Oregon State Football Head Coach Trent Bray Previews The Game Versus Idaho State (8/26/24)

sorry no prepared statement or nothing we're going to play a football game I like it um just I me start with the javanni what was what was in the decision to have him start Saturday yeah it was it was real close all fall camp and uh just kind of the last week gavan was just on a big uptick um kind of separated himself a little bit and so that's kind of what led to the decision to to go with him was there anything specific you saw that that separated himself from yeah he started he started making the plays we need him to make the comfort with the offense and then doing stuff with his legs which is uh what we like about him in the first place is not only his ability with his arm but ability to make plays running the ball when things break down and that's kind of what we saw that last week is the is there any plan for the other two in in the first game yeah we're still we're still absolutely uh Ben we again a great quarterback we know we can win with him he's he's going to have an opportunity same thing with Jabari so there there's a plan and that's kind of what coach gunderson's going through right now is what exactly that looks like did you feel like it was a an easy decision a hard decision how would you kind of kind of describe the decision with your conversations with Coach Gunderson yeah it was tough because it was close I mean it was a it was a good battle all fall camp and then when we looked back at the whole body of work and kind of who is trending up it that's kind of what eventually made that decision for us looking ahead to Idaho State um just what about them as an FCS team are you guys prepping for obviously they let the FCS and passing yards per game last year how do you uh how do you game plan for that yeah they offensively they they spread you out and they they do a lot of good stuff in the pass game that that can cause problems um defensively they got a unique defense you know that three High safety um so it's it's going to be unique and something that you know can stress a defense and an offense so we we got to be ready to play and I got a tremendous amount of respect for the Big Sky Conference and and that level there's tons of good players down there we played against them um I kind of grew up in the The Big Sky when my I was at Idaho so uh tremendous amount of respect for that conference and the teams in it Saturday's going to be your first game as a head coach how would you compare that to say your first game at reeeer as a player I'll I'll probably be able to answer that after the game um but just excited I mean uh anytime the season starts no matter what position I'm in it's just excited to to get out there and go and finally play and and watch the guys fly around what's your how how does your game day uh routine change uh I mean I I very personal one I think it's be pretty much the same I mean from linebacker coach or coordinator now head coach it's it's just constantly reviewing and going through in my head situations that are going to come up um and so that's that's kind of how I prepare for a game is is really I'm real quiet and thinking a lot are you a pregame speech guy I'm not I I don't think that has any impact on the game you know say something quick and and let him go in addition to the quarterback we were talking to coach last week he said it was very close competition at cornerback um what what did you see there that that made the difference in the decision you made today with with Andre at that other spot yeah it's it's consistency throughout um that that's what we're looking for at all positions and there were a lot of really good position battles Corner being another one of them but it's who can execute consistently day in and day out and that's what separated people Trent on on that same note um at right tackle and Right Guard what what did you just like that Grant and Tyler have done to kind of win those jobs they just uh you know they were they were again consistent um making the checks making the points um all the things that's so crucial in the Run game and the pass game um they were just when we looked at what's that best group of five um that that's kind of what separated guys is you know consistently operating in the scheme that we need to operate at I know um you know Jam listed as as a started right now but there you know when when henerson is out there is a plan to sort of rotate use both kind of commit approach yeah I mean soladine is going to get a bunch of carries as well I mean like the past I mean we're going to play and roll three backs in a game and uh their ability to stay freshed um keep them healthy as the year goes on and not overloading one guy taking those hits so we feel great about all three of those guys and Jake reel as well he'll have a role in there as well and jam W as a pick returner just sort of using him in that role as well is that just giving him the ball as many opportunities as you can is he you know how's he you think he's going to handle that sort of added you know role on on a game by game basis yeah anything we can do to get our our best Playmakers the ball and that's that's another way we can you know have an opportunity for him to make an explosive play so absolutely part of it after watching Camp do you do you think he'll run the ball as much as as Oregon state has the last few years uh it's it's going to be really the kind of everything's built off the Run game so yeah I think very similar to to how we've approached it in the past is the pass game the The Run action with the pass behind it is it's all built off of a great run game so that's going to be a huge emphasis for us not only this week but as the season moves forward the uh inh helment communication is that strictly Gundy and and Keith to to the the players on the field or are you do or do you have is in your headset as well it it'll