DALLAS - Following an exciting 2021 campaign, Conference USA begins its 28th football season on Saturday morning, opening the 2022 campaign. WKU, last season’s C-USA runner-up kicks off a three-game Week 0 slate for the league that concludes with a pair of league lid-lifters.

Every week head coaches take to the podium to answer questions from the league's media members - let's see what they're saying this week:

CHARLOTTE
Head Coach Will Healy’s Quotes from Tuesday’s Press Conference
 
Video available here: Tuesday Press Conference
 
Opening Statement:
“Fun to be back up here with these two guys again. A blessing, it's great to be back. Excited that it’s a game week. It feels like this time of year for me you have all these things that you still want to accomplish, so it catches up to you quickly. It doesn’t really feel real until you have opportunities like this, and the radio show last night, it is starting to feel real. 
 
We got an incredible opportunity for us and our program to be a spotlight of the opening weekend of college football. One of 11 games on national television, and an awesome opportunity against an awesome conference opponent. I vividly remember this time last year, a great opportunity for our football team. We had started hot and we knew it would be a difficult test after an off week, and they got after us especially in the second half. I have watched that film so many different times and gone back to the helpless feeling of that fourth quarter, and it's been motivating for our guys. Playing FAU to start the season on the road as a heavy underdog against a team that is picked high in the conference, that a lot of people have to win the conference, is a great challenge and has caught our full attention. 
 
Very proud of how these guys have gone through camp. It has been a difficult camp, a long, hard, and adverse camp, and these guys have responded. I think our leadership has been incredible, and we have made great strides. Now we will get to see how good of a team we really are this Saturday at 7 PM.”
 
On how important this season is to the program:
“I think that this place has grown up really fast, and now you’re in another growth process. Everything has happened so fast. I think you’re getting to the point where you’re creating some stabilization and you’re creating a foundation and then all of a sudden there comes another move, so we have to be prepared to catch up even faster and move quicker. 
 
This is an extremely important year. It’s an important year for me because I want Chris Reynolds and Markees Watts to go out the way they deserve to go out, and that’s as winners. It's an important year for me because I want the guys on our football team to have success. I want our coaches to enjoy the experience. I want our fanbase to be proud of what we’re putting on the field. But also know none of that happens unless these guys are bought into the moment and believe in the process that gives you an opportunity. Also look at the schedule in front of us and understand that each and every week is a challenge, but the challenge brings each and every week an opportunity to win a massive game.”
 
QB Chris Reynolds
On how his experience will help him this season:
“You have so many of those little lessons and lessons in leadership, learning from guys like Benny LeMay and Alex Highsmith, Cam Clark, and Tyriq Harris, and seeing how they handled that leadership and how they handled people in our program. To be able to learn from them and (impart) those types of lessons onto the younger guys that I’m around. I’ve met so many people and built so many relationships that I’ll be able to take something from. I learned so much from Coach Healy, (Off. Coord) Coach (Mark) Carney, and former coaches and what I can use to this day from the lessons I learned from them. So, the biggest thing has been from everyone I have met and mistakes that I have made, taking something from that.”
 
DE Markees Watts
On preparing for upcoming game against FAU:
“As for the difficulties of a week 0 game I think for some guys it's waking up. We’re going to be the ones who are kicking off [the season]. Usually you see other games that are played a day before or earlier that week and you get juiced up because football is back. Now we are the ones that are going to kickoff this season. As for the preparation and watching film, you have to adjust the way you prepare. Watch the old film they have, go watch film of some of the new guys they have brought in and watch where they are from. Watch how the [offensive] coordinator coaches and what they did with their schemes and just bring it all together schematically and working together that we execute what we have installed.”
 
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Head Coach Willie Taggart’s Quotes from Monday’s Press Conference
 
On the depth chart
"After the scrimmage Saturday, we have a good understanding of who's going to be in the two deep and who's going to also come along and help us in other areas. We're excited about the guys we're rolling with. We'll be getting some guys back from injury so that will play a factor as well."
 
On finishing fall camp
"We had a really good training camp. It was tough, it was physical, but it was different. Our players were different in the way they went about it. We always tell our guys about 'embracing the suck' because camp sucks and we were in camp a lot longer than we've been the last two years, but our guys truly embraced the suck, and they came out to practice. I don't recall having a bad practice, and a lot of that contributes to our leadership on our football team."
 
