WEBVTT

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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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compete for jobs and continue to

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rotate reps and continue to

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facilitate a competitive

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environment.

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I think that's the key when

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you're trying to climb the

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mountain, as they say.

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Let's continue to make it a

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competitive environment.

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Let's continue to push people to

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see how good they can be because

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ultimately, that's the only way

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you can really accomplish

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something special is if you're

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pushed everyday to be better

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than you thought you could be.

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And that's kind of what will be

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our mind frame as we move on.

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>> Gaston: From the outside

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looking in watching you coach

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from the sidelines, early on in

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the season it seemed like you

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were getting a feel for

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everything.

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Your first head coaching job.

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A little bit conservative.

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Then as the season progressed,

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you were taking shots, going for

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it on fourth down, fake punts,

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this and that.

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Is that more your style?

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Do you believe that's going to

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be your style from here on out?

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>> Fuente: Well, I think so.

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You know, I don't want to take

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and un do risks.

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I want to try and give our team

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the best chance to win.

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But I think, you know, we kind

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of came and we reached some

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conclusions as a team with the

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field goal situation that if it

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was close, we're going to go

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ahead and go for it which really

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helped us achieve our identity.

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But yeah, I don't mind those

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things.

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We've got a great special teams

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coordinator named James Shibest

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that does a great job every week

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scheming up fakes and ways to

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attack other people's special

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teams.

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So I don't have really any

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problem with pulling a trigger

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on going for it or trick plays.

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I think the kids, too, quite

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honestly, you know, kind of

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earned our trust a little more.

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As the season went on, we felt

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more comfortable doing those

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things with those guys.

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And you know, it kept us in some

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ball games late.

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>> Gaston: This is a tough

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question.

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Next year, as you know, Big

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East.

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Are you guys ready for the Big

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East?

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Not like you have a choice but

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are you ready for the Big East?

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And also, your thoughts on this

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ever-changing conference.

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We've had movement just in the

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past seven to ten days.

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Teams coming in, teams leaving

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and I don't know if that's going

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to slow down.

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It seems like there's going to

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be some more movement.

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So your thoughts on the Big East

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and this team being ready to go.

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>> Fuente: Well no, we're not

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ready.

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But we just finished this past

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season and we've got a long way

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to go to be competitive in that

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league.

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We will get there and we will be

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ready.

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But you know, that's the

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challenge ahead for the team

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right now.

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And look how hard we had to work

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to accomplish just this which is

09:49.000 --> 09:51.000
something to be proud of and has

09:51.000 --> 09:52.000
come a long way from where we

09:52.000 --> 09:53.000
were.

09:53.000 --> 09:55.000
We have to ratchet it up even

09:55.000 --> 09:56.000
further in order to competitive

09:56.000 --> 09:57.000
in our new league.

09:57.000 --> 09:59.000
And that comes through the

09:59.000 --> 10:00.000
summertime.

10:00.000 --> 10:01.000
That comes through off-season.

10:01.000 --> 10:03.000
That comes through spring ball

10:03.000 --> 10:04.000
and winter work-outs.

10:04.000 --> 10:05.000
And I look forward to our guys

10:05.000 --> 10:07.000
meeting that challenge.

10:07.000 --> 10:08.000
As far as the Big East and kind

10:08.000 --> 10:10.000
of ever-changing face of college

10:10.000 --> 10:11.000
football, you know, I don't

10:11.000 --> 10:12.000
think it's finished.

10:12.000 --> 10:14.000
And I don't think there's

10:14.000 --> 10:15.000
anything any of us can do about

10:15.000 --> 10:16.000
it.

10:16.000 --> 10:18.000
You know, I think we're in a

10:18.000 --> 10:19.000
great position.

10:19.000 --> 10:20.000
We're in a position of power.

10:20.000 --> 10:22.000
We're in a quote-unquote BCS

10:22.000 --> 10:23.000
league that maybe is changing

10:23.000 --> 10:25.000
and there's no telling exactly

10:25.000 --> 10:26.000
how it's going to end up.

10:26.000 --> 10:28.000
But as far as University of

10:28.000 --> 10:29.000
Memphis and its athletic

10:29.000 --> 10:30.000
department, we're in a great

10:30.000 --> 10:32.000
position to kind of launch of

10:32.000 --> 10:33.000
spring board off in to the next

10:33.000 --> 10:34.000
15, 20 years.

10:34.000 --> 10:36.000
>> Gaston: Recently, the school

10:36.000 --> 10:38.000
announced a home and home with

10:38.000 --> 10:39.000
UCLA.

10:39.000 --> 10:40.000
You'll be heading out to the

10:40.000 --> 10:42.000
Rose Bowl in 2014 which I would

10:42.000 --> 10:43.000
imagine has to excite recruits

10:43.000 --> 10:44.000
and current players.

10:44.000 --> 10:46.000
We already know that Tennessees

10:46.000 --> 10:48.000
back on the schedule down the

10:48.000 --> 10:49.000
line.

