1 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: I don't know how much longer we'll have a post 2 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: spring transfer portal, but we got one. 3 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 2: Okay, So if I walk in and I take. 4 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: Over a program year one, On one hand, I've got 5 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: just the way I want to. 6 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 2: Do things, I'm gonna go, go go. It used to 7 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:32,599 Speaker 2: be that the roster you had was the roster you had. 8 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,239 Speaker 1: Now it's like that little quarter machine down at the 9 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: casino game in the beach where it could push the 10 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: quarters off the edge. 11 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 2: And I've heard you. 12 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: Say before, I don't coach in fear of the portal 13 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: in year one? How mindful do you have to be? 14 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: At least that I got some guys. I think it'll 15 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: work out if they stay here, but if I run 16 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 1: them off in spring, I'll never know. 17 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 2: Or is it just I'm gonna do it my way 18 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: whatever comes comes. 19 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think I'm gonna do it my way, And 20 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 3: I think my way has just changed and evolved over 21 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 3: the years. We put clear cut expectations in front of 22 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 3: our kids. They understand exactly what we're asking for. We 23 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 3: don't try to drive them to levels of insanity like 24 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 3: maybe back in the day when old school coaches could 25 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 3: just push kids, you know, off that Cliff or off 26 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 3: that quarterbank as you're talking about. And I think the 27 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 3: way we run our program, we're able to be very demanding, 28 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 3: very hard, push the limits of it, but get the 29 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 3: full buy in that we're looking for. 30 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 4: And I think with the way we coach and present. 31 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 3: And create the expectations of what we're trying to do, 32 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,759 Speaker 3: if a kid's not on board with that, it probably 33 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 3: won't work out and it probably won't get where we 34 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 3: want to go. 35 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: When you first took this job, which is a year ago, 36 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: a little over a year ago, now, what are some 37 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: of the first conversations, Like, I assume you meet with players, 38 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: you meet with everybody you can. I mean, what kind 39 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: of feedback are you looking for from players? What kind 40 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: of information are they seeking from you? Like, what are 41 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: those introductory meetings? I know you knew a lot of 42 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: the guys, Yeah, but for the ones you didn't know 43 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: or the ones who didn't know you as a head coach, 44 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 1: what's that sort of first dipping the toe in the water. 45 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 4: Like, Yeah, it was. 46 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 3: It was unique here because it was unlike anything else 47 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 3: I think people go through where I had strong relationships 48 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 3: with some parts of the roster, knew of certain parts 49 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 3: of the roster and no relationships with some guys, right, 50 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 3: And so you were kind of at so many different 51 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 3: stages with different players in the program. I met one 52 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 3: on one with everybody. I think that's really important. And 53 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 3: I think you let the conversation kind of get steered 54 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 3: by the kid. You know, at that point you try 55 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 3: to put yourself in the kids shoes and say, Okay, 56 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 3: you know, this kid chose to come here to play 57 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 3: for Texas A and M and whatever version it looked 58 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 3: like when they decided to come here, and everything's gotten 59 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 3: rocked right, Like, like, you know, coach is no longer here. 60 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 4: I don't know who my position coach is. 61 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 3: I like, so you put yourself in the kids shoe 62 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 3: a little bit and say, like, part of this is 63 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 3: just hey, this is an open, open platform for you 64 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 3: to come in here and let's talk about you know, 65 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 3: what's important to you and what matters. To some kids, 66 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 3: that's a personal conversation and getting to know them a 67 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 3: little bit and getting to know who they are and 68 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 3: what they're all about. For some kids, that's questions about 69 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 3: scheme and direction and how much do I fit what 70 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 3: this thing looks like moving forward? And for some kids, 71 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 3: you're just kind of explaining you like, here's who I am, 72 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 3: here's who coach Ooko is, Here's what I believe in, 73 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 3: and but you do you kind of let the kid 74 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 3: kind of take the question and run with it, because 75 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 3: I think each kid is at a completely different spot 76 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 3: in terms of their mindset when all of that happens, right, 77 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 3: And it's just it's such a tumultuous situation for a 78 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 3: young person to go through. 79 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: A lot of people watching this are familiar with what 80 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: it's like shopping for a house, home. 81 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:47,839 Speaker 2: Buying, moving in. 82 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: Normally, when you move into a house, though it's been staged, 83 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: it's been clean, it's made to look the best it 84 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: could possibly look, right, all right, So when you're taking 85 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: over a job, it's sort of the opposite of that. 86 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: It's just left the way whoever was there previously had 87 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: left it as if they just disappeared and just jetted 88 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: out of town. 89 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 2: So when you walk in, Like I've talked to several. 90 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: Coaches, i'd be interested to get your perspective on this 91 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: about the misconceptions of taking over a job. And one 92 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: of the key things they all go to is the 93 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: misconception is when you start day one, it's just you. 94 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 2: Moving forward with blinders on. 95 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: In reality, A lot of them say you, actually you 96 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: don't have to go backwards, but there's some stuff you 97 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 1: have to undo, There's some notts you have to untie 98 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: before you can ever start to move forward. 99 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 2: Did you ever feel like that when you took this job. 100 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so, And I think again, that's why 101 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 3: I had a little bit of a unique perspective because 102 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 3: I had been here and so in a lot of instances. 103 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 3: You know, this was the case when I took over 104 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 3: a duke. You don't really know what you're walking into, right, 105 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 3: You're going to walk into this program and you have 106 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 3: to figure everything out. You have to figure out you know, 107 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 3: why did it not work? Why do you work for 108 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 3: a while? It stopped working for a little bit. You know, 109 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 3: what were the problems? What really happened? Where are these 110 00:04:59,360 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 3: kids mental? 