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>> female announcer: This is a

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production of WKNO, Memphis.

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Production funding for "Sports

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Files" is made possible in part

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by..

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>> Gaston: My guest today on

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"Sports Files" is University of

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Memphis Football Coach Justin

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Fuente.

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>> (instrumental music)

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♪♪♪

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♪♪♪

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>> Gaston: Hi everyone!

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Later in the show we'll hear

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from one of the top prep

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basketball players in the

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country, Austin Nichols, and his

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coach at Briarcrest Christian,

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John Harrington, on Austin's

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recent decision to sign with the

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University of Memphis.

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But first, we look back at the

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Memphis "football" season.

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Nearly one year ago to the day

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the University of Memphis hired

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Justin Fuente as the school's

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new football coach.

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Fuente had no prior head

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coaching experience, but came

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with some impressive credentials

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after helping develop a potent

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offensive attack at TCU as the

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program's co-offensive

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coordinator.

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Fuente won over the Memphis

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search committee and after only

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one year on the job, has won

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over quite a few more.

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His no non-sense approach and

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openness has helped win over the

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local media and has endeared him

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to the fans.

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But more importantly the program

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improved.

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Yes, there was actual

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improvement.

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In fact, it was pretty

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significant.

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With minimal scholarship

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players, a lack of depth, and a

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new system, Fuente's Tigers

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rattled off three straight

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impressive wins to end the

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season, giving the team four for

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the year, their most since 2008.

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Their 4-4 record in conference

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play was a far cry from their 2

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and 22 mark over the past three

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years.

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And their back to back 40 point

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games was a first in eight

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years.

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In fact, The Tigers outscored

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their last three opponents by a

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combined 125 to 56 score.

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Today, Justin Fuente on his

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first season as Head Coach of

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the Tigers, the recruiting wars,

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and the move to the Big East.

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Next on "Sports Files."

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>> (instrumental music)

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♪♪♪

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♪♪♪

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>> Gaston: Justin, thank you so

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much for joining us.

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I know it's been non-stop for

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you since the season ended.

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>> Fuente: Yeah, as soon as we

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finished on Saturday, most of us

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were on planes the next day,

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Sunday night, to go get to our

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respective areas and hit the

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road running recruiting-wise.

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Most of our guys were back in

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this past Sunday for a brief

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staff meeting and then back out

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again.

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>> Gaston: I know you can't talk

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specifically about the specific

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players but in general, what's

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it been like for you on the

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recruiting trails the way the

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season ended, knowing that this

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program is moving in to the Big

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East?

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>> Fuente: Well, it's been great

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for us.

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We've gotten great reception

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from both places that our

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current coaches have connections

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and then new areas that may be

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the University of Memphis hasn't

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been in before.

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When you talk the things that we

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have to sell, you start to look

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at what were doing facility-

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wise.

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You talk about Tom Bowen and his

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plan for the Memphis Athletic

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Department as a whole and

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specifically, football.

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And you talk about moving to the

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Big East and the things they're

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doing to the Liberty Bowl.

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We've got a lot of great things

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to sell from an athletic

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prospective and an academic

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perspective.

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So we've been received very

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well.

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>> Gaston: As busy as you've

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been I don't if you've allowed

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yourself to look back on what

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this team was able to do to wrap

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up the season winning three

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straight games.

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They were 2 and 22 in conference

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play over the previous three

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years.

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And you guys went four and four,

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a 500 conference record.

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If I asked you in one word or a

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sentence to describe the season,

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what would you say?

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>> Fuente: Well, I'd say it's

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perseverance was the biggest

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thing that our kids continued to

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come to work everyday.

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We knew that it wasn't going to

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be easy.

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I asked them to try and be a

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better football team at the end

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of the year than when we started

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and I think we accomplished that

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goal that we've set forth.

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You know, obviously we have a

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long way to go as a program to

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make those things almost

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automatic but I was proud of the

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way that they started to

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understand and buy in to our

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philosophy as a way of doing

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things.

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It wasn't about scheme and how

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to run cover 2 or double-post or

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any of that stuff.

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It was more about how do we

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prepare, how do we play the

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game.

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Do we play the game hard, smart

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and tough?

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Do we display great emotion?

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Do we play with a physical

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nature and always put the team

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first?

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And I feel like the guys really

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started to get that towards the

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end of the year and I think it

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showed great perseverance.

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>> Gaston: It also said a lot

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about you and the coaching staff

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because you were weeding through

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these players.

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You didn't know a lot about

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them.

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You had spring football and then

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camp and that was it.

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You were thinning numbers, did

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not have a lot of depth.

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So you had to find out what

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worked and again, it seemed at

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the end you found the right

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guys, the right fit and they all

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played their hearts out.

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>> Fuente: Well, it sort-of

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gelled together there towards

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the end.

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We got better play from almost

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every position.