On the running back room
"Larry (McCammon III) is going to start for us, but you're going to see multiple guys playing. You're going to see a lot of Johnny (Ford). You're going to see some guys, but Larry will start it off. You never know how games are going to go, but it's great to have a room like that where you can go to any one of those guys and feel good about them being in the game and not worry about changing the gameplan up."
 
On playing a conference opponent in Week 0
"That first game, you're trying to get all of the cobwebs out. You hear it every year that most of those games aren't won, a lot of those games are lost because of the little details that comes to winning. You can't beat yourself in games like this with selfish penalties and turning the ball over. Playing Charlotte, they have a new defensive coordinator, so we have to do a great job as coaches once we are out on the field and seeing exactly what we're getting and being able to adjust while we're in the game to what they're doing. Those are some of the challenges where you don't have any film to see exactly what they're doing, so you have to be ready to adjust during the game. The beauty of it is football is football. You got 11 guys, so there is only so much you can do."
 
On facing Charlotte's offense
"They have eight guys back on their offense. The quarterback is very good. We've seen a lot of him over the years and what he's capable of doing. He's the one that makes it go, and they have some really talented receivers. It's going to be a big challenge for our defense to start the year off against an offense like this and an experienced quarterback in Chris Reynolds. They do a lot of good things on the offensive side of the ball with the shifts, motions, and unbalanced (formations) to try to confuse you. We have to play really sound defense and be able to align to everything that they give us."
 
On starting QB N'Kosi Perry returning for another year
"It's huge to have him (N'Kosi) back. He knows the offense and this football team a lot better. Last year, when he came in August, he really didn't know anybody. He had to come in and learn a system that he was competing with other guys for and trying to learn his teammates as well. That was one of the experiences and challenges we had to go through last year. I thought he handled it well. This offseason, he's been on another level when it comes to leadership, off the field, in the classroom, and then studying football, he's become a gym rat in the film room and that's great to see."
 
On players receiving NIL deals
"Whenever our guys can benefit off of their name, image, and likeness, it's always a great thing. It's good to see our guys have been able to capitalize on it here at FAU. Hopefully, they all continue to get more. It's good to see guys creating value for themselves."
 
NORTH TEXAS
Head Coach Seth Littrell’s Quotes from Tuesday’s Press Conference
 
Littrell video available here: Tuesday Press Conference
 
Opening Statement:
“I feel good about where we’re at. We’ve had a good camp. We’ve improved in all three phases which we continually need to. I’m really excited about this upcoming game. UTEP does a great job ad Dana [Dimel] has them playing well. And they had momentum going to a bowl last year. It’s going to be a great atmosphere. I believe it’s sold out and I’m looking forward to the competition.”
 
On the opening week: 
“Game one is game one and going into any fist game it’s about going and getting jitters out of the way and it’s about execution and it’s making sure you’re disciplined and doing your job. Both teams have a lot of experience, which will help, but game one is game one and we’re looking forward to playing a really good opponent on the road.” 
  
On UTEP’s experience:
“They have a lot of experience not only as players, but coaches too. Their coordinators are experienced and Dana has been around a long time and they’re solid in all three phases and they’re going to force you to execute and be a physical team and are really solid up front on both sides of the ball.” 
 
On what stands out about LB KD Davis:
“His work ethic. The way he comes each and every day. He’s played a lot of ball, but the work he puts in on the field and in the weight room [stands out] and he trains like a pro and watches a ton of film. He’s very talented and athletic and he’s strong and can run. He’s been great for us.” 
 
On UTEP’s offensive skill: 
“They’re explosive and their quarterback does a great job and really can sling it around. If you let him sit in the pocket and he gets comfortable, he’s as good as there is in the league and they have good running backs and guys on the perimeter who are explosive and can make plays down the field. Taking care of the ball is going to be key and winning the explosive play battle is going to be key and you can’t let their offense get in rhythm and their quarterback get comfortable or they’ll pick you apart.” 
 
