R.C. Slocum Quotes: Independence Bowl
Dec 19, 2000 | Football
December 19, 2000
Does the secondary have a chance in this game with Mississippi State to bounce back from a rough game against Texas?
"You'd like to see them get healthy, and pick back up developing where they were. I think the biggest question is having them healthy for this ballgame. They're young guys. We've still got some work to do, and hopefully we'll be healthy (for the game). (Jay) Brooks turned his ankle and now he's out for a week. We've not done anything different, and this has been the most injury-prone season we've had as a team."
Do you pay any attention to what is posted on the internet, specifically concerning you and your position as head coach?
"I get my self-esteem and evaluation from other coaches in the business. I know the reasons why sometimes things don't go well. I know the whole picture. It's human nature and throughout the history of mankind there's always been those who can always point out this or that or where they think the shortcomings are. Whatever cause there is, there's always been detractors that stood on the sidelines and complained about it. If you're a coach or you're going to be in this business, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to know that and turn around and pay attention to it. It doesn't mean you like it or you enjoy it, but it does mean you have a mature approach to it. The thing you hate about it is it's a little bit of a chicken-thing for a person to use an anonymous name and sit back and criticize a player, coach or a scheme. If you want to come to me and criticize something, that's fine. Don't hide behind a fictitious name and take shots. I'll go weeks without looking at any of those internet sites, but I have (looked at them) from time to time just out of curiosity. It's just amazing how uninformed some of them are. I think most other coaches understand where that comes from. There's never been a coach who hasn't been criticized at some point in his career."
Do you see Brian Gamble maybe emerging as the team leader on the defense for next year?
"I think Brian really improved as a player this year. The fact that he's a coach's son and that he played quarterback in high school, he's more into football than a lot of players are. I think that will allow him to ultimately become a really good player. He has good quickness, and good instincts. He understands football, probably more than anyone else on our defense."
Seems like Texas A&M and Mississippi State mirror each other this season. They were good enough to beat Florida and Auburn, but they had a lot of injuries at the end of the year kind of contributed to their losses.
"We had similar seasons in that regard without a doubt. On a given day when they're healthy, they can play with anybody. They had some injuries that really affected their team. They beat the two best teams in their league. You can't do that without having players. I think they are an excellent team."
Joe Lee Dunn's defenses are fun to watch as a fan, but not as an offensive coordinator. Talk about Mississippi State's defensive unit this year.
"They give you a lot of different looks. They give you multiple looks and overload blitzes, and he's always got guys coming from different directions. He's always done that. He's an interesting guy and he does a great job over there. He has been more multiple in his approach than what we have done here."
What are your views about underclassmen leaving early for the draft, and what kind of role do you try to play in their decision?
"I try to get them the best information I can get, so they can make a knowledgeable decision. I think there are some real pitfalls in this thing. If a guy can come out and be a first-round pick, I think that's something he's got to consider. If he's going to be a middle round to free-agent type guy, you have to think he's got some upside to playing college football. Over the years, I've had three guys that came out with my blessing, and they were all first-round picks. That's Greg Hill, Sam Adams and Patrick Bates. I told all of them I thought they would be first-round picks and they were. Other guys like Kevin Smith I advised to come back. I had a couple of others come out against my advice and both of them were really disappointed. I thought it was a mistake for both Leeland McElroy and Robert Wilson to come out, and neither one of them have had much of a pro career. I advised them to stay, and if you ask them now they would say they wish they would have stayed. When it comes down to it, it's not my choice, but I have an obligation."
