DAYTON – With the first week classes for the 2023 fall semester underway at UD, DaytonFlyers.com sat down with new University of Dayton head football coach Trevor Andrews to check in on preparations for the 2023 Flyer football season.

DaytonFlyers.com:  This was your first pre-season camp as a head coach.  Did it go as you thought it would?
Coach Trevor Andrews.     "The short answer is 'yes.'  But the weather didn't completely cooperate and we had some thunderstorms and other severe weather that we had to avoid.  But we got through everything that we wanted to, and I think learning to be flexible can be a good thing for us.  I always tell our team to have a 'knees bent mentality.'  You need to be ready for whatever comes your way on the field and be able to read and react to it.  I think being able to adjust to anything unexpected logistically will help us keep our focus, whether it is in practice, at a home game or especially on the road.
I will say it's the most fun I've had in a camp in 25 years of coaching.  I'm sure the excitement of being a head coach for the first time was part of it.  But we have such great kids, and our staff has really jelled.  Everyone is pulling in the same direction.  I never felt the grind of camp.  Not once." 

DF.com:  What surprised you the most?
TA.    "Two things.  One off the field and one during a practice.
At the end of a meeting, I told the team that we were going to go to a movie.  It was one of the team-building activities we did during camp.  Some of those were pre-planned but this one was a surprise.  It was such a surprise that when I said 'We're going to a movie' I got absolutely no reaction.  I thought maybe they thought I was joking (Edit:  Or maybe there was a hidden camera and the joke was on Coach Andrews).  So I told the team, 'That was not the reaction I expected.  We. Are. Going. To. A. Movie.  Mission Impossible.'  (Defensive end) Chase Brown stood up and asked 'Coach, are you being serious?'  When I answered 'Dead serious.' Then they went nuts.

On the field, (redshirt freshman) David Maurer kicked a 57-yard field goal.  And he wasn't even trying to make it!  We were practicing how to cover a missed field goal that was being returned.  You know, the famous Auburn-Alabama 'Kick Six' play.  David Maurer was our kicker and I told him just take a nice, easy swing and just get it up high.  Sure enough, he put it right through."

DF.com:  Talk about how your staff.
TA.    "We have a younger staff.  We have some experienced coaches but the phrase I would use to describe our staff is 'Young but good.'  We have a lot of coaching talent in our program and they bring great energy every day.  I think players feed off that.  The energy level and the great chemistry our coaches have really set the tone for our program."

DF.com:  What did you like in the scrimmages?
TA.    "We had two major scrimmages.  You really want to see development in your players.  Development from the spring, development from the start of camp until now, and even development from the first scrimmage to the second scrimmage.  You want to put players in situations and see how they respond.  Will they perform under pressure?
I liked what I saw.  We were able to see that development, and see our team apply what they are working on practice into game situations.  I really liked the enthusiasm and competitiveness.  Not only do we have guys who are good at what they do, they also love to play football.
One area I am really happy with is our improvement across the board on special teams. Of course we have Sam Webster, who is Mr. Consistency, but after him there is a lot of unproven talent.  I was thinking that someone needs to separate themselves, but I think they have lifted each other up to a higher level.  I really like the consistency we are now getting from that group."

DF.com:  Captains were named after the spring game.  How have those players embraced their roles over the summer and no leading up to the season opener?
TA.    "They stepped into those roles right from the moment they were named captains.  They have done a great job of being the conduit of communication to and from the coaches and to and from the players.  They bring ideas to me and reach out when they think it's needed.

Our captains also did a great job of holding each other, and other members of the team, accountable this summer.  We had more guys stay than ever before, and they organized weekend workouts to include those who were not in town during the week.  The commitment we saw over the summer demonstrated how hungry our players are.  They want to play in meaningful games.  They got a taste of that toward the end of the season last year, and they want more.  That's a big reason why we had so many players chose to return."

DF.com:  What were the most competitive position battles during camp? 
TA.    "Quarterback.  Those two guys (Dante Casciola and Cole Dow) are duking it out every day.  But at the same time, they've become good friends.  They are both competitors and they both want to play, but I see them both pulling for each other to do well and pushing each other to be their best.  It's an ongoing battle, and it's fascinating to see how they recognize how important good quarterback play will be to our success.  I'm optimistic about what we have at quarterback.
The linebacker room has been interesting.  Nathan Arthur is a really good one who is back at linebacker, and we have a couple of guys – Gideon Lampron and Aiden McKinley -- who have had really good camps.  Defensive tackle is a similar situation.  We have a strong returner in Sam Schadek, but there are four players who are not only battling to start, but to work their way into the rotation there."

DF.com:  Were there any good surprises during the pre-season?
TA.    "We have some freshmen coming on.  Early in camp there were some veterans out so some of these young men got an opportunity earlier than they might have, but they have made the most of it.  Two freshmen running backs – Luke Hansen and Mason Hackett – have looked good.  Even in a veteran group of receivers, Gavin Lochow has stood out.  Josh Williams at cornerback has had a strong camp.  And I am really excited about our freshman offensive lineman as a group.
Brown Norton is a tight end who joined us in the spring, and his performance has been night-and-day from then until now.
Another corner who has played well is Josh Anderson.
I really like the potential of the players we have brought into the program.  It sometimes happens quicker for some guys, but that might be simply that an opportunity presented itself earlier for Player A compared to Player B.  I always tell them to stay patient, even though I know that's hard for someone who is a competitive individual.  There is a reason we recruited them to come to the University of Dayton."

DF.Com:  What players and position areas have stood out for you?
TA.    "I'm a big believer that it needs to start up front, and we have a good combination of accomplished veteran performers and talented, if unproven players.  For some of the latter group, it is their first opportunity, for others it's time to take the next step.
At running back, Michael Neel has always been a good player, but he's played behind an All-American (Jake Chisholm).  There is a lot of talent there.  In terms of depth, wide receiver is a position of strength but it was a run-heavy offense in the past. If you have a player like that, why wouldn't you get him the ball as much as you can?    The receivers, like all of our guys on that side of the ball, are learning a new offense.
Our defense is really strong up the middle, led by players we can count on at tackle (Schadek) and linebacker (Arthur) and both safeties (Matt Lenti and Cole Hildebrand)."

DF.com:  What will the remainder of practices consist of heading into next week's opener?
TA.    "We will worry about ourselves the rest of this week and then begin game prep on Friday.  In a season opener, you think you know what your opponent will do, but you don't know for sure.  There are so many unknowns on the other side of the ball that you better make certain you have as many knowns on your side as possible.  You really need to take care of yourself – your techniques, your alignments and your reads.  Especially because you know how excited your team will be to take the field."

DF.Com:  Anything you would like to add?
TA.    "I have to mention how much fun it has been to have Coach Kelly and Coach Chamberlin around as we have gone through camp.  It's been good to see how the team has responded to them when they have come to a practice.  What a blessing it is to have two men who did it so well for so long to remain connected to the program.  They both went out on their own terms, and that just does not happen in this business.  I know I can turn to them whenever I need to, but when you talk to them, it's obvious they are not only two of the biggest icons of the University of Dayton football program, they are also two of our biggest fans."