Tigers begin prowling
8/27/02
Head coach Doug Williams held it's first game week press conference today. The main focus of the conference was on whether the tigers are ready to play such a good team this early in the season.

"It seems a little early to start. We're a week ahead
of when we're used to it. It's tough on coaches to try
to get prepared, especially with a young team that
hasn't played much" said Williams.

"The good thing about this game is we're playing somebody we've never played before. They're wondering what's going to happen just as much as we're wondering what's going to happen. The only difference is they have 14 starters returning and we have 13 starters missing."

Williams reminded everyone that last year they played some teams they weren't supposed to beat and beat them.

"...last year we went to Portland State in hostile territory and won. We played a team that supposed to be in a better conference when we played Nicholls and we won. So I guess it boils down to who says (McNeese State) is supposed to be
better?"

When asked what he expected from McNeese State, Williams responded:

"Talking to coaches and watching film, we've found that McNeese tries to set a tone from a defensive standpoint. What they like to do is be aggressive and disrupt what you like to do on offense. That's something we've noticed and that we're going to have to try and control. They like to blitz and be
aggressive because they do have some good athletes."

In order for the tigers to pull out a win the game play of there young guys will have to step up. The quarterback Bruce Eugene also has to step but Williams doesn't want him to feel he has to win the game either.

"We've had some sessions together and we're not asking him to win games," said Williams. "We're asking him to perform to his capabilities. He just needs to do what he does best."