111 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 4: Like? You had all of that here. 112 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 3: Because I had a little bit more of a working 113 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 3: knowledge of the program, on the players, kind of where 114 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 3: things were, I maybe had a little bit better pulse 115 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 3: on on kind of what were some of those nots, 116 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 3: what were some of those things? And I think I 117 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 3: was able to talk to the kids right off the 118 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 3: bat about Okay, I know where you want to be, 119 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 3: I know where we are. Here's just some of the 120 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 3: things I think can help us get where we want 121 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 3: to go. 122 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, alignment has been a forever word in your profession. 123 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: It should be a word in every profession, but alignment's 124 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: been a word that all coaches have sought. And when 125 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: you have it, you know not to take it for 126 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: granted because you hear horror stories from. 127 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: Elsewhere, and it's to me. 128 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: It's never been more prevalent for me to hear it 129 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: than lately because lately the REV share or the NIL structure, 130 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: it sort of changed the connectivity and how important it 131 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: is between president to athletic director to head coach. How 132 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: how do you feel about that connectivity here right now? 133 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think alignment here is at an all time high. 134 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 3: I'm thankful for President Mark Welson, his leadership and the 135 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 3: way he kind of has gotten into this thing with 136 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,559 Speaker 3: us to try to figure out how the university can help. 137 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 3: I think the relationship with Trev Alberts has been great 138 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 3: since the day he got here, and I think him 139 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 3: and I are are working hand in hand to try 140 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 3: to find a vision for how we can make this 141 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 3: program what we all believe it should be. And you're right, 142 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 3: I think nowadays, you know it used to be, we 143 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 3: can just kind of get into our little football silo 144 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 3: and figure the football piece of it out. What we 145 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:40,119 Speaker 3: need now as football coaches is a lot of help 146 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 3: from the department the university because when you talk about 147 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 3: nil rev share, I mean, you're basically turning this into 148 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 3: a business model and that's not something we have the 149 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 3: resources to completely control. And so the ability to get 150 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 3: in a room with the decision makers and have them 151 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 3: be able to bounce ideas off of each other, I 152 00:06:58,279 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 3: think is really important. 153 00:06:59,240 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 4: We've been able to do that. 154 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: Here what does that look like if I'm you and 155 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: I'm at my desk, I mean, how many times a day? 156 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: Or here's what I think. 157 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: I think maybe a viewer would listen to that and 158 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: it makes sense to them, but it's more fifty thousand 159 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: foot right. What they'd love to do is surveillance camera 160 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: fly on the wall in your office at two point 161 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: thirty on a Tuesday afternoon in March and you're looking 162 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: at a computer spring or screen, or you're getting feedback 163 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: from a recruit or whatnot, and you just I got 164 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: to call my ad right now, or I got to 165 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: call a donor in Houston. I need this right now, 166 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: like in the weeds, without giving particulars. What does the 167 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: functionality of that look like? 168 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think i'd like to sell that access for 169 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 3: an nil market. You go, no, Yeah, I think it's 170 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 3: on a lot of different levels. I think we try 171 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 3: to be proactive, right. I think the first thing that 172 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 3: we're trying to do is be as proactive as we 173 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 3: can so we're not putting fires out as instantly as 174 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 3: you're talking about. 175 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 4: Right. 176 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 3: What I don't ever want to get into a situation 177 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 3: of is you know, hey, here's the recruit we're coveting, 178 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 3: and this is what we're going to need need, and 179 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 3: now I got to go figure out how to get it, 180 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 3: you know. I think so I spent a lot of 181 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 3: my time trying to get out on the front end 182 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 3: and saying, okay, like here's what I think it needs 183 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 3: to look like. Here's a big picture vision of where 184 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 3: I think we got to get to. We've had a 185 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 3: lot of meetings behind closed doors with all of the 186 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 3: people that will be involved in putting that together, so 187 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 3: that it's maybe not quite as as helter skelter as 188 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 3: you know, maybe you're envisioning or hoping it could be, 189 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 3: but then you still have those moments right, like you hear, okay, hey, 190 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 3: here's an opportunity for us to do something that I 191 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 3: hadn't really thought about, Like we got to get this 192 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 3: in motion like quickly, right, and your ability to mobilize 193 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 3: all of those people, get the answers that you need, 194 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 3: get the strategy that you need, get the direction that 195 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 3: you need, and be able to go out there and 196 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 3: execute that is really important. And in this world of 197 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 3: you know, what hasn't changed is the speed at which 198 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 3: recruiting goes and the speed at which football goes. But 199 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 3: now you're probably bringing in a lot more people than 200 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 3: just us coaches who are used to, you know, having 201 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 3: a run at that page, right, and so getting everybody 202 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:06,319 Speaker 3: on the same page with how quick things needs to 203 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 3: go is really important. 204 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: So back in the day, I would go to school 205 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,079 Speaker 1: and both my parents work, so I would ride the 206 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: bus to Mima's house. I would stay at her house 207 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 1: until they came and pit me up every day. So 208 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: she was a big gardener, so she would like plant 209 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: tulips the same time every years. She would do some 210 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: flowers I can't even pronounce. But it was the same 211 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 1: process every year in your world. Right now the process 212 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: is totally inverted. It feels like every twelve months caused 213 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 1: the rules change and the structure changes. If I were 214 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,959 Speaker 1: in that position, I'd be worried about implementing my stuff. 