September 16, 2025

Ashley Ingram pre-Lenoir-Rhyne press conference transcripts

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman welcomes in No. 19/17 Lenoir-Rhyne for the 67th all-time meeting between the programs. Below are Ashley Ingram's pregame remarks to the media about the Bears.

OPENING STATEMENT:

INGRAM: We're excited for the opportunity to play against a very good football team. You know, LR is on probably a 10 or 12 year run of being just a really good team. This team looks no different. Coach Socha's done a great job. They look well coached, they're athletic, they're big. Really big on defense, big on offensive line. They've got an athletic quarterback. So we'll have our work cut out for us.

Q1: You faced a pretty good quarterback last week in J.R. Martin. I don't know that there's a drop off, if there is any drop off going from Martin to the league's leading passer in Robinson, what sticks out to you about his skill set?

INGRAM: He can do it all. So he's athletic, he can run, obviously he can make the throws and he's a young guy that's just going to keep getting better and better as time goes on. So he's a very talented player.

Q2: He has great skill around him between LJ Turner, Turner-Knox and Songa Yates. How does he utilize that skill.

INGRAM: He's got a lot of options, obviously, very good running backs. He's got a big physical back. He's got a guy that can. Another guy that's more elusive can run, obviously very good at wide receiver. And then you add a big offensive line in front of him and good tight end. So just a very good football team, very good talent, very well coached. Should be a lot of fun and a great challenge for us this week.

Q3: How to you utilize the MHU game in a positive way?

INGRAM: I think that the Mars Hill game, if we use it the right ways, will be a positive. Obviously when you play that kind of competition and you're in that kind of struggle and you have to fight back, I think it just makes us a better team, more seasoned, more prepared. Hopefully we can gain from those experiences.

Q4: What did you learn about your team from that game?

INGRAM: I realized when we just eliminate the self-induced mistakes, we can play pretty good football. Also found out, and I knew this, that we're a very resilient football team. As we look back over two years, we've we've lost two games by seven, one of them being in overtime. I think we lost a game by maybe 11 points or something along those lines and then we lost a game by one point. So our guys are fighters. They're tough kids, mentally tough. They continued to fight last week. I was very proud of that. And I think we'll continue to fight, you know, as the season progresses.

Q5: Break down the growth you've seen from you defensive secondary.

INGRAM: We still have Champ Baker and Jet Jones, two older guys who've played a lot of football, been good players. Rich has a lot of ability. He's just starting his career. He's going to get better each and every week. Isaiah Cain's athletic, talented kid with a just good knack for the ball and good knack for playing defense. Jacob Mattison is playing, is coming on and then Jerron Blakely is playing, you know, kind of in tandem with him. Both of those guys have a chance to be good players. So we've got good players, we've got good pieces. Some of them have played a lot, some of them have not played a lot. And hopefully as the season progresses and they get more experience, we'll just keep getting better and better.

Q6: Last year, nobody in the conference was really doing what you were doing offensively. This year Tusculum has gone under center and started flexbone stuff. They've already played LR. Is it useful to have some tape to see how LR is defending what TU did? Or would you rather have a complete element of surprise?

INGRAM: So the one thing about that is it gives them weeks of practice on kind of what they want to do and what their plan would be. Coach Socha has been around. He's no stranger to football. He played some option teams when he was down at Keiser and I'm sure in other places as well. So they'll have a good plan, they'll be well prepared. You know, I think you can take something from Tusculum, but I'm sure he'll have some changeups and some mix ups. So it just kind of is what it is. We just prepare for what we think we'll see and then we'll react.

Q7: It's the reunion of the 1980s players this weekend. Your second one of being around for these. What's it mean to have 125 former players making their way back to congregate together. But also hopefully watch some quality C-N football.

INGRAM: That's what this place is all about, is tradition. We've had great teams, we've had great players. This group are huge supporters of the program and it means a lot to us each and every week to put a product on the field that makes them proud. And this week, I think with them being here, you know, be a little extra special as well.

Q8: Anything else?

INGRAM: We just have a great opportunity. We have a great opponent, not a good opponent coming into town, and we've got a stretch here. We play some really, really good football teams. But what else do you want to do? You know, you want to be challenged, you want to play the best. And we're excited, we're eager for the opportunity to get out there on Saturday and play against a very good LR football team.

Kickoff between the Eagles and Bears is set for 1 p.m.. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 12 p.m. with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), MIX 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloCollege at cneagles.com/FloFB. The ESN also allows you to go "Inside the Radio Booth" with a live feed of the ESN crew on YouTube