On thoughts regarding UNT’s wide receivers:
“I feel good. I feel a lot better than we did in the past with as many injuries as we had in the past. We have a lot of guys with experience and had a good camp. I’m excited about where we’re at in all three phases and now it’s about letting these guys go out and play.” 
 
On continuing the momentum from the end of last season: 
“Building off that and understanding what it took for us to get on the run and win football games. Some of it is staying healthy and taking care of your bodies and two is preparation and execution. Each and every year is a little different, but I feel like we found an identity this past year with our backs against the wall and that’s what we’ve talked about is staying in that mindset of what we’ve had. But every year is different. There’s going to be adversity this year as well, there always is, whether it’s throughout the season, in a game, in a quarter, hopefully we can overcome that adversity a little faster than we did in the past, but we have a mature football team and that’s why our culture is where it is. Culturally, I think this is the best we’ve had since early on when we had a bunch of experience.” 
 
On the program’s identity:
“Every year is different, but yes, building on that mentality and finishing off last year like we did, obviously we had a lot of conversations this offseason about where we’re at and what our identity is and hopefully we can capitalize on that this fall.” 
 
On the excitement for the season: 
“It’s huge. That’s what you’re preparing for all spring, summer and fall camp. We’re ready to go play a football game. At the end of the day it’s a matter of getting out there and knocking off the cobwebs from not playing a game in a while. The team that can settle in the quickest and go execute their routine plays is usually the one that’s going to have success. There will be mistakes, but you have to overcome that adversity and try to play as clean as possible.” 
 
On QB Austin Aune:
“He’s had a great summer and fall camp. He’s looked as good as he has since he’s been here. I think a lot of guys have. He’s watched a ton of tape and his numbers in the spring and fall camp and they’re far beyond what they’ve been in the past.” 
 
UTEP
Head Coach Dana Dimel’s Quotes from Monday’s Press Conference
 
Audio Available here: Monday Press Conference
 
Opening statement:
“Our team is focused in on getting ready for game one here, one of twelve. We’re looking forward to the first ‘915 game’ of the year. Our team can’t wait to get out there. As we learned today, there’s still a lot more work to get done. That’s the big thing as a coach that we’re looking at and need to get accomplished over these next few days. You’re actually stealing a day in preparation because it’s a Monday, and we got a lot of work done already on our first opponent. Today was a hybrid of what would be considered a Tuesday practice, but just a little bit shorter than a normal Tuesday practice. We went full (pads) good on good and got plenty of work that way. Tomorrow will be the same style of practice for us. It will be exactly identical to what we did today. Wednesday’s practice will be a little bit more of a hybrid of a Tuesday/Wednesday practice, and then we’ll go back and do our normal Thursday practice. The guys geared in today. They’d had a break with Sunday as their off day. We did some things well today but obviously we have a lot to work on here as we finish up the week. That’s going to be big for us. I’ve been really pleased with the preparation that we’ve had throughout camp. It’s been a good, hard camp for us. I’ve been pleased with the progress of how our younger guys are developing. That’s a big thing as a coach, how are we developing our young guys. As we start to set our two-deep, there’s still some competition going on right now at certain spots, and there’s guy’s battling today. There’s guys that switched spots today at certain position groups as they went through the battle. It’s still ever changing. That’s how far away we are as a football team from kickoff. I would say one guy lost his spot today to another guy as far as guys that would see the field for us. We’ll probably play three to four running backs in the game, five to six different receivers in the ball game and so on and so forth. It’s just a continuous battle going on. Switching to Saturday, we’re obviously looking to have a great turnout and are looking to get our students there. We’ve got a good function going on tonight to encourage more students to come to the game. We’re getting our team out to participate in that this evening, but our guys got to stay locked into the focus of preparing for the game. My message to our fans is that they’ve got to be a big part of the game. They’ve got to make a difference in this game. So, when North Texas has the football, we’ve got to be loud, to make noise and to cause havoc for them and use all the fans being here to our advantage. We’ve got to feed off of their intensity and excitement as a football team. That’s my urging to everyone who comes to the game, really get into the game, and help your Miners have the homefield advantage in this ball game. North Texas is to me, and this isn’t coach speak, this is me being candid, they’re one of the toughest teams we’re going to play all year in the conference. They’ve been to I think to six consecutive bowl games since Seth (Littrell) has been there and are always the team to beat in the league. I think they have a really good football team and are experienced as we are. As you look at experience coming back, they have just as much experience coming back as we do. They have a lot of good players. They have a quarterback who is 29 years old, so there’s good experience right there in itself. He’s a big, athletic player. They’ve very deep at running back, they’re very deep at receiver. All of their starters are coming back from their secondary. Both of their starting linebackers are coming back. Four of their five offensive linemen are coming back. They’ve got a very, very talented receiver who got hurt last year who will be back for the game. Like I said, it will be one of our toughest tests all year. As a coach, that’s coming right out of the gate for your opening game, so we’ve got to be ready to play really good football from snap one. That’s the challenge that we have for our football team right now, and that’s why our preparation has been locked in and focused on with what we’re dealing with. Again, we know North Texas is going to be a huge test for us. It will be a good indicator of where our football team is going into week one. As you set the stage for our season, we have some tough tests right out of the get go. That’s good and that’s fine, it will get us ready for the rest of the conference and the rest of the nonconference slate as we move forward.”
 