10:49.000 --> 10:50.000
Ole Miss, Missouri -

10:50.000 --> 10:51.000
What do you think about the

10:51.000 --> 10:53.000
future direction of scheduling

10:53.000 --> 10:54.000
the non-conference portion of

10:54.000 --> 10:55.000
that schedule?

10:55.000 --> 10:57.000
>> Fuente: Well, I'm all for

10:57.000 --> 10:58.000
playing those type of people.

10:58.000 --> 10:59.000
I think we have to also

10:59.000 --> 11:01.000
understand where we're at as a

11:01.000 --> 11:03.000
program and make sure that we're

11:03.000 --> 11:04.000
not over scheduling our guys.

11:04.000 --> 11:06.000
We're taking a step up in to

11:06.000 --> 11:07.000
another league.

11:07.000 --> 11:08.000
We're going in to the Big East

11:08.000 --> 11:09.000
conference.

11:09.000 --> 11:11.000
You know, and I'm all for

11:11.000 --> 11:12.000
playing the UCLAs of the world

11:12.000 --> 11:14.000
and driving across state and

11:14.000 --> 11:15.000
playing Tennessee.

11:15.000 --> 11:16.000
But I think we need to make sure

11:16.000 --> 11:18.000
we mix and match those things

11:18.000 --> 11:19.000
with other proper scheduling

11:19.000 --> 11:21.000
philosophies which is what were

11:21.000 --> 11:22.000
doing.

11:22.000 --> 11:23.000
Which Tom and I have met

11:23.000 --> 11:25.000
extensively about it and will

11:25.000 --> 11:26.000
continue to meet about it.

11:26.000 --> 11:28.000
But I'm excited to go take a

11:28.000 --> 11:29.000
shot at those type of people and

11:29.000 --> 11:31.000
play those type of schedules.

11:31.000 --> 11:32.000
>> Gaston: Give me one thing

11:32.000 --> 11:34.000
that you have learned about this

11:34.000 --> 11:35.000
program that you had no idea

11:35.000 --> 11:36.000
going in to it.

11:36.000 --> 11:38.000
>> Fuente: Well as far as the

11:38.000 --> 11:39.000
program, you know, I learned

11:39.000 --> 11:41.000
from a good perspective really

11:41.000 --> 11:43.000
the deep down character and love

11:43.000 --> 11:44.000
for the game these kids have.

11:44.000 --> 11:46.000
They just hadn't brought it out

11:46.000 --> 11:47.000
before.

11:47.000 --> 11:48.000
You know, kids that hasn't had

11:48.000 --> 11:49.000
much success.

11:49.000 --> 11:51.000
They had never really been fully

11:51.000 --> 11:53.000
invested in something bigger

11:53.000 --> 11:54.000
than themselves.

11:54.000 --> 11:55.000
And they're almost there.

11:55.000 --> 11:56.000
They're not fully there.

11:56.000 --> 11:58.000
But to see those guys really,

11:58.000 --> 11:59.000
their true character revealed

11:59.000 --> 12:01.000
out there through a tough season

12:01.000 --> 12:02.000
and to see them play like they

12:02.000 --> 12:04.000
played at the end of the year, I

12:04.000 --> 12:06.000
think speaks volume about them

12:06.000 --> 12:07.000
and the type of people they are.

12:07.000 --> 12:09.000
And their parents, the people

12:09.000 --> 12:10.000
that raised them.

12:10.000 --> 12:12.000
And I'm awfully proud of that.

12:12.000 --> 12:13.000
I didn't know that beforehand.

12:13.000 --> 12:15.000
I was uncertain exactly what

12:15.000 --> 12:16.000
they had deep down inside and I

12:16.000 --> 12:18.000
was pleased at what we found.

12:18.000 --> 12:19.000
>> Gaston: Most important thing

12:19.000 --> 12:21.000
that has to be accomplished in

12:21.000 --> 12:22.000
the off-season besides

12:22.000 --> 12:23.000
recruiting?

12:23.000 --> 12:25.000
>> Fuente: Well, it's strength.

12:25.000 --> 12:26.000
We have got to get stronger in

12:26.000 --> 12:28.000
order to play at this next

12:28.000 --> 12:29.000
level.

12:29.000 --> 12:30.000
We've got to get stronger in the

12:30.000 --> 12:32.000
offensive-defensive lining and

12:32.000 --> 12:33.000
every single skill position.

12:33.000 --> 12:35.000
And we've hired the right man

12:35.000 --> 12:36.000
for that job.

12:36.000 --> 12:38.000
Rohrk Cutchlow is an outstanding

12:38.000 --> 12:39.000
strength coach, as good as

12:39.000 --> 12:40.000
anybody in the country.

12:40.000 --> 12:42.000
And our kids enjoy working for

12:42.000 --> 12:43.000
him.

12:43.000 --> 12:44.000
He sets a great example for

12:44.000 --> 12:45.000
them.

12:45.000 --> 12:47.000
He has a great atmosphere in the

12:47.000 --> 12:48.000
weight room.

12:48.000 --> 12:49.000
And in off-season, the guys are

12:49.000 --> 12:51.000
there and they're working hard

12:51.000 --> 12:53.000
and they're working together.