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You start to look at the

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running-back position with

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Brandon Hayes.

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You look at what Jacob did the

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last couple of weeks playing

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quarterback.

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And defensively, we really found

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our own.

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We really found out niche in

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what we were going to do and

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really held up against the run

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game and were able to defeat the

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perimeter screens that teams

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were doing to us early in the

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year.

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And the guys just kept working

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at it.

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And it was great for us as

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coaches to see it pay off for

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the kids, to see the look on

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their faces, to see them get to

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celebrate, get to feel good

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about themselves and have a

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little bit of fulfillment for

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some of the hard work that

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they've put in.

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>> Gaston: Top 50 defensive unit

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in the country.

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Top 50!

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This is a defense that had been

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at the bottom for a number of

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years.

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That says an awful lot what

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Coach Odom and the rest of the

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coaches did and these players

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did defensely, as you said, the

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last few games really coming in

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to their own.

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>> Fuente: Yeah, I was really

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proud of the way they continued

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to get better.

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You know, we had some things

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early in the year that we really

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made an emphasis on that we were

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not handling.

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And the kids embraced it and did

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a really good job.

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And you know, there's a million

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different ways to look at

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improvement but there's some

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stats out there.

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I'm not a big stat guy but we're

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one of the four or five most

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improved defenses in the entire

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country.

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We ended up in conference games

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being the number one defense in

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the country in conference USA.

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I mean, number one defense in

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the league in Conference USA

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games which I think speaks to

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the staff and the kids.

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You know, they kept just

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pressing.

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They kept working on playing the

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next play and getting better and

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playing physical football.

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And it paid off for them.

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>> Gaston: Offensely, you just

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mentioned moments ago, Brandon

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Hayes.

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He came from fifth string on the

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depth chart walk-on.

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Jacob Karam got a lot better,

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the Texas Tech transfer.

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Now you go in to the off season

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where you will have Paxton

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Lynch, one year under his belt

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as a red shirt.

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You will be getting-Brayden

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Scott will be coming here.

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Matthews is still there.

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You have a lot of options with

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the quarterback position but

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Karam's progress certainly

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opened some eyes.

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>> Fuente: Well, I think Jake

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obviously played better as the

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season went along.

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And I think everybody played

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better around Jake which helped

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him out.

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We were able to run the ball

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better.

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We were able to throw the ball,

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you know, a little bit easier

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fashion when you can run it.

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And Jake was there to make those

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plays and continue to improve.

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And you know, we'll go in to the

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spring the same at every

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position.

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We'll open it up and let guys go

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00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:32,000
compete for jobs and continue to

294
00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,000
rotate reps and continue to

295
00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:35,000
facilitate a competitive

296
00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,000
environment.

297
00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:37,000
I think that's the key when

298
00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,000
you're trying to climb the

299
00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:40,000
mountain, as they say.

300
00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:41,000
Let's continue to make it a

301
00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,000
competitive environment.

302
00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:44,000
Let's continue to push people to

303
00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,000
see how good they can be because

304
00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,000
ultimately, that's the only way

305
00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:49,000
you can really accomplish

306
00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,000
something special is if you're

307
00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:52,000
pushed everyday to be better

308
00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,000
than you thought you could be.

309
00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,000
And that's kind of what will be

310
00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,000
our mind frame as we move on.

311
00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:58,000
>> Gaston: From the outside

312
00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,000
looking in watching you coach

313
00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,000
from the sidelines, early on in

314
00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,000
the season it seemed like you

315
00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:04,000
were getting a feel for

316
00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,000
everything.

317
00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,000
Your first head coaching job.

318
00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:08,000
A little bit conservative.

319
00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,000
Then as the season progressed,

320
00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:11,000
you were taking shots, going for

321
00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,000
it on fourth down, fake punts,

322
00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:14,000
this and that.

323
00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:15,000
Is that more your style?

324
00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,000
Do you believe that's going to

325
00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,000
be your style from here on out?

326
00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,000
>> Fuente: Well, I think so.

327
00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:21,000
You know, I don't want to take

328
00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:22,000
and un do risks.

329
00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,000
I want to try and give our team

330
00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,000
the best chance to win.

331
00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,000
But I think, you know, we kind

332
00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:28,000
of came and we reached some

333
00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,000
conclusions as a team with the

334
00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:31,000
field goal situation that if it

335
00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,000
was close, we're going to go

336
00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,000
ahead and go for it which really

337
00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:36,000
helped us achieve our identity.

338
00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,000
But yeah, I don't mind those

339
00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:39,000
things.

340
00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:40,000
We've got a great special teams

341
00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,000
coordinator named James Shibest

342
00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,000
that does a great job every week

343
00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:45,000
scheming up fakes and ways to

344
00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,000
attack other people's special

345
00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,000
teams.

