COLLEGE STATION—Texas A&M closes out the home portion of the 2017 schedule Saturday night when the Aggies host New Mexico (6 p.m., ESPNU). Head coach Kevin Sumlin and select players met with the press inside the Kyle Field Media Center to preview the action.
Highlights from Tuesday's media session:
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The young Aggie roster continues to go through the growing pains that is the SEC West. Despite recent setbacks on the field, Kevin Sumlin says the team has done a nice job of focusing on what's being said inside the walls of the Bright Complex as they prepare for the next challenge on the schedule.
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"I know the results don't show that, but the effort does, from a lot of different standpoints," Sumlin said. "Our guys continue to give great effort…it hasn't always been the best (effort), but (they give great effort) all the way until the end of the game. We didn't really execute in certain stretches (Saturday) the way we wanted to, but the effort can't be questioned."
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And on the recruiting front, it was business as usual for the program—which based on national lists is lined up for a very strong haul in just over a month.
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"We had official visits last weekend and we have them again this weekend. Everybody in our organization is still going. Even though the results of the game Saturday weren't what we wanted, I thought there was great communication with the guys who were here on official and unofficial visits and our coaches. And we've got some more this weekend."
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Sumlin was asked whether it can be hard to have young players focus on attention to detail in things like film study and such when the team is struggling.
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His answer? Honestly, it's quite the opposite. He's found that the drive to learn becomes even greater.
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"Particularly with young players…this is not a news flash, but they don't want to screw up," Sumlin said. "They don't like it. Whether you win or you lose, you come back in on Monday and they want to fix it. Because they're (the ones) out there playing. They want to do the right thing, they want to be correct, and they want to be good. The energy level where guys were yesterday was probably different than where it was outside (the building). Nobody's happy. And because of that I think the attitude and how they want to come to work and how they do things becomes a different situation than maybe people think…particularly with young guys. Every snap, for guys like Derrick Tucker and (Debione) Renfro, is a learning experience. I think because of that, their attitude is in a different place than maybe people think."
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This weekend's opponent, New Mexico, is a squad looking to win out to avoid a losing campaign. Along with Saturday's contest against the Aggies, UNM has Mountain West Conference games remaining with UNLV (4-5) and at San Diego State (8-2).
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The Lobo roster features 18 players from the state of Texas—13 of which appear on the two-deep.
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"They'll be excited to come in here and play well," Sumlin said.
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The Lobos led the country last year in rushing, averaging 350 per contest. Their 4,550 total rushing yards were a school record. This year, New Mexico ranks 18th nationally with 237.9 rushing yards per game.
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"Offensively, they're really multiple in an option-type setting. There is a lot of motion…we've got to get guys (out there) who have good eye discipline. They want to run it. They're creative in how they run it. If you watch what they do on defense, they're extremely aggressive—with loading the box and bringing people from all different places."
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It seems in the coaching fraternity that everyone knows everyone. And there are ties almost every time two teams face off. This weekend's game will have plenty of faces familiar to each other on the sidelines.
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UNM head coach Bob Davie worked for nine years in Aggieland under both Jackie Sherrill and R.C. Slocum. Offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse spent two years (2006-07) as A&M's wide receivers coach. Defensive line coach Stan Eggen spent five seasons at A&M (2003-07). Safeties coach Jordan Peterson was a cornerback for the Aggies from 2006-09 and also worked for the program as a graduate assistant. And Lobo GA Ben Sherman's father, Mike, was the head coach in College Station from 2008-11.
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Even Sumlin, whose two stints at A&M did not overlap with any of the New Mexico folks, has strong connections with the current Lobo staff.
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Sumlin, DeBesse and Noel Mazzone were all on Minnesota coach Jim Wacker's staff together for two years in the mid '90s (1993 and 1994). Sumlin spent four seasons working with DeBesse and UM (1993-96) when Bob was the Gophers' offensive coordinator.
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"Way back when," Sumlin said.
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Peterson, who hails from nearby Lexington, has worked some summer camps for Sumlin here in Aggieland.
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"(They're) quality people…they've been around football a long time," Sumlin continued. "(New Mexico is) a well-coached football team with guys that know what they're doing, and who are probably going to be pretty excited about being back at Kyle Field."
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"I owe a lot to Texas A&M, I owe a lot to R.C. Slocum," Davie said this week at his media availability. "College Station made me a better coach and a better person. A lot of memories there, it's a great place, and they are a heck of a football team."
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The legendary 'Voice of the Aggies', Dave South, will call his final home game on Saturday night. South has not only traveled with the team to every game but has hosted Sumlin's weekly radio show since his arrival in College Station in 2012. And, as you'd expect, a close relationship has evolved.
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"Over the course of time you become friends with people who've been in the foxhole with you and have to answer questions and do tough stuff," Sumlin said, calling Dave a legend and a voice that is recognized nationwide. "I truly appreciate his friendship and I know it's going to be an emotional time for him."
