December 17, 2007
Coaches and players met with the media on Monday evening at the Aggie Football pre-bowl game press conference, held at the Bright Complex on the A&M campus.
The Aggies are preparing to meet Penn State in the 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 29 in San Antonio. Kickoff at the Alamodome is set for 7 p.m. (CST).
Click the links to the right for audio clips, in MP3 format. Quotes are posted below.
JUNIOR TB JORVORSKIE LANE
(on how things have been going) "Coach Darnell is doing a real good job right now of adapting to being the head coach. I mean, he's done a real good job of keeping us fresh and the situation with Coach Fran we knew that he had -- you know, he had to really be a man to tell us that he was stepping down and he stepped down and let Coach Darnell took over. Coach Darnell has done a real good job of keeping us real fresh and giving us time off to ourselves. We know in our minds that Coach Fran's not there, but you know-you know what I mean. We know he's missing but practice hasn't changed. It's just football."
(on going through preparations for the game knowing next year's offense will be different) "Well, as a team we know it's coming, but right now, instead of going to the Alamo Bowl just to go, we're trying to put 'champions' on our ring. The coaching staff is doing a real good job of really putting in a game plan to where we will be successful and get to the point that they're telling us that we're playing for each other and we're playing for the seniors. It's a business. We know what's going to happen is going to happen, and some might stay, some might not, but other than that we're just looking to win the Alamo Bowl."
(on his plans for senior year) "My degree is more important to me right now. It hasn't changed. I'm going to stay for my senior year."
(on whether he's met with Coach Sherman) "We talked to him the first day, actually when they announced he was coming, and we talked a little bit. I liked him."
(on losing a lot of the offensive line after this year) "I'm going to miss them a lot. They've been here since day once since I've been here. They're all big brothers to me, so I just -- I'm going to just miss it, you know, just how they were around me."
SENIOR OL KIRK ELDER
(on the mood of the team) "For me to say it's not weird (not having Coach Fran around) I would be lying to you because, you know, he's been the head coach for so long. Nowadays in college football you spend more time with your coaches than you do with your mom and your dad and your family. But we haven't lost a step. You know, we're still who we are we're still going on -- since we've gotten back into it it's been real good. The guys are excited to have one more shot to play I'm excited to have one more shot to play and just going out and doing what we do."
(on how Coach Darnell has been) "Great. I ran into him Sunday after the Texas game down in Bryan -- I was eating with my girlfriend and he was with his wife, and we just got to talking and right away he came and told me we're going to be about responsibility, going to be about toughness, and having fun, and about winning. And he's been great, just great. The whole staff has."
(on the last game as a unit for the offensive line) "It has begun to hit me. It's probably going to be the last game I play in, ever. And I'm going to miss these guys. I'm not going to miss going out and necessarily, you know, playing a game -- playing the games are fun -- but really and truly it's the relationships you have and the camaraderie you have. There's not many places or things you can do you to have this type of friendship that we have together and I'm just going to miss these guys so much."
(on the attitude following the Texas win this year as opposed to last) "I think last year there were, you know, some thoughts from the team, some guys, that 'Hey, we just whooped Texas at their house,' and maybe there was a little arrogance. Maybe it was 'We've finally arrived. We're going to go out here and kick these California dream boats around', and obviously that didn't happen. I don't think that's the case this year at all. I really don't. I think guys know that we're about to play a Big Ten team, one of the great programs of college football, who have built their team around being tough, running the football, playing great defense, and being big, strong, physical guys. There will be no arrogance going into this game."
(on playing Penn State in your final game) "Or playing Coach Paterno. That's a great honor. Not many people ever get to do that. He is college football. He is Penn State football. It's going to be great."
SENIOR LB MARK DODGE
(on practice without Coach Fran) "Not much different. Coach Darnell is keeping things similar. There hasn't been much of a change or adjustment from the team. We went out there and went through the periods and kind of kept it similar, but you know, guys are working real hard and hustling a lot out there. They're enjoying practice. Bowl games are supposed to be fun and we're going to make it fun and that's something we've kind of focused on as a team, going out there and enjoying the game of football."
(on his final game and plans after football) "It's just been a great experience to be able to come to a place like this and play this game of football. But, yeah, I'm actually moving to Dallas -- I have a job with a company called Trinity industries and I'll start January 16th I believe. (I'll be going through a) Management training program. They brought me in there to propel me through the management and work my way up through the company."
