The 87th Capital One Orange Bowl held its next Texas A&M virtual press conference Tuesday, showcasing the Aggie defense.
The 87th Capital One Orange Bowl held its second Texas A&M virtual press conference on Tuesday, this time showcasing the Aggie defense.
Speaking to the media were defensive coordinator Mike Elko, DL Jayden Peevy and DeMarvin Leal, and LB Buddy Johnson.
Full videos and transcripts (courtesy the Orange Bowl and ASAP Sports) are available below.
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Q. I guess I'll start with the obvious one. Your thoughts about, I guess, the challenges that Sam Howell poses, and does he kind of put him in the same kind of class as the guys you've faced like Mac Jones and Kyle Trask?
MIKE ELKO: Yeah, I think Sam is an extremely talented quarterback, throws the ball very accurately, and there's really no limit to how far he can throw the ball. That's one of the things that jumps off the film is just his arm strength to throw the big ball down the field is extremely impressive.
Yeah, I think this goes back into an extremely balanced offense that can hurt you a lot of different ways, throwing it and running it, and making sure that we're tight in coverage and that we don't give him open-access throws to make it easy for him.
Q. Mike, does your preparation change at all when you see the guys that they have opt out, the two 1,000 yard running backs, their top receiver?
MIKE ELKO: No, I don't think so. Obviously we have a tremendous amount of respect for the North Carolina program. Mack has done a great job recruiting there since he's been there. Obviously those are extremely talented players that have chosen not to play in this game. But we're operating under the firm belief that there are more talented football players in that program that they're going to put in and easily fill those roles.
Q. Just wanted to ask you about your three years at Texas A&M, what's been kind of the most rewarding aspect of this time?
MIKE ELKO: Wow, that's a broad question. It's been a heck of a ride. I've told our kids this a lot this year. Extremely proud of how far we've come as a unit. Probably just from a mentality and culture standpoint more than anything, how we go about our day-to-day business, how we approach preparation, how we get prepared to play games.
I think we have made some tremendous strides behind the scenes in all of those areas, and I think that has kind of helped, obviously, the product on the field become better as we've been here over three years.
And also extremely proud just of how they've handled this season. When you get your hopes up that this year could be a really good year and then you deal with all the obstacles and hurdles that we dealt with this year, obviously those kids showed a tremendous amount of maturity in handling it the way they did and continuing to do their work and go about their business and doing it the right way.
Q. You were one of the more vocal coaches, I guess, on social media after the College Football Playoff committee made its decision. How do you help your guys get over that disappointment and then focus on business at hand? And that's North Carolina.
MIKE ELKO: Yeah, quickly and easily. Obviously we believe we had a tremendous season, but that was for that day. The day after that, you kind of employ that same 24-hour rule, which is, it's on to the next task, and for us the next task is winning a New Year's Six bowl, playing our type of football, playing the way we're capable of playing in the Orange Bowl. You quickly get a really talented opponent in front of you and you start watching film on them, and you realize how much energy and effort this thing is going to take for us to go out there and have success in this game, and it becomes a really easy transition to just move on to the next thing.
Q. How have you seen Aaron Hansford really progress this year? Obviously with Anthony opting out a lot has been put on his shoulders, but how have you seen him come into his own this year?
MIKE ELKO: Yeah, Aaron has had a really good year for us. Like super proud of how he's done that. It's been a tremendous growth for him from last year kind of being a 3rd down player to having to take on the ownership of being out there every down in the game, going through the run schemes, knowing the run fits, knowing the pass drops, not just being a blitzer, which is I think what he is exceptional at, and really has embraced that challenge.
I think probably maybe more than anyone in our program he's gotten better every single time he's gone out there on Saturday and played, and so we think he's become one of the better linebackers in the country. Really happy for him and everything he's done.
Q. Great run defense, but you did have a few games where you gave up some yardage. When you went back and looked at those games, were there common themes why a few teams were able to run the ball against you?
MIKE ELKO: No, I don't know if there were common themes. I think in this day and age with offenses attacking you sideline to sideline, it takes a tremendous amount of discipline to defend the run because you're not just defending three yards and a cloud of dust anymore.
I think any time you get lapsed in what you're trying to do and how you're trying to fit something and where your eyes are supposed to be, any time that relaxes in any way, shape or form you put yourself at risk to give up big plays in the run game. I would say maybe in some different ways, that led to some of the lack of execution in the games where people were able to run the ball.