346
00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:49,000
So I don't have really any

347
00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,000
problem with pulling a trigger

348
00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:52,000
on going for it or trick plays.

349
00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,000
I think the kids, too, quite

350
00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,000
honestly, you know, kind of

351
00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,000
earned our trust a little more.

352
00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:58,000
As the season went on, we felt

353
00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,000
more comfortable doing those

354
00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,000
things with those guys.

355
00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,000
And you know, it kept us in some

356
00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:04,000
ball games late.

357
00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,000
>> Gaston: This is a tough

358
00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:06,000
question.

359
00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,000
Next year, as you know, Big

360
00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,000
East.

361
00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:10,000
Are you guys ready for the Big

362
00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:11,000
East?

363
00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,000
Not like you have a choice but

364
00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:14,000
are you ready for the Big East?

365
00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,000
And also, your thoughts on this

366
00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:17,000
ever-changing conference.

367
00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,000
We've had movement just in the

368
00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:20,000
past seven to ten days.

369
00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,000
Teams coming in, teams leaving

370
00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:23,000
and I don't know if that's going

371
00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:24,000
to slow down.

372
00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,000
It seems like there's going to

373
00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:27,000
be some more movement.

374
00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,000
So your thoughts on the Big East

375
00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,000
and this team being ready to go.

376
00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:32,000
>> Fuente: Well no, we're not

377
00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:33,000
ready.

378
00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,000
But we just finished this past

379
00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:36,000
season and we've got a long way

380
00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,000
to go to be competitive in that

381
00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:39,000
league.

382
00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,000
We will get there and we will be

383
00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:42,000
ready.

384
00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,000
But you know, that's the

385
00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:44,000
challenge ahead for the team

386
00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:45,000
right now.

387
00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,000
And look how hard we had to work

388
00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,000
to accomplish just this which is

389
00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,000
something to be proud of and has

390
00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:52,000
come a long way from where we

391
00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:53,000
were.

392
00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,000
We have to ratchet it up even

393
00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:56,000
further in order to competitive

394
00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:57,000
in our new league.

395
00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,000
And that comes through the

396
00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:00,000
summertime.

397
00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,000
That comes through off-season.

398
00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,000
That comes through spring ball

399
00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:04,000
and winter work-outs.

400
00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:05,000
And I look forward to our guys

401
00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,000
meeting that challenge.

402
00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,000
As far as the Big East and kind

403
00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,000
of ever-changing face of college

404
00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:11,000
football, you know, I don't

405
00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:12,000
think it's finished.

406
00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,000
And I don't think there's

407
00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:15,000
anything any of us can do about

408
00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:16,000
it.

409
00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,000
You know, I think we're in a

410
00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:19,000
great position.

411
00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:20,000
We're in a position of power.

412
00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,000
We're in a quote-unquote BCS

413
00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:23,000
league that maybe is changing

414
00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,000
and there's no telling exactly

415
00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:26,000
how it's going to end up.

416
00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,000
But as far as University of

417
00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:29,000
Memphis and its athletic

418
00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:30,000
department, we're in a great

419
00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,000
position to kind of launch of

420
00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:33,000
spring board off in to the next

421
00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,000
15, 20 years.

422
00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,000
>> Gaston: Recently, the school

423
00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,000
announced a home and home with

424
00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:39,000
UCLA.

425
00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,000
You'll be heading out to the

426
00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,000
Rose Bowl in 2014 which I would

427
00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:43,000
imagine has to excite recruits

428
00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:44,000
and current players.

429
00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,000
We already know that Tennessees

430
00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,000
back on the schedule down the

431
00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:49,000
line.

432
00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,000
Ole Miss, Missouri -

433
00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,000
What do you think about the

434
00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,000
future direction of scheduling

435
00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,000
the non-conference portion of

436
00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,000
that schedule?

437
00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,000
>> Fuente: Well, I'm all for

438
00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,000
playing those type of people.

439
00:10:58,000 --> 00:10:59,000
I think we have to also

440
00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,000
understand where we're at as a

441
00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,000
program and make sure that we're

442
00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:04,000
not over scheduling our guys.

443
00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,000
We're taking a step up in to

444
00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:07,000
another league.

445
00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:08,000
We're going in to the Big East

446
00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:09,000
conference.

447
00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,000
You know, and I'm all for

448
00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:12,000
playing the UCLAs of the world

449
00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,000
and driving across state and

450
00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:15,000
playing Tennessee.

451
00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:16,000
But I think we need to make sure

452
00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,000
we mix and match those things

453
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,000
with other proper scheduling

454
00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,000
philosophies which is what were

455
00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:22,000
doing.

456
00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:23,000
Which Tom and I have met

457
00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,000
extensively about it and will

458
00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,000
continue to meet about it.

459
00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,000
But I'm excited to go take a

460
00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,000
shot at those type of people and

461
00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,000
play those type of schedules.