12:53.000 --> 12:54.000
And along the line of kind of

12:54.000 --> 12:56.000
know, the line is very clear

12:56.000 --> 12:57.000
with him.

12:57.000 --> 12:58.000
And they know exactly where they

12:58.000 --> 12:59.000
stand every single day.

12:59.000 --> 13:01.000
But to me, that's our biggest

13:01.000 --> 13:02.000
challenge right now.

13:02.000 --> 13:04.000
We've got to improve our overall

13:04.000 --> 13:05.000
strength and become a more

13:05.000 --> 13:06.000
developed football team.

13:06.000 --> 13:08.000
We're going to be a young

13:08.000 --> 13:09.000
football team for the next

13:09.000 --> 13:10.000
couple of years.

13:10.000 --> 13:12.000
The young people that come in to

13:12.000 --> 13:13.000
this program are going to play.

13:13.000 --> 13:15.000
And that's going to be like that

13:15.000 --> 13:17.000
for the next couple of years.

13:17.000 --> 13:18.000
Our challenge is to get them up

13:18.000 --> 13:20.000
physically with the people that

13:20.000 --> 13:21.000
we're going to play.

13:21.000 --> 13:22.000
>> Gaston: Justin, we end all

13:22.000 --> 13:24.000
our interviews with something we

13:24.000 --> 13:25.000
call "five for the road."

13:25.000 --> 13:27.000
So five questions, five quick

13:27.000 --> 13:28.000
answers from you.

13:28.000 --> 13:29.000
Okay, they're not hard.

13:29.000 --> 13:31.000
Favorite professional sports

13:31.000 --> 13:32.000
team?

13:32.000 --> 13:33.000
>> Fuente: My favorite

13:33.000 --> 13:34.000
professional sports team?

13:34.000 --> 13:35.000
Well, that's easy.

13:35.000 --> 13:36.000
That's the Grizzlies.

13:36.000 --> 13:38.000
>> Gaston: Well, there ya go!

13:38.000 --> 13:39.000
That's the PR answer, as well.

13:39.000 --> 13:41.000
Favorite athlete of all time?

13:41.000 --> 13:42.000
>> Fuente: As a child, I was a

13:42.000 --> 13:44.000
huge Don Mattingly fan, the

13:44.000 --> 13:45.000
first baseman for the New York

13:45.000 --> 13:46.000
Yankees.

13:46.000 --> 13:48.000
And obviously, now people know

13:48.000 --> 13:49.000
him as a manager.

13:49.000 --> 13:50.000
But yeah, that was my favorite

13:50.000 --> 13:51.000
one growing up.

13:51.000 --> 13:53.000
>> Gaston: Not sure if you're in

13:53.000 --> 13:55.000
to music but if you are, a

13:55.000 --> 13:56.000
favorite group, singer, genre?

13:56.000 --> 13:58.000
>> Fuente: Dave Matthews Band,

13:58.000 --> 13:59.000
for me, has been-every year in

13:59.000 --> 14:01.000
college, I went and saw them

14:01.000 --> 14:02.000
play at a different venue.

14:02.000 --> 14:04.000
That was my kind of one or two

14:04.000 --> 14:05.000
day break from football.

14:05.000 --> 14:07.000
And that's a pretty cool band.

14:07.000 --> 14:08.000
>> Gaston: Any guys in the

14:08.000 --> 14:09.000
locker room listening to Dave

14:09.000 --> 14:10.000
Matthews Band?

14:10.000 --> 14:12.000
>> Fuente: Probably not.

14:12.000 --> 14:13.000
Probably not too many of them.

14:13.000 --> 14:15.000
>> Gaston: Favorite TV show of

14:15.000 --> 14:16.000
all time?

14:16.000 --> 14:17.000
>> Fuente: Well, I was a huge

14:17.000 --> 14:18.000
Seinfeld fan.

14:18.000 --> 14:20.000
For me, just the wit with which

14:20.000 --> 14:21.000
that was written, I just

14:21.000 --> 14:23.000
remember always looking forward

14:23.000 --> 14:24.000
to watching Seinfeld.

14:24.000 --> 14:25.000
And I wish there were more

14:25.000 --> 14:27.000
programs like that now still on.

14:27.000 --> 14:28.000
>> Gastin: We'll end it with

14:28.000 --> 14:29.000
this.

14:29.000 --> 14:31.000
Favorite movie of all time?

14:31.000 --> 14:32.000
Would it be a sports movie?

14:32.000 --> 14:34.000
>> Fuente: No, Star Wars for me.

14:34.000 --> 14:36.000
Grew up with the old Star Wars

14:36.000 --> 14:37.000
and, you know, kind of still a

14:37.000 --> 14:38.000
kid at heart.

14:38.000 --> 14:40.000
Bt really enjoyed those three

14:40.000 --> 14:41.000
movies.

14:41.000 --> 14:42.000
And the new ones, not so much.

14:42.000 --> 14:44.000
But the old ones, that's kind of

14:44.000 --> 14:45.000
my favorite.

14:45.000 --> 14:46.000
>> Gaston: I got you.

