Twin Perspectives With Kevis and Trevis Coley

Kevis Coley

Trevis Coley

October 19, 2005: 12^th Entry – On the homecoming win against UCF, Playing against their former high school teammate, UCF Tight End Darcy Johnson, and the upcoming four straight weeks of away games starting this Saturday with UAB:

Trevis: We came out with a lot of enthusiasm in the first half against UCF and created a bunch of turnovers (five in the first half and one in the second). Doing those things is how you win games.

Kevis: Coming into the game, we knew we had to play with a lot of emotion, especially knowing that UCF was a good first and fourth quarter team. Because of that, we went out there and had fun and big things happened for us.

Trevis: Defensively, I think we’ve been two different teams the past two weeks. We didn’t come out with a lot of emotion last week against Tulsa, but this week we did. It’s like what Coach Hopson says, if you come out with a lot of emotion, good things will happen for you. So by doing that this week, we had five turnovers from the start and our offense took advantage of the opportunities that we created for them.

Kevis: What people saw this past game is the real Southern Miss. We still have room for improvement, but it was definitely a step up from last week.

Trevis: I didn’t have many tackles in the game (three total) because the defensive line and the linebackers were stopping everything. They wouldn’t let anything come my way. But that’s good if I don’t have to make the tackle, because they shouldn’t be able to make it past the front line. Going into next week, I’m going to have to step up and make some more tackles to keep pace with (safety) Brandon Sumrall (Nine total tackles against UCF), since I can’t keep up with my brother (Kevis had 12 tackles in the game). I told Sumrall last week that he wasn’t going to have more tackles than me again, starting with the UCF game, but it looks like I lied to him! Next week, I’ll make more plays to keep up with my goal to be the second leading tackler to Kevis (Current total tackle count: Kevis – 55, Trevis – 34, Sumrall – 32).

Kevis: I think the reason why he didn’t get many tackles was because the team (UCF) respected his ability and didn’t go his way. Trevis has to be a playmaker. If they don’t go to him, he has to go after them to get his tackles. I agree that he needs to step up his game next week so he can get his tackles. But I’m going to take all of the tackles again this week anyway.

Trevis: Against UCF we were able to play against one of our teammates from Palatka High School (Palatka, Fla.), TE Darcy Johnson. He was mostly blocking when he was playing, so we didn’t get to go at him that much. We were able to talk a little on the field, but it wasn’t any trash talking. After the game we were able to catch up and talk about some things. It was good to play with an old teammate from high school.

Kevis: Whenever you have played with or against someone from high school, you look forward to playing them in college. It’s nice to bring back some of those old memories of playing on the same field. It was a fun experience to be on the same field again with Darcy.

Trevis: We have to keep momentum from this win going. We needed that win and it put us back in a tie for first place in C-USA East (with East Carolina and UCF). We have to finish out the season like how we played against UCF.

Kevis: We have to continue to relax and have fun to keep up this momentum. After every play, we have to slap each other on the head and congratulate one another. We must start every game fast and finish fast.

Trevis: I’m ready for this four-week road trip that we’re about to play (UAB Oct. 21, N.C. State Oct. 29, Marshall Nov. 8 and Houston Nov. 13). I wouldn’t say that this is the hardest stretch of the season, but it means less practice and more games to play. We have to prepare well and practice hard even though we may not have as much time to prepare for each team as we would like.

Kevis: A lot of people are probably wondering how we’re going to do this, but we have no choice. It’s like Coach Bower says, a champion always finds a way to win. We are a championship team and we’re going to find a way to win. We don’t have any excuses and we’ll play anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Trevis: We start off the road trip this Friday with UAB, and every time we play them, it’s a dogfight. I know that they’re going to give their best, and so will we. It’s always a good game, and this one will be too.

Kevis: Our games against them always come down to the wire, but we have to separate ourselves from them in the beginning so it won’t have to be a dogfight. But if it is a dogfight, we’re up for the challenge because Southern Miss never quits.