Q. If I could follow up, are you where you thought you would be in year three, and what's left? Is it just better talent and more depth across the board?
MIKE ELKO: I don't know where I thought I would be or where I thought we would be. When you get into these jobs, you just kind of put your head down and just try to work to get better every day. I had no expectation of where we would be.
I still think we are just scratching the surface of what we are capable of. And I don't mean that to sound any way other than it does. I still think there's a lot of room for us consistently to be a more dominating defense play in, play out. I do. I know we've had some success this year and there's been games where we've shown up, but I still think we're just scratching the surface of what we're capable of.
Q. What is the main emphasis or two to your defense when you're taking on a team that is statistically as balanced as North Carolina?
MIKE ELKO: Yeah, I think this game is going to be a lot about winning one-on-one match-ups. I think the way they play offense, they're going to spread you from sideline to sideline. If you commit numbers to the run, they're going to throw it. If you try to commit numbers to the pass, they're going to run it. And they're going to put their kids in space where they're getting one-on-ones.
In different ways across the board, we're going to have to find ways to win one-on-one match-ups, whether that's up front, O-line versus D-line so that we can play boxes where we're able to stop the pass a little bit cleaner, or when we do commit to the run that we're winning one-on-one on the outside with our DBs. I think that's the trick to these high-powered offenses that go sideline to sideline. Someone has to win somewhere in order for you to be successful.
Q. You are No. 1 in the SEC in total defense, No. 2 against the run. Do you talk to your guys about the wrecking crew lineage and do you feel like your players have earned that label this year?
MIKE ELKO: So I appreciate you asking me that because I want to make sure everybody understands our stance on this. We are honored when the term "wrecking crew" is thrown around in reference to this defense. We understand how important that is. It's a Texas A&M tradition, and how important that is to this fan base. I think when our guys say or I say we haven't earned that or that's not something we're chasing, that was a successful era of Texas A&M defense. That was not something that could be accomplished in four quarters, one game, one season, one moment.
If we can get to the point where over the course of years we are playing at a very, very high level and we are helping this team win championships, that's what the wrecking crew means to me, not just like hey, you guys came out and played a good game, so the wrecking crew is back. I don't want to undersell what that group did for Texas A&M football.
But I also respect the heck out of that tradition and am honored any time people use it to reference us. But that's just not a name that we want to be throwing around lightly around here. We know how important it is to people.
Q. What makes DeMarvin Leal such a special player that goes beyond the stat sheet?
MIKE ELKO: I don't know if I can answer that. He just walked in the room. No, Marv is a special kid because he's one of those kids that is supremely talented but also has an extremely high-level work ethic. I think he's a kid who isn't just relying on his talents to be successful. He's continuing to work. He's continuing to grind. He gets better every time he goes on the field. And his energy sometimes is really infectious for our group because he kind of leads us out there through some of the dull moments of practice.
Q. I was curious from your standpoint, the defense has gotten better in a lot of different areas, but is there one that you're most particularly gratified to see this year in terms of the improvement that was made, one that just kind of said, hey, we need to get better in this area and we did, or you saw the effort that went into that?
MIKE ELKO: I don't know if there's one area. I think I'm happy that there were games where we went out there against SEC West foes and were able to play like a championship-level defense. I think that's something we have challenged our kids all the way across the board since we've been here that if you want to be great in this league, in this division, there's going to be times where we have to carry our weight heavily, and we've been able to do that.
You know, and then I think everything needs to make sure we understand this, too: Defense and offense go hand in hand, and when you run the ball like we do and you control the line of scrimmage like we do and you get to spend as much time watching our O-line move people like we do, that helps, too. Let's not undersell that element of this thing.
I'm proud of this team and how this team has grown from a physical standpoint and how we approach games and how we get after people.
Q. Generally speaking, when you look ahead to where you'd like to see your career go, is head coaching something you'd like to get into at some point, whenever the right opportunity presents itself?
MIKE ELKO: Yeah, I think everyone has ambitions for their future. But those things are just kind of on the back burner. When you're at a place like I'm at, when you're in a program that is one of the best programs in the country, when you're extremely happy in College Station, living in the area we live, it's not something that you spend a lot of time focusing on, to be honest with you. I know people like to spend a lot of time focusing on it, but I'm just extremely excited and honored to be the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M.
