Army West Point Athletics
Army-Navy Press Conference Quotes
December 06, 2016 | Football
BALTIMORE – Army West Point Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan and head football coach Jeff Monken along with select players traveled to M&T Bank Stadium on Tuesday for the Army-Navy press conference.
Senior captains Andrew King and Jeremy Timpf joined Corrigan and Monken in speaking with local, regional and national media in preparations for the Army-Navy Game presented by USAA, which is now only four days away.
Navy's head coach Ken Niumatalolo was also on hand at the home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, while Calvin Cass Jr., Toneo Gulley, Daniel Gonzales and Amos Mason took questions for the Midshipmen.
The 117th Army-Navy Game, presented by USAA, is set for 3 p.m. on Dec. 10 at M&T Bank Stadium. America's Game will be broadcast live on CBS Network with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Allie LaForce on the call.
Army Head Coach Jeff Monken
(Ref.: on a recap of the season heading into Saturday's game)
"Well, number one it's been a real rollercoaster ride for us. We had some great victories to start the year and we've had some disappointing losses. We had a tragedy hit our team, the loss of one of our players at the beginning of the year, so it was a difficult time in our program. But what a great bunch of guys, who are resilient and tough. I'm really proud of these guys for earning a bowl bid. That's a measure for success when you play football. I'm really really proud of these guys."
(Ref.: on the advantage of having extra time to prepare for this game and Navy's injuries)
"We've got two freshmen safeties starting at corner. I mean, we've lost our top four cornerbacks. You call most defensive coordinators in the country and say 'Hey, I'm going to take your top four corners away from you right now,' they wouldn't be able to function as a defense. Everybody is feeling that this time of year.
"I feel terrible for the Navy guys that got injured in this last game. Those are kids who have had great seasons and mean so much to their team. Playing in this game means so much to them and finishing the year, especially the two seniors that got hurt, it's tough to lose guys like that. Kenny (Niumatalolo) does such a great job that he will have someone to step right in at each of those positions and have them ready to go."
(Ref.: on the importance of the Army-Navy game)
"If people can't see this as America's Game, they're not paying close enough attention. Every young man out there who is playing in the game on Saturday with nine-thousand other college-aged students dressed in uniform sitting in the stands have all made a pledge and a commitment to serve this nation and, ultimately, would put their lives on the line for all of us who aren't willing to make that commitment. If that doesn't make it America's Game, then we don't have a game."
(Ref.: on his accomplishments at Army thus far)
"I haven't done anything; the kids have done all the work. We've got a terrific senior class. Andrew (King) and Jeremy (Timpf) who are with us today are great leaders and terrific players. They decided it was time for us to get it done. They've just worked tirelessly. We've got a football team that, in the offseason, preseason camp and throughout the year are a tough, resilient, hardworking group of guys who believe in each other. No matter what has come our way, they've found a way to claw back and come back and prepare for the next challenge. What a great example for the young guys coming behind this senior class. I hope this is just the beginning."
Senior Co-Captain and Linebacker Andrew King
(Ref.: on the significance of the Army-Navy game)
"It's the Army-Navy game. Everyone's eyes are on us. We're going to approach it like that and continue to practice hard the rest of the week. This game is not only for this 2016 team, but for the Army football brotherhood in general."
"The 2016 Army team hasn't faced the 2016 Navy team yet. We have been practicing for the past three weeks so our guys know how to defend this team. We have great coaches along with great players that will step up. We are going to go out there and we are going to battle."
(Ref.: on having all of your friends and classmates in the stands)
"It's definitely motivating. Being out there representing the Corps of Cadets is very inspiring."
Senior Co-Captain and Linebacker Jeremy Timpf
(Ref.: on the gameplan after Will Worth's injury for Navy)
"We're not going to do anything different that we wouldn't have done against Worth. We went in with a strong gameplan before he went down with that injury. I'm sure they're going to be prepared. I know the other quarterbacks have taken a lot of reps in practice and will be ready for Saturday."
(Ref.: on the progress this team has made)
"I'm very proud of this team. I know Army has been struggling the past few years, and it's good to go out as a senior and know that you've produced a bowl game. It's nice to leave that with the program and know that they will continue to improve in the future."
(Ref.: on the year Army has had)
"We started the year off pretty strong and we had a little rough patch there in the middle, but I think we've done a nice job rebounding. We've had a couple weeks to get back on our feet and I think we'll come out better this weekend."
