A.

>> NOW TIME FOR THE JOURNAL.

YOUR HOST, STEVE KENDALL.

THIS IS WHERE YOUR COMMUNITY MATTERS.

LOCAL PEOPLE, LOCAL ISSUES.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE JOURNAL.

I'M STEVE KENDALL.

THEY'RE NCAA DIVISION III SCHOOL AND THEY PLAY IN THE OHIO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE.

WE'RE LUCKY TO BE JOINED BY SCOTT DONALDSON AND THE-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JASON LEWIS.

YOU WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL THIS YEAR BUT LIKE WITH ANY SEASON THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER HERE AND BETTER THERE BUT OVERALL HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR SEASON THIS YEAR?

>> IT REALLY WAS A GREAT MEMORABLE SEASON FOR US.

YOU KNOW, GOING 7-3 IN THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE OHIO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE IS REALLY NOTHING TO SHAKE A STICK AT.

IT REALLY IS A GREAT, GREAT YEAR.

AND WE STARTED OFF COMING INTO THE SEASON, THE EXPECTATIONS WERE REALLY HIGH.

WE HAD REALLY 19, 20 STARTERS RETURNING.

REALLY SENIOR LAIDEN TEAM THAT WE THOUGHT COULD DO SOME GREAT THINGS.

THEY DID SOME GREAT THINGS.

THEY REALLY DID.

STARTED OFF THE SEASON REALLY WELL AND BEATING A CONFERENCE CHAMPION AND BEAT THE NUMBER 9 TEAM IN THE COUNTRY WHICH WAS A GREAT WIN AT HOME.

GREAT WIN AT HOME ON A HOT, HOT DAY.

YOU KNOW, AND IT REALLY WAS JUST A MEMORABLE SEASON.

I MEAN, SOME OF MY GREATEST COACHING MEMORIES REALLY FROM THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY THE GENTLEMAN HERE WITH US OUR ALL AMERICAN PUNTER AND KICKER HITTING THE GAME WINNING FIELD GOAL AGAINST OUR TOP RIVAL IN A NIGHT GAME AT HOME.

HAVING THE FANS RUSH THE FIELD.

IT WAS SOMETHING I'LL NEVER FORGET.

>> THAT'S WHAT COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU'RE THERE IS WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

>> EXACTLY.

AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR FIELD, OUR FIELD IS SOMETHING SPECIAL IN A BRAND NEW STADIUM, HAVING THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE AND WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT POST SEASON HONORS FROM THAT.

FIVE ALL AMERICANS THIS YEAR AND 12 ALL CONFERENCE BUT ONE OF THE CRAZIEST AWARDS WAS THE PIESMAN WHICH IS A BIG MAN AWARD.

IT'S AN AWARD FOR AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN DOING SOMETHING NOT LINEMAN LIKE.

>> SO SOMETHING OTHER THAN BLOCKING.

>> EXACTLY.

I'LL LET COACH LEWIS TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE HE WAS THE PLAY CALLER AND THE MASTER MIND OF THAT PLAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> BUT AGAIN, THROUGHOUT ANY SEASON YOU'LL HAVE THINGS THAT YOU LOOK BACK ON AND WISH I COULD HAVE BONE BETTER.

SOME OF THE LOSSES YOU LOOK BACK ON AND SAY I WISH I COULD HAVE DONE BETTER IN THOSE SITUATIONS BUT THAT'S COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

>> YEAH.

NOW, YOU HAD A LOT -- YOU SAID YOU HAD A SENIOR LAIDEN TEAM.

THAT MEANS A LITTLE BIT OF TURNOVER THIS YEAR.

OBVIOUSLY HOPE YOU HAVE DEPTH TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

>> YEAH, THERE'S NO QUESTION.

OBVIOUSLY THAT'S SCARY AS A COACH LOSING 17 STARTERS.

IT REALLY IS.

>> SURE.

>> AND ESPECIALLY NOT ONLY GREAT PLAYERS BUT GREAT YOUNG MEN AND GREAT LEADERS AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS, BUT THAT'S COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

THAT'S THE GREAT PART ABOUT COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO GRADUATE.

GREATNESS WILL ALWAYS GRADUATE.