Where my future takes me or what happens in the future, I don't really spend a lot of time worrying about it.
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Q. Jayden, since we just visited with Coach Elko, I wanted to ask the difference he's meant, what kind of coordinator he is to play for, and just maybe a story or two on Coach Elko.
JAYDEN PEEVY: Coach Elko is a great guy. He's an NFL-type defensive coordinator. He's a great person. He's shown me a lot when he first got here, he told me, hey, don't worry about playing right now. You're going to be playing soon, so I believed in him and I believed in the system.
Q. Is no-nonsense a good way to describe him, and if so, how so?
JAYDEN PEEVY: Yes. He's a gritty guy. He loves to work, come to practice, come work. That's one thing I got from him, just coming to work every day.
Q. Jayden, from what you've seen from North Carolina's offense, what challenges will they present you guys and what will you guys have to be able to do well to try to slow them down?
JAYDEN PEEVY: Just stop the run, stop the run game. They have great receivers, as well, in the pass game, but stopping the run is one of the big focuses.
Q. Jayden, what would you say over the last three years since Elko has been here, you guys have been really good at stopping the run. What do you think has been the No. 1 ingredient to that? What's the No. 1 key to this defense's consistency against the run?
JAYDEN PEEVY: Being physical in practice is the No. 1 consistency that we try to focus on in practice. It turns to the game, just being physical in practice.
Q. How much of it starts up front with you, Bobby, McKinnley, so on and so forth?
JAYDEN PEEVY: It starts up front with the O-line in practice, as well.
Q. Last year at this time Justin Madubuike opted out. You kind of went in the spotlight, had a big bowl game. Where do you feel your game is at in the last 10, 11 games? How do you feel you've progressed? What have you done well and what do you need to work on?
JAYDEN PEEVY: I need to work on getting to the passer. I feel like I'm more experienced from where I was before starting, and also watch film a lot more.
Q. Do you think you'll come back another year?
JAYDEN PEEVY: That's something I'm going to think about after the bowl game.
Q. I'm curious, thinking back to kind of the beginning of the season and fall camp, was there sort of a point where you realized maybe what the potential of this defense could be?
JAYDEN PEEVY: I thought about that before the season even started. I seen guys working their butts off during quarantine. I saw guys running as fast as they ever ran before, lifting every weight. I just seen the grit in this team before the season even started.
Q. I know that obviously you guys lost a couple guys who were projected to be starters to opt-outs and such. What kind of stability did Buddy Johnson especially provide during that time?
JAYDEN PEEVY: Great leadership from Buddy. He always thought, next guy up. He always pushed the young linebackers and said, it might be your time this year, so we need you every day.
Q. Coach Elko kind of alluded to it, we were giving him so much praise about his defense but he wanted to talk about the offense and how they dominate time of possession. I wondered if you could talk about this team's dynamic. What was the dynamic of this year's team and why do you think that was a part of your success?
JAYDEN PEEVY: We came together as a team this year big time. It's no more pointing fingers at each other, it's all about get this win, no matter if it's the offensive line or defensive line or offense or defense. It's whatever it takes to get this win, that's the main goal.
Q. Jimbo loves the word controlling the momentum of the game, right? Is that something y'all finally learned to do this year?
JAYDEN PEEVY: Yes, sir. He always talked about controlling the momentum of the game, controlling the clock offensively and try to get stops on defense. So that's the main goal of this program.
Q. I'm curious, I asked Jayden this, too, but was there sort of a point early in the season or in the off-season when you kind of realized that this defense potentially had the chance to be really special?
DeMARVIN LEAL: Oh, no question. In the off-season definitely we were running and we were all working out together during the whole COVID situation we had. I just took a step back and just thought about like all the dominant players that we have and just was like, sheesh, this defense is about to be something else.
Q. Obviously recruiting plays a part in it, but what do you guys do, especially in that front seven, to kind of just have so many guys have everybody always be ready and kind of have the performance that you guys have?