(Ref.: on what it means to get to this game)
"It's just football. When the guys are down on the field, I think we do a good job of tuning out all the distractions. There's a lot of passion on the field, but we just have to get down there and play."
Senior captains Andrew King and Jeremy Timpf joined Corrigan and Monken in speaking with local, regional and national media in preparations for the Army-Navy Game presented by USAA, which is now only four days away.
Navy's head coach Ken Niumatalolo was also on hand at the home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, while Calvin Cass Jr., Toneo Gulley, Daniel Gonzales and Amos Mason took questions for the Midshipmen.
The 117th Army-Navy Game, presented by USAA, is set for 3 p.m. on Dec. 10 at M&T Bank Stadium. America's Game will be broadcast live on CBS Network with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Allie LaForce on the call.
Army Head Coach Jeff Monken
(Ref.: on a recap of the season heading into Saturday's game)
"Well, number one it's been a real rollercoaster ride for us. We had some great victories to start the year and we've had some disappointing losses. We had a tragedy hit our team, the loss of one of our players at the beginning of the year, so it was a difficult time in our program. But what a great bunch of guys, who are resilient and tough. I'm really proud of these guys for earning a bowl bid. That's a measure for success when you play football. I'm really really proud of these guys."
(Ref.: on the advantage of having extra time to prepare for this game and Navy's injuries)
"We've got two freshmen safeties starting at corner. I mean, we've lost our top four cornerbacks. You call most defensive coordinators in the country and say 'Hey, I'm going to take your top four corners away from you right now,' they wouldn't be able to function as a defense. Everybody is feeling that this time of year.
"I feel terrible for the Navy guys that got injured in this last game. Those are kids who have had great seasons and mean so much to their team. Playing in this game means so much to them and finishing the year, especially the two seniors that got hurt, it's tough to lose guys like that. Kenny (Niumatalolo) does such a great job that he will have someone to step right in at each of those positions and have them ready to go."
(Ref.: on the importance of the Army-Navy game)
"If people can't see this as America's Game, they're not paying close enough attention. Every young man out there who is playing in the game on Saturday with nine-thousand other college-aged students dressed in uniform sitting in the stands have all made a pledge and a commitment to serve this nation and, ultimately, would put their lives on the line for all of us who aren't willing to make that commitment. If that doesn't make it America's Game, then we don't have a game."
(Ref.: on his accomplishments at Army thus far)
"I haven't done anything; the kids have done all the work. We've got a terrific senior class. Andrew (King) and Jeremy (Timpf) who are with us today are great leaders and terrific players. They decided it was time for us to get it done. They've just worked tirelessly. We've got a football team that, in the offseason, preseason camp and throughout the year are a tough, resilient, hardworking group of guys who believe in each other. No matter what has come our way, they've found a way to claw back and come back and prepare for the next challenge. What a great example for the young guys coming behind this senior class. I hope this is just the beginning."
Senior Co-Captain and Linebacker Andrew King
(Ref.: on the significance of the Army-Navy game)
"It's the Army-Navy game. Everyone's eyes are on us. We're going to approach it like that and continue to practice hard the rest of the week. This game is not only for this 2016 team, but for the Army football brotherhood in general."
"The 2016 Army team hasn't faced the 2016 Navy team yet. We have been practicing for the past three weeks so our guys know how to defend this team. We have great coaches along with great players that will step up. We are going to go out there and we are going to battle."
(Ref.: on having all of your friends and classmates in the stands)
"It's definitely motivating. Being out there representing the Corps of Cadets is very inspiring."
Senior Co-Captain and Linebacker Jeremy Timpf
(Ref.: on the gameplan after Will Worth's injury for Navy)
"We're not going to do anything different that we wouldn't have done against Worth. We went in with a strong gameplan before he went down with that injury. I'm sure they're going to be prepared. I know the other quarterbacks have taken a lot of reps in practice and will be ready for Saturday."
(Ref.: on the progress this team has made)
"I'm very proud of this team. I know Army has been struggling the past few years, and it's good to go out as a senior and know that you've produced a bowl game. It's nice to leave that with the program and know that they will continue to improve in the future."
(Ref.: on the year Army has had)
"We started the year off pretty strong and we had a little rough patch there in the middle, but I think we've done a nice job rebounding. We've had a couple weeks to get back on our feet and I think we'll come out better this weekend."
(Ref.: on what it means to get to this game)
"It's just football. When the guys are down on the field, I think we do a good job of tuning out all the distractions. There's a lot of passion on the field, but we just have to get down there and play."
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