What Mike Sanford Said During His WKU Introductory Press Conference
Mike Sanford’s Western Kentucky introductory press conference was held Wednesday afternoon.
Sanford, 34, was Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach the past two seasons.
UPDATES
-- Sanford said he’s going to hire an offensive coordinator and groom that person to call plays. Going to be very involved with that process and the QB position.
WKU will be a multiple offense, varied personnel sets. Scheme will be a reflection of the players he has.
-- Sanford said he wants the Hilltoppers to pound the football and control the football. “We are going to attack in everything that we do with innovative schemes on offense, defense and special teams.”
-- Sanford said his defense will be an attacking, four-down scheme that “pins its ears back.”
-- Sanford: “It’s going to be an honor to play special teams. It’s not going to be something kids have to do.”
-- Sanford said his goals are to win C-USA and to make and win a New Year’s Six bowl game. Gets a round of applause.
-- Sanford mentions the great players he’s coached. Mentions DeShone Kizer.
“Those kids are the ones that give us an opportunity to be here.”
-- Sanford also thanked the schools he’s been at, including his most recent stop: “Notre Dame has really shaped me in a lot of ways. It’s really impacted me in a lot of ways. I’d like to thank Jack Swarbrick and all they’ve done.”
-- Sanford said he learned from head coach Brian Kelly how to navigate two different kind of seasons. How to adapt to injuries in 2015 and get to the Fiesta Bowl, and handle difficulties in 2016.
Said he learned more this past season than in any in his career.
-- Sanford said he got a speeding ticket yesterday in Carmel, Ind., (five miles per hour over) driving from Indiana to WKU. Eager to get started.
-- Sanford: “It’s humbling to be the 20th head football coach at Western Kentucky.”
Sanford thanks Jeff Brohm, Bobby Petrino and Willie Taggart — the previous WKU head coaches.
-- WKU AD Todd Stewart: “While he will be one of the youngest coaches in FBS, Mike’s experiences transcend his age.”
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