462
00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:32,000
>> Gaston: Give me one thing

463
00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,000
that you have learned about this

464
00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:35,000
program that you had no idea

465
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,000
going in to it.

466
00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,000
>> Fuente: Well as far as the

467
00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,000
program, you know, I learned

468
00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,000
from a good perspective really

469
00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,000
the deep down character and love

470
00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:44,000
for the game these kids have.

471
00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,000
They just hadn't brought it out

472
00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:47,000
before.

473
00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:48,000
You know, kids that hasn't had

474
00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:49,000
much success.

475
00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,000
They had never really been fully

476
00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,000
invested in something bigger

477
00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:54,000
than themselves.

478
00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:55,000
And they're almost there.

479
00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,000
They're not fully there.

480
00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,000
But to see those guys really,

481
00:11:58,000 --> 00:11:59,000
their true character revealed

482
00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,000
out there through a tough season

483
00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:02,000
and to see them play like they

484
00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,000
played at the end of the year, I

485
00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,000
think speaks volume about them

486
00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:07,000
and the type of people they are.

487
00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,000
And their parents, the people

488
00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:10,000
that raised them.

489
00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,000
And I'm awfully proud of that.

490
00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:13,000
I didn't know that beforehand.

491
00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,000
I was uncertain exactly what

492
00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,000
they had deep down inside and I

493
00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,000
was pleased at what we found.

494
00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:19,000
>> Gaston: Most important thing

495
00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,000
that has to be accomplished in

496
00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:22,000
the off-season besides

497
00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:23,000
recruiting?

498
00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,000
>> Fuente: Well, it's strength.

499
00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:26,000
We have got to get stronger in

500
00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,000
order to play at this next

501
00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:29,000
level.

502
00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:30,000
We've got to get stronger in the

503
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,000
offensive-defensive lining and

504
00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:33,000
every single skill position.

505
00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,000
And we've hired the right man

506
00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:36,000
for that job.

507
00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,000
Rohrk Cutchlow is an outstanding

508
00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:39,000
strength coach, as good as

509
00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:40,000
anybody in the country.

510
00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,000
And our kids enjoy working for

511
00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:43,000
him.

512
00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:44,000
He sets a great example for

513
00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:45,000
them.

514
00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,000
He has a great atmosphere in the

515
00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,000
weight room.

516
00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:49,000
And in off-season, the guys are

517
00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,000
there and they're working hard

518
00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,000
and they're working together.

519
00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,000
And along the line of kind of

520
00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,000
know, the line is very clear

521
00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:57,000
with him.

522
00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,000
And they know exactly where they

523
00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,000
stand every single day.

524
00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,000
But to me, that's our biggest

525
00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,000
challenge right now.

526
00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,000
We've got to improve our overall

527
00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,000
strength and become a more

528
00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:06,000
developed football team.

529
00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,000
We're going to be a young

530
00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:09,000
football team for the next

531
00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:10,000
couple of years.

532
00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,000
The young people that come in to

533
00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:13,000
this program are going to play.

534
00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,000
And that's going to be like that

535
00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,000
for the next couple of years.

536
00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:18,000
Our challenge is to get them up

537
00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,000
physically with the people that

538
00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:21,000
we're going to play.

539
00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:22,000
>> Gaston: Justin, we end all

540
00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,000
our interviews with something we

541
00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:25,000
call "five for the road."

542
00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,000
So five questions, five quick

543
00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,000
answers from you.

544
00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:29,000
Okay, they're not hard.

545
00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,000
Favorite professional sports

546
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:32,000
team?

547
00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:33,000
>> Fuente: My favorite

548
00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:34,000
professional sports team?

549
00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:35,000
Well, that's easy.

550
00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:36,000
That's the Grizzlies.

551
00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,000
>> Gaston: Well, there ya go!

552
00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,000
That's the PR answer, as well.

553
00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,000
Favorite athlete of all time?

554
00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,000
>> Fuente: As a child, I was a

555
00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,000
huge Don Mattingly fan, the

556
00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,000
first baseman for the New York

557
00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:46,000
Yankees.

558
00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,000
And obviously, now people know

559
00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:49,000
him as a manager.

560
00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:50,000
But yeah, that was my favorite

561
00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,000
one growing up.

562
00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,000
>> Gaston: Not sure if you're in

563
00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,000
to music but if you are, a

564
00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:56,000
favorite group, singer, genre?

565
00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,000
>> Fuente: Dave Matthews Band,

566
00:13:58,000 --> 00:13:59,000
for me, has been-every year in

567
00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,000
college, I went and saw them

568
00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:02,000
play at a different venue.

569
00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,000
That was my kind of one or two

570
00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,000
day break from football.

571
00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,000
And that's a pretty cool band.

572
00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,000
>> Gaston: Any guys in the

573
00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:09,000
locker room listening to Dave

574
00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,000
Matthews Band?

