Luke Fickell: ‘In a Position Where November Really Matters’

CINCINNATI — It was a nail-biting 27-25 win this time around against ECU.

A departure from the 55-burger UC hung on the Pirates four years ago, but a win is a win, and head coach Luke Fickell had plenty to say about it during his weekly press conference.

Check out his best comments from Tuesday's session.

On ECU's Accusations That Fickell Wanted Bryon Threats To Injure Keaton Mitchell:

“I didn’t know [they said] that. A game is a game, and you play the game really aggressive. I wish we wouldn’t throw kids out of football games. There are times to throw guys out. There are not malicious targeting hits [very often]. [ECU’s] guy was thrown out two years ago here for a targeting penalty on an onside kick. It is what it is, I don't think the guy had malicious intent. I don't believe that we had malicious intent. It's a part of the game. It's unfortunate that people would feel that way. I would imagine it's an emotional thing when you say it at that point in time. I hope it's just an emotional thing and they don't really believe that about how we play the game and how we teach our guys to play the game.”

On Temple's Surging Offense Under QB E.J. Warner:

“I didn't watch them as much early, before they had made the switch at quarterback, but they've done a really, really good job. They're very efficient at what they're doing. They fill in the ball incredibly well, they mix it up. The quarterback’s only taken six sacks and he's throwing the ball maybe 40 times a game, and that's over a long period of time. So really, really efficient at what they're doing. They’ve got great balance. For a young guy, he understands the game. He understands where his outlets are and what he needs to do if it's not there. You can see that. You can see the growth even from game five onwards.”

On November Being A "Playoff" Month:

“That is our whole objective. We have always wanted to play for championships and I think that now you are in a position where it is all or nothing, and I am not saying that every game isn't like that, but you are trying to put in a little bit more of an emphasis on what you need to do and you want to make sure these guys understand that. So that's what we really say, it's not like we're putting a sign up here and saying ‘Now the playoffs begin’ but it's just an understanding now that we have trained and we have done all these things to get to November, and to be in a position where November really matters and don't forget that November really matters.”

On If He Compares This Team to 2018 And 2019:

“I don't think so. I don't. A lot of time it is the makeup, it is what the expectation is because there was a completely different expectation in 2018 and 2019. I don't mean the outside, I just mean from us in general. If we had been in some of these situations in 2018, I don't know if we would have had the same year just because I don't know that we created an expectation to win and we created what winning looks like. Without having that right now, I am not sure it would be the same. I don't know that there are a whole lot of parallels, you won close games and found ways to win, but it is different than we were finding ways to win right now.”

On Ja'Quan Sheppards First Full Season Starting At Outside Corner:

“He's done a great job and he's been consistent. Not saying he's the only one, but I think he's one of those spots that going into the year, I think everybody would have said, ‘Okay, what's it going to be like? What's he going to do? What's going to be like when a guy catches the ball for the first time in a long time?’ There’s a lot of guys that fill shoes and not just do a good job but are under pressure and scrutiny and they're not quite what somebody else was. All those things, he's done a phenomenal job of handling. He's played really well. He's been very consistent. I don't think he's ever tried to be the guy that was there before him. He's truly being who he is and playing the way that he does. He’s really grown up.”

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