Interview with head coach, Joe Campbell
SORSN: Coach you have a quarterback capable of putting up 400+ yards of offense each week. Double coverage on Woody? Throw to Beason. Double coverage Beason? Throw to Moore. Drop 8? Run Longmire up the middle. Stop Gummie? Check down to Qualls. 4th and long outside of the red zone? Send in the kicker to put one 35 yards through the uprights. Coach, how fun is it to call offensive plays when you have more weapons than a Dogtown Road double-wide?
Coach Campbell: This year has definitely been a lot of fun. These guys step up and meet our expectations week in and week out. Every time I ask the question, do you think this guy can make that block, can that guy catch a pitch, or do you think so in so can run the rocket, the answer is always, YES! Then we get in a game and they perform better than we could have ever expected. So, yes, calling plays is really easy, when we trust and expect everyone on this team not only to do their job, but to dominate at their position.
SORSN: For the last 37 years that he’s been on the pick panel, Barry Boo Narramore has picked the Waves week after week; often at the mockery of his fellow panel members and Midway alum. Is it true that after the Lord’s prayer is said before the Waves leave the locker room, the team pledges to “Give our all for Boo tonight”?
Coach Campbell: I guess our secret is out. We replaced the sign above our door to “We Will Give Our All for Boo Today!” We break it down to AHHHH! Boo! Pride!, and during timeouts we remind the boys, “This is for Boo!”. In all seriousness, I appreciate Barry sticking behind us week in and week out, despite being ridiculed. Hopefully we can help him win the pick panel challenge this year.
SORSN: Congratulations on your Coach of the Week nominee from the Tennessee Titan’s organization. Please share with us your acceptance speech that you had prepared had you won.
Coach Campbell: I was humbly going to thank God, our assistant coaches, the Hawgs, and everyone who has made this season possible. And remember Coach Joe Campbell is just one man, just one man!
Interview with defensive coordinator, Ryen Minton.
SORSN: Coach, early in the year, the defense was under a lot of scrutiny. But in the second half of the season, it was the play of the defense that was contributing to wins – including big wins over Greenback and Unaka. What do you credit the turn around to?
Coach Minton: It takes a couple of games for a defense to find its footing. It is really hard for a defense to have an accurate view of what a team does by going against a scout team that is running plays they don’t normally run and may not be quite to the athletic level of the opposing team. For whatever reason this tends to show earlier in the season than later. In reality, our defense is pretty balanced and is getting smart enough to make quick in-game checks that aid us.
SORSN: You have some very talented guys up front, defensive ends that have really made some big plays and a defensive back that leads the area in interceptions. All of which will need to play well in order to come out of Cloudland, a team that went 9-1, with a win. How does the Midway defense match up with the Highlanders?
Coach Minton: Overall we match up pretty well. Cloudland runs an offense that is designed to spread a team out in order to run the ball within the gaps and run the option. They tend to pull quite a bit, which we are pretty good at following and reading. The number one issue this week is going to be making sure tackles on their quick QB and RBs.
SORSN: The air Friday night at Cloudland will be cold; as cold as the mountain water flowing down the Hiwassee River. Do you think your cold water rescue training will prepare you for a November Friday night in Cloudland?
Coach Minton: It is always cold on Roan Mountain. I believe the water from the Hiwassee is still running in our team’s veins. That is the only explanation I can give for how cool this team has played under pressure. As long as we keep cool as the river we will be alright.
Thank you for your time coaches and good luck Friday night. Go green.