Quotes from Friday's Pregame Press Conferences

2019 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game
 
Appalachian State Media Availability
Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz
Opening statement
"It's an honor to be playing in this game. It's a testament to our football team and the commitment they've made the entire season. It's a testament to our administration in the investment that they've made into our program, and it's a testament to our coaching staff coming together and being us and our identity as a football team in 2019. We're exciting to represent our division in the Sun Belt Championship. We're going to be playing a great team. Congrats to coach Napier on a 10-win season and being named Sun Belt Coach of the Year, and it's a very quality and strong opponent we're excited to go to battle against tomorrow."
 
On helping players get ready for a championship game:
"There's a natural excitement in playing for a championship and understanding the result of the game is going to determine who wins the goal that everybody set out for the season for. But what you have to do each week no matter what happens is that each week starts over and the process begins again. We firmly believe in our process and how we go about each week, and we can't treat this week any bigger or any different than we have in previous weeks. It's no different than when we played the Power Five games or conference games. We know the preparation that it takes to be successful, and it's what we have to duplicate this week. Some people call it the process, but for us it's just about being 1-0."
 
On Darrynton and Akeem sweeping the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year awards:
"It's a testament to our football team. Yes, these guys are rightfully deserving of those awards, but they also know they're a part of the cog that makes them successful. Akeem plays the strike position, which is our field linebacker. It requires other people to do their job for him to be successful. Darrynton is an explosive player and has been electric for us, but those holes have been opened up by the offensive line. Our quarterback has also done a nice job of converting third downs and giving him extra opportunities. It speaks to the entire team for them to accomplish those awards."
 
On how players like Darrynton and Akeem have helped coach Drinkwitz grow into his head coaching role:
"We've talked about preference versus performance. I spoke to that at the very first team meeting, and we all had to lower our egos to help us perform at the highest level. I relied on these two guys. These two young men are leaders of our football team, and they've both come to me several different times and said, 'hey coach, have you thought about doing this' or 'we've been struggling with this, could you help us?' And, for me, it was about lowering my ego and accepting their input and understanding that we're all trying to perform to the highest level that we can to be the best team that we can be. It isn't about me, and it's not about them. It's about us. It's about our football team and what we're trying to accomplish this year. Akeem has been a great, valuable resource for me on the defensive side of the ball, and Darrynton is actually quiet by nature, but when he speaks, we all listen because we know he's bringing some truth to us. Both of these guys have done a really nice job of carrying on the mission. I challenged our trip and talked about how 'leaders buy in.' They then try to get everybody else to buy in. They don't wait and sit back and say 'well, is this going to work?' And, if it does, then they will buy in. These two young men bought in really quickly, and they put themselves out there with the rest of the locker room saying, 'this plan is going to work.' By them doing that, their performance on the field has helped, but their vocal leadership in the locker room helped this team come together."
 
Junior running back Darrynton Evans
On how Darrynton thinks he's grown this season:
"I would say that I'm trying to focus on the passing game this year. I try to keep Zac [Thomas] clean the whole game. I try to pick up on blitzes a lot, so I can know what blitz is coming to slow the game down for me. And, in the run game, when I can see blitzes based off of where they're going to be at, it allows me to be prepared."
 
On getting to play the championship game at home:
"I would say playing at the Rock is always an advantage. We have a great fan base. App Nation does a great job of coming out. What a better place to play?"
 
Senior linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither
On Akeem's senior season and what's made this season special:
"Just playing with these guys, Darrynton and playing around with Zac [Thomas]. Teaching young guys and showing how things are supposed to be done. And then, just being a big brother to them, showing them how to play hard, getting them to focus on what they need to focus on and just having them have fun with their brothers."
 
On how Akeem developed into a leader throughout his time at App State:
"Just getting myself around guys like Kennan Gilchrist and Devan Stringer. Both played in front of me, and just taking in what they taught me and buying in to what the coaches taught me. Coach D.J. Smith, him telling me he believed in me and things like that, that helped me build that confidence in myself and keep my nose down and work hard every day."

