MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football head coach Joey Jones and linebacker Kalen Jackson met with the media Monday to recap Saturday's win over Idaho, as well as preview this week's contest with Louisiana-Lafayette.

South Alabama Head Coach Joey Jones
On the Idaho win:
"I thought we played well overall in all three phases of the game. That's one thing we challenged our team on. The second thing we challenged them on was about taking ownership in their team. I think they did that; our guys got together this week and understood that. You could see it before the game that they had taken ownership, and I'm very excited about the fact that they were able to do that. We can have a great football team if we do that."

On the short week of preparation:
"In some ways I kind of like it. I don't like the long layoffs. We get back to practice with a little urgency. I think our guys are going to be ready. We're fresh off a really good win, and I think they want to carry that momentum into the next game."

On Louisiana-Lafayette:
"They're obviously very good. They have big guys on the offensive and defensive line. They have recruited well, and have some size. Elijah McGuire is their best player on offense. He was voted the best player in the league last year. We have to stop him. He's very explosive. Defensively, they are big and very sound. They play a lot of man coverage, so our receivers are going to have to do a great job of getting off of man coverage and the offensive line has to do a great job of protecting our quarterback because they don't bring pressure. We have to be able to throw the football to win, and run it as well obviously, but we have to make some big plays in the passing game to win."

On the team coming together:
"I think we were in a very unique circumstance at the beginning of the season after losing so many guys and bringing so many new guys into the program, getting everybody to come together. So it's been as different a season as I have ever been around. But here we are just halfway through the season and we have done some good things. I thought this game was one that pulled us all together as a team, even as a staff. If you look at where we were and where we are now, it's just totally different. Great teams become great toward the end of the year, and play throughout the latter part of the season. That's what we hope to do the rest of the year."

Linebacker Kalen Jackson
On the Idaho win:
"Coming back was very big. We knew at halftime that we were in the game. We stuck together as a team, and I believe that is the biggest turning point in our season. We came together as a team, special teams, offense and defense – we brought it all together and made a big comeback."

On the comeback win:
"People can tell you something all day, but when you actually come together and jell as a team the way we did at halftime Saturday – it was unbelievable. It was like nothing I have ever seen before. We had faith in each other. We just had to trust our coaching."

On the key to stopping ULL's Elijah McGuire:
"We have to keep it simple, fit our gaps and come downhill. Everybody has to do their job and make plays."

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