DeMARVIN LEAL: We talk to each other. We encourage each other. We compete all the time during workouts, during practice, getting to the ball, stripping the ball, making turnovers during practice. We just come together. We've came a lot closer than the past years, and we decided like instead of just having the starters step up, why don't we have everybody. Why not have those that are behind us be prepared to play, because I was once in that situation, and those like Micheal Clemons, Jayden Peevy, Justin Madubuike, Bobby Brown helped me prepare during practice.
Q. This is kind of along the lines of that question, but how do you think playing in the SEC and playing in very competitive games in the last two years have helped you kind of prepare for this game that's coming up on Saturday?
DeMARVIN LEAL: It's definitely helped my experience, and it's been great. I just love being able to play in the SEC and playing against the level of competition, it just helps me raise my confidence and just everything that I have to do with that football.
Q. Before the season Jimbo praised you and a couple minutes ago your defensive coordinator praised you. Why do coaches seem to really like you a lot?
DeMARVIN LEAL: I just try to do what they tell me to do, honestly. I just try to stay doing my 110 and at least make sure they don't yell at me all the time.
Q. It's hard to find your value on a stat sheet. You put the film on, you can really see it, or just watch the games. What about your game adds so much value well beyond the stat sheet?
DeMARVIN LEAL: I would say the love for football that I have. It drives me every single day. When I get on the field, it's like a click just goes off, and it's time. It's time to tune in. It's time to get after it.
Q. What do you think -- I asked Peevy the same question: What do you think has been the No. 1 ingredient to A&M's consistency and slowing down and stopping the run over multiple years here under Elko?
DeMARVIN LEAL: I would say it starts in practice. I'd say that going against offense good-on-good has definitely like -- iron sharpens iron, so that helped us. That helped them, and it was just that beneficial, like -- dang, I can't think of the word, but it definitely helped going good-on-good versus the offense. It helped us prepare. It helped us believe in ourselves.
Q. With you guys coming into this game just missing out on the College Football Playoff, and I know with the All-SEC selections and stuff, it left quite a few players out. Do you guys feel like you have anything to prove coming into this bowl game?
DeMARVIN LEAL: Oh, there's a lot to prove, but this is strictly about the game, and it's time to just show what we are, who we are and who we want to be looking forward.
Q. When you guys come into a game like this against a team from another conference, do you feel like you're representing, I don't know, the SEC at all, or does that even come to mind?
DeMARVIN LEAL: For me it didn't come to mind until you just said it, honestly. I'm just thinking about getting after it and definitely we as a team, we just want to -- like we have our chance to prove what everybody thinks we don't have.
Q. The All-SEC Team, what was your reaction when that came out, and after having such a good year, when they snubbed you, your reaction?
DeMARVIN LEAL: My reaction, I seen all my teammates on there and was just proud of them and I know all the hard work they've put in, and I was more excited for them than myself.
Q. Were you mad at all?
DeMARVIN LEAL: I mean, things happen. You know, I know that. I come from a place where everything isn't just given. It has to be taken. With that being said, I was just happy for my teammates and just congratulated them.
Q. Your thoughts on Sam Howell, having watched tape of him play and if he reminds you of anybody else y'all have played?
DeMARVIN LEAL: I wouldn't say he reminds me of anybody that we've played, but what I can say is that he is a unique QB and he does have a good arm. He does decide to run it when he has the chance, when it's given to him, so just being able to stop him is going to be a major key.
Q. Not so much on your side of the ball, I know you've got more veterans on that side, but we are still today talking to you and Demani, sophomores, and we talked to Ainias and Isaiah yesterday. You're having a lot of success with sophomores contributing. How cool is that that you're stepping up already and the future is still bright for the Aggies?
DeMARVIN LEAL: It's amazing, just being able to come in and being able to instantly put an impact on this program and continue it during the sophomore season is just fantastic. It just tells you how much they praise on the next man up, and it doesn't matter how old you are and if you're veteran or not, everybody is important and everybody can step up to help the program be better.
Q. What do you attribute to making that freshman to sophomore jump and how do you make another jump, so to speak, next year?
DeMARVIN LEAL: I'd just say continue doing what we're doing, continue communicating, continue competing with each other, and everything else will just fall in line.
Q. When you've looked at the North Carolina offense as a whole, what challenges will they present and what will you guys have to do to be able to slow them down?
DeMARVIN LEAL: I would definitely say we're definitely going to have to stop the run. They do have big offensive linemen and definitely would have to stop that, and they do take their chances on the big plays, so just being able to stick to our keys is going to be major.
