Football Meets Media at Liberty Bowl Press Conference
Dec 18, 2014 | Football
Head coach Kevin Sumlin along with select coaches and players met the press Thursday at the Aggies' Liberty Bowl preview press conference inside Kyle Field.
Select quotes from the coaches are posted below.
KEVIN SUMLIN
“We've been gone for a while recruiting and doing a lot of different things. Getting back in the office during the dead period has gotten us back to practice.
“Let me say this about the defensive coordinator process. It's going great. Actually I've been flattered by the number of outstanding and phenomenal coaches that have responded. We've had a couple of really, really good conversations. It's important for us to get the right person and the right fit that can help us achieve what we want to achieve as a program and as a defense. It's not about time, it's about the timing of that person and the process and getting the right guy. I know that's not a huge update but we are getting closer…we're a lot closer than we were a couple of days ago. As far as a timeframe, I can't give you any. The process has picked up speed recently and is going really, really well.”
Our focus as we've gotten back off the road recruiting has been on the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and West Virginia. We had a press conference last week in Memphis. I've known Steve Ehrhart (Liberty Bowl Executive Director) for a long time and have had a relationship with the Liberty Bowl back to my days at the University of Houston, playing in their golf tournament every year. The press conference we had…I hadn't seen Dana (Holgorsen) in a little bit of time. We have talked on the phone. Obviously (A&M offensive coordinator) Jake Spavital has worked for Dana and works here, so there are some close ties. Dana and I go way back to our days of being in the Big 12 on opposing teams recruiting Houston. That's how we met. He told a story the other night when I became head coach at Houston, I had called Dana…ironically we had just lost at Oklahoma to West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. That's the first time I really had seen a tempo team. I talked to Dana about offensive philosophy coming from Texas Tech, the run game involved in that, and doing that as fast as humanly possible as I'd witnessed in the Fiesta Bowl. That was beginning of our relationship. He has gone on and done very, very well for himself. They are a really good football team, a team that has played in big games this season. It has some big wins and some close losses. They've been very, very solid. You get the feeling that that's a hungry football team. A year ago they didn't go to a bowl game. Sometimes you don't know what you don't have until you don't have it. I can sense there's a little edge, a chip on their shoulder, to get back to a bowl and win it.
“For us as I say every year we look at bowl games the same way. It's a culmination of our year, and for our seniors it's a way for them to leave a legacy of who they are. You like for them to go out on a winning note. We've always treated the bowl game as the beginning of next season. For our young players we have developmental practice periods when our young players have the opportunity to really utilize this time to get better. As we move closer and closer to game week we start to hone in on preparation for West Virginia. Today is really one of our last developmental practices where the emphasis is on our younger guys improving technique and knowing what to do in our schemes. Tomorrow and Saturday we will begin work really on the opponent. We'll let our guys go for a little break, then we come back and practice Christmas Eve—that will be Monday practice for us. Christmas Day will be Tuesday, our really heavy work day, then we get to Memphis that night. It's right around the corner and we're looking forward to it.”
Can you update us on your wide receivers coach search?
“It's going good too. There are no shortage of candidates either there. Really you're trying to do both things at once, but there's probably been more emphasis on the defensive coordinator situation. We have to get the guy with the right fit that can bring some things to the table. Obviously (WR coach) David Beaty did a great job here for us, that's what's gotten him to be a head coach in the Big 12. Those are big shoes to fill, yeah. But there are a lot of guys, based on our track record of five head coaches in seven years, that see this as a great opportunity to come in. I'll say this too. The major concern that I heard from people out there was recruiting. Based on results of yesterday…when you sign the #2 free safety junior college player in the country and the #3 junior college linebacker in country--I can't comment on the other thing—but without a wide receiver coach and defensive coordinator, I think recruiting is still moving along at a pretty good clip.”
When recruits do as you about the defensive coordinator search…
“They get the same response you get.”
Do you break down the names with them too?
“No.”
What motivated you to hire Dana Holgorsen when you first took over at Houston?