215 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: But then on the other hand, I would be constantly 216 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: curious whether someone somewhere a thousand miles away is in 217 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 1: the process of figuring out a better way to do 218 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,719 Speaker 1: it than we're doing it right now. And yet I've 219 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: got to stay focused on my task at hand. How 220 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: do you stay aware of the entire frontier and how 221 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 1: do you stay aware of maybe the practices that other 222 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: people are implementing and trying to stay on the cutting 223 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: edge in an evolving space. 224 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's probably no different than being a defensive coordinator. 225 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 3: Right you have a system that you believe in, but 226 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 3: you're always trying to figure out how to evolve it. 227 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 3: How is somebody else doing it a little bit better? 228 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 3: Is there something I can add to? 229 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 4: Really? Right? 230 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 3: And so you built your resume as a defensive coach 231 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 3: through all of that, and then it's very similar with nil. 232 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:26,559 Speaker 3: Now it's okay, I have a philosophy on how I 233 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 3: think we need to do this in order to be 234 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:34,199 Speaker 3: successful to build a championship level program. But is somebody 235 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 3: have a better idea? Are there things I'm missing? Are 236 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 3: there other things that I can think of? Are there 237 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 3: different ways to look at it? Are the rules going 238 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 3: to take And so I think you're constantly trying to 239 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 3: have your process. Believe in your process, but evaluate your 240 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 3: process and make sure that it is the right one. 241 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 3: And you have to be open minded, I think to 242 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 3: taking ideas, hearing things, hearing thoughts, hearing what other people 243 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 3: have access to, and making sure that what you're doing 244 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 3: for your own kids is the best you can do 245 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 3: for them. 246 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: When you look at your total career arc so far, 247 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: hopefully there are a lot of chapters left in the book. 248 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: But you've already been around for a while. People would assume, 249 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:12,679 Speaker 1: since you're the head coach at Texas A and M 250 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: right now, you've never earned more per year than you're 251 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: earning right now. This has just got to be the 252 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 1: happiest you've ever been. 253 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 2: And maybe you are very happy. 254 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: But also when you hear people tell their stories, like 255 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: if I were to tell my story, I'd go back 256 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: to a time I was making twenty four grand a 257 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: year work in local news, dirt poor relatively speaking, but 258 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 1: I never had more fun than I had in those 259 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: moments because of the people that I was around. Yeah, 260 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: love where I am now, but I still look back 261 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: fondly on that time. 262 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 4: Do you have. 263 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: Stops during your career where your profile was a lot 264 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 1: smaller than it is now, but you look back and 265 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: you're constantly storytelling and you're constantly drawing on it. Is 266 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: there that point in your sort of Wikipedia page. 267 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, honestly, I think there's a lot of them, though. 268 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 3: I think because coaching is such a relationship business, and 269 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 3: you've made so many connections with coaches that you've worked 270 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 3: with players that you've coached, high school coaches in the 271 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 3: area in which you were coaching you, I think it 272 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 3: probably starts at Bowling Green and works to Wake Forest 273 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 3: and even the quick stop at Notre Dame and when 274 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 3: I was here, Like, you just make connections and that's 275 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 3: what coaching is. And so yeah, I think you have 276 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 3: fond memories really of everywhere that I've been, and I'm fortunate, 277 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 3: like I've never had that horror story. I've never been 278 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 3: at a place where you know, the bottom fell out 279 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 3: and everybody was on there, you know. I mean, I've 280 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 3: just never really been through the negative side of this 281 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 3: profession a little bit, and so knock on wood that 282 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 3: that continues. 283 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 2: That's It's pretty interesting. 284 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: Most guys you talk about, they'll have at least one dip, 285 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: they'll have at least one one or two year stretch 286 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: that just to soon forget. 287 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 2: But they always use it. 288 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 1: If they're in a head coaches chair, they use it, 289 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: and they make sure my building never feels like that 290 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: building felt. I mean, you never want to have gone 291 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,559 Speaker 1: through it, but sometimes you on the other side. How 292 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: rare is that to really, when you listen to other 293 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 1: people's nightmare stories, to really not have one of your own. 294 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, you probably know how rare it is than I do. 295 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 3: But no, I certainly feel fortunate. And I've been around 296 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:15,959 Speaker 3: great people, and I've been in great buildings, and I 297 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: think that matters, and I think the people that you 298 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 3: surround yourself, and that I think probably the thing that 299 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 3: I took from all of it was, again, like you 300 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 3: do here, you are aware. So I was never head 301 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 3: buried in the sand thinking everybody had this type of environment. 302 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 3: And so then when you become the head coach, you 303 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 3: just you go out of your way to try to 304 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 3: do everything you can to make sure that's the environment 305 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 3: you put into your own building. 306 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 1: So I'm going to tell you how I saw last year, 307 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,439 Speaker 1: and then you tell me how you saw to where 308 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: I may be wrong. Yeah, the Notre Dame game early 309 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: back and forth, you lose that one that had a 310 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 1: ton of attention on it. Then you lose that when 311 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: in people's attention it's probably off A and M for 312 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: a little while. 313 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 2: We came here for the Missouri. 314 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: Game blowout, when I think that attracted attention again. Then 315 00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: you get down the stretch, the most important time of 316 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: the year, people are watching, and you dropped several games. 317 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: And so it was very weird dynamic because when people 318 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 1: weren't looking, you were winning. Then people looked and you lost, 319 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: and then you had some pretty strong things to say 320 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: about the defensive side after the season was over, which 321 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: I appreciate it because of just honesty. If you had 322 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: to summarize last year really concisely for someone who never 323 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: tuned in, how'd that thing feel to you? 324 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it was a step forward for our 325 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 3: program and a missed opportunity to take multiple steps forward. 