WEIR GRADUATING GREAT PEOPLE BUT IT'S CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME OF THESE GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO GET OUT AND DO GREAT THINGS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENT ON THIS TEAM BUT I'M EXCITED TO SEE THESE GUYS, SEE THESE YOUNG GUYS TAKE SOME LEADERSHIP ROLES AND BEING ABLE TO STEP IN AND FILL THOSE SHOES.

>> AND THE GUYS THAT ARE GRADUATING HAVE SET THE BAR.

>> THEY SET IT REALLY HIGH.

>> SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PIESMAN AWARD BECAUSE YOU'VE PIQUED OUR INTEREST ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY WENT ON BUT I'M GUESSING OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH AN OFFENSIVE PLAY YOU CALLED.

>> SO WE ACTUALLY HAD DESIGNED A PLAY OFF OF A SCREEN THAT WE RAN A DECENT AMOUNT ALL YEAR.

EARLY ON IN THE YEAR OUR LEFT TACKLE IS A SENIOR, A BIG GUY, ABOUT 280 POUNDS.

REALLY GOOD ATHLETE THOUGH.

SO WE CAN TWO FOR OHIO NORTHERN WE PUT THE PLAY IN AND REALLY NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO RUN IT.

SO THE FOLLOWING WEEK AGAINST JOHN CARROLL HE GOT INJURED, HURT HIS ANKLE.

SO BASICALLY I PUT THAT PLAY ON THE SHELF FOR A WHILE.

WE KIND OF BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE RUN IT AND DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANYONE ELSE TO RUN IT WITH.

SO GOT TO ABOUT WEEK -- I THINK IT WAS ABOUT WEEK 9 WE PUT IT BACK IN AND THE REFER WE HAD RUN IT WITH ALL YEAR WAS OUT.

WE RAN IT WITH ANOTHER GUY.

HE SCREWED IT UP.

WE RAN IT, SO OUR QUARTERBACK -- >> THINGS HAPPEN.

>> OUR QUARTERBACK WAS TOTALLY AGAINST IT.

SO HE WAS 100% AGAINST IT.

AND THEN WE RAN IT BEFORE WEEK 10 GAME ON FRIDAY.

AND THEN YOU KNOW, WE RAN IT CORRECTLY.

IT WAS ON AIR, SO, YOU KNOW -- >> SO DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AND THEN WHAT ACTUALLY DID HAPPEN.

HOW WAS THIS A SETUP FOR THE LEFT TACKLE, THE LEFT OFFENSIVE TACKLE.

>> WE WERE GOING TO SPRENT OUT TO THE RIGHT AND THREW A SCREEN BACK TO IS RECEIVER AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO RUN LIKE A HITCH.

THE FIRST TIME WE RAN IT HE RAN LIKE A -- I DON'T KNOW, FS THE AWFUL.

>> SOME SORT OF ROUTE BUT IT WASN'T THE ROUTE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

>> NOT -- IT WAS LIKE -- BASICALLY RAN A FLIP SCREEN THAT DIDN'T TIME UP AT ALL.

THE NEXT WEEK WE RAN IT CORRECTLY AND THEN WE GET IN THE GAME AND IT'S, I DON'T KNOW, SECOND HALF, WE -- OUR ONE RECEIVER GETS INJURED SO IT GIVES US TIME TO THINK ABOUT THINGS.

QUARTERBACK COMES OVER AND GOES, LET'S RUN IT.

I GO, WHAT IS IT GOING TO RUN?

THE PLAY WAS CALLED CHARLES BENTLEY.

>> THERE'S A STORY BEHIND THAT AS WELL TOO.

>> A LITTLE BIT.

WE'VE GOT SOME CRAZY NAMES SOMETIMES, SO THAT ONE IS PRETTY -- PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD THOUGH.

>> OKAY.

>> BUT -- SO WE GET OUT, WE'RE ON THE LEFT HASH, WE'RE SPREAD OUT TO THE RIGHT.

THROW THE HITCH BACK TO THE SINGLE RECEIVER, OUR LEFT TACKLE GETS RELEASED, CAME AROUND, FLI IT TO HIM AND WE -- WE GOT IN THE ENDZONE.

WHAT REALLY SOLD IT WAS HE FLIPPED IN THE ENDZONE.

A BIG GUY DOING A FLIP IN THE ENDZONE.

>> THAT DREW SOME HIGHLIGHT ATTENTION IS WHAT THAT DID.

>> WE WERE ON ESPN.

WE GOT SC NATION, YOU KNOW, RECOGNITION.