“He's a guy…I think very rarely do you use the term 'brilliant'. When it comes to a lot of things football related, he's off the charts as a really, really smart guy. You combine that with his ability to be able to motivate and communicate with kids, you see it. He's adapted schemes. He's gone to different styles. From the things that we talked about in our initial conversation, from what they were doing at Tech to development of the run game to going up-tempo, (there were) a lot of things that are (now) being done in football that have never been done before. He does get a lot of credit for that. Knowing him in the recruiting circles in Houston and having that kind of relationship, I thought it was time. It was a time where he needed to move out from under some shadows and do his own thing, just like it was time for me to move on and be a head coach. And if I wasn't going to be calling plays as a head coach I wanted someone who would be innovative and head things in the direction we wanted to go. he took the job and hasn't looked back ever since.”
On your 2009 staff you had Dana (Holgorsen), Jake (Spavital) and (Texas Tech head coach) Kliff Kingsbury all together…
“Pretty good, huh? When Kliff first came there he wasn't sure he was going to coach. He was still trying to play in the NFL. He spent half the time throwing the ball with everyone else. He spent more time throwing the football and practicing with guys then he did as a coach. Over time…thank God he got cut (laughing). I told him that. That began his career. Really, Dana is kind of the guy who brought him there. He said, 'Hey, I got this guy…I don't know what he's going to do. He's still trying to play in the NFL, but I don't think it's going to work out. He doesn't know if he wants to coach but he's smart. Is it okay if he hangs out this summer and we see what happens?' I probably shouldn't tell that story about Kliff but that's how he became Kliff the head coach instead of Kliff the NFL dreamer quarterback (laughing). We had Jake's brother there. I knew Jake's dad when I an assistant coach at Oklahoma, having spent a lot of time in the Tulsa area. It was a natural fit. I'll put it this way…we ran a lot of plays at Houston. But there were no shortage of other plays drawn up on the board between those three that never made it to the field.”
With grind of this season will this game be fun because of familiarity?
“It is, but it isn't. These kind of games are fun during the week because you know each other. But they're not fun during the game. I go back to the Cotton Bowl. We laughed and joked during the week but when you get out there, someone's got to win and someone's got to lose. Who knew eight years ago I'd coach against Bob Stoops? I worked for him them. Who knew seven years later I'd coach against Dana in bowl game when we used to be in the same office? If you are in the business long enough that happens. It's fun really, but when the game starts…if anything, everyone has pride. Don't confuse that. That handshake at the end of the game, it's uncomfortable whether you win or lose, but it's a little more comfortable when you win, I'll put it that way.”
Do you have any favorite memories of the west side of Kyle Field (being imploded on Sunday)?
“I was over there the other day. It's completely changed. I can remember people ask you where you were on 9-11. I was on the west side, under the stadium, standing there watching TV with a couple other assistant coaches. There was a room with astroturf in there all laid down. We had chairs with the fold-over desks. RC (Slocum) had a big desk up front. We'd have our staff meeting in there in the morning. Later in the afternoon, sometimes we'd pull the chairs out and the O-line would walk through in there in the same room. It was really sophisticated. We had a temporary wall and RC had a makeshift office in there. It was just the way it was. Our meeting rooms were over there. I had the big room with receivers and quarterbacks. It's amazing that it won't be there (Sunday). It's all for the better. Our fans will be real, real excited when this last phase gets done.”
Will you watch the implosion (Sunday, 8 a.m.)?
“I don't know if I'm going to watch it or not. I got a little bit going on right now (laughing).”
On Malcome Kennedy winning the Aggie Heart Award and what he means to this team…
“I think everybody has seen what contribution Malcome has given to this program over the course of his career, particularly this year, and the importance he had. It's no coincidence that his last catch against Arkansas won the game. His ability not to play the next couple of weeks had a huge effect on our team. The more that you're around him and see what he did within a group of guys that are really young, including a quarterback, I can't tell you what an inspiration he's been to a lot of guys off the field. The things he's said even in games where he knew he wasn't going to play…usually a lot of our injured guys don't travel but it was important for him to be around. He's a leader by example. That's what the Aggie Heart Award is. He's a guy that on and off the field is someone you can count on and count on him giving you his best and being selfless. I can't tell you how much I appreciate what he's done for our program. He will be successful no matter what happens.”