326 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 3: I think that's what it really was. I think if 327 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 3: you look at the performance of the year and what 328 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 3: we were really able to do over the course of 329 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 3: the year, it was certainly a step forward than where 330 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 3: we had been in the recent seasons. And that's obviously 331 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 3: always what you want big picture in your program is 332 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 3: steps forward. I think probably the frustration at the end, 333 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 3: for me, for the people in this building, the players, 334 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 3: everybody is is we had put ourselves in position to 335 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 3: really jumpstart this thing at a fast, fast pace, and 336 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 3: we came up a little bit short down the stretch, 337 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 3: and you got to live, you got to learn, you 338 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 3: got to bounce back, and that's what life is, that's 339 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 3: what football is. But that's probably the big picture of it. 340 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 2: I love following recruiting. We've always been passionate about it. 341 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: I've always enjoyed trying to measure how much talent is 342 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: on a team's roster comparatively as much as we can 343 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: from the outside. One of the things I have noticed 344 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: is Texas A and M, before you got here, and 345 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: including up until this point, never been poor in recruiting rankings. 346 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: When you look on the backside, which people tend to 347 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: overlook when you look at the talent that's being pumped out. 348 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: We just went through the NFL combine, we're going to 349 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: have the draft coming up. A and M has been 350 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: a little shorter on that side of the conveyor belt. 351 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: Then they have seemingly on the recruiting side with the 352 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: talent coming in. Now, that either means the rankings were flawed, 353 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: or the developmental piece wasn't there, or some combination of 354 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 1: the above. Is that something you've observed or am I 355 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 1: just flat off on that? 356 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 4: No? 357 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 3: I think that's extremely accurate. And I think when we 358 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 3: talk about what we have to do to take this 359 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 3: program over the curve, that's exactly what it is. 360 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 4: We have to have. 361 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 3: More NFL talent on the roster playing for us down 362 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 3: the stretch, right. I think that's when you look at 363 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 3: where we are draft pick wise relatively, where we need 364 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 3: to be to be winning at the level Texas A 365 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 3: and M should be winning at. That's the biggest jump 366 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 3: we have to make, right, and that's on so many levels. 367 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 3: I think it's evaluating the kids that you're bringing into 368 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 3: the program and every aspect of the kids that you're 369 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 3: bringing into the program, and not are we just getting 370 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 3: the highest rated kids we can get, but are we 371 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 3: getting kids that we truly believe and know project to 372 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 3: be NFL draft picks. Because at the end of the day, 373 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 3: when you look at who wins the SEC, it's the 374 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 3: team that gets the most guys drafted. 375 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 4: Right. 376 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 3: That's pretty standard throughout the board, and we've got to 377 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 3: make sure that we pay a lot more attention to 378 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 3: that side of this thing. And then it matters what 379 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 3: we do when we get them right. And part of 380 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 3: it is that, you know, the culture that we have, 381 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 3: the accountability, the development, the growth, the kid's desire to 382 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 3: become everything that he is capable of becoming. That matters, 383 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 3: and then doing it across all positions, right, because if 384 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 3: you look, we've been a little bit heavy in some 385 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 3: positions and enlighten others. 386 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 1: How do you how do you internally sort of self 387 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: scout that or quality control that. How do you identify 388 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: a guy if I were to come in, I'm from Bastrip, Texas, 389 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: I'm a five star linebacker. You identify me as such, 390 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,199 Speaker 1: you beat Alabama and Texas to land me, and then 391 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: I come in and you do everything you know to 392 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: do and I don't pan out. Yeah, how quickly do 393 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 1: you know this was an evaluation miss versus we drop 394 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: the ball on development or there could be c which 395 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: is I didn't have my head on straight, and then 396 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: it's on me like when you quality control that, I 397 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 1: got to assume you have to put that into buckets 398 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 1: so that you can scout your own process. So we 399 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: dropped the ball here versus well, we did what we 400 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: could do, it just wasn't meant to be. 401 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's something that I've tried to be 402 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 3: very proactive at going back years, which is, Okay, you know, 403 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 3: here's the kids that I like that we brought into 404 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 3: our program, Here's the ones that worked. What is it 405 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 3: about them that made it work? Here's some that didn't. 406 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 3: What is it about them that caused it to fail. 407 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 3: Here's kids that went to other schools that I liked 408 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 3: that succeeded that I didn't like, you know, and just 409 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 3: really trying to do the best you can to evaluate that, right. 410 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 3: I think that's what the best NFL front offices do, right. 411 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 3: They create some type of system and belief of what 412 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 3: leads to the most productive results and stick to it right, 413 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 3: and stick to it to the best of their ability 414 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 3: and I think that's as important of a strategy and 415 00:18:55,960 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 3: your roster development and your recruiting as can I go 416 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 3: out and get the kid from wherever who is getting 417 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 3: recruited by whoever. Because sometimes you're in such a race 418 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 3: to win the recruiting battle you're not even paying attention 419 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 3: to what you're landing, right, And I think what you're 420 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 3: landing is is obviously the most important thing, And we 421 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 3: got to be really diligent about how we do that. 422 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,199 Speaker 1: When you guys are going after kids in the portal, 423 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,959 Speaker 1: I know you've got a strategy, you're very selective about it, 424 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 1: but there's a relationship you and I would have if 425 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:29,440 Speaker 1: you had recruited me since I was a sophomore in 426 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: high school. 