575
00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,000
>> Fuente: Probably not.

576
00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:13,000
Probably not too many of them.

577
00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,000
>> Gaston: Favorite TV show of

578
00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,000
all time?

579
00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,000
>> Fuente: Well, I was a huge

580
00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,000
Seinfeld fan.

581
00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,000
For me, just the wit with which

582
00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:21,000
that was written, I just

583
00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,000
remember always looking forward

584
00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,000
to watching Seinfeld.

585
00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:25,000
And I wish there were more

586
00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,000
programs like that now still on.

587
00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:28,000
>> Gastin: We'll end it with

588
00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:29,000
this.

589
00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,000
Favorite movie of all time?

590
00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:32,000
Would it be a sports movie?

591
00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,000
>> Fuente: No, Star Wars for me.

592
00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,000
Grew up with the old Star Wars

593
00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:37,000
and, you know, kind of still a

594
00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:38,000
kid at heart.

595
00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,000
Bt really enjoyed those three

596
00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:41,000
movies.

597
00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,000
And the new ones, not so much.

598
00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,000
But the old ones, that's kind of

599
00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,000
my favorite.

600
00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:46,000
>> Gaston: I got you.

601
00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,000
Justin, thank you for spending

602
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:49,000
some time with us.

603
00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:50,000
We appreciate it.

604
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,000
Best of luck on the road

605
00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,000
recruiting and we'll talk to you

606
00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,000
soon.

607
00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:55,000
Happy holidays.

608
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,000
>> Fuente: Thank you!

609
00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:57,000
I look forward to it.

610
00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:58,000
>> Gaston: Alright, we'll take a

611
00:14:58,000 --> 00:14:59,000
break.

612
00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,000
Come back with "Overtime" right

613
00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,000
after this.

614
00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:24,000
>> (instrumental music)

615
00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,000
♪♪♪

616
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,000
♪♪♪

617
00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,000
>> Gaston: Depending on the

618
00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,000
service you look at, the 2013

619
00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,000
recruiting class put together by

620
00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,000
Josh Pastner and his staff at

621
00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:37,000
the University of Memphis is

622
00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,000
ranked 2nd or 3rd in the nation.

623
00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,000
Three of the five signees hail

624
00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,000
from Memphis and include East

625
00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,000
High School's Nick King, Markel

626
00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,000
Crawford out of Melrose High and

627
00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,000
Briarcrest Christian's Austin

628
00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:49,000
Nichols.

629
00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,000
Nichols, a 6'8" Forward,

630
00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,000
received offers by a number of

631
00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:53,000
schools including Duke, but

632
00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,000
decided on the hometown team.

633
00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,000
Recently I spent some time with

634
00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:58,000
Austin and his coach at

635
00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:59,000
Briarcrest Christian, John

636
00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,000
Harrington, and we talked about

637
00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,000
his big decision and what he has

638
00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,000
to offer the Tigers on the

639
00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,000
court.

640
00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,000
Well John, tell me a little

641
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:09,000
about Austin.

642
00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:10,000
What is this player like?

643
00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,000
What is this young man like?

644
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,000
>> Harrington: Well, the first

645
00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,000
thing that makes coaching him so

646
00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,000
enjoyable, he is a fun loving,

647
00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:18,000
high-energy kid that does not

648
00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,000
practice, does not make the

649
00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,000
locker room a boring place to

650
00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:22,000
be.

651
00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,000
He's a highly skilled basketball

652
00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:25,000
player.

653
00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,000
He's very coachable.

654
00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,000
He's becoming a great leader

655
00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,000
this year which is probably the

656
00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,000
most important thing to our team

657
00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,000
is having a kid that's very

658
00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:34,000
successful on the floor but also

659
00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,000
being a great leader for the

660
00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,000
young kids.

661
00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,000
>> Gaston: And as a player, what

662
00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,000
type of skills does he possess?

663
00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,000
>> Harrington: You know, people

664
00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,000
have asked me that question

665
00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:45,000
trying to compare him to some

666
00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:46,000
people.

667
00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,000
You know, and Andrei Kirilenko,

668
00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,000
Kevin McHale, Cody Zeller for

669
00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:51,000
Indiana.

670
00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:52,000
You know, I even maybe made the

671
00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,000
mistake by saying a more

672
00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:55,000
athletic Keith Lee.

673
00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:56,000
>> Gaston: You did say that.

674
00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,000
>> Harrington: But you know,

675
00:16:58,000 --> 00:16:59,000
Austin is Austin.

676
00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:00,000
He's unique.

677
00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:01,000
He's very highly skilled with

678
00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,000
his left hand, his right hand.

679
00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:04,000
He runs the floor great.

680
00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,000
He's got great hands.

681
00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:07,000
I think in college he'll be the

682
00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,000
kind of kid that can step out,

683
00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,000
you know, and pick and pop and

684
00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:12,000
play that game a little bit.

