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 Senior receiver Eddie Cohen is closing in on 1,000 yards this season and several single-season records. |
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Oct. 30, 2007
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina head football coach Kent Briggs today spoke with members of the media on the Southern Conference Football Coaches' Weekly Teleconference. He talked about last Thursday's nationally-televised game against the Wofford Terriers and also looked ahead to the remainder of the season.
Western Carolina has an off-week to rest up, recoup and prepare for its annual showdown with arch-rival Appalachian State in the "Battle for the Old Mountain Jug" in Boone on Saturday, Nov. 10. The Catamounts will look to snap several streaks that day as the Catamounts have dropped five-straight this season, have 12-consecutive road losses, 13-straight in SoCon play and have not won in Boone over their mountain-rival since 1984 (L-11).
The Catamounts (1-8, 0-5 SoCon) boast the nation's 18th-best passing offense (262.2 yds/gm), second in the conference behind the Elon Phoenix.
Senior Eddie Cohen ranks second in the conference and fifth in the NCAA in receiving yards per game, averaging 106.6 yards per game this season. Cohen has 54 catches this season, averaging 6.0 per game to rank 20th nationally, and stand five receptions shy of tying for 10th on WCU's single-season record books. With 959 yards receiving, Cohen currently ranks ninth on the single-season yardage charts and is just 41 yards shy of becoming the ninth Catamount all-time to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving barrier in a season - and is just 187 yards shy of surpassing Gerald Harp's single-season high of 1,145 yards set back in 1978.
Also, Cohen's seven TD receptions ties him for sixth on WCU's single-season chart, one shy of advancing into a tie for fourth-place and five away from the record of 12 set by Eric Rasheed (1981-84) back in 1983.
Senior Mike Malone continues to rank among the league and national leaders in terms of all-purpose yards. The Gainesville, Ga., native, who earlier this season set the school record for career kickoff return yardage, ranks third in the SoCon and 13th in the NCAA with an average of 173.56 all-purpose yards per game.
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Here is an excerpt of Briggs from today's teleconference.
Western Carolina head coach Kent Briggs:
On the halftime speech during last Thursday's Wofford game:
"I don't think it was a matter of what I said at halftime; it was how we executed. Give Wofford a lot of credit for the first half. We had a turnover (fumble) and a blocked punt that hurt us early and put us on our heels along with the speed of their offensive execution. In the second half, we started executing offensively and caught up with the speed of the game on defense, but the halftime deficit put us way too far behind. Our guys were excited about playing (on national television), but all of the early factors combined to put us on our heels."
On how the team was about to outscore Wofford 41-to-10 in the second half:
"We stated executing. We got a fumble defensively that allowed us to turn some momentum. We started putting points on the board and our guys got excited. We played both quarterbacks and mixed them mid-series and I think it was effective. We put Todd (Spitzer) in during his best scenarios and Adam (Hearns) in during his and things started happening. Our defense caught up with the speed of how Wofford executed and we were able to slow them down enough to do some things on offense.
On the bye week:
"We really needed it a few weeks back. But this is how the schedule played out. We have some fundamental work to do. Work and stay game ready. We are getting excited about our opportunity in two weeks to face our rival (Appalachian State). Over the past few weeks, we are really starting to heal up, getting stronger. That's been really good for us. When we need depth in the second half, that's really helping us late in ball games. Our players have a `never give up' attitude. I think they wear down teams with their approach and attitude and I think it wears down teams late in games."
On red-shirt freshman wide receiver Marquel Pittman:
"I have been impressed with the way he came back from his injury (broken hand). He's battled through and came back earlier than the doctors expected. He is a great young man that is very talented. I think having both him and Eddie (Cohen) is really what you need - two solid receivers to help you stay balanced and really help the offense."
