So, I'm going to try to draw as much from the Tech/A&M rivalry as opposed to the Washington/Washington State one. The biggest thing at Washington State was we played Washington late. We were a little out-manned as they were dumping, in particular, defensive players into the NFL. It was a funny triangle. We had a funny triangle there. We'd beat Washington or we'd beat Stamford, then we'd lose to one of them or we couldn't beat Washington. The biggest thing is just keeping your players alert and focused, try to prepare as well as you can, and everybody will already be engaged. You guys all know, you're about it all year round. Everybody's plenty engaged. I mean, we have everybody's attention. That's not really the issue but focus and prepare well. I think that's the biggest issue.
Q: What stands out the most about Ole Miss to you?
ML: I just think they are kind of collectively explosive on offense. I would say how explosive they are on offense, that's probably the thing that jumps out the most. I think they're good in their other phases of the game, too.
Q: What is your general appreciation of rivalry games in a season like this?
ML: Well, I think you start with the fact that virtually every game's important. You only get ten of them. I think that sometimes on the outside there's a temptation to elevate games. You only get to play one game a week, so your full focus and effort needs to be on that one game. So, I think there is that. You want to kind of condition around that, but by the same token, this is a game that's memorable. It's very important to our fans. Even though they can't be in the stands as much as usual. People will be watching, and people will definitely take an interest in this game. They'll talk about it for a year. The biggest thing that we need to worry about is being the best team we can be and play the best we can.
Q: Is there any added pressure around the fact that people talk about the Egg Bowl year round?
ML: No, because I'm into all these games to do the very best I can. I mean, the best I can is all I've got. No there really isn't. You do your best and let the rest take care of itself pretty much. Then try to learn from what you did along the way and elevate after that. No, there isn't. It's like the old breakfast thing we talked about. I mean they pretty much got me all sum total. No, there's really not. I mean, there might be if I wasn't giving full effort, concentration or something like that. If somehow I was sandbagging and holding out. You got pretty much what I've got, so that's it.
Kamario Taylor Keeps For Six
Saturday, November 08
FOOTBALL | Zakari Tillman Game Week vs. Georgia
Monday, November 03
FOOTBALL | Malick Sylla Game Week vs. Georgia
Monday, November 03
FOOTBALL | Blake Shapen Game Week vs. Georgia
Monday, November 03