14:46.000 --> 14:48.000
Justin, thank you for spending

14:48.000 --> 14:49.000
some time with us.

14:49.000 --> 14:50.000
We appreciate it.

14:50.000 --> 14:51.000
Best of luck on the road

14:51.000 --> 14:53.000
recruiting and we'll talk to you

14:53.000 --> 14:54.000
soon.

14:54.000 --> 14:55.000
Happy holidays.

14:55.000 --> 14:56.000
>> Fuente: Thank you!

14:56.000 --> 14:57.000
I look forward to it.

14:57.000 --> 14:58.000
>> Gaston: Alright, we'll take a

14:58.000 --> 14:59.000
break.

14:59.000 --> 15:01.000
Come back with "Overtime" right

15:01.000 --> 15:03.000
after this.

15:03.000 --> 15:24.000
>> (instrumental music)

15:24.000 --> 15:26.000
♪♪♪

15:26.000 --> 15:29.000
♪♪♪

15:29.000 --> 15:31.000
>> Gaston: Depending on the

15:31.000 --> 15:32.000
service you look at, the 2013

15:32.000 --> 15:34.000
recruiting class put together by

15:34.000 --> 15:36.000
Josh Pastner and his staff at

15:36.000 --> 15:37.000
the University of Memphis is

15:37.000 --> 15:39.000
ranked 2nd or 3rd in the nation.

15:39.000 --> 15:41.000
Three of the five signees hail

15:41.000 --> 15:42.000
from Memphis and include East

15:42.000 --> 15:44.000
High School's Nick King, Markel

15:44.000 --> 15:46.000
Crawford out of Melrose High and

15:46.000 --> 15:48.000
Briarcrest Christian's Austin

15:48.000 --> 15:49.000
Nichols.

15:49.000 --> 15:50.000
Nichols, a 6'8" Forward,

15:50.000 --> 15:52.000
received offers by a number of

15:52.000 --> 15:53.000
schools including Duke, but

15:53.000 --> 15:55.000
decided on the hometown team.

15:55.000 --> 15:57.000
Recently I spent some time with

15:57.000 --> 15:58.000
Austin and his coach at

15:58.000 --> 15:59.000
Briarcrest Christian, John

15:59.000 --> 16:01.000
Harrington, and we talked about

16:01.000 --> 16:03.000
his big decision and what he has

16:03.000 --> 16:04.000
to offer the Tigers on the

16:04.000 --> 16:06.000
court.

16:06.000 --> 16:08.000
Well John, tell me a little

16:08.000 --> 16:09.000
about Austin.

16:09.000 --> 16:10.000
What is this player like?

16:10.000 --> 16:11.000
What is this young man like?

16:11.000 --> 16:13.000
>> Harrington: Well, the first

16:13.000 --> 16:15.000
thing that makes coaching him so

16:15.000 --> 16:17.000
enjoyable, he is a fun loving,

16:17.000 --> 16:18.000
high-energy kid that does not

16:18.000 --> 16:20.000
practice, does not make the

16:20.000 --> 16:21.000
locker room a boring place to

16:21.000 --> 16:22.000
be.

16:22.000 --> 16:24.000
He's a highly skilled basketball

16:24.000 --> 16:25.000
player.

16:25.000 --> 16:26.000
He's very coachable.

16:26.000 --> 16:28.000
He's becoming a great leader

16:28.000 --> 16:29.000
this year which is probably the

16:29.000 --> 16:31.000
most important thing to our team

16:31.000 --> 16:33.000
is having a kid that's very

16:33.000 --> 16:34.000
successful on the floor but also

16:34.000 --> 16:36.000
being a great leader for the

16:36.000 --> 16:37.000
young kids.

16:37.000 --> 16:39.000
>> Gaston: And as a player, what

16:39.000 --> 16:41.000
type of skills does he possess?

16:41.000 --> 16:42.000
>> Harrington: You know, people

16:42.000 --> 16:44.000
have asked me that question

16:44.000 --> 16:45.000
trying to compare him to some

16:45.000 --> 16:46.000
people.

16:46.000 --> 16:48.000
You know, and Andrei Kirilenko,

16:48.000 --> 16:50.000
Kevin McHale, Cody Zeller for

16:50.000 --> 16:51.000
Indiana.

16:51.000 --> 16:52.000
You know, I even maybe made the

16:52.000 --> 16:54.000
mistake by saying a more

16:54.000 --> 16:55.000
athletic Keith Lee.

16:55.000 --> 16:56.000
>> Gaston: You did say that.

16:56.000 --> 16:58.000
>> Harrington: But you know,

16:58.000 --> 16:59.000
Austin is Austin.

16:59.000 --> 17:00.000
He's unique.

17:00.000 --> 17:01.000
He's very highly skilled with

17:01.000 --> 17:03.000
his left hand, his right hand.

17:03.000 --> 17:04.000
He runs the floor great.

17:04.000 --> 17:06.000
He's got great hands.

17:06.000 --> 17:07.000
I think in college he'll be the

17:07.000 --> 17:09.000
kind of kid that can step out,

17:09.000 --> 17:11.000
you know, and pick and pop and

17:11.000 --> 17:12.000
play that game a little bit.

