The OSC Interview: Nashville Venom Coach Billy Back
by Fran Stuchbury
June 23, 2015 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Nashville Venom
OurSports Central Contributor Fran Stuchbury spoke to Nashville Venom Head Coach/General Manager Billy Back following the team's 57-37 victory over the Trenton Freedom at the Sun Bank National Center in Trenton Saturday night. The result lifted Nashville to the number three seed in the upcoming playoffs and eliminated Trenton from postseason contention. Back is in his second season with the Venom after leading the Professional Indoor Football League squad to a 7-4 record and the PIFL Championship last season. He was named PIFL Head Coach of the Year during the team's inaugural campaign.
Fran Stuchbury: Coach, are you happy with your team's performance, coming up with a win despite already locking up a playoff berth? Does it give your team more momentum next week?
Billy Back: I am happy with the way we played; we were down one roster spot, and three guys were out this week. Our guys played real well, (we're a) high energy team.
We got off to a slow start but as the game progressed we played much better.
FS: Also the Venom defense stepped up big time in the second half, creating turnovers and stops.
BB: The defense responded well in the second half. I was only able to dress three defensive backs for the game. They came out and made plays when they had to.
FS: Were you happy with the play of Venom QB Charles McCullum who completed 20 of 28 passes for 247 yards, five touchdown passes and one interception?
BB: Charles played well; he had a few misreads I got upset with him with. I told him to run the same play and we scored a touchdown. He responds well in big games. He has a couple of hiccups in games, but I am happy I have a guy that bounces back and makes big plays like he does.
FS: How about the performance of your kicker Christian Reed, who 6-6 on PATs, connected on two field goals (17 and 43 yards) and three UNOs (a ball kicked through the goalposts on kickoffs for one point)?
BB: He is the best kicker in the league; bottom line best kicker in the league.
FS: How does this season's team compare to last season's team that won the PIFL Championship?
BB: This year's team, we are still trying to find ourselves. Last year we lost two games to the worst team in the league. This year we lost two games to the Alabama Hammers. We stubbed our toe in two other games. We are looking forward to the playoffs and playing on the road against the Richmond Raiders on Monday, June 29th. It can't come fast enough.
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- The OSC Interview: Nashville Venom Coach Billy Back - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