Q. Coach Elko said that this could be a game where you have to win one-on-one battles. Has he expressed that to you and do you like that challenge?
DeMARVIN LEAL: Yes, sir, I do.
Q. Going back to your recruiting process, what was it that first stood out to you about Coach Elko where you said you wanted to play for him, and in the time you've been here, what's one or two of the main things you've learned from him in that time?
DeMARVIN LEAL: Coach Elko, definitely he has showed me what he wanted the defense to be like and like what his plans for it was, and I knew that from talking to him that he was definitely going to challenge me mentally and physically, and he was definitely going to be one of those coaches that wants the best out of you every single day.
With that being said, I was just -- I actually fell in love with the way he had the defense set up, so I just went with it. I loved it, and I have since then.
Q. Was there some example from that first couple of conversations or something where he was pointing that out that you remember and said that's what I want to be part of?
DeMARVIN LEAL: Strong side end, when he had showed me his little tape up front when he was at Notre Dame and the weight and the size of the defensive end, like what they would be doing from play in, play out. I just loved the way that all sounded, and it definitely has shown off.
Q. Kind of what people were asking about, but how do you guys as individuals measure success? You guys don't have a 15-sack guy, don't have a 100-tackle guy. How do you as an individual measure success?
DeMARVIN LEAL: I measure success when my team has success, when we're able to stop the offense and the offense is able to get down there and score. I feel like that's how I measure my success. When my team is successful I'm successful.
Q. Especially for D-ends I know that sort of those big numbers are sometimes the things that people give attention to. Are you okay not getting the All-SECs if it means that your team performance has been that special?
DeMARVIN LEAL: I mean, when it comes to that, I did have a problem with it, but at the same time I have to think about the big picture. It's more than just me. It's about the whole team. It's about everybody who comes together to make an impact on this program.
Just with that being what it is, I just have to go along with it.
Q. Buddy, I'm just curious, was there a point or a moment early in the season or in the off-season when you kind of felt like things came together and you had a chance to be really special on defense?
BUDDY JOHNSON: You know, after that Alabama and that Florida game, we knew we had to look ourselves in the mirror and get things together. It started in practice. Guys were just flying around. We wanted to get better. We wanted to make a change. Ever since then, it's only been up from there. I'm extremely proud of the way this team has taken everything, with the circumstances that we've been having to deal with.
But after that Florida game things turned around. You could tell a big change, not only in the game but we could tell that in practice.
Q. After you had some of the opt-outs over the off-season, did you as a senior leader at linebacker, did you feel like you kind of needed to step in and provide some of that leadership to make up for that?
BUDDY JOHNSON: Most definitely. You lose key guys like that, and guys have to step up. You can only be proud of the guys that stepped up, that handled it the right way like Aaron Hansford and Chase, guys on offense. Those guys stepped up huge for us. Aaron Hansford, he's turned into a great linebacker. He came from the offensive side of the ball like me, so there are some things I taught him to help him make that smooth transition.
It's a lot that goes into it, and I'm only proud of the guys that were able to step up for us.
Q. Is there anything in particular that you did teach Aaron moving forward?
BUDDY JOHNSON: I knew that was coming. I can't give you the juice like that, man.
Q. Buddy, from what you've seen of the North Carolina offense, what challenges will they present you guys?
BUDDY JOHNSON: You know, I think they have a great offense. Their quarterback is very great. He stands out on film. He can throw the ball and he can throw it very well. They had two opt-out running backs. We were excited to go against them, but they have other great running backs that's on scholarship, just like us.
And like I say, we'll prepare the right way and we'll be ready for whatever they throw at us, and I'm sure we'll have a great game plan. Coach Elko always gives us his best and we go out and try to give him our best. We'll see how it goes from there. As long as we prepare the right way at practice, we'll be just fine.
Q. Coach Elko mentioned this could be a game that you have to win those one-on-one battles the way they spread you out. Is that something he's emphasized to you guys and how much do you take on that challenge?
BUDDY JOHNSON: Most definitely. Our guys up front, they do a great job. Those guys don't get talked about enough, and just the way they move and free guys -- they free up the linebackers. That's one of their jobs that a stat doesn't get talked about enough. They do a great job with what they do, but like I say, the type of offense they run, you have to be sound in what you do and just be smart and be where you need to be when you need to be, and those are things that will be very important.