On Memphis and the Liberty Bowl…
“Thanks again to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The Peabody Hotel is just a fabulous, fabulous hotel. It's a great location for us, just really an icon across the country. We're really fortunate that we're the team able to stay there. I know that our players are looking forward to it. Our coaches and our coaches' families are looking forward to it. More than anything else, our coaches' kids are looking forward to seeing the ducks. That's kind of a big deal here. We're real excited. We're traveling Christmas Day and really look forward to getting to Memphis.”
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JAKE SPAVITAL
Should we expect any more Twitter battles between you and Dana (Holgorsen)?
“We might keep it interesting…who know what will happen with that. Knowing our demeanors we'll probably have something occur before the game.”
When you heard about this matchup is that something that is exciting or would you rather not do that (play a good friend)?
“I think it's going to be fun. I really do. There were so many bowl scenarios thrown out there, and at the last minute I got word it would be versus Dana. I called him and we started talking and laughing about the whole thing. We traded some jabs at each other. We'll see how creative both sides get. He taught me a lot. He taught me everything about this offense. I know how he signals the game and he knows how I do. It will be pretty interesting to see what happens. It will be fun and keep the game interesting. It will keep us on our toes the whole game. I'm looking forward to it.”
How much disruption does it cause having to change so much stuff up?
“You can only control so much. It's probably going to get pretty interesting during the game. I know a lot of those kids. I recruited a lot of them at West Virginia. It's going to be pretty interesting to see how we are at meetings and at bowl events to how we are during the game. I bet you they are going to have lot of eyes on me and I'll have a lot of eyes on them. It's going to be fun. It does cause some concern. You have to be aware that he knows how we signal and operate. We have to change things up and keep them on their toes. You can throw some things out there but you can't just change everything you do. You have to be efficient and have to have a plan if they catch on pretty quickly.”
Are you soured at all about the free play at the end of the LSU game?
“The way the game ended, you hate to see it go that way. At the same time, I told the guys we could have prevented that situation if we came to play the first three quarters of the game.”
Are you hoping to maybe get a little more out of your players based on them knowing your relationship with Dana Holgorsen?
“They understand. They watched the whole Twitter battle go down. They know we are very close. But they want to do it for themselves too. They want to end the season on a good note. Ending on a win especially in a bowl game can spring forward into workouts and give you momentum going into the offseason. I know the kids will approach it like a regular game. It's the last game for a lot of the seniors, so there is a lot of pride at stake because they want to win it for (the seniors) as well. It will be important for us to go out there and compete. Right now we've been focused on development and getting these kids better now. We start work on West Virginia tomorrow but right now we're focused on getting our kids better each day.”
What do you want to see out of Kyle Allen?
“He keeps getting better each day. I want to see that poise. West Virginia has an aggressive scheme at times. They will mix it up a lot. Kyle has to know when to get the ball out of his hand and make the right decisions but still show that poise he's been showing lately. He's done a good job the last four games maturing and hanging in there when he's supposed to.”
How happy were you that Malcome Kennedy won the Aggie Heart Award?
“I was so happy for him and he deserves it. Everyone in that entire room knew it would go to because he exemplifies all that. I am going to miss him. You want to recruit guys like him because they do everything right and they are team players and they will do whatever they can to make this university better. He's unselfish. Hopefully he finishes on a high note and he can continue on and carry out his dream and play in the NFL.”
INTERIM DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR MARK HAGEN
What's been the most challenging part of the transition since you've stepped in?
“I think just not having your leader. Coach Snyder has been with us for a couple of years now. That's obviously a huge change. But when it happens as it did this late in the season, everyone is so locked in to what they're doing. We immediately hit the recruiting trail, players were locking in on final exams, young coaches had the chance to go in and look at the season and self-scout and then get into breakdown of West Virginia. Everyone has been full speed ahead in terms of roles and responsibilities, but that's the biggest thing—when the leader of your group, the face of your group is no longer there. The way we've approached it is to come together collectively and we're really trying to accomplish two things – 1, send the seniors out the right way with a win, they've certainly provided much to our program and our University. And 2, we look at it as a jump start to next year. We've gotten off to a good start.”