(on thoughts of the NFL) "I've talked to them, but I turn 27 next month. It's catching up to me. So I'm ready to hang up the cleats -- it would be a lot of fun to go try, but you know, I've got a great opportunity in front of me and I think football has opened that door and this great University has given me a chance to get my degree. I think I'm ready to move onto the next chapter, become an alumni and come back and sit in the stands now and watch the games instead of trying to kill myself."
JUNIOR QB STEPHEN McGEE
(on what he's seen of Penn State's defense on film) "Well, they're great players and obviously their history speaks for itself. They're a great defense, and we understand up front their front seven is really big and they'll stick it to you if you let them. We've got to try to dodge those guys I guess. We want to use our speed to try to get away from them because if you let them get involved and make plays they'll really stick it to you
(on his reaction to Coach Fran's resignation) "You know, it was tough. I mean, whenever you lose a guy you've been around for four-and-a-half years, and you really look up to and you have a good relationship with, it's always tough. That's not easy. Coach Darnell's come in and done a great job. He's a great coach and he's done a great job of leading this football team and having a good time, but more important than that, getting the guys ready to go and play a game. All of our coaches have really done a great job of preparing us and practicing us hard. We've done things differently because every coach has their own flavor and own way to do stuff but nonetheless it's been very productive."
(on changes in the game plan before the Texas win) "We were throwing it around, and that was fun. That was the biggest thing. We took some shots and we were very balanced I think even at that. We got the ball in some receivers' hands and let them make plays. I think the biggest difference than most of the games all year is we had receivers that got a lot of yards after the catch, which is always big. You like to see those guys make plays once they get the ball in their hands and they that did that and that was really good for us. I think everybody enjoyed it. We were having fun out there and playing for each other and understanding the circumstances and everything."
(on interaction with Coach Sherman) "We've had two team meetings and kind of talked to him, so that's been really good. He's kind of burning his candle on both ends right now because he's got a lot to do. He's trying to hire a staff here. He's trying to recruit and keep recruits, then he's trying to win games on Sunday and get his offense and game plan done throughout the week. As you can imagine he's got his hands full right now but even considering all that going on he made time to come and try to get to know us as players and meet with us as players."
(on maybe 'bridging the gap' between two coaching staffs as the quarterback) "It's a game we all love to play and just a honor and a privilege to be able to do it. We play for each other and we always remember that. You never want to have to go through something like that but when you do you've got to be able to accept that and know you can't control all that that goes on outside. We're going to play our tail off for Coach Sherman like we did for Coach Fran, and we're going to play for each other and that's what's really important for us."
INTERIM HEAD COACH/DEF. COORDINATOR GARY DARNELL
(opening statement) "We're honored and proud and excited to be going to this bowl game and playing the particular team that we're playing. Two things: It's represented by first of all a quality bowl and we're playing a quality team and I think that's justification for some guys who played really hard and earned the right to go."
Any motivation for you in coaching against Joe Paterno?
"It's not extra motivation but it's -- a satisfying feeling, you know. If this would be my last football game to coach in, boy what a great thing to be able to coach against Joe Paterno and in that environment. I just made a statement a while ago that there was a long period of time I didn't like Joe Paterno, and that's when I was young, had never met him, and didn't know him, but I thought I had all the answers and only knew what I read. I got to where I played against him a few times and when we played against each other in the Fiesta Bowl a few years ago then I really learned to appreciate him and for everything he does. Once you've ever served in the American Football Coaches Association you take a different view on the support of football. Coach Paterno was the President of that once upon a time, so when you have that kind of background that you see the whole big picture and then still maintain your principles and values as a football coach, and certainly has a program as well-gripped as he has, to play against someone like that -- yeah it's special."
What's it been like for you personally, this whole situation?
"My future is not uncertain. I know whatever it is, it's going to be exciting. Sometimes, you know, a guy like me is that guy playing poker who wants to hurry up and deal again see what it's going to be. But the thing for me personally is that -- I feel, oh, fortunate that I know what to do. I've been given the opportunity here to do what I know is necessary to do and then the response people are giving me now, whether it's players, administration, or whomever, gives us a chance to be successful. Which then gets back to the whole purpose of why you'd want to be successful, and certainly that would be the players and the coaches and their families."
Can you talk about some of the awkwardness that exists during this time?
