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Texas A&M Football
Lamar HC Ray Woodard previews Saturday's contest vs. A&M
September 3, 2014
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Key quotes from Ray Woodard interview
“Starting a program from scratch has been a lot of work, but it has also been very rewarding just to watch it grow and to know that you’re responsible for a lot of it. It has been very exciting to grow and build to this point and we’re excited to be where we are.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing Kyle Field. To see all of the renovations that have taken place since I played there and to see what they’ve done and to be apart of it, we’re excited about it.”
“As a group, A&M's receiving corps was just so impressive. Their size to go with everything that they can do in their short passing game and their blocking ability can swallow you up. Offensively they jumped out with the size of their receivers and I knew there were going to be talented, but they just towered over South Carolina team.
"Their offensive line with the returners that they have they just work so well together as well. Also, we knew like everyone else in the country that they were going to have about three running backs that were all going to try to get the spot and they all run well, but no one really knew how good the young quarterback would respond. What a great day he had to put that one to rest very early in the ball game.”
“A&M's defense is much improved. I think the scheme is simple and they turn their players loose and let them play. The secondary made a couple mistakes early against South Carolina because you could tell they were young and they hadn’t played many games together, but they corrected them, got better as the game went on and played a very good second half.
Their defense is going to get better as their season goes on because they are young, and very talented. They have very good team speed on defense and seem to be playing with a little more confidence. They felt that they could stop South Carolina and they did, and to say that is something else.”
“Kevin Sumlin and I have both coached in Texas a long time and he’s somebody I like and respect and always done a great job wherever he’s been. I thought he did a heck of a job with the University of Houston, and to watch how he’s handled the media and the pressure that goes with the job that goes with Texas A&M, then to throw Johnny Manziel in there and all the notoriety ... he handled it not only for him but for the entire team, he just does a great job.”
“Offensively we’ve got eight starters back and (QB) Caleb (Berry)’s probably the catalyst to that. He just brings a lot of stability to that position and to our offense. We only lost one receiver on our inside, they got to throwing catch a lot in the ppring and in the summer so we’re probably ahead or further ahead than we ever have been going in to camp. We have three starters back on the offensive line and a lot of their backups. We’ve got a lot of continuity on the offensive side and we’ve got a lot of confidence on the defensive side.”
“None of us smaller schools have enough money and all of us are trying to find ways to raise money and playing teams like A&M is one way to do it. To play right here in our state and our backyard in this situation is the best of both worlds for us and it’s just critical to our program that we do this. We are very fortunate to have this opportunity.”
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