>> THE WORST PART ABOUT IT IS I COACH ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL.

JASON RUNS THE OFFENSE.

I'M IN THE OGOING TO PRETEND TO KNOW WHAT TO DO OFFENSIVELY.

USUALLY I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEAD SET.

THEY GET INTO THE RED ZONE.

I FLIP OVER AND I HEAR GIGGLING.

THIS IS RIGHT BEFORE -- I'M LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?

WHAT DID YOU GUYS CALL?

HE SAYS JUST WATCH.

WHAT DID YOU DO?

I SEE IT AND I'M LIKE OH, MY GOD.

>> AS LONG AS IT WORKED.

>> HEY, IT WORKED.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

YOU GOT TO HAVE FUN.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SHOULD BE FUN.

>> BY VIRTUE OF THAT ONE PLAY, THERE WAS SOME OBVIOUSLY COMPETITION FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT THAT WAS A -- >> WE GOT A FREE TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY.

AND WHO'S UP AGAINST THREE DIVISION I GUYS WITH HIM AND TWO DIVISION I GUYS.

>> OKAY.

>> HE ENDED UP WINNING.

IF HE DIDN'T WIN IT I WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKED.

>> JUST THAT GOOD.

>> I MEAN, THE FLIP SOLD IT.

SO -- >> THE PIESMAN TROPHY.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY RESEMBLES A -- >> IT HAS A PIECE OF PIE ON TOP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME FUN AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO IT.

ASIDE FROM THAT PLAY WHAT WOULD BE SOME OF THE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEASON THAT STICK IN YOUR MIND?

YOU TALK ABOUT THE FIELD GOAL TO WIN THE GAME AND THAT SORT OF THING.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> WITH THE NUMBER OF ALL AMERICAN PLAYERS YOU HAD, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY AN EXCITING YEAR FOR YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HAVING A THREE YEAR STARTER COME BACK AS A QUARTERBACK AND THROWING FOR 3,300 YARDS, YOU KNOW, AND HE THREW OVER 300 YARDS A GAME AND KIND OF THE THINGS HE WAS ABLE TO DO WITH HIS RECEIVERS WAS EXCITING.

I MEAN, JUST WATCHING THEM ON OFFENSE THIS YEAR WAS JUST EXCITING TO WATCH BECAUSE THEY COULD SCORE AT ANY MOMENT AND FROM ANYBODY ON THE FIELD, I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY ATHLETES ON THAT AND DEFENSIVELY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THIS PAST YEAR ESPECIALLY, WE WERE TOP FIVE IN THE NATION LIKE WE HAVE FOR A LONG TIME NOW AND HAVING A FOUR-YEAR STARTER AT THREE TECHNIQUE IT WAS A TWO-TIME FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICAN.

JUST WATCHING HIM WHEN HE DIDN'T GET HELD WAS -- WAS PRETTY UNBELIEVABLE.

AUSTIN CROW AND HE -- HE TERRIFIED ME.

I DIDN'T TALK TO HIM DURING GAMES.

HE WAS THAT KIND OF PLAYER.

>> THAT FOCUSED.

>> JUST LET HIM GO.

>> OKAY.

WELL, WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL BE JOINED BY ONE OF YOUR PLAYERS.

SO WE'LL TALK WITH THEM IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF SEGMENTS AND GET THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON HOW EVERYTHING WENT AND THE THINGS THEY ENJOYED ABOUT THE SEASON TOO.

WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A MOMENT.

MORE FOOTBALL HERE ON THE JOURNAL ON WGBUTV.

>>> WE'RE TALKED ABOUT UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ON THIS EDITION OF JOURNAL AND WE'RE JOINED BY THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JASON LEWIS.

WE MET HIM IN THE FIRST SEGMENT AND ALSO TERRANCE COLE, STARTING SAFETY WHO HAPPENS TO BE A GRADUATE OF HOLLAND SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL JUST A FEW MILES UP THE ROAD HERE.

JASON, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SPECIAL PLAYS, BUT TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OVERALL THE OFFENSE YOU HAVE AND THEN WE'LL GET TERRANCE'S VIEW ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THINGS, BUT WHAT KIND OF OFFENSE DO YOU GUYS RUN?

>> WE'RE VERY MULTIPLE OFFENSE.

