Coach Farris Legacy

[BlueRaider06]

Mel Kiper: So Coach Farris what were the reasons do u think that Eastern Illinois signed you as a head coach with no experience at the college level at any position?

Coach: I feel that they signed me because of my philosophies and the work ethic and discipline that i can bring this program.

Mel Kiper: What are your expectations of this team in your first year?

Coach: Well i know that this team isn't expected do very much in the conference much less any where else. I think that this team will win the OVC regular and tournament championships. If these players will do what i ask of them then i feel that we can deliver some major blows in the postseason.

Mel Kiper: Have you spoken with any of the players?

Coach: I haven't spoken with the players yet but i am planning a team meeting in the next day or two in order to meet my players and i will then find the leaders on this team.

Mel Kiper: Thanks for your time Coach Farris and all of us at ESPN wish you luck in your future plans and goals for this team.

Coach: Thank you.

This is Mel Kiper reporting from Eastern Illinois University on the signing of the new Mens Basketball coach. Back to the studio.

[BlueRaider06]

This is Mel Kiper reporting back at Eastern Illinois University. We keeping all of you updated on the story of Coach Farris who was lucky enough to receive his first ever coaching job as a college head coach. This has never happened before in college basketball so we are going to be reporting on this story all season long as Coach Farris's career progresses. We interviewed him early today to gain some knowledge of what he thought of his players and what he is expecting out of his starters as his season begins tomorrow night.

Mel Kiper: Coach Farris what do you think of your team now that you have had the oppertunity to meet your players?

Coach:Well i have came to knowledge that we are a very young team. We have no seniors on this team, but this bunch is very eager to compete and win.

Mel Kiper: With you being only a few years older than some of your players and not having any experience do you feel that they will buy into your system of play?

Coach: We have already talked about that and i told them that i'm going to be tough and though i am not much older than them i am going to be very discipline. I know how young college kids tend to act , but i will not put up with that behavior and if they don't want to buy into this system then they will not play..

Mel Kiper: Can you tell me a little bit about what you are expecting of each player?

Coach: I will tell you what i'm expecting of my starters, but as far as the bench comes i just expect them to come in and just play hard and do what they can to contribute to this team and their play will decide on the playing time they receive and they could possibly become a starter because i am not stuck to this one line up.


Pg # 3 Mike Robinson- He is a sophmore that has some great potential. He will looked to be a ball protector and good decision maker. He can give us some great scoring if we need it but i am looking to him to find the open man and make the big plays.

Sg # 14 Bobby Catchings- He is a junior with a load of talent. He will be looked to for a great deal of scoring but he is also a well rounded player. He can dish the ball and bang down low. Standing 6-6 at the two guard he will have a size advantage against many college 2 guards.

Sf # 12 Billy Parrish-He is anothe sophmore with a load of talent. He comes from the same hometown and school as Catchings therefore we are hoping he can become that type of player. He can deliver some scoring and boards.

Pf # 40 Bobby Jolliff- He is the only starting freshman and has worked hard for this oppertunity. He can really make big plays downlow and i am looking to him to be a contributer on the boards and defensive end. He can produce some points.

C # 41 Jake Byrne- He is another junior and is looked to for some leadership. He can really be force on the boards and defensively. I can look to him to stop the big man on the other team and come up with boards when we are struggling in that category.

Mel Kiper: Thank you coach for giving us your input on your team and you will be seeing alot of us this season because you have been giving a shot that no other coaches have been given and good luck this season.

Coach: Thank you and we will be looking forward to talking to you as much as possible this season.

[BlueRaider06]

Ladies and Gentleman i would like to announce that Coach Farris started off his career with a victory over ULM. The Panthers won 63-53 and really had this game in the bag from the start.

Mel Kiper: Congratulations Coach on your first collegiate victory.

Coach: Thank you very much but you need to congratulate these players on a great job.

Mel Kiper: What was the one thing that you feel was a major contributer to this victory?

Coach: We played great on both ends, but we really got out and ran the floor. I know it seemed as if Catchings was scoring every basket but this team really came together as one and that is the thing i have tried to focus the most in practice.

Mel Kiper: Do you feel that this kind of play can be continued night in and night out? You have two more games this weekend and you have to face a major program in Iowa State on Sunday, how do you feel about that type of competition early in the season?

Coach: Of course i think this type of play can continue night in and night out, but the big question is can we win when we aren't have this type of night. As far as Iowa State is concerned i really like playing that type of team this early because it will show me what this team is made of and the amount of heart and fight they have in them.

Mel Kiper: Thanks Coach for your time.

Coach: Thanks

Tonight's Panther Stats

Pg # 3 Robinson- 9 pts. 1 reb 2 ast 3 stl 1 to- He really played well tonight and did the things that i asked him to do. He only turned the ball over one time and that is the biggest thing i ask out of him is to protect the ball.

Sg # 14 Catchings 31 pts 6 reb 3 ast 2 stl 2 blk- He gave us the scoring that we were asking of him and did the all around things that we know he can do.