17:12.000 --> 17:14.000
So he's got some great skills

17:14.000 --> 17:15.000
that I think are going to help

17:15.000 --> 17:16.000
the Tigers.

17:16.000 --> 17:18.000
>> Gaston: Austin, not bad to be

17:18.000 --> 17:20.000
compared to Keith Lee, a former

17:20.000 --> 17:21.000
Tiger great.

17:21.000 --> 17:22.000
You've really worked hard on

17:22.000 --> 17:23.000
your game.

17:23.000 --> 17:25.000
Tell everybody just how hard you

17:25.000 --> 17:27.000
have worked over the years to

17:27.000 --> 17:28.000
become the player you are.

17:28.000 --> 17:30.000
>> Nichols: Well, early in my

17:30.000 --> 17:31.000
career as a freshman I wasn't

17:31.000 --> 17:32.000
ranked very high.

17:32.000 --> 17:34.000
And I just worked really hard in

17:34.000 --> 17:36.000
the off-season, got stronger in

17:36.000 --> 17:38.000
the weight room and worked on

17:38.000 --> 17:39.000
being a better leader this year

17:39.000 --> 17:40.000
as coach said.

17:40.000 --> 17:42.000
I think that's really important.

17:42.000 --> 17:44.000
It's just, I guess, worth work

17:44.000 --> 17:45.000
ethic.

17:45.000 --> 17:46.000
I just got in the gym and

17:46.000 --> 17:47.000
worked.

17:47.000 --> 17:49.000
>> Gaston: When was the time

17:49.000 --> 17:50.000
that you thought to yourself-I

17:50.000 --> 17:52.000
could be a pretty good

17:52.000 --> 17:53.000
basketball player.

17:53.000 --> 17:54.000
>> Nichols: Well, probably

17:54.000 --> 17:56.000
middle sophomore and starting of

17:56.000 --> 17:57.000
junior year.

17:57.000 --> 17:58.000
That's when I felt like I was

17:58.000 --> 18:00.000
doing a pretty good job on the

18:00.000 --> 18:01.000
varsity level.

18:01.000 --> 18:02.000
I was starting to get more

18:02.000 --> 18:04.000
looks, you know, the bigger

18:04.000 --> 18:06.000
colleges-North Carolina, Duke

18:06.000 --> 18:07.000
were coming after me.

18:07.000 --> 18:08.000
And then I was-I realized I

18:08.000 --> 18:10.000
think I can go somewhere with

18:10.000 --> 18:11.000
basketball.

18:11.000 --> 18:12.000
>> Gaston: Just a few weeks ago

18:12.000 --> 18:14.000
you made the biggest decision so

18:14.000 --> 18:16.000
far in your young life deciding

18:16.000 --> 18:18.000
to pick Memphis over a number of

18:18.000 --> 18:19.000
schools that would have loved

18:19.000 --> 18:21.000
for you to take your skills

18:21.000 --> 18:22.000
there.

18:22.000 --> 18:23.000
Why Memphis?

18:23.000 --> 18:24.000
Tell everybody about the

18:24.000 --> 18:26.000
decision again to pick the

18:26.000 --> 18:27.000
University of Memphis Tigers.

18:27.000 --> 18:29.000
>> Nichols: I wanted to be a

18:29.000 --> 18:30.000
part of something a lot bigger

18:30.000 --> 18:32.000
than myself which, you know, the

18:32.000 --> 18:34.000
players there I think I can play

18:34.000 --> 18:35.000
well with.

18:35.000 --> 18:36.000
The recruiting class that's

18:36.000 --> 18:38.000
coming in, I think I can jump in

18:38.000 --> 18:40.000
there and do pretty good moving

18:40.000 --> 18:41.000
to the Big East.

18:41.000 --> 18:43.000
Some people say I might be a

18:43.000 --> 18:44.000
hometown hero.

18:44.000 --> 18:45.000
I didn't really book myself

18:45.000 --> 18:47.000
under that name but if it works

18:47.000 --> 18:48.000
out to be that, that's

18:48.000 --> 18:49.000
wonderful.

18:49.000 --> 18:51.000
But I wanted to stay close to

18:51.000 --> 18:52.000
home and, you know, make my city

18:52.000 --> 18:53.000
proud.

18:53.000 --> 18:55.000
>> Gaston: John, how much did

18:55.000 --> 18:56.000
Austin confide in you?

18:56.000 --> 18:57.000
Obviously, he leans on his

18:57.000 --> 18:59.000
parents to help him make a very

18:59.000 --> 19:00.000
tough decision.

19:00.000 --> 19:02.000
I would assume he was leaning on

19:02.000 --> 19:03.000
his coach as well.

19:03.000 --> 19:05.000
>> Harrington: You know, Austin

19:05.000 --> 19:06.000
and his family did a lot of

19:06.000 --> 19:08.000
homework, you know, when they

19:08.000 --> 19:09.000
had to eliminate some high

19:09.000 --> 19:10.000
profiled schools.