"It's really pretty interesting because there's almost none, and the reason why -- first of all, the recruiting class is done and not only is it done but it's been done for a year and a half. This thing is two years ahead of itself right now. So it's not one of those that -- you know, that -- I mean, our coaches would have been out this month recreating '08 or '09 signees so that part's okay. And given the circumstances that the other staff is not able to come in here until the end of it, so that gives you a focus. It's unique how positive it is because we come to work every day and our job is to maintain this program until the next guy gets here. I tell you how I told the players. This is the simplest way to help you understand it: anybody in here that served in the military understands that. You go and you take over a base or you become a commander and while you're there that's called the watch. That's your watch. Okay? And when you have those kind of organizations in our military -- it happens every day, base commanders turn over every day, but it's seamless transitions, because everyone is responsible, everyone is capable, and everyone understands the lines of communications. They can all do their job. This is a perfect example. And then we'll finish, and the next guy's going to come in here and have his go at it, and it'll be his watch, and he'll be here four, five, six years, whatever, and then there will be another one."
The guys who are here right now, they need to find a job. Surely they're trying to take care of themselves and their families. How do you keep that focus?
"The easiest way to find a job is play well. Do a good job coaching. And plus, you know, these aren't rookies. These guys -- they're connected and they're known in our profession as extremely good coaches. As far as the coaches themselves, the coaches will be fine. The tragedy is the coaches' families. And there's no ifs ands or buts about it. Coaches deal with it. If you can't deal with it you don't need to be in that profession, but that's not to say your family can, and that's where the hurt -- if you see a coach who has a long look on his face -- that still doesn't take away from what it's like to go home at nighttime, sit an at your dinner table and tell a 14-year-old daughter you don't know where you're going to be living next year. That's when it gets hard.
"Just from a profession standpoint, at some point -- and I've said this. If you're at a BCS school and you can't deal with that you don't need to be at a BCS school. I'm just saying the support has turned from support to entertainment now. Any sport psychologist in the country will tell you that. It's long gone past just the combative spirit of who's the great athletes. Are you going to throw it? Are we going to be entertained today? It's become entertainment, and so with that, it becomes callous and insensitive and that's just how it is. So if you want that then you do that. If you don't want that and you don't understand that, then you need to go do something else."
You mentioned the best way to get a job is play well. Do you look at this game as an audition of sorts?
"We've already auditioned. These guys have been coaching 25, 30 years. A lot of auditions in behind them. It's truly -- that part of it could be as much style as anything. Someone is looking for a style of coach, he might see that. An option coach, or whatever kind of coach, and you saw that and you were trying to do something different than what you're doing or you saw them do something similar to that, and that guy can help us, he can work with us."
Do you go into it with an 'I've got nothing to lose' kind of calling?
"You can but that's not our nature, because yeah there's something to lose. The dignity of the players. That's way too high a price for those young men to have to deal with. If you put yourself in a slip-shod, half-interested atmosphere, I can't imagine being more disrespectful to young people. I think adults are disrespectful enough to young people without doing something like that."
How much does your role during the actual game change?
"As far as game management, the biggest thing that would happen would be someone has to say if we're going to go for two, or someone's got to say when we're down and say - the easiest one is 35-yard line, third-and-six, someone needs to be able to say you've got two plays or one play. Someone has to make those kind of decisions, and I would do those kind of things, but as far as personnel or plays or all that sort of thing I won't be doing that. But with the speed of the game I might -- you know I can have something to do with that as far as management. We're too slow, let's speed it up, go no-huddle, whatever it is. A change to control the tempo of the game can come from a head coach's perspective without calling the plays."
You won't change any offensive plays?
"No, I wouldn't. There's no reason for me to. Those guys -- I know they know what they're doing. The tempo of the game is probably the biggest thing, tempo and management of go for it, not go for it, those sort of things."
What do you expect from Penn State?
"(PSU assistant) Galen Hall not told me yet. But he's going to get asked again. But, you know, some things don't change. I mean, you know they make their living by being sound. They like running the football, play-action passes, then what we call break contain, where they boot passes or sprint out passes, and then not giving up the big play defensively. And then when they get behind on defense they'll blitz it like crazy so that's kind of a standard formula. The biggest thing is they will not beat themselves. Some of those guys are never disappointed with 5-yard plays, and I know they feel that way about it. If they make all 5-yard plays they're going to beat you. So you've got to find some way to make some of those 5-yard plays zero- or 1-yard plays."