Ad Disclosure
Sumlin speaks of the Ole Miss loss, possible changes and Steve Spurrier
By Steve Barnes
Published:
Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin faced the media Tuesday after the Aggies’ second straight division loss, this one to Ole Miss.
Here are some of Sumlin’s comments:
ON THE TEAM’S MINDSET:
“I can tell you the accountability council met and this is not a divided football team. The word is frustrated, like the fans, the coaches and me. If they weren’t frustrated, that would be another issue.”
ON THE FUTURE OF THE THREE QUARTERBACKS:
“We are looking for consistency at quarterback and to cut down on turnovers. We told the three that this week they would be evaluations on drills, leadership and communication skills with their teammates and the coaches. Friday we will name the starter.”
ON THE REST OF THE SEASON:
“We are not 2-5, we are 5-2. We have the opportunity to get some big wins and to be in the thick of it in the end.”
ON PLAY CALLING:
“We’ve been the kind of staff where everybody is a part of it. In the meeting with the quarterbacks, there were five us in there, the quarterbacks, me and (offensive coordinator) Jake (Spavital). I told them we get too much credit when we win and the blame when we lose.”
ON KYLE ALLEN’S POOR PLAY THE PAST TWO GAMES:
“If I knew what led to his struggles, it would have been fixed. It’s hard to play this game with someone looking over your shoulder. Without confidence, it’s hard to play quarterback.”
ON THE OFFENSE’S GOALS:
“We’ve got to have more consistency. We never got into a rhythm Saturday and in the second half against Alabama. What is a rhythm? Making first downs. Eliminating penalties.”
ON CHANGES ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE:
“There will be changes, but not in personnel, but with what they do. Maybe we’ve been doing too much.”
ON SOUTH CAROLINA RECEIVER PHAROH COOPER:
“He is a heck of a player. He was a high school quarterback so we have to watch him on reverses because he just might pull up and throw it. He is a lot like Christian Kirk in the return game.”
ON SOUTH CAROLINA LINEBACKER SKAI MOORE:
“The guy’s all over the field, he’s their leading tackler by a lot. He is kind of like a tweener, he is a little undersized but he makes up for that with speed and quickness.”
ON STEVE SPURRIER:
“You know my relationship with coach, junior and the family. I always looked up to him and I continue to look up to him. He was the guy I kind of wanted to be.”
ON CHANGING HIS TEAM’S THINKING:
“Two weeks ago there was too much thinking big picture by everybody. We have to get back to one-week thinking and that’s South Carolina.
Steve Barnes is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football.