19:10.000 --> 19:12.000
And I think, you know, he then

19:12.000 --> 19:13.000
came to me and we started

19:13.000 --> 19:15.000
talking about style of play of

19:15.000 --> 19:17.000
maybe the coach that's at the

19:17.000 --> 19:18.000
University, what that school,

19:18.000 --> 19:20.000
that team, how they play, what

19:20.000 --> 19:22.000
type of offense, you know, maybe

19:22.000 --> 19:23.000
what's been their past history

19:23.000 --> 19:25.000
of maybe players going on to the

19:25.000 --> 19:27.000
next level, how they developed.

19:27.000 --> 19:28.000
So those are some things as a

19:28.000 --> 19:30.000
basketball coach maybe had a

19:30.000 --> 19:32.000
little bit of an insight in to.

19:32.000 --> 19:33.000
And I sort of helped him with

19:33.000 --> 19:34.000
that.

19:34.000 --> 19:36.000
>> Gaston: How do you see him

19:36.000 --> 19:37.000
fitting in?

19:37.000 --> 19:39.000
You know the style Memphis runs.

19:39.000 --> 19:40.000
You've watched this team.

19:40.000 --> 19:41.000
It's a little different with

19:41.000 --> 19:43.000
Josh than it was with John.

19:43.000 --> 19:44.000
But how do you see Austin

19:44.000 --> 19:46.000
fitting in with that Tigers

19:46.000 --> 19:47.000
team?

19:47.000 --> 19:48.000
>> Harrington: Austin has a

19:48.000 --> 19:50.000
unique ability to score the

19:50.000 --> 19:51.000
basketball around the basket.

19:51.000 --> 19:53.000
You know, he's been a career 70

19:53.000 --> 19:54.000
percent shooter.

19:54.000 --> 19:56.000
Right now after three games,

19:56.000 --> 19:57.000
he's shooting 75 percent from

19:57.000 --> 19:58.000
the field.

19:58.000 --> 20:00.000
I think if you get the ball to

20:00.000 --> 20:02.000
him in the paint a lot or around

20:02.000 --> 20:03.000
the basket, he's going to be

20:03.000 --> 20:04.000
highly productive.

20:04.000 --> 20:06.000
Like we talked about, he's got

20:06.000 --> 20:08.000
the ability to maybe go outside

20:08.000 --> 20:09.000
and pick and roll.

20:09.000 --> 20:10.000
He can post up.

20:10.000 --> 20:11.000
I think if you were to ask me

20:11.000 --> 20:13.000
last year could he post up in

20:13.000 --> 20:14.000
college, I would have said no.

20:14.000 --> 20:16.000
He was only 190 pounds.

20:16.000 --> 20:17.000
He's put on 20 pounds.

20:17.000 --> 20:19.000
So I think, you know, he'll have

20:19.000 --> 20:20.000
a chance if he's playing a four

20:20.000 --> 20:22.000
man, maybe against the

20:22.000 --> 20:23.000
oppositions four man, to go

20:23.000 --> 20:24.000
inside and score.

20:24.000 --> 20:26.000
He can also go outside if they

20:26.000 --> 20:27.000
guard him with a five man.

20:27.000 --> 20:29.000
He's going to create some unique

20:29.000 --> 20:31.000
match ups, maybe not next year,

20:31.000 --> 20:32.000
but I know down the road he

20:32.000 --> 20:33.000
will.

20:33.000 --> 20:35.000
>> Gaston: You know how much

20:35.000 --> 20:36.000
this community loves the Memphis

20:36.000 --> 20:37.000
Tigers.

20:37.000 --> 20:39.000
So there's always that added

20:39.000 --> 20:41.000
pressure when the hometown kid

20:41.000 --> 20:42.000
stays home.

20:42.000 --> 20:43.000
Some have flown the coup and had

20:43.000 --> 20:45.000
success outside of Memphis.

20:45.000 --> 20:46.000
And some have stayed.

20:46.000 --> 20:47.000
Many have succeeded.

20:47.000 --> 20:48.000
Some have not succeeded.

20:48.000 --> 20:50.000
Do you mind the pressure?

20:50.000 --> 20:51.000
Do you like-Do you embrace the

20:51.000 --> 20:53.000
pressure that will be coming

20:53.000 --> 20:54.000
with your entrance in to the

20:54.000 --> 20:56.000
University of Memphis?

20:56.000 --> 20:57.000
>> Nichols: I don't really mind

20:57.000 --> 20:58.000
it.

20:58.000 --> 21:00.000
I just take it day-by-day.

21:00.000 --> 21:01.000
I've noticed a lot of people

21:01.000 --> 21:03.000
know me around the city now, of

21:03.000 --> 21:04.000
course.

21:04.000 --> 21:06.000
Like the other day I went to a

21:06.000 --> 21:07.000
Grizzlies game.

21:07.000 --> 21:09.000
It wasn't even a Tigers game and

21:09.000 --> 21:10.000
people were saying "Go Tigers"

21:10.000 --> 21:11.000
to me and everything.

21:11.000 --> 21:13.000
I think I'm just going to take

21:13.000 --> 21:14.000
it day-by-day.

