HOUSTON, Texas – "High Expectations" were the topic of conversation at Southland Conference Football Media Day for University of the Incarnate Word head coach Larry Kennan and his senior captains, Jamari Gilbert and Quandre Washington.
 
UIW was picked to finish last by the league's preseason poll released Thursday, but Kennan and the Cardinals made known that they are determined to exceed premature expectations.
 
Kennan fielded questions media questions at Thursday's morning press conference, which was moderated by Southland play-by-play voice Randy Mcllvoy, sports director for Houston's KPRC-TV. Immediately afterward, Gilbert and Washington participated in an interview with sideline reporter Tatum Everett, who also serves as sports director for Shreveport's KTBS-TV. The replay can be watched on ESPN3 (starts at 57:00).
 
Gilbert and Washington subsequently took part in the Southland's Social Media Station, hosted by Jeremy Villanueva. A link to the video can be found below.
   
QUOTES
 
OPENING STATEMENTS FROM HEAD COACH LARRY KENNAN
 
"It's been a typical spring and summer; it goes really quick. We just named a new President and getting ready to name a new AD. We have a great coaching staff. This, I believe, is our best coaching staff ever. They are tremendous mentors and leaders. We have great camaraderie. When we took over the football team, we were a bad Division II team. We were picked last [in this year's Southland Conference preseason poll], but this is a good conference. We have high expectations for this year. I think we're better at every position – offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, kicking game. The two guys on the right [Jamari Gilbert and Quandre Washington] are prime examples of where we were five years ago; they are great people and players. Last year, we had Alex Jenkins and two years ago we had two players (Cole Wick and Myke Tavares) sign to the NFL, so this program has made great strides in such a short time."
 
KENNAN ON THE PROGRAM'S IMPROVEMENT SINCE 2012
 
"Unbelievable progress. It's amazing the difference in talent level from back then to now. We scored 48 points against Sam Houston last year. We are really making strides."
 
KENNAN ON THE BIGGEST FACTOR TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR POSTSEASON PLAY
 
"Time and patience. We went from 36 scholarships to 63 now. We have to be patient and not expect miracles overnight. If we can live through the first three weeks [three road games at Fresno State, Sacramento State, and conference game at Stephen F. Austin], we'll be ok. We're interested in winning every game, but more importantly, we're working on our student-athletes becoming great men after graduation. We expect to win more games from last year."
 
KENNAN ON CARRYING MOMENTUM FROM LAST SEASON'S FINAL GAMES
 
"I look at all the positives. We went through seven weeks of losses and we kept pressing."
 
KENNAN ON THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE AT THE DIVISION I LEVEL
 
"The schedule and how you get over the hump. I don't want guys on our team who are bragging. I want them talking positive, because if you do that, then the reality of it creeps in. How do you go to Fresno State and beat them? How do you go to SFA and beat them? It's about figuring that out."
 
KENNAN ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LEAGUE SINCE 2012
 
"They're really good; everybody in this league is good. We're way better than we've ever been and we're picked last in the conference, so that says something about the talent in the conference."
 
KENNAN ON THE CHALLENGE OF STARTING THE SEASON WITH THREE ROAD GAMES
 
"We report on July 30. We've talked to the players about taking it one game at a time. We have to deal with it [starting season with three road games]. You have to have great caliber on the team. Once you get through the first three, then we are full in conference play."
 
KENNAN ON WHETHER BEING ELIGIBLE FOR POSTSEASON IS A MOTIVATOR
 
"No question. Having a chance to play a tournament game is one more thing we can add to the list we can do. If we get lucky and win some games we're not supposed to win, then we put ourselves in position for the playoffs."
 
KENNAN ON HIS COACHING OUTLOOK
 
"Coaching is a lot more than winning and losing ball games. We talk everyday with the players about respect – respecting ourselves and others. I always introduce the janitor to the team in the first team meeting; I tell them you treat the janitor as much as you do the university president."
 
SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER JAMARI GILBERT LAST SEASON'S STRUGGLES
 
"We started out slow most of the games. I believe we always won the second half and ultimately ran out of time and couldn't catch up."
 
GILBERT ON KYLE KENNAN'S PROMOTION TO OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
 
"It's really exciting to have him there. To see him get that position is amazing, because I love him as a coach and person."
 
GILBERT ON THE TRANSITION UNDER KYLE KENNAN
 
"We have two transfer quarterbacks. We're starting off from scratch and it really helps to have them learn the plays and our style of play."
 
GILBERT ON WHO WILL WIN THE QUARTERBACK BATTLE
 
"We'll have to wait and see. There's no definite number one quarterback. It's going to be interesting to see who is under center for game one."
 
GILBERT ON PLAYING FOR LARRY KENNAN
 
"It's amazing because he wants the best of us. Academics are first and foremost for him. It really motivates us to go out and do the best we can. It's great for us to go home to our families and say we graduated, instead of we just played football."
 
SENIOR LINEBACKER QUANDRE WASHINGTON ON BEING PICKED LAST IN THE PRESEASON POLL
 
"We know the rest of the conference considers us an easy win. It adds fuel to the fire."
 
WASHINGTON ON THE STATE OF THE UIW DEFENSE
 
"As a unit, we can't depend on one person; we all have to step up and play. We carried momentum into the offseason. We just kept going and working hard."