Photo by: SFA Athletics
‘Jacks Wrap Up 2018 Southland Conference Football Media Day in Houston
7/19/2018 3:50:00 PM | Football
Interim head football coach Jeff Byrd, senior linebacker Ryan Woods and senior quarterback Foster Sawyer participated in the league’s annual media day proceedings in Houston
HOUSTON, Texas – Only 44 days separate the Stephen F. Austin football team from the official start of its 2018 campaign and Thursday afternoon a trio of members of the Lumberjack program took part in the 2018 Southland Conference Football Media Day proceedings at the Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria in Houston. Interim head coach Jeff Byrd, senior linebacker Ryan Woods and senior quarterback Foster Sawyer made the trip down to Houston for the conference's annual event with a live press conference broadcast on ESPN3 and media members from around the state and region present.
9:00 a.m. CST
Southland commissioner Tom Burnett provided opening remarks from the podium to kick off media day as the league unveiled its 2018 preseason polls.
11:30 a.m. CST
Coach Byrd, Woods and Sawyer met in the lobby of the hotel in anticipation of the day's live press conference and interviews. The three got a feel of the interview areas and the ESPN3 set.
12:00 p.m. CST
The Southland's annual football luncheon took place highlighted by the presentation of the 2018 Louis Bonnette Award, a video of the 2018 FCS Championship game in Frisco, Texas, and a review of new NCAA officiating rules for the 2018 season from Byron Boston.
1:45 p.m. CST
Coach Byrd took center stage at the 2018 Southland Football Media Day with moderator and Houston's KPRC-TV (NBC) sports director Randy McIlvoy. Following an opening statement, Byrd fielded questions from various media members from around the state and region.
Byrd's Opening Statement |
"We're ready to get started. We have had a great summer going through our process and those guys have been doing an outstanding job about doing their jobs, and being accountable for themselves and their teammates. We have a great thing going here – the camaraderie with the players and coaches last night is a great deal and we appreciate you guys being here to ask us questions about our programs."
Byrd on SFA's returnees |
"You should talk about our returning starters – 11 on offense and as a coach as I turn those pages in our media guide I see guys that have played significant time. We lost one of our leaders last year in Trey Ramos in the first game and losing starters wound up happening at a lot of positions on our football team. When you look at the depth and the guys who have played meaningful time, that's what excites me. Anytime you have competition - my job is to make you uncomfortable. The only way you're going to improve is to be uncomfortable. That competition between positions is going to allow us to be competitive."
Byrd on SFA's transfers |
"We needed to fill in guys to help us with the leadership roles."
Byrd on SFA's big games |
"You've got the Battle of the Piney Woods, then you have Chief Caddo at the end and then – by the way – McNeese, UCA and so many others on your radar, too. Because of that - the strength of our league - every game becomes your biggest game. The atmosphere at NRG Stadium is an incredible sight to see. A lot of times when you go into those larger stadiums, you don't feel it. When you're in NRG, you feel it and there's excitement in the air and it has a bowl game feel to it."
Byrd on overcoming adversity/handling coaching changes |
"To be a family, you've got to stick together. Everybody has pulled together during this situation and that has allowed us to be closer. It's the player's team – they're the ones who lead us in the direction we want to go. I'm just the one holding the steering wheel and asking them where they want to go."
Byrd on SFA's recruiting class |
"We have had them around for some of the summer and I feel like we did a good job recruiting out of east Texas. When you take 10 high school freshmen – and coaches will tell you we're better off if we redshirt those guys – we're real excited about the class and we talked about the transfers and you're looking for a way to build your roster so you don't ride the ups and downs. There were times last year where we had six true freshmen on the field. We hope to let those guys grow up, fill some of those gaps and really take that next step."
Byrd on Ryan Woods and Foster Sawyer |
"Ryan's the guy who helps carry us and push us together. It's because of his leadership and his other qualities that hold us together. On the offensive end, that's what you see Foster doing, too. That's what you build family around and that's what I hope these two young men can be for our football program."
Byrd on heading back to Nacogdoches following media day |
"Most of the guys back home are probably watching this thing to see what we're talking about but they're also focused on doing things right. We just talked about that earlier, what a blessing it is to have guys associated with your program that go where they're supposed to go and do what they're supposed to do. I'm very, very proud of these two young men on stage next to me and what their leadership does to bring our team together."
Byrd on junior safety Alize Ward |
"He's a guy who can do anything. He has an opportunity to maybe be our best running back and you got to say, 'No, Alize, not today', because he asked me about that. He plays safety for us, runs things in the back end, returns kicks, blocks punts, throw me a pass and the sad thing about it is he'd probably be pretty good at every one of them. He beings some leadership to us and he's got some game-changing ability and we're going to use his skills in some different places to give us a chance."
Byrd on the season opener at Mississippi State |
"Being a Mississippi guy, I'm excited about going to the state. We'll have to listen to a lot of loud cowbells and they're just telling us that this is the best team Mississippi State has ever had. I've had the opportunity to go there and coach a few times and we'll see how the kids stand up in that atmosphere. We're going go play. What we're talking about is fighting through adversity and holding together. That's a great test for us and I'm ready to hear those cowbells ring and see what the Lumberjacks can do."