Q. Buddy, as you get ready to prepare for this last game this year as a senior, what can you tell us about your experience at A&M over the last four years?
BUDDY JOHNSON: Oh, man. You know, just the change when Coach Fisher was hired, the change -- I remember the first time he talked to the team, he came in the locker room, guys were joking around. He came in, he snatched his glasses off just like that, and he was like, what are you laughing at? There's nothing funny, it's straight business. Ever since then you can tell the change, the sense of urgency around the building and everything else that comes with it. Man, he talked about coming in and changing the culture, and I think he's did just that.
I'm only proud to be one of the guys that were able to help him lay that foundation and make a change and just being able to be a guy that Coach Fisher can say, those are some of the guys that helped change the program around, you know, that's something I'm only blessed and extremely happy about.
Q. What is it about Elko's defense schematically that's allowed him to be so consistent in terms of slowing down the run over the years?
BUDDY JOHNSON: You know, like I say, the D-line, they're everything. When the D-line dominates the line of scrimmage, we don't have any problems. Like I say, the stat that doesn't get talked about enough is the D-line, freeing up the linebackers. We're able to fit and flow fast, and that's just part of his scheme, the way we do things around here. Guys being locked in. Communication is a big deal, guys being on the same page, and he harps on that in practice a lot, and if we're not communicating to each other, he's yelling at you, and I'm sure y'all don't want to be yelled at by Coach Elko.
Q. If you and Hansford do leave, give me one name, who's the future of the linebacker position?
BUDDY JOHNSON: Man, there's a lot of great guys in that room. That room is fired up. Chris Russell, I like the way he moves. He's a guy that's learning and progressing a lot. He's very athletic, very fast. He's a guy that came a long way, and he can only get better. Guys in that room making big time plays -- y'all have been seeing Andre White, he's only getting better week by week. He's getting smarter and he's understanding the game more, and he's able to go out there and play more comfortable.
So guys like that just out there every day -- like I say, guys in that room are preparing the right way. Guys are ready. I'm sure when their number is called, they'll be fired up and ready to go.
Q. Any big events in your life lately?
BUDDY JOHNSON: Yeah, man, I can only spill the beans. I'm sure y'all have seen that. I had a daughter recently. It's only a blessing for me because my father haven't always been around, so for me to give back to someone and just -- it gives me another reason to go out and play on Saturdays and another reason to go hard at practice and little things like that is what matters.
My mom raised me the right way. My mom, she was always my rock and she's always been there for me, so for me to be there for her, like my mom was there for me is a big thing for me.
Q. What's her name?
BUDDY JOHNSON: Her name is Aaliyah Johnson.
Q. We are talking about your daughter, right?
BUDDY JOHNSON: You're talking about my mom? No, my daughter's name is Aaliyah Johnson, my mom's name is Michelle Stevens.
Q. Do you guys feel like you have to beat North Carolina to prove that you should have been or belonged in the playoff?
BUDDY JOHNSON: That's the talk. Not around here, but that's the talk around. For us, like I say, it's just about controlling what we can control, going out every day and preparing the right way. You know, for us of course emotions were high that day, but the day is over with and we can only move forward. We're excited about the Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl is a great bowl. I heard we haven't been to a New Year's Six bowl, shoot, since before I was even thought of.
So it's just a big-time blessing for our team to get this far, and man, I'll tell you, guys are fired up, and man, the biggest thing for me is like what I keep talking about is the way the program has changed, and it's only the beginning. It's only the beginning. There's a phrase I'm sure y'all know that says, "It's always calm before the storm." It's calm right now, but the storm is most definitely coming, and guys should be worried for sure.
Q. What was your reaction, because you've had such a great year, so what was your reaction when the all-SEC came out and you weren't on it?
BUDDY JOHNSON: As everyone knows, I've never been in it for the rewards. Like I say, my D-line should get all the rewards. Those are the guys that do all the hard work. And just for me, just to see all the guys around me getting rewarded is more so for me because as a leader of this defense, I want to be one of the guys that were able to help those guys get to where they want to be in life. For me it's only about leading guys and being there for guys. It's been a hard year on everyone.
And like I say, we play in a great conference. We have great players. There's obviously something I need to get better at, and I can only look at myself in the mirror and get better at those things.