21:14.000 --> 21:16.000
You know, stay humble and just

21:16.000 --> 21:17.000
go with it.

21:17.000 --> 21:18.000
>> Gaston: John, do you think

21:18.000 --> 21:20.000
it's tougher for a local to stay

21:20.000 --> 21:21.000
and play at Memphis?

21:21.000 --> 21:23.000
>> Harrington: I think it is.

21:23.000 --> 21:24.000
And please take this the right

21:24.000 --> 21:25.000
way.

21:25.000 --> 21:27.000
I think the media is going to

21:27.000 --> 21:29.000
cause a lot of the pressure on

21:29.000 --> 21:30.000
him.

21:30.000 --> 21:32.000
If he plays at Duke, if he plays

21:32.000 --> 21:33.000
at even at a Vandy away from

21:33.000 --> 21:35.000
home, Tennessee, there's going

21:35.000 --> 21:37.000
to be critics that if he doesn't

21:37.000 --> 21:38.000
listen to the radio shows, if he

21:38.000 --> 21:40.000
doesn't open up the paper, he's

21:40.000 --> 21:42.000
going to be sort of, you know,

21:42.000 --> 21:43.000
he's not going to know about

21:43.000 --> 21:44.000
that.

21:44.000 --> 21:46.000
But at home, you know, they're

21:46.000 --> 21:48.000
going to know him by his first

21:48.000 --> 21:49.000
name.

21:49.000 --> 21:50.000
They're going to know where he

21:50.000 --> 21:51.000
lives.

21:51.000 --> 21:53.000
They're going to he went to high

21:53.000 --> 21:54.000
school.

21:54.000 --> 21:56.000
You know, there's going to be an

21:56.000 --> 21:58.000
added pressure staying home just

21:58.000 --> 21:59.000
as there would be playing a

21:59.000 --> 22:00.000
major University, a major

22:00.000 --> 22:01.000
basketball program.

22:01.000 --> 22:03.000
>> Gaston: You were involved in

22:03.000 --> 22:05.000
a lot of big tournaments this

22:05.000 --> 22:06.000
year.

22:06.000 --> 22:07.000
Briarcrest Christian School is.

22:07.000 --> 22:09.000
Expectations certainly are to

22:09.000 --> 22:11.000
win a state championship but

22:11.000 --> 22:12.000
other than that, individually,

22:12.000 --> 22:14.000
Austin, what are your goals for

22:14.000 --> 22:15.000
your senior year?

22:15.000 --> 22:16.000
>> Nichols: I mean, as you

22:16.000 --> 22:17.000
mentioned, the state

22:17.000 --> 22:18.000
championship.

22:18.000 --> 22:20.000
I wanted to be a better leader

22:20.000 --> 22:22.000
this year since I'm a senior.

22:22.000 --> 22:23.000
I got to look at many players

22:23.000 --> 22:25.000
coming through here being

22:25.000 --> 22:26.000
leaders and I've definitely

22:26.000 --> 22:28.000
picked up on that and learned

22:28.000 --> 22:29.000
from that.

22:29.000 --> 22:30.000
I'd love to be, have the

22:30.000 --> 22:32.000
opportunity to be a nominee for

22:32.000 --> 22:33.000
Mr. Basketball.

22:33.000 --> 22:34.000
That'd be great.

22:34.000 --> 22:35.000
And help the younger kids out

22:35.000 --> 22:37.000
because I was once a younger

22:37.000 --> 22:38.000
kid.

22:38.000 --> 22:40.000
I didn't know what I was doing

22:40.000 --> 22:41.000
out there.

22:41.000 --> 22:42.000
And if they have somebody to

22:42.000 --> 22:44.000
guide them to, you know, what to

22:44.000 --> 22:46.000
do and everything, I think it's

22:46.000 --> 22:47.000
better for them and ultimately,

22:47.000 --> 22:48.000
state championship.

22:48.000 --> 22:50.000
>> Gaston: John, it'd be great

22:50.000 --> 22:52.000
to have an Austin Nichols every

22:52.000 --> 22:53.000
year on your team.

22:53.000 --> 22:55.000
Unfortunately, you got one more

22:55.000 --> 22:56.000
year with this young man.

22:56.000 --> 22:57.000
Your expectations?

22:57.000 --> 22:59.000
>> Harrington: Of course every

22:59.000 --> 23:00.000
coach is going to say you want

23:00.000 --> 23:02.000
to try to, you know, achieve a

23:02.000 --> 23:03.000
state championship.

23:03.000 --> 23:05.000
I think Austin said it right.

23:05.000 --> 23:06.000
You know, the by-product of

23:06.000 --> 23:08.000
winning the state championship

23:08.000 --> 23:10.000
is his leadership and maybe next

23:10.000 --> 23:11.000
year, leaving me a group of

23:11.000 --> 23:12.000
young men that he's maybe

23:12.000 --> 23:14.000
affected in a positive way.