Byrd on the strength of the Southland |
"You see great athletes on both sides of the ball. Coaches talk about the differences between this league and other FCS leagues – specifically for me coming from the OVC – and it's the offensive and defensive lines. Skill guys are everywhere, but you start talking about the technique, the fundamentals and the physicality and we're talking about every school that has those things. To sit here and say you're in a league that put three teams in the playoffs - should have ben four - so when you put those things together to have the schedule and the conference that there's a chance for four playoff teams. You can be the fifth-place team in this conference, have a really good team and not be good enough. That's what we talk about every day – what are you doing today to give us an opportunity to win a championship?"
On the perks of FCS football | "One of the best things about FCS football is that you get the opportunity to prepare every day to win a national championship. No disrespect to any other program at any other level, but there are some just because of their location that just really don't get a chance to win a national championship. If you're the best on the field each day, you're going to have the opportunity to win a championship. That's the best thing there is and that's what I love this level of college football."
Byrd on the support and community of Nacogdoches |
"It's great to see all that purple and Purple Haze hanging over the wall. It's our job to make sure we put a better product on the field because they do a great job to support us. That's evident by our attendance numbers - we lead the league in attendance. That's what we talk about to the guys - they deserve it, but they have to do it to deserve it. All the time, what are you going to bring? How are you going to shape what we're doing now?"
1:56 p.m. CST
Sawyer and Woods took to the ESPN3 set to field questions from longtime Southland football broadcaster Lincoln Rose Lincoln Rose.
Woods on being a preseason All-Southland pick |
"I started this journey as a walk-on, so it is an honor that coaches around the league see me as such. To get on the field & impress the coaches outside of SFA, that was a great honor and I appreciate that. That mentality as a walk on hasn't changed. I have to be leader and being a vocal leader is big for me. I'm truly excited."
Woods on biggest area of improvement during the offseason |
"Conditioning and working on the little things. Getting in the film room and getting in better shape. I want to be one of the guys who doesn't get tired. Sometimes I find myself false stepping and not doing things that can get me to the ball faster so I wanted to correct that as well."
Woods on favorite part of media day and going to Dave & Buster's |
"Between Pac-Man & Halo, my strong suit was just hanging out with everyone and getting to know everyone better. For a lot of guys, to get out of our schools and come out to this great city and hang out with each other it's an honor. We've all been going through those long days, weight training sessions and conditioning drills so to have this event is great."
Woods on the close losses in 2017 |
"Those losses stung really bad but every day we're working hard to take steps to reach goals that we have set. We know we can play with anyone, but now we have to give more so we can walk away with wins."
Sawyer on the quarterback competition |
"Us quarterbacks, we all know that the best man will be on the field and that we all have a role. It's a healthy competition and the more that we make it about our team and not each other the more successful we will be."
Sawyer on learning from assistant coach Jeremy Moses |
"He always talks to us about how much time it really takes to accomplish your goals and the work that goes into it. He's excited for camp this year just like the rest of us."
Sawyer on SFA's offensive weapons |
"There are a lot of guys. Obviously, Tamrick Pace is a big part of our offense, but you look at our running backs, other receivers and everyone else and it's just a great group that wants to prove themselves and help our team win. This conference is very tough, but for us it's just thinking about one team – SFA – and thinking about what we can control."
2:15 p.m. CST
Sawyer and Woods entered the Southland's social media suite to shoot various promotional videos for both SFA and the league to use throughout the season.
2:26 p.m. CST
Coach Byrd sat down with the National Football Foundation (NFF) for a one-on-one interview.
2:33 p.m. CST
The NFF conducted one-on-one interviews with both Woods and Sawyer.
2:35 p.m. CST
Individual interviews began with coach Byrd. Members of the local media, along with other Southland media outlets, talk with the Lumberjacks' lead man.
2:43 p.m. CST
Much like coach Byrd, both Woods and Sawyer began individual interviews with local media members and other media outlets from around the Southland's geographical footprint.
3:14 p.m. CST
It's a wrap from Houston. Coach Byrd, Woods and Sawyer completed individual interviews and finish all media obligations for the 2018 Southland Football Media Day.
3:21 p.m. CST
SFA's trio of football representatives hit the road for the two-and-a-half-hour drive back to Texas' oldest town.
The Lumberjacks' entire press conference with Randy McIlvoy and Lincoln Rose will be available to everyone once it is archived on ESPN3, available everywhere via the ESPN app. The archived video will be the afternoon press conference, which ran from 1:15 p.m. – 4:40 p.m. CST Thursday.
SFA opens up the 2018 season Saturday, Sept. 1 with a trip to Southeastern Conference stalwart Mississippi State. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU, available everywhere via the ESPN app. The 'Jacks host NCAA Division II Tarleton State in a 6 p.m. tilt for its home opener Saturday, Sept. 8.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2018 SFA football season can visit the new home for SFA Tickets at SFATickets.com or contact the SFA Athletic Ticket Office at 936-468-JACK.
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