The University of Rhode Island is coming off a 6-5 season, with three of those losses coming just by one score.
The Rams are looking to build off that performance and take the next step as a program.
On Wednesday, URI brought coach Jim Fleming, linebacker AJ Pena, and defensive lineman Westley Neal, Jr to CAA Media Day.
Here are three things that stood out from their interviews.
Fleming on what it takes to take the next step as a program
“I think if you put in perspective where we are as a program, we finished with six wins as a program last year, and we’re disappointed. That wasn’t the case 10 years ago. It was thrilling getting a six-win season, but it was something that fell two games short of our expectation and our goals. The focus of the football program has been how do we get two games better as we go into this next season. The answer is always the same thing. Get a group of guys, have a common belief and common focus, work their tails off on a day-to-day basis. Have a short-term focus, and just stack days, just one day at a time, we’ll play our games, and see where we are at the end of November.”
What Neal has done to get ready for 2024
“Mainly, this offseason, I’ve been on basically recovery. I’ve been playing a lot of football since I got here, so it’s mainly recovery. Also, grinding hard, getting back to the basics, getting back to the main things that got me to the point I’m at now. Focusing on the little things, which our coach preaches on every single day. That’s all I’ve been focusing on.”
Pena on taking a leadership role with that linebacker crew
“One hundred percent. I plan on trying to lead this whole team, not just one specific group. Obviously, I want to put up my numbers, but I just want to win. I want to get that CAA title. That is so important on my mind, and since 1985, that was the last time we played a playoff game. So, me, Wes, and everybody have been instant win culture that we’ve been brewing the past two or three years. It’s hard. I’m not going to lie, we always question how we approach certain things, certain situations. So, we’re just trying to be all around great at football. That takes caring about other people, as well, not just individual things.”