WE LIKE TO BE IN ONE PERSONNEL GROUP AND GET INTO AS MANY FORMATIONS AS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, WITH THE GUYS THAT WE'VE HAD -- HAD COMING BACK THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE GUYS AROUND AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, RUNNING BACK PLAY SOME TIGHT ENDS AND SOME SLOT RECEIVER AND IT ALLOWED US TO MOVE PEOPLE AROUND AND GET INTO A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMATIONS WHICH WAS TYPICALLY MAKES IT TOUGH ON A DEFENSE TO CALL -- TO CALL DEFENSES SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR GOAL AND TO BE REALLY FAST.

PLAY AS FAST AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

>> OKAY.

SO -- >> TEMPO IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING IN WHAT WE DO AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD WORK ON CHANGING THAT UP A LITTLE MORE.

>> NOW, IS THAT TYPICAL UP TEMPO OFFENSES IN THE CONFERENCES YOU PLAY IN OR ARE THERE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THAT TOO?

BAUDS UP TEMPO SEEMS TO BE THE WAY A LOT OF PEOPLE GO NOW.

ARE THERE STILL SOME OLD SCHOOL PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO TAKE THEIR TIME AND POUND AND EVERYTHING?

>> IT'S PRETTY MIXED I WOULD SAY.

THERE'S PLENTY OF GUYS THAT TAKE THEIR TIME AND DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF ACTUALLY SWITCHING UP TEMPO AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE TEAMS THAT LIKE THE HUDDLE AND GRIND IT OUT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE TEAMS, IT DEPENDS -- I THINK ON THE WEEK A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE PLAYING, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE.

YOU KNOW, YOUR OUTLOOK MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN PLAYING SOME OF THE OTHER GUYS IN THE LEAGUE THAT ARE MORE EVENLY MATCHED WITH YOU.

SO I THINK YOU CAN DO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO GIVE YOURSELVES AN ADVANTAGE.

>> NOW, TERRANCE, I HEARD THEY CALL YOU T. COLE.

SO WHATEVER YOU'RE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH.

SO YOU'RE THE STARTING SAFETY ON THE TEAM WHICH MEANS YOU'RE THE LAST LINE OF -- LITERALLY LAST LINE OF DEFENSE WHICH MEANS IF STUFF GOES WRONG IN FRONT YOU HAVE TO SORT OF CLEAN UP THE MESS WHEN IT GETS TO YOU.

TALK ABOUT YOUR SEASON ON DEFENSE, YOUR STARTING SAFETY, SENIOR THIS YEAR?

>> YES, SIR.

>> SO WHAT -- WHEN YOU LOOK THERE IN FRONT OF YOU AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> I NEVER WAS TOO WORRIED BECAUSE OUR D LINE IS REALLY GOOD.

I WAS MORE WORRIED ABOUT TRYING TO GET SOME TACKLES AND MYSELF SO I WAS JUST MORE WORRIED -- >> DOING SOMETHING.

>> TRYING TO STAY BUSY BACK THERE.

TRYING TO STAY BUSY.

I NEVER REALLY WAS WORRIED ABOUT THOSE GUYS.

>> CERTAIN TEAMS THAT YOU GUYS ENJOY PLAYING AGAINST VERSUS OTHER TEAMS YOU REALLY SAY OH, WOW, WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THESE GUYS ON?

>> THE AUTOBONN GAME.

I MEAN, THE JOHN CARROLL GAME.

I LOVED THAT GAME.

IT WAS A GREAT GAME.

THOSE TWO GAMES STICK OUT TO ME THE MOST.

>> ANY PLAYS DURING THE SEASON YOU SAY OH, BOY, I WAS PERFECT ON THAT, I MEAN, COACHES PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT EVERY WEEK.

YOU'RE PERFECT AGAIN THIS WEEK, DID A GREAT JOB, BUT ANY PLAYS STICK OUT LIKE WOW, THAT ONE WE REALLY NAILED WHAT WE DID AND EVERYTHING WORKED EXACTLY THE WAY THE COACHES TOLD US IT WOULD?

>> HE CAUGHT A PICK, JERRY WATSON, THE COACH, ME AND WATSON SWITCHED POSITIONS.

HE SWITCHED TO SAFETY.

AND HE CAUGHT A TIPPED PICK AND THEN BASICALLY SEALED THE GAME.

AND IT TOOK US TO OVERTIME SO WE COULD KICK A FIELD GOAL.