You mentioned self-scouting…what are some of the things you learned without going into too much detail?
“You certainly want to look back at what you've done over the course of the season, really pick up things you've done well and look at things you haven't done so well. We kind of honed in on things we're confident in doing from a front standpoint, pressure standpoint. That's what we want to do with our players moving forward. We want to have a plan that has enough bullets, enough ammunition to go and attack West Virginia, but at the same time we don't want to do too much and handcuff our guys mentally.”
Looking at West Virginia's offense what might be a little difference between Dana's offense and A&M's offense?
“I think the difference that jumps out to me and some of us is they do a little more from a run-game standpoint. They give you more personnel groupings. The passing game is very similar, but there are a few more run compositions and more personnel-group things that jump out. Tempo wise they go fast and we certainly see that every day in practice. It will boil down like it always does to communication, getting lined up, and getting calls in on time.”
With West Virginia possibly running two quarterbacks how does their offense change?
“Clint Trickett has been more sit in the pocket. If he feels pressure he'll try and escape and find an open receiver downfield. He will occasionally run if there's no one around him but he's going to slide and get on the ground. Where as with (Skyler) Howard, there's certainly a lot more run game with the quarterback involved. That jumped out first and foremost to our staff when he had the start against Iowa State. They ran what we call some diamond formations, some power reads, some quarterback draws. That's a big part of his game. The good thing is we've seen plenty of teams this year that have given us that. That's part of what I talked about earlier – we want to have enough ammunition to attack the quarterback run game but at the same time not try and do too much.”
At linebacker, how is Otaro Alaka physically and is Josh Walker still out?
“We're probably health wise similar to what we were at the end of the season. Otaro is practicing right now but has had some health issues. I think all our guys across the board to be quite honest are beat up. But Coach Sumlin has provided a great plan. The first week of December they didn't have much on their plate from a physical standpoint. The second week we practiced a bit and this week was finals. We have gotten good work in so far. We're as good as we can be (health wise) at this point in the season. Expect the guys we had finishing up against Missouri and LSU. Josh, odds are probably against him playing. That's kind of where we're at right now.”
When's the last time you called a game defensively or been in that type of situation? How much fun is that or is it exciting to do that? Do you look at this as an audition of sorts?
“I guess you could look at it that way. My focus is on providing our players the best plan moving forward to win the football game. Whatever comes out of it, just let the chips fall. I haven't looked at it as an audition. I look at it as an opportunity for our staff to rally and move forward and try and beat West Virginia. I've done a lot of different things, I've called a game special-teams wise, but not as defensive coordinator. I look at every practice opportunity as an opportunity to make calls and get them out quickly. If they get in tempo we have auto-checks for our defense. I'll lean on (secondary coach) Terry Joseph and (d-line coach) Terry Price to roll up their sleeves with me and go out and get this thing done.”
Talk about your history with the Liberty Bowl…
“It's very short. I played at Indiana and we played in the '88 Liberty Bowl against South Carolina. I was a redshirt sophomore at that time coming off 3 back operations after my freshman year. I was pretty much a spectator. That night we played pretty well, we won 31-10. It was a great way to finish the season. Memphis has a great history of being very hospitable. The Liberty Bowl is one of the longest-tenured bowls out there. I know our guys are fired up making the trip up there. My fondest memory of that night was winning the game and finishing the season the right way. That's the plan for us too.”
What do you want to see out of your young guys?
“I want to see us line up and play fast and with confidence. I think there's a process to that. In the middle of the season we'd gone through bumps and trials and we rolled up our sleeves as coaches and went back to the basics. The players saw a correlation between how we practiced and how we played. We didn't get it done as a football team the last two weeks but we put us in a position to win the football games. I've seen good energy from our guys. That's what we continue to focus on in our days leading up to departure. We just want to see our guys line up and play fast. It will be a challenge tackling in space. We need to limit explosives. They are a very explosive football team. We will have our hands full. It will boil down to getting off the field on third down and creating turnovers. If we line up and play fast, play physical and play emotional we'll give ourselves a chance to win.”