427 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:32,400 Speaker 2: And then there's another way. 428 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: You have to recruit a kid that was playing for 429 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 1: Minnesota or Illinois or whatever, and you want them because 430 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 1: they can fill a need for you. What kind of 431 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 1: a relationship, realistically can you have with that guy that 432 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: even comes close to comparing to the relationship you have 433 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:48,120 Speaker 1: with the high school guys before you land them. 434 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean it's night and day. 435 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 3: I think when you talk about portal recruiting, unless it's 436 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 3: a kid that you had recruited or had a relationship 437 00:19:55,760 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 3: with at some other part in the journey. It's it's 438 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 3: literally a night and day process, right, And what you're 439 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 3: talking about when you're dealing with the portal is much 440 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 3: more of a NFL free agency. You know, here's our need, 441 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,640 Speaker 3: here's what we can do to help you get where 442 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 3: you want to go. Here's your skill set, here's how 443 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 3: we see it fits, here's how it complements you know, 444 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 3: I mean, it's it's very much an NFL style conversation 445 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 3: in so many ways when you're when you're recruiting out 446 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 3: of the portal as opposed to you know, when you're 447 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:31,400 Speaker 3: trying to talk about taking a sixteen year old out 448 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 3: of his house for the first time and how you're 449 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 3: going to nurture, take care of him, develop them, grow 450 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 3: him as a man, help him get a degree, Like, 451 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 3: that's a completely different recruiting, right, And so really you're 452 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 3: functioning almost in two separate worlds. 453 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 4: And then sometimes they cross, right. Sometimes it's a. 454 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 3: Kid that you developed a great relationship with in recruiting 455 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 3: who is now in the portal, right, and now it's 456 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 3: just kind of a mix of both. Hey, you remember 457 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 3: we trusted each other we developed this relationship. But here's 458 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 3: where now, this is the right place for you, and 459 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 3: here's the things that we can do to help you. 460 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,159 Speaker 1: I saw a study about weddings the other day. How 461 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: much money is spent on someone's first wedding versus the 462 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: relative cost if someone has a second wedding. 463 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 4: Right, very similar, night and day for it, very similar. 464 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: And I got to imagine the conversations also with a 465 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: recruit out of high school. 466 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 2: It is overarching. It's everything under the sun. 467 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: How many of the guys that you start to approach 468 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 1: out of the portal just look you in the eye 469 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:28,199 Speaker 1: and say, don't even waste your time on all that. 470 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 1: I'm not even I don't care about all that I 471 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,439 Speaker 1: already went through it. Just shoot me straight. Here's what 472 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: I'm looking for. Are you looking for this? Let's get 473 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: it done. 474 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 4: The ones that we want? 475 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I think that's really kind of where 476 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 3: you're at with it. It's you're trying to find kids that, 477 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 3: for whatever reason, believe your program, your scheme, your fit 478 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:50,120 Speaker 3: is the right one for them. Right, And if that's 479 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 3: the relationship you can establish quickly, then let's roll. And 480 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 3: I think back to the Nick Skurt and recruitment, and 481 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 3: obviously he was a really talented player for US last year. 482 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 3: But you know that is literally like, hey, let's talk 483 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 3: about how we can put you in position to be 484 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 3: as successful as you need to be as a defensive 485 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 3: end to get where you want to go right. And 486 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 3: it's cut and dry, and I don't care who else 487 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 3: is recruiting you. It's not about like, let's just get this, 488 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 3: and it's just so different. It's completely different. 489 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:21,359 Speaker 1: There's this thing that's been happening quietly out loud, I 490 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: would say, in the overall profile of college football players. 491 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: I was talking to my dad. I went home last weekend, 492 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,719 Speaker 1: and my dad just always peppers me with questions. And 493 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,399 Speaker 1: one of the things that he asked me, as anyone 494 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 1: his age would from the outside looking in, is I 495 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 1: would think with all the social media out there and 496 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: all the nil money, it's never been tougher to corral guys, 497 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:44,679 Speaker 1: it's never been tougher to count on them to make 498 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: the right decisions. And I told him my observation is 499 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: it's been the total opposite. I have never had less 500 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 1: feedback from coaches about guys getting in trouble off the field. 501 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: The headlines are virtually non existent. Now, not to say 502 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 1: it doesn't happen, but have you observed that. I guess 503 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 1: one of the plus sides of infusing constant awareness of 504 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: being visible on social media and money is such that 505 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: guys are a lot more careful with the decisions they make. 506 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 2: Now. 507 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think people have matured through the social media 508 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:17,640 Speaker 3: age a little bit. And like everything, you know, when 509 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 3: it becomes new and it becomes fresh, there's a lot 510 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 3: of growing pains that you go through. And I think 511 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 3: a lot of programs, a lot of kids went through those, right, 512 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:30,680 Speaker 3: and then you have this now large group of life 513 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,640 Speaker 3: lessons you can teach through you know, mishaps of other 514 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:39,160 Speaker 3: people unfortunately. Right, But here's where social media steered kids wrong. 515 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:41,199 Speaker 3: Here's some of the pitfalls to it. Here's some of 516 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 3: the downfalls of it. And I think are kids now 517 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 3: that we have in our locker room are a lot 518 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 3: more aware of the negative side of what can come 519 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 3: from the choices and decisions they make through social media. 