Sf #12 Parrish 2 pts 7 reb 2 ast 1 blk- He did a good job and did things that was a contribute to this victory, but we feel that he can give us more scoring.

Pf # 40 Jolliff 8 pts 3 reb 1 stl 3 blk- He did a great job in his first college game. We would like more rebounds but we are gonna give him time to progress and turn him into a great player.

C # 41 Byrne 2 pts 10 reb 1 stl 1 blk- He gave us the boards that we were looking for and has the oppertunity to add more points on any give night.

Overall input: We played a great well rounded game and this is what i'm expecting for the rest of the season.

[BlueRaider06]

If the first two games are how Coach Farris's career is going to be like then the rest of the country better get ready for something big. He won his second career game tonight with a 54-48 win over UC Riverside. Eastern Illinois really dominated in the first half and they were up by 10 at the half but were actually out scored in the second half by 4. I was able to catch up with Coach Farris and have another postgame interview with him as i plan to do for the rest of the season as we follow this young coaching career.

Mel Kiper: Well Coach two in a row to start off is this college thing easier than what you expected?

Coach: Actually it's not as easy as it looks. I have been fortunate enough to have my team play well my first two games but everyone knows that a bad night can come at anytime, but i hope that night doesn't come for a very long time.

Mel Kiper: You got the victory coach and looked great in the first half, but what did you think about your team getting outscored in the second half?

Coach: At halftime we were all really happy with our play and i think the players felt that they had in the bag and slacked off in the second half. That is something that we will work on.

Mel Kiper: Is this a team that matched your teams talent or do you feel that your team should have played better?

Coach: I don't think this team matched up to our talent and that was evident in the first half. I can tell you one thing that if we play like that tomorrow then i will have my first career loss.

Mel Kiper: Overall what do you think of your team's performance in tonight's game?

Coach: Well we won so i guess they played well enough tonight but it's gonna have to get better.

Mel Kiper: Congratulations on the win and i will see you tomorrow night.

Coach: Thanks

Panther Stats:

# 3 Mike Robinson- 10 pts 5 ast 5 stl 1 to - Another good solid performance tonight and he continues to take care of the ball.

# 14 Catchings- 19 pts 7 reb 1 ast 2 stl - He did the things that we ask of him and continues to be a well rounded player that will be very important to this team the rest of the way.

# 12 Parrish- 8 pts 7 reb 2 ast - A solid game that offered a well rounded play from a potentially great player

# 40 Jolliff- 4 pts 5 reb 1 ast 3 stl 1 blk- He gives us solid play in every category. A good defensive player with some offense talent as well.

#41 Burne

Overall Input: We played a great game but we have to finish the game. We can't play well for one half and then slack the next.

[BlueRaider06]

Guys i am here to bring you the first major upset delivered by Coach Farris and rejuvanated Eastern Illinois Panthers.The Panthers went into halftime with an eleven point lead but everybody knew that Iowa St. would make a comeback in the second half but with each Cyclone Basket Eastern Illinois answered and they both scored an even 35 points in the second half. The final outcome was an eleven point Panthers victory and the first major win of Coach Farris's career. People he told us before the season began that they deliver some blows but we never thought that they would deliver a blow like this early in the season.

Mel Kiper: Well Coach it seems as if you can't lose and with a victory like this it raises some attention to your program. What do you have to say about this victory?

Coach: Well this was a great win for our program and as i said before we began play we would deliver some blows and i knew that my team was ready.

Mel Kiper: Did your team believe that they could win or did you have to get them to believe?

Coach: This team believes that they can beat any team in teh nation and i would put my money on them against anybody. We may not be the biggest program but heart and desire are two of the most important things to have when you step out on that court.

Mel Kiper: With this win, are you going to expect your team to beat everyone else on your schedule since you don't have another team of this caliber the rest of the year?

Coach: I came into this season expecting my team to beat everyone. You have to expect them to win in order to get them ready. If you don't think they can win then why would you go out there and work so hard to come out on top.

Mel Kiper: Well coach, i want to congratulate you and your team on a great job and we hope to see you continue this run.
# 3 Robinson- 22 pts 7 ast 2 stl 2 to- He stepped up in a big game for this program. He added scoring along with finding the open man.

# 14 Catchings- 24 pts 4 reb 1 ast 1 stl 2 blk. - He continues to be a great leader and he contributes somewhat in every category.

#12 Parrish- 5 pts 3 reb 3 ast 2 stl - He is a great role player that steps up and makes a play when we need it.

# 40 Jolliff- 0 pts. 3 reb 1 ast 1 blk- He was really no where to be found in this game and he must step up his game in order to continue to play heavy minutes.

# 41 Byrne- 2 pts 12 reb 1 stl - He did a great job on the boards and continues to play hard in that category. We don't ask for much scoring from him but could use it in the future against teams that we have to battle with for a victory.

Overall Input: We played great and stayed withing our game in a hostile environment against a major program. The main thing that we need to realize is that our two guards can't win every game by themselves.

[skarface2k1]

What level or you playing on?