685
00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,000
So he's got some great skills

686
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:15,000
that I think are going to help

687
00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:16,000
the Tigers.

688
00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,000
>> Gaston: Austin, not bad to be

689
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,000
compared to Keith Lee, a former

690
00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:21,000
Tiger great.

691
00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,000
You've really worked hard on

692
00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:23,000
your game.

693
00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,000
Tell everybody just how hard you

694
00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,000
have worked over the years to

695
00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:28,000
become the player you are.

696
00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,000
>> Nichols: Well, early in my

697
00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:31,000
career as a freshman I wasn't

698
00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:32,000
ranked very high.

699
00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,000
And I just worked really hard in

700
00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:36,000
the off-season, got stronger in

701
00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:38,000
the weight room and worked on

702
00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:39,000
being a better leader this year

703
00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:40,000
as coach said.

704
00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,000
I think that's really important.

705
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,000
It's just, I guess, worth work

706
00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:45,000
ethic.

707
00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:46,000
I just got in the gym and

708
00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:47,000
worked.

709
00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,000
>> Gaston: When was the time

710
00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,000
that you thought to yourself-I

711
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,000
could be a pretty good

712
00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,000
basketball player.

713
00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,000
>> Nichols: Well, probably

714
00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,000
middle sophomore and starting of

715
00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:57,000
junior year.

716
00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:58,000
That's when I felt like I was

717
00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,000
doing a pretty good job on the

718
00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,000
varsity level.

719
00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:02,000
I was starting to get more

720
00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,000
looks, you know, the bigger

721
00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,000
colleges-North Carolina, Duke

722
00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:07,000
were coming after me.

723
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,000
And then I was-I realized I

724
00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,000
think I can go somewhere with

725
00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:11,000
basketball.

726
00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:12,000
>> Gaston: Just a few weeks ago

727
00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,000
you made the biggest decision so

728
00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,000
far in your young life deciding

729
00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,000
to pick Memphis over a number of

730
00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:19,000
schools that would have loved

731
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,000
for you to take your skills

732
00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,000
there.

733
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,000
Why Memphis?

734
00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,000
Tell everybody about the

735
00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,000
decision again to pick the

736
00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:27,000
University of Memphis Tigers.

737
00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,000
>> Nichols: I wanted to be a

738
00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:30,000
part of something a lot bigger

739
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,000
than myself which, you know, the

740
00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,000
players there I think I can play

741
00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,000
well with.

742
00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,000
The recruiting class that's

743
00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,000
coming in, I think I can jump in

744
00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,000
there and do pretty good moving

745
00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:41,000
to the Big East.

746
00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:43,000
Some people say I might be a

747
00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:44,000
hometown hero.

748
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:45,000
I didn't really book myself

749
00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,000
under that name but if it works

750
00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:48,000
out to be that, that's

751
00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,000
wonderful.

752
00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,000
But I wanted to stay close to

753
00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:52,000
home and, you know, make my city

754
00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:53,000
proud.

755
00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,000
>> Gaston: John, how much did

756
00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,000
Austin confide in you?

757
00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:57,000
Obviously, he leans on his

758
00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,000
parents to help him make a very

759
00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:00,000
tough decision.

760
00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,000
I would assume he was leaning on

761
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:03,000
his coach as well.

762
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,000
>> Harrington: You know, Austin

763
00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,000
and his family did a lot of

764
00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,000
homework, you know, when they

765
00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:09,000
had to eliminate some high

766
00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,000
profiled schools.

767
00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,000
And I think, you know, he then

768
00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,000
came to me and we started

769
00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,000
talking about style of play of

770
00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,000
maybe the coach that's at the

771
00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,000
University, what that school,

772
00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,000
that team, how they play, what

773
00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,000
type of offense, you know, maybe

774
00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:23,000
what's been their past history

775
00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,000
of maybe players going on to the

776
00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,000
next level, how they developed.

777
00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:28,000
So those are some things as a

778
00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,000
basketball coach maybe had a

779
00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,000
little bit of an insight in to.

780
00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:33,000
And I sort of helped him with

781
00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:34,000
that.

782
00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,000
>> Gaston: How do you see him

783
00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:37,000
fitting in?

784
00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,000
You know the style Memphis runs.

785
00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:40,000
You've watched this team.

786
00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:41,000
It's a little different with

787
00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,000
Josh than it was with John.

788
00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,000
But how do you see Austin

789
00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,000
fitting in with that Tigers

790
00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,000
team?

791
00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:48,000
>> Harrington: Austin has a

792
00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,000
unique ability to score the

793
00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:51,000
basketball around the basket.

794
00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,000
You know, he's been a career 70

795
00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:54,000
percent shooter.

796
00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,000
Right now after three games,

797
00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:57,000
he's shooting 75 percent from

798
00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:58,000
the field.