Louisiana Media Availability
Head coach Billy Napier
Opening statement:
"We are very thankful to be here. We're fortunate. We have a special group of people that have contributed to our success as a team. It's been a great little run here in the second half of the year. We have a great group of coaches. We have a terrific group of players. We're fortunate that we have great leadership, and our administration has done a great job creating the structure and creating investors that have supported our program and really allowed us to have a great process. We've got two of our best here today. Kevin Dotson and Jacques Boudreaux are two of our best leaders and best representations of our football team and our football players to be. We're certainly fortunate to have this opportunity, and we look forward to the challenges that go with playing in a conference championship game. We have a formidable opponent. App State has tremendous tradition and history. I've got a lot of respect for them as a team, and I look forward to competing against them. With that, it's time to play a little football before long."
 
On the tight UML outcome last week being a blessing in disguise:
"I do think when you go through adverse times as a team, it's a good thing for you. We've certainly had some moments throughout the season where the game was tight. One thing about our football team, we responded. There's been critical times throughout some of those games where we haven't responded in the right way. That may be getting a stop on defense in a takeaway, or might be answering a score in offense and or making a big play on special teams. Consistently, we've built up our mental toughness over time through our offseason program and by the way we practice. I think that has allowed us the ability to respond when it counts the most. I think last week was a great example of that. We were a little depleted on defense, and we are fortunate to get some of those players back this week, but you've got to give ULM the credit."
 
On some of the past lessons learned that can translate over to tomorrow:
"We have made slight adjustments to the process of getting here. Certainly, the travel, the plan that we executed yesterday and how we allocated each of our opportunities all the way up until kickoff. We didn't go to a team movie today. We let them sleep in and simple things like that. I think when you get in these championship games, those are the things that matter. You've got to focus on the technical things that are going to help you play better in the game."
 
Senior linebacker Jacques Boudreaux
On how to slow sown the App State offense:
"Obviously, they're a great offense and everybody knows that. When you're facing a quarterback like Zac Thomas, their running backs that they have and the wide receivers, they have skill at every single position that they have. It's more so of what we can do for ourselves. Defensively, we just have to be assignment sound. We have to know our responsibilities and try to limit those big plays. Hopefully that's exactly what we are going to do tomorrow.
 
On the two-year process that made it possible to reach the Sun Belt Championship:
"Obviously, this coaching staff came in and changed the way we thought about football a team standpoint wise. We talked and told coach Nap that this team was not very together. We he can in, he made that a point emphasis to get this team as a one cohesive unit. As of late, I think that's what has been transpiring, being one cohesive unit. I think that is something that shows on the field and off the field. We don't have to hang out all the time, but we are together all the time. We know a lot about each other, and that puts things into perspective when we are that field. It allows everybody to play for each other."
 
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Kevin Dotson
 
On the offensive coming together as a whole, especially the offensive line:
"It started in the offseason. We always talked about being the best. We put ourselves on a high pedestal trying to make sure that we didn't go lower than the that bar at all times. We try to be at or above the bar at all time, and I think just this year we just tried to stay above that bar. We've done it pretty well this year. The O-line, we always talk about being the top-10 offensive lines. So, we try to do that, and it's been coming together for us."

On the familiarity of playing at Kidd Brewer Stadium: 
"Its always exciting playing here just because of how much fan support they have. It kind of gets to you that this many people are here from them. It's always a fun experience to have that much people going against you. To have that on your mind, I have to be able to quiet this crowd. If I do my job right, I can control this crowd. I like that aspect of it."

Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill Media Availability
Opening Statement:
"Thank you so much for being here. We really appreciate all of you attending the Sun Belt Conference Football Championship. We are so excited about the championship this year. This is our second season that we've had a championship football game and we've had such a historic season for Sun Belt football. We have two of the best teams in the country competing tomorrow for the Sun Belt Championship and I don't think you can ask for anything more than that."
 
"I would like to thank Appalachian State and their athletics staff for their work on this championship. I would also like to specifically recognize Chancellor Sheri Everts, Athletics Director Doug Gillin, head football coach Eliah Drinkwitz and the entire athletics staff. An event like this can't happen without all the good work of those good folks."
 
