HOUSTON – HBU head coach
Vic Shealy, senior running back
Terrance Peters and senior linebacker
Garrett Dolan fielded questions about the upcoming season at Southland Conference Media Day Thursday at the Hilton Americas.
The Southland Conference also released the preseason poll Thursday as voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The Huskies, which return 30 seniors and 16 starters, were picked ninth, after finishing seventh in 2016.
The Huskies open the season with four-straight road games, beginning with Texas State Sept. 2 in San Marcos.
Below are selected quotes from HBU's media day representatives:
Head Coach Vic Shealy
"Our kids have really grown…it is symbolic of our kids in general. (On offense), we're really starting to see the fruits of all our effort."
"In a short amount of time we have moved from not being known and spending time to explain what HBU to high schools to being able to walk into any corner of the state and have our program known…our staff do one of the best jobs of recruiting in the state of Texas."
[On opening with four-straight road games] "It's a unique situation…you can sit around and cry about it or go out there and beat somebody."
"It's all about process versus product…early on our process was to build leadership and confidence, and for our players to walk on the field with an expectation to win…now we believe we have the ability to go out and beat any given team on any given day."
[On marketing the HBU program] "I remember in January of 2014 we didn't have a field, all we had was hope and a vision to sell. We had 20-something men that believed in us and who's families believed in us. Many have graduated, but we have 13 still with us and for them it's their last opportunity to win some games. It's a joy when you have young men buy into the program it's great."
"Terrance (Peters) and Garrett (Dolan) are guys that, when they walk on the field or in the weight room, they're some of the most admired men in the program. Their work ethic and dedication is simply phenomenal."
Senior Linebacker Garrett Dolan
"It's been an amazing process, being the foundation of an FCS program in the Southland conference and to see it go from getting beat 74-0 (in first game) and shortening that gap over the past few years, that is something I will always cherish"
"We've been such a tight-nit group over the years…getting kicked in the dirt in our first-ever game brought us close as brothers to work hard day in, day out to hopefully prove yourself and your development."
[On goals for this season} "It really starts that everyone has one goal in mind and everyone knows what it takes to reach that goal. When everyone is in tune with each other we have the ability to build something special."
"There is so much for us to accomplish. We feel like we can be a really great defense in this conference and we have so much to prove. Offenses see us as the little brother of the conference -- we're here to show them that they can't pick on us anymore and we're here to stay."
Senior Running Back Terrance Peters
"Our program has taken a great leap over the years…our strength and conditioning and growth and development programs have developed greatly and great things are still yet to come."
"Our first away game we won against Lamar was very important. We had coaches crying…the beginning of our program was hard going out against tough teams, but winning that away game felt really good."
[On new quarterback] "We have three talented quarterbacks and it's going to be a tough battle. I want to see presence on the field and someone who is going to contribute to the team."
