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Thumps Hilltoppers 41-7 These are the post game comments and interviews with Javier Arenas after the Western Kentucky game … Press Pool … That first 3rd down stop where Rolando (McClain) drives the guy back … how big was that? Javier Arenas ... Momentum, momentum. When he pushed that guy back it was momentum for us. I was just hoping we could stop these guys on the 3rd down because you know what I’m going to do. I’m going back there (to return the punt) and shock the crowd. So to see that … I love to see those stops on 3rd down. And to do it like that, you know we got the momentum and I’m about to get the ball and give us even more momentum. You head to the SEC next week. Talk about that. Javier Arenas ... It’s what we’re here for. To compete. Every SEC team is fast and coached well all around. That’s what makes the SEC so competitive and so fun to watch. It’s going to be a challenge … the first SEC game of the season and it’s against a good team. I think we’re going to do well … be mentally strong and mentally prepared going into this game. And we’re going to go in there and play like champions, as simple as that. Do you prepare differently for this Arkansas team? It will be different. They run different play and have faster guys I’d say. It’s a different scheme. Every team brings something different to the table. You’ve just got to adjust and know what to play against. Talk about Julio (Jones) helping you out a little back there with the kicks. Is that to give you some relief back there? It always is, but we did that because these guys put the ball all over the field. We just wanted to field the ball. And you know, Julio is a great return man and a great athlete. So both of us back there is dangerous. I won’t necessarily say it’s relief because I have to go block for my man when he gets the ball and I’m going out there to crack somebody’s skull. I’m going hard each and every play so I won’t say it’s relief. When you have Julio blocking for you is it a big help? Well yeah. He’s a big guy and a great blocker. We’re both blocking for each other and we’re both going to make plays. How did you feel this week after what happened last week (took a hard hit on a return). It was great. Nothing happened last week. I felt good. Is it a relief to everyone that you come out and play up to your capability? Especially after the trouble (hard hit) last week? No, it’s not relief. They expect me to come out here and play like I’m going to play … the whole secondary and the whole defense. What about the team? Well, I’ve been practicing great all week. They knew what I was coming out here to do. You saw I was good after the game last week. I was ready …we could have played another game last week and I was ready to go. We could have had a double header and I would have been ready to go. So I’ve been prepared all week. My teammates knew I was coming out here to play ball. What kind of things were you doing against their offense … as far as playing an extra defensive back? It was just disguising, you know. Showing them different things to try and get them to check out. We had outside coverage and then they would check the play saying “They’re playing outside, so let’s go inside.” So I shift inside and they’re going to come right to me and I’m going to eat them for lunch. It’s been three games and you’ve only given up one touchdown … how does that feel? Uhhhhh …. Great? But that makes no difference. We went out there just to play ball. We don’t really pay any attention to it. Like I say, after the game, after the season, if we look back and only gave up three touchdowns that’s great. The only thing that really matters is What did we accomplish? and What did we do? Ready to play some SEC teams now? I’ve been ready man. We could have popped it off the first game of the season. What's different about it? Speed. Competition. The schemes are a little more tough. You’re always going to have a dogfight. That’s what the fans want to see. That’s what the coaches are here for. It’s just competitive fire and everyone loves it. Is this a good game to get off on and into SEC play? We’ll find out. What was the mood of the team like last week after the Tulane game? It seems like you came out to make a point. Yes it was because we knew we kind of lagged off on Tulane. We kind of underestimated them and they came out and played great ball. Feel like you got that corrected tonight? I think so. Do you think so? (reporter nods “Yes.”) All right. Cool. Javy, could you take us through your mindset as you’re getting ready to field a punt return? What are you thinking? What does the field look like to you? I’m not thinking about anything. Check how many yards I’m back … 40 yards a lot of times … and I just start licking my fingers. I’m waiting for these guys to kick me the ball You can’t sit back there and think too hard. You think too hard and you let plays you need to make and cuts you need to make pass you by in your mind because you’re thinking “What if this guy hits me hard?” or “What if I don’t make the block and kick this guy out?” You’ve got to go back there and use what God has blessed you with. I think that’s what I do each and every time. So you don’t think … you just react? Yeah, that’s exactly what it is. You can only react because it’s so fast, you know? If your car is veering off the road, you don’t sit and think “Let’s try and turn the steering wheel left and see what happens.” (smiles) You have to go out there and do whatever you have to do to get yourself out of that situation. And when I’m back there returning punts, I’m doing whatever I can to get myself out of a little snafu when guys try to surround me. Instincts … it’s all instincts. How come Julio was back there with you for a couple of returns? Did you see how they were kicking the ball? Rugby-style? Yeah, that’s why he’s back there. You had a pancake block for him. I won’t call it a pancake. The dude hurt my back so I was looking for him (smiles). (press pool laughs) Talk about the job the defense did. You allowed a touchdown. (laughs) Well, it’s football brother! Not necessarily a bad play. It didn’t affect us as far as us going into the tank and these guys scoring a bunch of points. We shook it off and came back out there and played to our capability. Look at the outcome. You really stopped their running game. Yeah, we prepared for it. The coaches’ scheme was great. That’s why the coaches have the status they have because they do what they do and they know what type of players they need.
Click for post game interview transcripts from Western Kentucky ... click here for other Homes Games 2008 interviews Javier Arenas (#28 KR/DB Jr. 2L 5'-9" 198 lbs. Robinson High, Tampa FL) Andre "Smitty" Smith #71-OL Jr. 2L 6'-4" 330 lbs. Sulligent High, Sulligent AL)
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