Jeff Monken Press Conference Quotes: Cincinnati

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army West Point football head coach Jeff Monken met virtually with members of the local media on Tuesday afternoon for his weekly press conference inside Nowak Auditorium.

The No. 22 Black Knights will look to continue their hot start to the season when they take on No. 14 Cincinnati this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Army West Point Football Head Coach Jeff Monken

(Ref.: Opening statement)
"Good afternoon. We're excited about the opportunity we have to play this weekend against a great football team. They're very well-coached and certainly have the respect of everyone in the college football world. They have been one of the best teams in the country here in recent years. I can't say enough about the job that Coach (Luke) Fickell has done. He's and outstanding coach. He has a great staff, a veteran staff and they have a big athletic and fast football team. They really are an impressive group and it's going to take our best effort if we're going to have a chance to win. So our guys are practicing hard. It's been nice to have an extra week. We really set our sights on Cincinnati when the game against BYU was postponed. We were hopeful that we could get another game rescheduled, but when that didn't work out it really gave us a chance to dive into the game plan for Cincinnati. It's going to take the rest of this week and our very best effort, as I said, if we're going to have a chance."

(Ref.: On the opportunity this weekend presents for the program)
"I think anytime we have the opportunity we have to play a ranked team – and we've had that opportunity several times – it's an opportunity for us to test ourselves against one of the best teams in college football, which they are. Back-to-back 11-win seasons is really impressive. They've got some big wins over Power 5 teams. They're just an impressive football team. I was talking to another coach in their league, he was mentioning the body types that they have on their team – just long. It allows them to have tight end type guys, outside linebacker types that are really long and run good. It helps them on special teams and those guys have position flexibility. It's really just going to a tremendous challenge for us to play a team of this caliber. With the respect that they have around the college football world, if we can find a way to win the game it would be a huge victory for us."

(Ref.: On big matchup with Cincinnati)
"I don't know if we can be put into a more exciting position in our third game than to play a team of Cincinnati's caliber. The national rankings came out several times in several different publications. All the way since last January when they put out the 'Way Too Early Top-25' and all the way up until this week, they are mentioned in every single one of those. There isn't one that I could find where Cincinnati isn't ranked. So, this is an outstanding football team and one that we are going to have to be very prepared for and play extremely well to even be positioned to win the football game. It is an exciting opportunity for our players and certainly to have a matchup like this on national TV is a great opportunity for us to showcase West Point, this great institution and our program."

(Ref.: On his confidence in Army's fullback group)
"I'm happy with all four of those guys. I think they are playing really well. I think Sandon (McCoy) having the most experience certainly gives us the most versatility in all the different things we do on offense and what we ask those guys to do. It is a position that is more than just running a football. They have a lot of responsibilities in the running game and in the passing game. So, I think all four of them are very capable. I think Anthony Adkins, who as we went through camp was a little farther out of the pack from those guys has certainly closed that gap. He has just practiced so well the last three weeks and has gotten the chance to play. When they get in the games those guys get more confident. I think that certainly he has. We have gotten more confident with him. Really pleased with all four of those guys and I think we will continue to play all of them like we have been. "

(Ref.: on if Cincinnati matchup is similar to some of the other big opponents Army has played in years past)
"They are very similar to the Power 5 teams we've played in their size, their speed and how well-prepared they are. They did a great job with their program. Luke (Fickell) has turned that into a big-time football program and they're very impressive. Our game plan thoughts don't vary based on the conference that the team we are playing comes from. It is purely on our guys and what we think our players can execute against the team that we are facing. Whether that be their offense and what things we want to do defensively to try to attack them or that be in our offense and looking at the defense we are going to play and how we want to attack that defense. So, it is far less about what conference they come from than it is just who they are and what we think they are going to do with their schemes."

(Ref.: On what Marquel Broughton has brought to team this year)
"I think that Marquel is a tremendous leader. That is recognized not just by me, but by everybody in our program. Our coaches and players see him as a leader. He is super positive. He has a deep sense of pride in being a part of this team and being the best he can for everybody else on this team."

"I like him a whole lot as a person. He is a tremendously hard worker. He works in the weight room, during individual drills, in the classroom, on special teams. He does everything he can to contribute and he's a good talented player. I am excited he's here. It's nice to have a guy like that, that is right now playing so well, making so many plays when he's only a sophomore."

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Jeff Monken Press Conference Quotes: Cincinnati

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