On learning from the match-up against UTSA when playing in front of a larger crowd at home:
“I don’t think we played well in that game for any means. Again, it was the first time we had played in that type of situation. I think we’ve got to make sure we stay really focused on our preparation, but we’ve got to go out and play aggressively. That’s going to be a big part of what we need to do. They need to play aggressively, play with confidence and attack in any situation they can attack in and not feel like because of the big crowd we have to be tentative.”
 
On the two-deep not being set yet:
“There’s plusses and minuses to both sides. You’d like to have it set, but again I like that the competition is there. A lot of times your team is in a spot where you don’t have the competition because you don’t have the depth. It’s a matter with us of iron sharpening iron. It’s not that someone isn’t doing it, so we have to find someone else to do it. It’s that we have guys who have prepared really hard and are ready to play so now those guys are trying to outcompete their competitors for the position. It’s more been driven from the depth we have on our football team, so it’s a positive for us this year.”
 
On facing a tough opponent in the first game:
“I don’t mind having a tough game week one. I think there’s a lot that goes into it. I think it’s made us make the most of three-and-a-half weeks of our preparation that we’ve had leading up to this ball game. We’ve got the team knowing we can’t come out and just cruise into our first game and just build as the season moves along. It helped our intensity throughout game. As it always goes, the game gets here quicker than anybody expects it to. It’s gone fast for us. The summer went quick, and the fall camp definitely went fast for us.”
 
On the increased expectations on the team heading into the season:
“I think the biggest thing is being 1-0. That’s the part we’ve tried to get into our guys from the moment that they got here and started working. You’ve got to be 1-0. You’ve got to prepare for today and not look outside at the big picture because it will overwhelm you at times. That’s always been a big thing for us, to be 1-0 in everything we do, so the team has to take that stance as well too.”
 
WKU
Head Coach Tyson Helton’s Quotes from Monday’s Press Conference
 
Video Available here: Monday Press Conference
 
Opening Statement: 
“Game week is here. I’m really excited, the team’s really excited. We’re really looking forward to the home opener. What a great opportunity to play in the first college football game of the 2022 season. We get to showcase our brand and be on a great platform. Just very excited and ready for this week.”
 
On preparing for Austin Peay:
“I think it’s going to be a really competitive game. Scotty’s done a really good job there. He’s building something special there. I know he’ll have his team ready to play for sure. So, it’s going to be a really good test for us. Their offense is a very high-powered offense, and he does a great job. I’ve watched him from afar for a long time, so we’ll have our hands full defensively trying to contain them offensively.”
 
On whether the team needs to win in dominant fashion to set the tone for the season:
“I just want to win. I don’t care how we win. It would be nice to say we had a dominant win, but I think it’s going to take everything we have. I think our football team better show up and have their best game or we’ll all be disappointed. We better have our jaw set. I know our guys will be excited, I know they’ll have the right demeanor. But this is not a game that we’re looking at trying to say this is a win. Again, I think it’s a four-quarter game. I think this is a well-coached football team we’re about to play. I think they do a fantastic job. They have good players on their football team, so we better show up and play extremely well if we want to win.”