Former A&M LB Keith Mitchell discusses conditioning, time in NFL

Notes from Keith Mitchell interview

* He’s gotten big into yoga and meditation and seems to have built a real passion for it after using it for recovery from his neck injury sustained while he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He really wants to try and pass along as much of his meditation techniques as possible to his other football buddies.

* The body is taken through tremendous stress and trauma playing the game of football. What he has done is tried to go through a process of healing to eliminate all of the toxicity caused by years of playing the game and it has resulted in him being in the best physical shape of his life.

* He definitely wishes he had another chance to play the game now knowing what he does about physical conditioning. Larry Jackson’s conditioning of the players is going to be a big part of the success the team has this season. The guys will be in prime shape and condition to be ready for anything they have to go through physically.

* From a mental aspect, he would try to slow the game down and take it one play at a time in his mind if he had the chance to play again. The guys on the team are anxious to play because of the Louisiana Tech game being postponed. If the team is able to tunnel that energy, it could give them a big boost towards a victory over the Florida Gators.

* He was not surprised that Jackson was going to be able to get the team into very good shape, which is really the backbone to the coaching philosophy being taught by Kevin Sumlin and company. Conditioning is always something that is tough to get everyone on the same page about, but it seems as if Jackson has been able to correct that. A&M was known for very conditioned defenses in the past, and he knows that Jackson will bring that back.

* He came into school at A&M around 200 pounds and was definitely not prepared for the toll that the college season takes on your body. As he progressed through the program, things changed and became a solid player for the Aggies. Conditioning was a key component to success back then, and it is still a key component to success today.
 
* His time at A&M was a big part of growing up. He wasn’t even 18 years old yet when he stepped on campus, and luckily had guys like Sam Adams and Marcus Buckley to help bring him up.  The inspiration those type of guys provided to him was a big part of ‘flipping the switch’ from being just an alright linebacker to a good or great linebacker.

* One thing that sticks out in his mind about his time at A&M, apart from playing the actual game, is his teammates and the bonds he formed during his years on campus. He also misses the bonds he formed with guys like Billy Pickard and the rest of the family that was created on Kyle Field and in the locker rooms. That feeling of family and brotherhood is what brought him to Texas A&M and he will never forget the memories he made on campus.

* He talks with a few of the guys on the current team, including Jonathan Stewart, about bringing that family atmosphere back to what it once was. Having a bond that is forged on trust and support is one of the greatest assets a team can possess.

* The game this Saturday against Florida is going to be a big one. He’s been doing his best through Stewart to get the guys in the mindset that will have them ready for the game. His suggestion to the team was to not play Florida for who they were, and instead, play them for who they are right now. Florida is not the same team they were a few years ago when they won a couple of national championships. A&M is more than capable of playing on the level of Florida and sees no reason why the Maroon and White shouldn’t get the win on Saturday.

* He always thinks about how different the 1996 season could have gone, had the Aggies started with a win against BYU instead of a loss. Momentum is part of the game, and because of that, staying poised and focused can be a crucial tool to the success of a program. A&M is capable of picking up a ton of momentum by dominating Florida and making a huge statement on Saturday.

* A&M is going to be very fresh this weekend. Bowling Green deserves a tip of the hat for taking it to Florida this past weekend, and with a little more heart, they probably could have pulled out the victory. He thinks A&M has that heart and that they can take it to Florida for the entirety of the game.

* Like R.C. Slocum, Sumlin is very capable of connecting with the recruits and getting them to want to be part of the A&M program. If A&M can reestablish a presence in the Dallas area due to Sumlin’s swagger and the SEC move, the Aggies could have a big lift in their overall talent of recruits. He had his eyes set on going to USC out of high school, but he instead decided to stay in state because he loved what was going on at A&M.

* He’s writing a book right now that lays out all the information about his time under Coach Mike Ditka and with the New Orleans Saints. After going undrafted, he was very disappointed until Ditka called and wanted him to play. He felt that if he could play for Ditka, he could play for anyone. Once he was given an opportunity, he did everything he could to take advantage of it.

* Making the Pro-Bowl was immensely satisfying. Adversity comes in many ways, and for him it was working his whole collegiate career, only to go undrafted. Being able to prove people wrong about his talent and play multiple years in the NFL is something he will always be proud of.