799
00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,000
I think if you get the ball to

800
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,000
him in the paint a lot or around

801
00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:03,000
the basket, he's going to be

802
00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:04,000
highly productive.

803
00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,000
Like we talked about, he's got

804
00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,000
the ability to maybe go outside

805
00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:09,000
and pick and roll.

806
00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:10,000
He can post up.

807
00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:11,000
I think if you were to ask me

808
00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,000
last year could he post up in

809
00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:14,000
college, I would have said no.

810
00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,000
He was only 190 pounds.

811
00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,000
He's put on 20 pounds.

812
00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,000
So I think, you know, he'll have

813
00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:20,000
a chance if he's playing a four

814
00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,000
man, maybe against the

815
00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:23,000
oppositions four man, to go

816
00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:24,000
inside and score.

817
00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,000
He can also go outside if they

818
00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:27,000
guard him with a five man.

819
00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,000
He's going to create some unique

820
00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,000
match ups, maybe not next year,

821
00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:32,000
but I know down the road he

822
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:33,000
will.

823
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,000
>> Gaston: You know how much

824
00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:36,000
this community loves the Memphis

825
00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:37,000
Tigers.

826
00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,000
So there's always that added

827
00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,000
pressure when the hometown kid

828
00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:42,000
stays home.

829
00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,000
Some have flown the coup and had

830
00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:45,000
success outside of Memphis.

831
00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:46,000
And some have stayed.

832
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:47,000
Many have succeeded.

833
00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:48,000
Some have not succeeded.

834
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,000
Do you mind the pressure?

835
00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:51,000
Do you like-Do you embrace the

836
00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,000
pressure that will be coming

837
00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:54,000
with your entrance in to the

838
00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,000
University of Memphis?

839
00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:57,000
>> Nichols: I don't really mind

840
00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:58,000
it.

841
00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,000
I just take it day-by-day.

842
00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:01,000
I've noticed a lot of people

843
00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,000
know me around the city now, of

844
00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:04,000
course.

845
00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,000
Like the other day I went to a

846
00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,000
Grizzlies game.

847
00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,000
It wasn't even a Tigers game and

848
00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:10,000
people were saying "Go Tigers"

849
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:11,000
to me and everything.

850
00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,000
I think I'm just going to take

851
00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:14,000
it day-by-day.

852
00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,000
You know, stay humble and just

853
00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:17,000
go with it.

854
00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:18,000
>> Gaston: John, do you think

855
00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,000
it's tougher for a local to stay

856
00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:21,000
and play at Memphis?

857
00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,000
>> Harrington: I think it is.

858
00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:24,000
And please take this the right

859
00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,000
way.

860
00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,000
I think the media is going to

861
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,000
cause a lot of the pressure on

862
00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:30,000
him.

863
00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,000
If he plays at Duke, if he plays

864
00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:33,000
at even at a Vandy away from

865
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,000
home, Tennessee, there's going

866
00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,000
to be critics that if he doesn't

867
00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:38,000
listen to the radio shows, if he

868
00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,000
doesn't open up the paper, he's

869
00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,000
going to be sort of, you know,

870
00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:43,000
he's not going to know about

871
00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:44,000
that.

872
00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,000
But at home, you know, they're

873
00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,000
going to know him by his first

874
00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:49,000
name.

875
00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:50,000
They're going to know where he

876
00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:51,000
lives.

877
00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,000
They're going to he went to high

878
00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:54,000
school.

879
00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,000
You know, there's going to be an

880
00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,000
added pressure staying home just

881
00:21:58,000 --> 00:21:59,000
as there would be playing a

882
00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:00,000
major University, a major

883
00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:01,000
basketball program.

884
00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,000
>> Gaston: You were involved in

885
00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,000
a lot of big tournaments this

886
00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:06,000
year.

887
00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:07,000
Briarcrest Christian School is.

888
00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,000
Expectations certainly are to

889
00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,000
win a state championship but

890
00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:12,000
other than that, individually,

891
00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,000
Austin, what are your goals for

892
00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:15,000
your senior year?

893
00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:16,000
>> Nichols: I mean, as you

894
00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:17,000
mentioned, the state

895
00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:18,000
championship.

896
00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,000
I wanted to be a better leader

897
00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,000
this year since I'm a senior.

898
00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:23,000
I got to look at many players

899
00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,000
coming through here being

900
00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:26,000
leaders and I've definitely

901
00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,000
picked up on that and learned

902
00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:29,000
from that.

903
00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:30,000
I'd love to be, have the

904
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,000
opportunity to be a nominee for

905
00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:33,000
Mr. Basketball.

906
00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:34,000
That'd be great.

907
00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,000
And help the younger kids out

908
00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,000
because I was once a younger

909
00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:38,000
kid.

910
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,000
I didn't know what I was doing

911
00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:41,000
out there.