Highlights from Tuesday's media session:
Â
Â
The young Aggie roster continues to go through the growing pains that is the SEC West. Despite recent setbacks on the field, Kevin Sumlin says the team has done a nice job of focusing on what's being said inside the walls of the Bright Complex as they prepare for the next challenge on the schedule.
Â
"I know the results don't show that, but the effort does, from a lot of different standpoints," Sumlin said. "Our guys continue to give great effort…it hasn't always been the best (effort), but (they give great effort) all the way until the end of the game. We didn't really execute in certain stretches (Saturday) the way we wanted to, but the effort can't be questioned."
Â
And on the recruiting front, it was business as usual for the program—which based on national lists is lined up for a very strong haul in just over a month.
Â
"We had official visits last weekend and we have them again this weekend. Everybody in our organization is still going. Even though the results of the game Saturday weren't what we wanted, I thought there was great communication with the guys who were here on official and unofficial visits and our coaches. And we've got some more this weekend."
Â
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Sumlin was asked whether it can be hard to have young players focus on attention to detail in things like film study and such when the team is struggling.
Â
His answer? Honestly, it's quite the opposite. He's found that the drive to learn becomes even greater.
Â
"Particularly with young players…this is not a news flash, but they don't want to screw up," Sumlin said. "They don't like it. Whether you win or you lose, you come back in on Monday and they want to fix it. Because they're (the ones) out there playing. They want to do the right thing, they want to be correct, and they want to be good. The energy level where guys were yesterday was probably different than where it was outside (the building). Nobody's happy. And because of that I think the attitude and how they want to come to work and how they do things becomes a different situation than maybe people think…particularly with young guys. Every snap, for guys like Derrick Tucker and (Debione) Renfro, is a learning experience. I think because of that, their attitude is in a different place than maybe people think."
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This weekend's opponent, New Mexico, is a squad looking to win out to avoid a losing campaign. Along with Saturday's contest against the Aggies, UNM has Mountain West Conference games remaining with UNLV (4-5) and at San Diego State (8-2).
Â
The Lobo roster features 18 players from the state of Texas—13 of which appear on the two-deep.
Â
"They'll be excited to come in here and play well," Sumlin said.
Â
The Lobos led the country last year in rushing, averaging 350 per contest. Their 4,550 total rushing yards were a school record. This year, New Mexico ranks 18th nationally with 237.9 rushing yards per game.
Â
"Offensively, they're really multiple in an option-type setting. There is a lot of motion…we've got to get guys (out there) who have good eye discipline. They want to run it. They're creative in how they run it. If you watch what they do on defense, they're extremely aggressive—with loading the box and bringing people from all different places."
Â
Â
It seems in the coaching fraternity that everyone knows everyone. And there are ties almost every time two teams face off. This weekend's game will have plenty of faces familiar to each other on the sidelines.
Â
UNM head coach Bob Davie worked for nine years in Aggieland under both Jackie Sherrill and R.C. Slocum. Offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse spent two years (2006-07) as A&M's wide receivers coach. Defensive line coach Stan Eggen spent five seasons at A&M (2003-07). Safeties coach Jordan Peterson was a cornerback for the Aggies from 2006-09 and also worked for the program as a graduate assistant. And Lobo GA Ben Sherman's father, Mike, was the head coach in College Station from 2008-11.
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Even Sumlin, whose two stints at A&M did not overlap with any of the New Mexico folks, has strong connections with the current Lobo staff.
Â
Sumlin, DeBesse and Noel Mazzone were all on Minnesota coach Jim Wacker's staff together for two years in the mid '90s (1993 and 1994). Sumlin spent four seasons working with DeBesse and UM (1993-96) when Bob was the Gophers' offensive coordinator.
Â
"Way back when," Sumlin said.
Â
Peterson, who hails from nearby Lexington, has worked some summer camps for Sumlin here in Aggieland.
Â
"(They're) quality people…they've been around football a long time," Sumlin continued. "(New Mexico is) a well-coached football team with guys that know what they're doing, and who are probably going to be pretty excited about being back at Kyle Field."
Â
"I owe a lot to Texas A&M, I owe a lot to R.C. Slocum," Davie said this week at his media availability. "College Station made me a better coach and a better person. A lot of memories there, it's a great place, and they are a heck of a football team."
Â
Â
The legendary 'Voice of the Aggies', Dave South, will call his final home game on Saturday night. South has not only traveled with the team to every game but has hosted Sumlin's weekly radio show since his arrival in College Station in 2012. And, as you'd expect, a close relationship has evolved.
Â
"Over the course of time you become friends with people who've been in the foxhole with you and have to answer questions and do tough stuff," Sumlin said, calling Dave a legend and a voice that is recognized nationwide. "I truly appreciate his friendship and I know it's going to be an emotional time for him."