KatFans.com Exclusive: Q&A With Coach Fritz - Western Illinois

KatFans.com Exclusive: Q&A With Coach Fritz - Western Illinois

KatFans.com caught us with Coach Fritz during the Southland Conference Media teleconference to take the questions of the Bearkat Nation to the coach. The Kats take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks tomorrow in Huntsville at 7pm. The Leathernecks return a veteran squad but have a huge hole that needs to be filled at QB. The Bearkats will be looking for revenge as the Necks handedly beat the Kats last season in Macomb, Ill.

Tell us about camp this year and preparations for Western Illinois on Thursday:

Coach Fritz: We had a hot camp, just like everyone else. We tried to get the most out of our practices by having them in the early mornings and late evenings. When school started back up we had to go to practice in the afternoons to accommodate some kids with evening classes. We had a couple of kids get banged up in camp but they’ve had a week or two to recover so we hope to have them on the field this Thursday. We’ve got a veteran squad this year as compared to last year where 50% of our kids were new. We’ve got a better understanding of the game and our system, overall camp was very productive.

Is Western Illinois going to be tougher against the run or pass, and how are we preparing for the possibility of two QB’s?

Coach Fritz: They are a very good and balanced team. They are a lot like us in they want to establish the run and do a lot of play action off of that. They are a very physical team, they had a RB that had over 1,000 yards and their second team RB had almost 900. As far as the QB situation neither one of them had a lot of playing time last year. One played a little bit against us after the game got away from us. Both of them are right handed and I am sure they are going to run the same offense because they have a lot of returning starters. I think we gotta prepare for everything and be as ready as possible. I’m sure there will be a wrinkle or two in all three phases for them just like us, but we can’t let it concern us about having two quarterbacks.

How much of an advantage do we have over WIU being acclimated to this heat?

Coach Fritz: It has been extremely hot down here. It’s been hot throughout the Midwest but the Texas heat is a little different with the humidity. We’ve been practicing in the afternoons and our guys should be prepared for it.