912
00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:42,000
And if they have somebody to

913
00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,000
guide them to, you know, what to

914
00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,000
do and everything, I think it's

915
00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:47,000
better for them and ultimately,

916
00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:48,000
state championship.

917
00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,000
>> Gaston: John, it'd be great

918
00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,000
to have an Austin Nichols every

919
00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:53,000
year on your team.

920
00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,000
Unfortunately, you got one more

921
00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:56,000
year with this young man.

922
00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:57,000
Your expectations?

923
00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,000
>> Harrington: Of course every

924
00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:00,000
coach is going to say you want

925
00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,000
to try to, you know, achieve a

926
00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,000
state championship.

927
00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,000
I think Austin said it right.

928
00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:06,000
You know, the by-product of

929
00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:08,000
winning the state championship

930
00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:10,000
is his leadership and maybe next

931
00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:11,000
year, leaving me a group of

932
00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:12,000
young men that he's maybe

933
00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,000
affected in a positive way.

934
00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:15,000
Maybe these young boys that

935
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,000
they're coming up through

936
00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:18,000
Briarcrest can see how he

937
00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,000
handled this whole adventure and

938
00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:21,000
how he's been so humble in it

939
00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,000
but yet, worked hard to achieve

940
00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,000
all the accolades he received.

941
00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:27,000
>> Gaston: I'll leave you with

942
00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:28,000
this question for both of you.

943
00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,000
One word to describe yourself,

944
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:31,000
the basketball player.

945
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,000
And then John, you've got to

946
00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:34,000
come back with one word but it's

947
00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,000
going to be a different word.

948
00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,000
Austin, one word to describe

949
00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:39,000
yourself.

950
00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:40,000
>> Nichols: Only one word?

951
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:41,000
Oh, man!

952
00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,000
I probably have to say-probably

953
00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:44,000
goofy.

954
00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,000
>> Gaston: Goofy?

955
00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:46,000
>> Nichols: Yeah, I mean, if we

956
00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,000
could use one word on the court

957
00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:49,000
and one word off.

958
00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:51,000
>> Gaston: Sure, goofy's off the

959
00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:52,000
court.

960
00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:53,000
Better not be goofy on the

961
00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:54,000
court.

962
00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,000
You've got your coach sitting

963
00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:57,000
next to you here.

964
00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:58,000
What's on the court?

965
00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:59,000
>> Nichols: On the court-

966
00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,000
>> Gaston: Some would say

967
00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:02,000
relentless, or warrior, or

968
00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:03,000
winner, or champion.

969
00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,000
>> Nichols: Probably focused or

970
00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:06,000
a winner.

971
00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,000
>> Gaston: Yeah, focused is an

972
00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:09,000
excellent word.

973
00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:10,000
John?

974
00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:11,000
>> Harrington: Describing him on

975
00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,000
the basketball court?-skilled.

976
00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,000
>> Gaston: Hey, that's a pretty

977
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:16,000
good word to be described,

978
00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:17,000
right?

979
00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,000
Austin, thank you so much.

980
00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,000
Congratulations on your decision

981
00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:22,000
and best of luck the rest of the

982
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:23,000
season.

983
00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,000
John, as always, a pleasure.

984
00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:26,000
Best of luck to Briarcrest.

985
00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:27,000
Thanks, guys.

986
00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,000
>> Nichols: Thank you.

987
00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:30,000
I appreciate it.

988
00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,000
>> Gaston: Before we put a wrap

989
00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:34,000
on this week's show we want to

990
00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,000
send out our congratulations to

991
00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:38,000
the Whitehaven High School

992
00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:40,000
Football team, who last weekend

993
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,000
completed a perfect 15-0 season

994
00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,000
by winning their first ever

995
00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:45,000
state championship.

996
00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,000
The Tigers won the class 6-A

997
00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,000
title in dramatic fashion,

998
00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:50,000
defeating Maryville 36-35 in

999
00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,000
overtime as star tailback Mark

1000
00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,000
Dodson ran in a two point

1001
00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:55,000
conversion.

1002
00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,000
Dodson capped off an amazing

1003
00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,000
career with a 318 yard, 5 TD

1004
00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:00,000
rushing performance.

1005
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,000
Also hats off to MUS, ECS in

1006
00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,000
Covington for getting to their

1007
00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,000
respective title games, only to

1008
00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:07,000
come up a bit short.

1009
00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,000
And that will do it for this

1010
00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:10,000
week.

1011
00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:11,000
Remember, you can view any

1012
00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,000
previous Sports Files show at

1013
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,000
any time by going to WKNO-dot-

1014
00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,000
org and clicking on KNO Tonite.

1015
00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,000
And we'll see you next time.

1016
00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:52,000
>> (instrumental music)

1017
00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,000
♪♪♪

1018
00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:59,000
♪♪♪