>> YOU ALWAYS HEAR OFFENSE AND DEFENSE, THOSE TWO DON'T MIX TOGETHER BUT YOU GUYS PUSH EACH OTHER UP ALL THE TIME.

THERE'S NO SEPARATION LIKE THAT?

>> ONE ON ONES, YEAH, DEFINITELY.

ALL -- ALL DAY WE GO AT IT.

SO WE PUSH EACH OTHER TO BE BETTER EVERY DAY.

>> NOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE MOVING TOWARD GRADUATION.

WHAT'S YOUR PLANS IN THE FUTURE?

>> I WANT TO START A NONPROFIT SORT OF LIKE A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB SO THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING NOW.

I'M INTO CLOTHING TOO SO I'M JUST BALANCING THOSE TWO THINGS RIGHT NOW, SO THAT'S WHAT I GOT GOING ON.

>> OKAY.

PLAN TO STAY AROUND THE AREA BASICALLY?

>> I THINK I MIGHT MOVE DOWN TO COLUMBUS AS FAR AS BETTER OPPORTUNITY AS FAR AS THAT.

>> NOW, GRADUATED HOLLAND SPRINGFIELD.

WHAT WERE YOUR POSITIONS IN HIGH SCHOOL?

>> I PLAYED RECEIVER.

I PLAYED SAFETY AND I PLAYED A LINEBACKER.

>> SO YOU PLAYED BOTH WAYS.

NOW, OFFENSIVELY YOU HAD -- DEFENSIVELY YOU GUYS WERE REALLY GOOD TOO BUT OFFENSIVELY TALK ABOUT JUST OVERALL HOW YOU FELT THE TEAM WENT AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE REPLACING A LOT OF PLAYERS ON OFFENSE.

>> RIGHT.

SO I MEAN, WE HAD PLAYERS RETURNING AT PRETTY MUCH EVERY POSITION AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR'S DREAM SO YOU KNOW, THE PRODUCTION THAT THOSE GUYS HAD THIS YEAR WAS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.

OUR QUARTERBACK COULD SLING THE BALL WHEREVER HE WANTED TO ON THE FIELD.

WE HAD TWO RECEIVERS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE MAYBE TO PLAY IN THE NFL.

TONY MORRIS AND McGEE, THEY SET RECORDS FOR US.

THEY WERE TOP OF THE LINE SO HAVING THOSE GUYS -- OUR GUYS UP FRONT PLAYED REALLY WELL.

WE LOSE BASICALLY OUR WHOLE LEFT SIDE OF THE LINE.

TYLER HUNTER AND BROCK RIGS WERE BOTH ALL AMERICANS FOR US.

WE HAD A TON OF PRODUCTION AND WE WERE PRETTY EXPLOSIVE SO THAT WAS PRETTY SOLID YEAR AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, WE'VE GOT TO REPLACE PRETTY MUCH EVERY SKILL POSITION WE HAVE.

WE HAVE TWO YOUNG RUNNING BACKS ON LOCAL GUY FROM ELMWOOD, JACE GROSSMAN.

JOSH CROSS IS A FORWARD GUY.

HE'LL BE COMING BACK SO THOSE TWO GUYS HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE.

OUR OFFENSIVE LINE WE ACTUALLY RETURNED FOUR GUYS THAT STARTED THE GAME FOR US SO THAT'S ACTUALLY BETTER THAN WE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST RETURNING GUYS.

SO RECEIVERS, THE BIG QUESTION MARK.

WE RETURN TWO GUYS THAT HAD A LOT OF PRODUCTION FOR US AND AFTER THAT WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF YOUNG GUYS THAT HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD TALENT, THEY JUST -- WE'LL SEE HOW THEY RESPOND THIS OFFSEASON.

>> THEY'LL GET AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT.

>> ON DEFENSE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE DISAPPEAR LIKE YOU.

OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE GOT GUYS BEHIND YOU.

HAVE YOU BEEN SORT OF MENTORING THEM TO TAKE OVER AND THEN HOLD THE STANDARD UP TO WHAT YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO DO?

>> EVERY DAY, WE ALWAYS TALK AND STUFF.

WE JUST COMMUNICATE, JUST BASICALLY TRYING TO TEACH EACH OTHER EVERY DAY SO I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEM REPLACING ME.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE A HOLE WHEN I LEAVE.

>> YOU COME IN AS A FRESHMAN OBVIOUSLY.