520 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: How would you describe the mental aspect of a g 521 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 1: AIM day to the ninety nine point nine nine percent 522 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: of the audience who will never be there, they'll never 523 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: wear a headset you get twelve of those a year guaranteed, 524 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 1: the rest of your season, the rest of your life 525 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 1: is consumed with revolving around those twelve saturdays you're gonna 526 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 1: get and you're gonna have one hundred plus thousand in 527 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: the house, You're gonna have millions at home watching, and 528 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:23,159 Speaker 1: everyone is investing their emotional equity into whether you and 529 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: your team can get. 530 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 2: The job done or not. 531 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: And yet you could pay attention to all that, but 532 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:28,679 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, like the process of 533 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 1: winning is the process of winning. Where where do you 534 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: have to get to mentally to be a head coach 535 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 1: on a game day? 536 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, probably a lot of different places, to be honest 537 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,480 Speaker 3: with you, I think when you think about it, you're 538 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 3: working twelve to eighteen hours a day year round, to 539 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 3: be judged by twelve three hour blocks in the fall 540 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:54,919 Speaker 3: of which the majority of those three hour blocks are 541 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:58,159 Speaker 3: going to come to five or six moments that you 542 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 3: have no idea what those moments it's are actually going 543 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,719 Speaker 3: to be, only that every game is going to have 544 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:05,640 Speaker 3: them and at some point they're going to show up 545 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:07,879 Speaker 3: and you're going to have to have done everything in 546 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 3: your power to get your eighteen to twenty two year 547 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 3: olds to make the best decisions and the best choices 548 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 3: in those moments and perform at the level they're capable of. 549 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 4: And so that kind. 550 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:23,920 Speaker 3: Of takes a large prism of characteristics, mental spectrums, whatever 551 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 3: you want to call it. But it's different, you know, 552 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 3: it's for sure different. And then you've got to have 553 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 3: this calmness about you because you're the leader of a 554 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 3: whole organization that feels the same way. 555 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:37,239 Speaker 2: Right. 556 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 3: You're not the only person aware of how important that 557 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 3: three hour block is on a Saturday, And so you've 558 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 3: got to have that calming influence, that calming voice on 559 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,119 Speaker 3: the sideline to make sure that your organization can go 560 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 3: where you want it to go, when your program can 561 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 3: go where you want it to go. 562 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: I think the other fascinating part just of a game day, 563 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: the psychology of a game day, is you could be 564 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:01,600 Speaker 1: someone like anyone watching this, be like me. We immerse 565 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 1: ourselves in it all week long too. We're not coaching 566 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 1: a program, but we're totally immersed. I know the game 567 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to on Saturday. I'm focused on it. I 568 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: could recite to you fifteen talking points. And yet when 569 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 1: you're there in the ninety minute, sixty minute, thirty minute 570 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: lead up to kickoff in an environment like major arenas 571 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,119 Speaker 1: and venues in the South, it's such a sensory overload 572 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: that you find yourself twenty minutes to kick off and 573 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: your mind's in fifteen different places. And I'll watch you, 574 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,159 Speaker 1: guys go warm up out there, and I'll watch you 575 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: stand stoically, and you're watching this group or that group, 576 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: And sometimes I just wonder, where's a coach's mind there? 577 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: You can have a million different things in your head 578 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 1: going through your mind right there? How hard is it 579 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,440 Speaker 1: to just stay centered? Or do you reach the point 580 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 1: where you just clear the mechanism and nothing else is existing? 581 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 4: Yeah? 582 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 3: I think part of it is clearing the mechanism. I 583 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:52,680 Speaker 3: think part of it is is projecting commness. I think 584 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:57,640 Speaker 3: part of it is is you're truly trying to figure out, okay, 585 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 3: amongst all this chaos, which it is right times, what 586 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 3: can I see? 587 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 4: You know? 588 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 3: What am I noticing? What can I see in my guys? 589 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 3: What can I see in my players? Is there anything 590 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 3: that I can do to help move this thing along? 591 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:11,959 Speaker 4: Right? 592 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 3: What they don't need amongst one hundred and five thousand 593 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 3: people going crazy? And sensory overload for sure is me 594 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 3: going crazy right to me adding to it, And so 595 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,640 Speaker 3: you just try to give them whatever you can give 596 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:27,439 Speaker 3: them in those moments that are going to help them 597 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 3: get out on the other side the right way. 598 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 1: I remember when we were here for I think the 599 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 1: Texas game. Afterwards, I was talking to your head groundskeeper. 600 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: Of course number one. The place looks like a putting green, 601 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 1: so it's just crazy that you can have grass that quality. 602 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,399 Speaker 1: But I remember him laying out some of the fine 603 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 1: details of his job. I remember walking through this building 604 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 1: several times since I've been here and just looking at 605 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:51,679 Speaker 1: the fine fine points of implementing something as simple as 606 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 1: the logo on the back wall of the team meeting room. 607 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 2: Well, that all comes from you. 608 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 1: You're making most to all of those decisions, and you're saying, 609 00:27:57,960 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: I want this here, I want that to look like that. 610 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 1: I want the end zones painted maroon right instead of 611 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: what they used to look like. How do you decide 612 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: how you want that stuff to look? 613 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 3: You try to compartmentalize. I think as the CEO and 614 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 3: I talk about this all the time. As the head 615 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 3: football coach at Texas A and M you wear two hats, 616 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 3: and they're completely different on so many levels. One is, 617 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 3: I'm the head football coach and I've got to make 618 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 3: sure the football side of this thing is running the 619 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 3: right way. But then there's also this CEO element of 620 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 3: what I do right, and the CEO of Texas A 621 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 3: and M Football is responsible for all of it, right, 622 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 3: our our social media presence, what our game day looks like, 623 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 3: what the music in the stadium feels like, the atmosphere, 624 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 3: and not that you're solely responsible for it, but you 625 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 3: have to care about it because all of those things 626 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 3: are going to impact how people view your program, which 627 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:55,400 Speaker 3: is ultimately going to impact your ability to have success. 628 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 4: Right, And then you walk. 629 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 3: Around the building and so much of and this is 630 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 3: this is just great leaders within business. I think you're 631 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 3: trying to create this environment that breeds culture and you 632 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 3: want it to look right in every aspect of it, 633 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 3: so that everything is intentional. 