Q. Kind of piggy-backing, there have been examples of teams that just missed the playoffs and then got to the bowl game and really didn't give their best or didn't show their best. Do you see any signs of that? And did you guys guard specifically against that in your preparation for the bowl game?
BUDDY JOHNSON: No, I don't. Ever since Coach Fisher has been here, we've been 2-0 in bowl games and that's only because of the way we've prepared for them. We've prepared like it's a National Championship game around here. We don't get lost in any of it. We have our fun after the game or whatever, but while we're down there, it's still a business trip for us, and we handle the things we need to handle.
And like Coach Fisher always says, control what we can control. I think we do that and we do it the right way. We handle our business like I say, but it's still important to us. Putting a cap on this season is what we're focused on right now, and that's something we look forward to doing.
Q. You and the seniors are kind of in an interesting situation because this year of eligibility doesn't count, you can come back next year if you want to. Have you thought about that at all in terms of weighing the decision whether to pursue the NFL, whether to come back here? When will you make a call on that?
BUDDY JOHNSON: The big question. You know, I've thought about it, and like I say, it's only -- a player can only dream of going to play in the league, but at the same time, everything that Texas A&M has rewarded me has only rewarded me more than I could ever imagine. But the things that Texas A&M can offer me with coaches and my teammates, that family bond, that family atmosphere, getting better as a player, so it's a lot to think about. Whatever me and my family comes up with, but I've been talking to my mom a lot about it, and like I say, that's my rock over there, so however she feels and however we feel together.
But it's a lot to think about, and like I say, it would be a win-win situation for me because I trust the coaches and the guys around me. I respect them a lot, the way they handle business. Like I say, it would be a win-win situation regardless.
Q. Buddy, we hear Jimbo talk about this a lot. This team learned how to win. Can you describe to us why this year it clicked?
BUDDY JOHNSON: Practice. Just like I say, the way we prepare in practice, it's amazing. It's night and day. You turn the film on from last year to this year, practice. It's not even about the game, it's the way we prepare at practice, guys flying around more, emotions get high at practice, but guys are able to calm back down and finish practice because once a team makes a play on you, you get frustrated, but what you're going to do after that frustration, are you going to let it continue to eat you up all game or are you going to wipe it away, clear the lens like Coach Fisher says and makes the next play.
No one knows what is the big play. The big play is the next play, so being able to control what you can control and focus in and lock in on little small details is something we've improved in a lot.
Q. Obviously if you move on and some other seniors are moving on, is this program here to stay in the top five and eventually be in the Final Four?
BUDDY JOHNSON: Yeah, there's not a question at all. Like some of us say around here, ain't no question. Man, I'll tell you, with Coach Fisher, everything he's done, like I said, it's only the beginning for this program. He's built a culture around here and that's how things are going to roll around here. It's just going to be like that.
Q. Who or what do you think poses the biggest challenge, whether it be just this game or moving forward in your future endeavors?
BUDDY JOHNSON: Who what?
Q. Who or what poses the biggest challenge, whether it be just this game or in future endeavors?
BUDDY JOHNSON: The biggest challenge?
Q. Do you feel like North Carolina or what you've got coming next?
BUDDY JOHNSON: The biggest challenge for me will be being where my feet are because I have a lot going on right now. So being able to eliminate the clutter, I'm not saying there's any clutter, but at the end of the day it's business. Me being able to focus in on what the task at hand is, being where my feet are would be one of the biggest challenges. As long as I take it the right way and prepare like I need to, I think I'll be just fine, but that would most definitely be one of the biggest challenges for me.
Q. I don't know if anybody has really asked you guys this, but with COVID-19 and it being kind of a strange year, leading up to the bowl did you guys get to do a lot of fun things, cool things? Is that going to be really curtailed? Is it going to be strictly a business trip or are you going to be able to do anything fun?
BUDDY JOHNSON: I'm not sure. Whatever they have for us we'll be there. Right now, like I say, we are where our feet are. Right now we're preparing the right way. It's business. As of right now it's business to me. It's business to guys around me. That's just the way we plan on rolling and doing things.
You know, like I say, at the end of the day a bowl game is about going down and having fun, but at the end of the day it's still about winning and doing your job, so for us it's a business trip, but at the same time we look forward to having fun, as well.