be Gundy to the quarterback you can only have one on the field at a time and so it'll be the quarterback on offense and then you got one it won't change much on defense um you're still going to have to Signal you don't you don't huddle anymore so uh not much change on defense but Keith will talk to that guy on there and it'll be more reminders hey remind people this that's and Keith has a great experience from the NFL using that system will it take much to get used to did you have enough time to work with it yeah we worked with the quarterbacks uh the last two to three weeks of of camp and in the last two scrimmages so it went real well and you know the punting game all through August it seemed when they were out there working unbelievable I mean really really some booming kicks are you confident in that entire aspect of your game yes yeah I I I think both punter and kicker on special teams Everett was extremely consistent and consistent from deep I think we'll that'll be a huge Advantage for us to be able to put points on the board when maybe we couldn't in the past so I'm really impressed with what both the punters and kickers have done in Fall Camp obviously solad listed as that third back um when we talked to Coach Ford he said he was still iffy on the two freshman with their uh you know roll on third down in terms of pass Pro um just where is he grown to really take that third spot yeah he's he's one he's one of the best athletes we have on on the team um he's explosive Twitchy um he's done a great job of learning the scheme which is not easy for a guy that got here in June um so very impressed with what he's done and he's grown a lot in his pass protection and it's just making sure when we have him in the game it's things he's good with and comfortable with which coach Ford and Coach Gunnerson will do a great job doing that coach was there any position group back here coach throughout camp that you really liked the progression from the start to where they to where they are now heading into gameweek yeah I mean there there's a number but I would say the defensive line on defense I I thought they really started to come on as fall Camp went on um just the understanding of how how things are done uh you know the stunts the movements the things like that and I think there's Talent there and then the quarterback position I think from the beginning of fall Camp all the way through there was a ton of improvement from all three of those guys which makes me feel really good about that position your own work with Keith as a d coordinat and this is the first time you're you're the head coach and you have a d coordinator you're not him what what's that been like in terms of sharing ideas and listening and and comparing notes Etc uh Keith will probably have a different answer probably a little Annoying for him at times but uh no it's it's been good uh it was hard it's hard stepping back but like I said before having it be Keith and someone that I trust not only from a knowledge standpoint but from a personal standpoint made it easier but yeah there's always conversations we get together all the time and talk about you know how do you see this picked up or things like that and it's just a great working relationship going back to the improvements of the quarterbacks what do you think is the biggest stride that the offense made from the first day of fall Camp to now when you guys are in game week prep the execution of the scheme um because because there is there's a lot as far as we we motion a bunch shift a bunch um the quarterbacks have to handle a lot and so just that execution of doing things right because when we can do those things it puts a ton of stress on a defense and so that that was the biggest thing just the overall execution of our scheme a number of uh players as well as coaches that have played on both sides of kind of that Idaho Idaho State rivalry on your roster right now and then the coaching staff um what does that do for your team if you've had had guys who have faced them previously when you're game planning yeah I I think one it's an understanding of and then you see it all over college football where you can't sleep on anyone ever um anyone's capable of beating anyone every week and so there guys at that level that played at that level that are now here understand how competitive and talented those leagues are um and then coaches as well so I think it is a from an understanding standpoint and knowledge standpoint it's it's a good thing to have for those guys that maybe haven't experience that yet the players talked a lot this fall Camp just about the level of competition between the offense and the defense how excited are they to finally now switch their focus to game week and start preparing to uh hit and take on someone else other than their own teammates yeah that that's always the fun part because fall Camp you get tired of going against each other and you're just ready to play and I think that's where we're at guys are excited to play we had three good uh game prep weeks this last week and and looking forward to continuing that and actually getting out there and competing yeah as you head into your first game as a a brand new head coach is there any aspect of being a head coach at this level that you had to ask someone about even if it's a minutia thing on game prep or game day or stuff like that anything you needed to say uh how do you guys handle this oh there there was tons and uh luckily had a bunch of great mentors and guys that are doing it right now um you know Brent Brennan being won at Arizona he's he's kind of done what I did where first year what was the first year like what were some of the obstacles or things you had to learn so there there's been you know Mike Riley's been out of practice so there's just been a ton of guys that have I've gotten a lot of feedback from and asked questions about because it is new for me thanks thank you