|
Player Spotlight highlights the finer details and elements while supplying insight to the fans on what a player's thought process may be pertaining to a certain play, game or situation. It brings the intensity, passion, and inner most thoughts of the individual player that otherwise may not be felt or heard. |
03/14/03 Kyle Couling - Buffalo Bandits Kyle Couling of the Buffalo Bandits had a few words with PLPA Correspondent David W. Unkle following their 15-12 loss to the Philadelphia Wings. Following his performance against the Rochester Knighthawks, Couling was named NLL Defensive Player of the Week. | ||
 |
Congratulations on being selected as Defensive Player of the Week in the National Lacrosse League; can you talk about what that honor means to you? | |
 |
It's nice to be recognized for my play but I don't think that I played any differently (against Rochester). The new system that we've implemented is cause for something to see and we are effective with it. Tonight we didn't play our system properly but it's a team award. It wasn't just me that shut down John Grant last week, it was our defense, it was everybody.
| |
|
|
Can you talk about Philadelphia's play tonight? | |
|
|
Philadelphia played really well; I think they wanted it a little more than we did. We weren't mentally prepared tonight. Philly's going to put the ball in the net…they are a strong right-sided team and we are missing a few guys out of our line-up but we can't use excuses. | |
|
|
Has it been difficult playing in Buffalo this season with harbinger of the financial situation of the Buffalo Sabres forefront in everyone's mind? | |
|
|
You know what, we look at it in the paper and we're interested in it but I don't think it negatively affects the team We're here to play and that's what really counts.
| |
|
|
The team is 9-2 on the season; what has changed from last year's 8-8 squad? | |
|
|
Darris Kilgour; it's as simple as that. It's a different system that we're using this year and we're having fun as a team. We made a couple of deals in the off-season and put together a really strong, intense team. We're basically showing Darris Kilgour's character; it's coming out in our team this season.
| |
|
|
Buffalo leads the league in scoring and short-handed goals; can you talk about the system that Coach Kilgour employs? | |
|
|
Our systems are definitely in place to set-up turnovers and create transition goals.
| |
|
|
The Bandits seem to use a physical style of play to set-up the offense; you weren't able to do that initially against Philadelphia tonight. | |
|
|
I think we came out flat tonight. It's always a tough road trip and a tough arena to win in. I don't know how many fans they had here tonight but it's definitely on your mind. We tied it up before the half but we didn't have enough gas to take it in the long run.
| |
|
|
What did the Darris Kilgour (Bandits Head Coach) do to focus the team after the Bandits went down 4-0 on Philadelphia's first five shots? | |
|
|
He told us to wake up. We talked about what we needed to do before the game and we just needed to get back into our style of play. Between the quarters (Coach Kilgour) said that it was up to us; are we going to work or are we going to get beat?
| |
|
|
You play a home and home series this weekend against Ottawa; is it difficult to play the same team within a short period? | |
|
|
I like back-to-back games like that. You build up the rivalry by playing them one night and coming right back and playing them the next. It definitely makes for some heated battles.
| |
|
|
Is it intimidating for a visiting player to come into an arena with 15,000 plus fans in the seats? | |
|
|
I don't think it affects you as an individual player but I think it does affect you psychologically as a team. We looked nervous in the first quarter and it showed in the score. Like we did tonight, after you get into your groove, the crowd goes away.
| |
| PLPA Correspondent David W. Unkle is the host of The Topcat Sports Show airing on Philadelphia's Renaissance Radio Station, WNJC 1360-AM every Tuesday from 4:30-6:00PM (Eastern Time). The Topcat Sports Show is a personal interview style program that explores the world of professional sports that exists beyond the game. Join David W. Unkle as he delves into the lives and careers of a wide array of local, national, and international sports figures. David also is a Staff Writer for South Jersey Sports On-Line (www.SJSports.com) and Our Sports Central (www.oursportscentral.com). David is a former semi-professional football player and ice-hockey enthusiast, and covers the Philadelphia Wings (NLL), Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL), Philadelphia KiXX (MISL), and Philadelphia Charge (WUSA). You can write to David at: topcatsports@msn.com or topcat4469@comcast.net |
|