WAS YOUR PERSPECTIVE DIFFERENT THE FIRST DAY YOU SHOWED UP VERSUS NOW THAT YOUR SEASON IS OVER?

ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD SAY WOW, I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS?

>> IT'S MORE OF A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.

IT'S MORE OF A -- I WOULD SAY MORE HUMBLING THAN ANYTHING, BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING DOWN THERE LIKE OH, THE BIG MAN AT MY SCHOOL SO -- AND COME DOWN HERE MY FIRST YEAR AND BE THE BIG MAN HERE AND IT DOESN'T KIND OF WORK LIKE THAT.

YOU'RE PLAYING LIKE SPECIAL TEAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO IT'S JUST A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.

>> AND YOU'RE IN THERE WITH GUYS LIKE YOU WHO HAVE BEEN THE STARS AT THEIR SCHOOL.

>> EXACTLY.

>> YOU START TO REALIZE THAT, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.

>> GROWING PROCESS AND MATURING PROCESS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

LOOKING BACK DO YOU EVER MISS PLAYING ON OFFENSE AT ALL?

YOU EVER GO TO COACH AND SAY YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO BE A RECEIVER.

>> YES, A LOT.

I TRIED TO DO ONE HANDED CATCHES, GIVE THEM HINTS LIKE LET ME GET A PLAY OR SOMETHING.

>> NEVER HEARD -- >> NO, NOT YET.

>> WELL, IT'S ONE OF THOSE -- I GUESS WHEN YOU GUYS LOOK BACK AT THIS YEAR YOU HAD VERY SUCCESSFUL SEASON.

ANY THINGS AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REPLACING A LOT OF PLAYERS AND THE SAME THING ON THE DEFEN WILL YOU CHANGE YOUR WHOLE SCHEME OR JUST DOING SOME TINKERING?

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE WHAT WE DO.

WE'VE GOT A SENIOR QUARTERBACK COMING BACK THAT IS A LITTLE BETTER AT RUNNING THE FOOTBALL.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T DONE VERY MUCH SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT ON FILM SO IT'S NOT A HUGE SECRET I DON'T THINK.

>> BUT THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

>> YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO TINKER WITH THAT A LITTLE BIT AND YOU KNOW, OUR BIGGEST THING IS OUR OFFENSE IS BASED ON OUR PLAYERS.

WE HAVE TO ADJUST EVERY YEAR.

WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THE LAST, YOU KNOW, WITH TYLER AT QUARTERBACK, YOU KNOW, OUR OFFENSE HAS BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, SO NOW WE HAVE TO ADJUST A LITTLE BIT AND THAT WILL MAKE IT FUN THIS OFFSEASON.

WE GET TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD A LITTLE BIT AND COME UP WITH SOME NEW THINGS, BUT YOU KNOW, ALL IN ALL I THINK WE'LL BE PRETTY SIMILAR AND THE MORE OUR YOUNG RECEIVERS STEP UP THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO MORE.

>> JASON LAWRENCE, T. COLE FROM SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, THANKS FOR BEING ON.

SUCCESS IN YOUR FUTURE CAREER AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GREAT CAREER YOU HAD AT THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH ANOTHER STUDENT ATHLETE AND WE'LL TALK WITH THE HEAD COACH ON THE JOURNAL ON WBGUTV.

>>> THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US.

WE'RE JOINED BY THE HEAD COACH AGAIN, SCOTT DONALDSON AND THIS TIME ALL AMERICAN PUNTER AUSTIN BAKER WHO'S A GRADUATE OF CLYDE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO AGAIN, RIGHT HERE IN NORTHWEST OHIO.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COACH.

YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF COVERED THE OFFENSIVE SIDE AND WE HAD A DEFENSIVE PLAYER ON TO TALK ABOUT HIS EXPLOITS AS DEFENSIVE PLAYER AND WANT TO BE WIDE RECEIVER, BUT YOU GUYS WOULD NEVER LET HIM DO THAT.

>> NO, NO, NO.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT DEFENSE, WHICH IS YOUR BAILIWICK SO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> DEFENSIVELY WE'RE IN AN ATTACK STYLE DEFENSE.

OUR MAIN JOB IS TO MAKE SURE WE GET AFTER THE QUARTERBACK.

OKAY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF IN OUR CONFERENCE, WE SEE UNBELIEVABLE QUARTERBACKS EVERY WEEK.