23:14.000 --> 23:15.000
Maybe these young boys that

23:15.000 --> 23:17.000
they're coming up through

23:17.000 --> 23:18.000
Briarcrest can see how he

23:18.000 --> 23:20.000
handled this whole adventure and

23:20.000 --> 23:21.000
how he's been so humble in it

23:21.000 --> 23:23.000
but yet, worked hard to achieve

23:23.000 --> 23:25.000
all the accolades he received.

23:25.000 --> 23:27.000
>> Gaston: I'll leave you with

23:27.000 --> 23:28.000
this question for both of you.

23:28.000 --> 23:30.000
One word to describe yourself,

23:30.000 --> 23:31.000
the basketball player.

23:31.000 --> 23:33.000
And then John, you've got to

23:33.000 --> 23:34.000
come back with one word but it's

23:34.000 --> 23:36.000
going to be a different word.

23:36.000 --> 23:38.000
Austin, one word to describe

23:38.000 --> 23:39.000
yourself.

23:39.000 --> 23:40.000
>> Nichols: Only one word?

23:40.000 --> 23:41.000
Oh, man!

23:41.000 --> 23:43.000
I probably have to say-probably

23:43.000 --> 23:44.000
goofy.

23:44.000 --> 23:45.000
>> Gaston: Goofy?

23:45.000 --> 23:46.000
>> Nichols: Yeah, I mean, if we

23:46.000 --> 23:48.000
could use one word on the court

23:48.000 --> 23:49.000
and one word off.

23:49.000 --> 23:51.000
>> Gaston: Sure, goofy's off the

23:51.000 --> 23:52.000
court.

23:52.000 --> 23:53.000
Better not be goofy on the

23:53.000 --> 23:54.000
court.

23:54.000 --> 23:56.000
You've got your coach sitting

23:56.000 --> 23:57.000
next to you here.

23:57.000 --> 23:58.000
What's on the court?

23:58.000 --> 23:59.000
>> Nichols: On the court-

23:59.000 --> 24:01.000
>> Gaston: Some would say

24:01.000 --> 24:02.000
relentless, or warrior, or

24:02.000 --> 24:03.000
winner, or champion.

24:03.000 --> 24:05.000
>> Nichols: Probably focused or

24:05.000 --> 24:06.000
a winner.

24:06.000 --> 24:08.000
>> Gaston: Yeah, focused is an

24:08.000 --> 24:09.000
excellent word.

24:09.000 --> 24:10.000
John?

24:10.000 --> 24:11.000
>> Harrington: Describing him on

24:11.000 --> 24:13.000
the basketball court?-skilled.

24:13.000 --> 24:15.000
>> Gaston: Hey, that's a pretty

24:15.000 --> 24:16.000
good word to be described,

24:16.000 --> 24:17.000
right?

24:17.000 --> 24:19.000
Austin, thank you so much.

24:19.000 --> 24:21.000
Congratulations on your decision

24:21.000 --> 24:22.000
and best of luck the rest of the

24:22.000 --> 24:23.000
season.

24:23.000 --> 24:25.000
John, as always, a pleasure.

24:25.000 --> 24:26.000
Best of luck to Briarcrest.

24:26.000 --> 24:27.000
Thanks, guys.

24:27.000 --> 24:29.000
>> Nichols: Thank you.

24:29.000 --> 24:30.000
I appreciate it.

24:30.000 --> 24:33.000
>> Gaston: Before we put a wrap

24:33.000 --> 24:34.000
on this week's show we want to

24:34.000 --> 24:36.000
send out our congratulations to

24:36.000 --> 24:38.000
the Whitehaven High School

24:38.000 --> 24:40.000
Football team, who last weekend

24:40.000 --> 24:42.000
completed a perfect 15-0 season

24:42.000 --> 24:44.000
by winning their first ever

24:44.000 --> 24:45.000
state championship.

24:45.000 --> 24:47.000
The Tigers won the class 6-A

24:47.000 --> 24:49.000
title in dramatic fashion,

24:49.000 --> 24:50.000
defeating Maryville 36-35 in

24:50.000 --> 24:52.000
overtime as star tailback Mark

24:52.000 --> 24:54.000
Dodson ran in a two point

24:54.000 --> 24:55.000
conversion.

24:55.000 --> 24:57.000
Dodson capped off an amazing

24:57.000 --> 24:59.000
career with a 318 yard, 5 TD

24:59.000 --> 25:00.000
rushing performance.

25:00.000 --> 25:02.000
Also hats off to MUS, ECS in

25:02.000 --> 25:04.000
Covington for getting to their

25:04.000 --> 25:06.000
respective title games, only to

25:06.000 --> 25:07.000
come up a bit short.

25:07.000 --> 25:09.000
And that will do it for this

25:09.000 --> 25:10.000
week.

25:10.000 --> 25:11.000
Remember, you can view any

25:11.000 --> 25:13.000
previous Sports Files show at

25:13.000 --> 25:15.000
any time by going to WKNO-dot-

25:15.000 --> 25:17.000
org and clicking on KNO Tonite.

25:17.000 --> 25:19.000
And we'll see you next time.

25:19.000 --> 25:52.000
>> (instrumental music)

25:52.000 --> 25:55.000
♪♪♪

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♪♪♪