634 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 4: Every painting on the wall. 635 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 3: You know, the aggie legends, which legends were putting on 636 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 3: the wall. We got to make sure they're all the 637 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 3: right ones. And the signage, the verbiage, the communication, it's 638 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 3: all got to flow in a certain way because that, 639 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 3: to me is where your culture is getting built in 640 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 3: the times when you're not in front of the guys, 641 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 3: in the times where you're not watching it. Maybe they 642 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 3: walk down the hallway until you happen to notice the 643 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 3: plan to win. Maybe they walk down the hallway, they 644 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:44,840 Speaker 3: happen to notice an aggie legend doing it and it 645 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 3: clicks in their mind a certain way. They see the 646 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 3: grind logo and it I mean, you just never know 647 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 3: how you reinforce all of that. And so that to 648 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 3: me is just a completely separate bucket of running a 649 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:01,720 Speaker 3: program that I think is as critical as you know 650 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 3: what play we call, because you know, I've said this 651 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 3: for years. You know, we can call a play and 652 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 3: it's going to work or not work based on so 653 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 3: many factors. And I can call the play in one 654 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 3: game and I can be a genius because it works perfect. 655 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 3: And you can call the same play against the same 656 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 3: defense in the same situation and for whatever reason, someone 657 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 3: doesn't do it right and it doesn't work, and you're 658 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 3: the idiot, right, And that's just football. And if you 659 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 3: know football, like, that's really what it is. And so 660 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 3: I think that CEO stuff and some of those things 661 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 3: that you do maybe are what give you a little 662 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 3: margin for error to make sure that the plays that 663 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 3: you call actually work out the way you want them 664 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 3: to do. 665 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 1: You draw more inspiration from watching how other head coaches 666 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:44,560 Speaker 1: have done it as it relates to being the CEO 667 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 1: or are you the kind of guy who may look 668 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 1: at the CEO of AFLAC or Coca Cola. I'm just 669 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: mentioning companies based on geogical that's the one I know. Yeah, Like, 670 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: where do you draw inspiration in that front? 671 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 4: Success? 672 00:30:57,320 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 3: I think, to me, what I'm looking for is is 673 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:05,840 Speaker 3: successful leaders across any platform, right. And to me, there's 674 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 3: so many carryovers between being the head football coach at 675 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 3: Texas A and M and running a business, running a 676 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 3: successful basketball team, running a successful football team, running whatever, right, 677 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:20,080 Speaker 3: And so to me, what I'm trying to always study 678 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 3: is success and who has had success? 679 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 4: Why, what are the reasons? Why? What did they do 680 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 4: that maybe you can learn from? 681 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 3: And I think that's one of the things we really 682 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:32,160 Speaker 3: try to implement in the program in the off season 683 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:35,400 Speaker 3: is trying to get these guys to see and study 684 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 3: successful people. I think one of the things this generation 685 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 3: doesn't always do the best job of is creating a 686 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 3: knowledge base of what. 687 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:46,880 Speaker 4: Leads to success? Right they see these. 688 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 3: Flash highlights on Instagram and TikTok, and they see that 689 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 3: part of it. But I don't know that a lot 690 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:56,200 Speaker 3: of them can tell you the story of Kobe Bryant's 691 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 3: work ethic or the story of how Lebron came up 692 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 3: or whatever, or Steph Curry in the gym and trying 693 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:05,400 Speaker 3: to make sure that they know all of the things 694 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,840 Speaker 3: that go behind why they're seeing the success that they're seeing. 695 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,200 Speaker 1: But doesn't a part of that being the culture right 696 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:14,720 Speaker 1: now sort of serve as a selling point to a 697 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:16,520 Speaker 1: guy because if I look at a guy and I say, 698 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 1: tension spans have never been shorter, knowledge base has never 699 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,080 Speaker 1: been less more fractional than it is now. Therefore, if 700 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 1: you learn to think the right way, you'll stand out 701 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 1: way more in twenty twenty five as a twenty year 702 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: old kid than you would have in nineteen ninety five. 703 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: Does that not light a fire into the right kind 704 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 1: of guy? 705 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 4: I think so. I think so. 706 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:36,800 Speaker 3: I think the right kind of guy really embraces what 707 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:39,640 Speaker 3: we're talking about, what we're doing, what we're implementing. Because 708 00:32:39,640 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 3: I thought that they think they see it as a 709 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:45,800 Speaker 3: competitive edge and to some degree. And this is just generational, right. 710 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:48,040 Speaker 3: It's always like, Oh, they're talking to me in a 711 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 3: way that I've never been talked to before. And that's 712 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:52,480 Speaker 3: part of it, right, That's part of the culture you're 713 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:54,560 Speaker 3: trying to build and you're trying to get them to understand. 714 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 4: But I do. I've always believed if you. 715 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:01,479 Speaker 3: Want to get somewhere, find someone else who did that 716 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:04,240 Speaker 3: before and study how they did it. And as many 717 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 3: times as you can do that, the better you be. 718 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 1: You guys got to the end of the season last 719 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 1: year after the Bowl game, you spoke about as strongly 720 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:12,960 Speaker 1: as I heard any head coach speak to wrap their season, 721 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 1: specifically about how let down you felt with the defensive performance. 722 00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:19,360 Speaker 1: So you can't do anything to change the past, you 723 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 1: can affect the here and now moving forward. What tangible 724 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 1: steps did you identify that you needed to take to 725 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:25,480 Speaker 1: rectify that. 726 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:28,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, I just think you know, we had an opportunity 727 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 3: in three games down the stretch that we could have 728 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:34,200 Speaker 3: made plays on defense that would have changed the outcome. 729 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 3: And it's really the first time in a long time 730 00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:42,960 Speaker 3: that I've experienced that the defensive letdown becoming the big reason. 731 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:46,240 Speaker 3: And so I think awareness is key. I think you 732 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 3: got to identify what I think the problems are, and 733 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 3: not to get into those for everybody, but I think 734 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,800 Speaker 3: you internally identify what you think the issues and problems are, 735 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 3: and then you got to set a course forward, you know. 736 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 3: And all this happens back in December, and I think 737 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:03,440 Speaker 3: we set a cour course forward to what we believe 738 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:05,840 Speaker 3: will ultimately get us the results that we want and 739 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:07,320 Speaker 3: help us take the step we need to take. 740 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 1: What part of your identity as a head coach would 741 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:15,360 Speaker 1: you say has evolved the most from day one of 742 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:16,320 Speaker 1: having that position. 