THERE ISN'T A DOWN WEEK.

THIS GUY ISN'T GOING TO HIT THAT THROW.

THEY'RE ALL GOING TO HIT THAT THROW.

SO IF YOU LET THOSE KIND OF QUARTERBACKS SIT BACK IN THE POCKET, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TAKEN APART.

YOU KNOW, YOU SAW THAT IN THE SUPER BOWL.

BOTH QUARTERBACKS -- >> THE REST WAS HISTORY FOR BOTH DEFENSES.

>> HOW CAN WE GET TO THE QUARTERBACK.

ARE WE GOING TO BE A BLITZER TEAM OR GET THERE WITH OUR FRONT FOUR AND AFTER THAT IT'S OKAY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO STOP THEIR TOP RUNS, HOW DO WE COVER THEIR TOP ROUTES BUT IT ALL STARTS UPFRONT.

>> AND YOU'LL BE REPLACING SOME.

>> ONE GREAT RETURN BUT GUYS LIKE AUSTIN CROW, YOU DON'T REPLACE.

I MEAN, HE'S LEGITIMATE PROBABLY THE BEST DEFENSIVE LINEMAN IN THE 126 YEAR HISTORY.

>> WOW.

>> YOU KNOW, HE LED THE NATION IN TFLs TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

HE WAS AN ANIMAL ON JUST THE RUN AND THE PASS.

BUT WE GOT SOME GREAT GUYS REALLY WAITING TO COME UP TOO AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THOSE GUYS STEP UP WHEN THEY GET THEIR FULL OPPORTUNITY TO GET 40 TO 50 PLAYS AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO.

>> AUSTIN YOU'RE THE KICKER ON THE TEAM AND COACH HAS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE REALLY EXCITING GAME YOU HAD TO WIN THE GAME AGAINST THE BIG RIVAL.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOUR SEASON WENT.

YOUR FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICAN PUNTER SO HOW WAS YOUR AVERAGE?

WHAT WAS YOUR LONGEST PUNT OF THE YEAR AND HOW DID YOU AVERAGE OUT?

NOT THAT YOU PROBABLY KEPT TRACK OR ANYTHING.

>> WE KEPT TRACK.

>> MY AVERAGE WAS 41.6 YARDS PER PUNT AND THEN MY LONGEST POINT WAS 69 YARDS.

>> WOW.

ANY HANG TIME NUMBERS THERE YOU KEEP TRACK OF?

>> YEAH, WE DO.

I DON'T REMEMBER IT OFFHAND.

>> NOW, YOUR FIELD GOAL KICKING OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, PUNTING IS ONE THING BUT THAT'S SORT OF LIKE THE FORGOTTEN ART OF FOOTBALL.

NOBODY NOTICES UNLESS SOMETHING GOES WRONG.

KICKING WISE YOU OBVIOUSLY HAD A GOOD SEASON TOO.

TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE MOMENTS YOU HAD DURING THE YEAR WITH THAT.

>> WE STARTED OUT THE YEAR, I JUST TRANSFERRED IN AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A HOLDER.

SO WE HAD TO FIND A HOLDER SO WE HAD THAT.

WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A STRUGGLE IN THE BEGINNING BUT THEN AFTER WE KIND OF GOT A LITTLE FLUID MOTION GOING WE VERY SMOOTH AND IN THE GAME WHEN I KICKED THE GAME WINNING FIELD GOAL, HE HAD KIND OF GOT A LOW SNAP AND HE WAS ABLE TO GET IT DOWN WHICH KIND OF -- YOUR HEART STOPS A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU SEE THE SNAP DIDN'T GO STRAIGHT WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO.

>> CHANGES EVERYTHING, TIMING, RHYTHM, EVERYTHING.

>> YEAH.

>> THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, SPECIAL TEAMS, THEY CALL THEM SPECIAL BECAUSE THEY DO SPECIAL THINGS.

MOST OF THE TIME IT'S GOOD THINGS, BUT ANY OTHER MOMENTS LIKE THAT IN THE SEASON LIKE LOW SMAP, HIGH SNAP, BARELY GOT THAT ONE OFF, GOT AWAY WITH THAT ONE KIND OF THING OR WAS IT THAT KIND OF SMOOTH ON THE PUNTING SIDE?