"This has been a historic season for Sun Belt football in the 150^th anniversary of college football. We had our first team ranked in the College Football Playoff rankings, with Appalachian State currently ranked at 21. We have our most wins over Autonomy Five schools, with wins over the SEC, ACC and Big 12. Our second championship game features two outstanding programs with double digit wins, with Appalachian State ranked in the top-20 in scoring offense and scoring defense and Louisiana is top-10 nationally in rushing offense and total offense and 11^th nationally in scoring defense. Appalachian State is the only Group of Five team with road wins over two Autonomy Five opponents. A historic season is going to culminate with a historic and epic championship game."
 
"One again, our championship game is immediately following College Gameday on ESPN, which demonstrates the respect ESPN has for Sun Belt football. This year, we had a record number of games on ESPN and we look for those numbers to continue to grow in the future. We are excited about our work with our broadcast partners at ESPN and their commitment to Sun Belt football. ESPN is synonymous with college football and we thank them for their support of the Sun Belt."
 
"We are also getting closer to the bowl season and we are all excited about the postseason, which is a good reminder that in the last three years, the Sun Belt has the best winning percentage of any FBS conference. We are always working to get our teams into the best possible position for success and showcase Sun Belt football. We are really proud of our work with our five bowl partners and we know that the postseason will be exciting for Sun Belt football.
 
"We are excited about the future of Sun Belt football. We are also excited about tomorrow. It is going to be a great day. It's been a historic year and tomorrow will be another day in this incredible season."
 
On Navigation of a Sun Belt Team Going to a Non-Sun Belt Bowl:
"We have five bowl partners that we are working with. At the end of the day, that's where our teams will be. If you look across the country, that's kind of the way it works out. It's certainly great discussion for the fans, but at the end of the day, they are really just rumors. We are trying to work with our partners to figure out where everyone fits into the mix."
 
On the Contracts of Bowl Games:
"The contracts are the contracts. What I've been telling our people is that we have five bowl contracts. We hear all the chatter on how is going where, but it's all chatter. The bottom line is we have our bowl contracts and our five bowl eligible teams will be somewhere in that bowl mix. That's the way it will play out when it is all said and done."
 
On Having a Program Like Appalachian State Being Considered for Other Bowls:
"I think it's great and it's great for the whole league. I do believe in FBS football and a rising tide of votes. I think the success you see with App, in terms of the ranking and the two big wins over North Carolina and South Carolina and the consistency of their play helps our league and showcases the quality of Sun Belt football. I think having Louisiana being such a great team with double digit wins, a top-10 rushing offense and total offense and a top-20 scoring defense is also great for the conference. It's two great teams and we get to showcase that on ESPN tomorrow right after College Gameday. I think that's great and it really helps our league. I'm proud of the season App has had and certainly thankful for their success and proud of what Louisiana has done as well. I think that will help showcase Sun Belt football tomorrow and in the future."
 
On the Positives and Negatives of Playing the Championship Game on Campus:
"I really like having the game on a campus site. It really helps enhance the regular season and gives everyone something to play for. I think it's great to have the opportunity to have a home crowd engaged. I really like that format and think we are fortunate to have that here at Appalachian State, where they have such a great fanbase."
 
On the Future of the Championship Game:
"For the future, we are going to continue to try and grow it, in terms of doing things we need to do build the crowd. This year we have one team ranked in the CFP heading into the game and another team with double digit wins. But next year, we want to figure out how we have two CFP ranked teams when we get to the championship game. That is the next step for us in what we want the championship game to look like. Every year, we are thinking about the look and feel of how we brand it and how we make it special for the teams and fans. We will continue to look at that moving forward as well. Last year was a great championship and we hope and expect this year to be the same."
                             
On Involvement in Discussions with Bowl Partners:
"We have a lot of conversation. At the end of the day, the bowls have a chance to select who they want within an ordered system. We certainly are talking to them and trying to get a sense of what's important to them and what they value, while providing our insight and perspective. I'd say it's a collaborative process and they make the decisions going forward. But it's very collaborative and we are constantly in conversation and will continue to talk to the bowl folks a couple times a day through Sunday afternoon."