743 00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:20,879 Speaker 4: Yeah, probably just the CEO element of it. 744 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:23,479 Speaker 3: And I've said this to people before. I used to joke, 745 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:26,040 Speaker 3: like when I was a defensive coordinator, like, well, I'm 746 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:28,520 Speaker 3: running fifty percent of the program. You know, of course, 747 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 3: I'm ready to be a head coach. And then you 748 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 3: get into that head coach chair and you realize you 749 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:34,319 Speaker 3: had about five percent of the program when you were 750 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:38,680 Speaker 3: running the defense. And I think just understanding what all 751 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 3: of it is, right, what all of it entails, how 752 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:42,839 Speaker 3: to be good at all of it, not just the 753 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,680 Speaker 3: football side of it. You're getting in front of a 754 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 3: group and talking to them. I've been doing that for 755 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:51,120 Speaker 3: years as a defensive coordinator. It's some of those other 756 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:54,560 Speaker 3: aspects of the program that I think we can learn 757 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:56,759 Speaker 3: and develop, and I think that's probably in three years 758 00:34:56,760 --> 00:34:57,880 Speaker 3: where I've grown the most. 759 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:02,440 Speaker 1: There is so how much change happening right now? I 760 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:05,640 Speaker 1: know it change has always been happening, But I would 761 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:08,200 Speaker 1: put the last five years of college football up against 762 00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:11,360 Speaker 1: any five year period any sport, including this one, in history. 763 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:15,399 Speaker 1: So if I watch that as a fan, it may 764 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 1: frustrate me, but that's just because I like things the 765 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:20,040 Speaker 1: way they are and I like this. 766 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:20,640 Speaker 2: Don't like that. 767 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:23,880 Speaker 1: You are trying to cast a vision to lead a program, 768 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:26,480 Speaker 1: and it's not like you can change on the fly. 769 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:29,240 Speaker 1: It's not like video game settings where this rule changes. 770 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:31,560 Speaker 1: So I'm going to change this about my process. It's 771 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 1: like a two year implementation thing to change some of 772 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:37,879 Speaker 1: the more fifty thousand foot aspects of your program. But yet, 773 00:35:38,040 --> 00:35:41,440 Speaker 1: no one wants to hear big earners complain about anything. 774 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 1: They just want you to produce results. So I got 775 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:47,560 Speaker 1: to imagine you drive home sometimes you just punch your 776 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 1: steering wheel because there's stuff you can't control that's impacting 777 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:53,239 Speaker 1: your job. But yet, how important is it to make 778 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:56,399 Speaker 1: sure the people here don't see that. The people you're 779 00:35:56,440 --> 00:35:58,960 Speaker 1: representing don't see that. They just need to see a leader. 780 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:01,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think we have to be problem solvers. I 781 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:02,800 Speaker 4: think that's you. 782 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 3: If you study, like the number one trade of a 783 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:09,080 Speaker 3: great football coach, problem solving is going to be at 784 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 3: the top of that list, even if he's the linebacker 785 00:36:11,239 --> 00:36:11,759 Speaker 3: coach at. 786 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:12,360 Speaker 4: A small school. 787 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:15,360 Speaker 3: And so you know, you just kind of take that 788 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:19,200 Speaker 3: mindset of okay, like give me the landscape and then 789 00:36:19,239 --> 00:36:20,400 Speaker 3: I got to figure it out and I got to 790 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:22,799 Speaker 3: solve the problems. And hurdles are going to come, curve 791 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:25,240 Speaker 3: balls are going to come, things are going to change direction. 792 00:36:25,480 --> 00:36:29,440 Speaker 3: And I think in so many ways those are the challenges. 793 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 3: We loved about coaching when we got into it was 794 00:36:33,160 --> 00:36:35,399 Speaker 3: that ability to have to adapt and think on the fly. 795 00:36:35,640 --> 00:36:38,080 Speaker 3: And I think that's something that keeps the brain fresh 796 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:40,520 Speaker 3: and going. I don't know that I ever would have 797 00:36:40,560 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 3: signed up for quite this much change and. 798 00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:44,919 Speaker 4: Having to adapt and think on the fly. 799 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:47,600 Speaker 3: But you know, when you when you break it down 800 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:51,120 Speaker 3: into that cube like that, I think you can come 801 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:53,279 Speaker 3: away and say, Okay, yeah, like that's still what the 802 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:53,799 Speaker 3: job is. 803 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:54,560 Speaker 4: The job is. 804 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:57,440 Speaker 3: Here's the landscape problem. Solve your way through it, to 805 00:36:57,440 --> 00:36:59,759 Speaker 3: put yourself on the right side and make sure you're 806 00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 3: doing It's all about the kids, right. It's making sure 807 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:05,200 Speaker 3: you're doing the best you can to run the best 808 00:37:05,239 --> 00:37:08,120 Speaker 3: program you can for all the kids in your program, right, 809 00:37:08,120 --> 00:37:08,919 Speaker 3: And that's what it's about. 810 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:11,560 Speaker 1: Let's wrap with this, I think is probably the question 811 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:14,080 Speaker 1: most people are interested in. You can't predict when's the 812 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:15,560 Speaker 1: losses in the fall. That comes down to what we 813 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:18,799 Speaker 1: were talking about a few minutes ago. But holistically, the 814 00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:22,160 Speaker 1: program where it is now versus the standard you want 815 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:22,680 Speaker 1: it to meet. 816 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:23,920 Speaker 2: Where is it? 817 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:28,279 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's in root right, and it sounds gray, 818 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:29,960 Speaker 3: and I'm going to give you the coach speak a 819 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,719 Speaker 3: little bit on that one. But we are heading in 820 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:35,120 Speaker 3: the direction we want to go. I know what's happening 821 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:37,480 Speaker 3: behind these walls. I know what's happening in this building. 822 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:41,799 Speaker 3: I can see this thing transforming and changing. We want 823 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:44,840 Speaker 3: it to be elite as fast as we could possibly 824 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:47,800 Speaker 3: get it there, and obviously we have a strong belief 825 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:51,200 Speaker 3: that that's going to happen this fall. But the program's 826 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:54,359 Speaker 3: heading in the direction it needs the head to ultimately 827 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:56,960 Speaker 3: become what you and a lot of people outside of 828 00:37:57,000 --> 00:37:59,920 Speaker 3: this building believe Texas A and M football should be 829 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:01,840 Speaker 3: and so it's going. 830 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:02,440 Speaker 4: Where it needs to go. 831 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:03,600 Speaker 2: Michael Coo. We appreciate it. 832 00:38:03,719 --> 00:38:04,759 Speaker 4: Yeah, appreciate it, Josh, thank you. 833 00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:22,800 Speaker 1: Sign up for FanDuel at FanDuel dot com backslash CFB 834 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:25,960 Speaker 1: promotion must be twenty one plus and present in select 835 00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:29,919 Speaker 1: states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino, or 836 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:34,080 Speaker 1: eighteen plus and present in Washington, DC. First online real 837 00:38:34,080 --> 00:38:38,920 Speaker 1: money wager only ten dollars first deposit required. Bonus issued 838 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:42,560 Speaker 1: is non withdrawable bonus bet that expires seven days after receipt. 839 00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:45,920 Speaker 1: Do you have a gambling problem? 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