>> A FEW SNAPS WHERE I HAD A LITTLE RUSH, BUT MOST OF THE TIME OUR SNAPPERS DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF GETTING IT BACK TO ME.

>> DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE FAKE YOU CALLED ON YOUR OWN.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT.

KICKERS ARE LIKE HEY, I CAN DO THIS.

I CAN RUN THIS IN.

>> YEAH, HE -- HE GETS AN OP POINT EARLY IN THE SEASON AND BAKER'S A LEFTY.

YOU DON'T SEE TOO MANY LEFTY PUNT ers AND KICKERS AND REALLY WORKS TO HIS ADVANTAGE.

>> SO THE BALL IS ROTATING THE OPPOSITE WAY THAN THEY'RE USED TO.

>> IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CURVE AND ESPECIALLY IF IT'S WINDY AND ESPECIALLY WITH BAKER BECAUSE HE'S A RUGBY STYLE KICKER.

HE CAN DO EVERYTHING BUT HIS SPECIALTY IS RUGBY WHICH IS A NIGHTMARE FOR A RETURNER BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE BALL IS GOING TO GO.

IT'S A NIGHTMARE FOR THE COACH TOO BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE BALL IS GOING TO GO.

HE'S WORKING OUT THERE AND NO ONE'S IN FRONT OF HIM.

HE TAKES OFF.

GOT THE FIRST.

COMES BACK, HE LOOKS AT ME AND GOES, COACH, YOU MAD?

I'M LIKE NO, YOU GOT THE FIRST, I'M FINE.

BUT IF YOU DIDN'T GET IT WE'D BE TALKING.

>> IS THAT HIS CALL ON THAT AND GO, I THINK I CAN DO THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S OFTEN AN EXPERIENCED FOOTBALL PLAYER.

IN HIGH SCHOOL HE WAS A STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR A GREAT FOOTBALL TEAM.

>> USED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT'S GOING ON AND MAKING AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

>> HE EARNED MY TRUST VERY QUICKLY.

>> NOW, YOU'RE A RISING SENIOR THIS YEAR SO YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING ANOTHER GREAT YEAR OBVIOUSLY.

WHAT KIND OF ROUTINE DO YOU GO THROUGH TO PREPARE FOR A SEASON?

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, KICKING IS A SPECIALTY AND YOU'RE SET AWAY FROM THE NORMAL STUFF THAT'S GOING ON A LITTLE BIT, SO WHAT'S YOUR ROUTINE LIKE IN LIKE A 30-SECOND SNAPSHOT OF WHAT YOU'LL DO BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT SEASON TO GET READY?

IT'S KIND OF DIFFERENT BECAUSE I DON'T NEED ANYBODY ELSE TO HELP ME KICK.

I CAN GO OUT THERE ON MY OWN AND I'LL GO OUT THERE WHENEVER I CAN WHENEVER THIS WEATHER CLEARS UP AND SNOW ISN'T ON THE GROUND.

SO I'LL KICK A FEW AND GET BACK INTO IT AND HIT IT HARD DURING THE SUMMER.

>> GREAT.

THE LAST FEW SECONDS HERE, YOU GOT AN UPCOMING SEASON TO REPLACE A LOT OF PLAYERS BUT YOUR FORECAST FOR NEXT YEAR, YOU THINK YOU'LL BE AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN THIS YEAR?

>> OH, THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION.

>> I KNOW.

>> I'M JUST EXCITED TO SEE THIS TEAM COMPETE.

SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE WEIGHT ROOM NOW AND SEEING HOW THEY'VE REALLY ATTACKED THE SEASON ALREADY STARTING IN JANUARY.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO KIND OF GET THESE GUYS TOGETHER, GET THE PADS ON AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO AND SEE WHO RIDES AS -- AS THE LEADERS OF THIS TEAM, OF THIS 2018 TEAM.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT AND WE START OFF OUR HOME GAME SEPTEMBER 1st WITH A NIGHT GAME.

IT SHOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO GET OUT, BRING YOUR FAMILIES.

IT'S A GOOD TIME.

>> GREAT.

AS WE GET CLOSER WE'LL HAVE YOU GUYS BACK.

COACH SCOTT DONALDSON AND AUSTIN BAKER, RISING SENIOR, ALL AMERICAN PUNTER.

LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING ANOTHER GREAT SEASON IN 2018.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

WE'LL JOIN YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK AT WBGUTV.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK ON THE JOURNAL.