Billy Kennedy on growing from Parkinson's, status of incomers

Key quotes from Billy Kennedy interview

“I am very thankful that Parkinson’s is being recognized at the TexAgs Kickoff and Michael J. Fox has done an unbelievable job raising awareness and there is so much research going on.  I am a product of a lot of good help and good doctors and all of the great things that Fox has generated over the past 20 years.  I am thankful that people are going to be giving to help cure this because it seems like now everyone has a family member or relative who is dealing with something like I am.  I am just blessed that it hasn’t affected me as bad as some others and I am just thankful.”

“There is no question that I am better from it.  I am a better coach and hopefully a better man and better in a lot of areas.  When you go through something as difficult as it was for me you realize that you have to embrace the day and make the most of it.  There are a lot of people you are trying to help and live for, but the great thing about it is that it is a journey and I am better and I feel better.  I am healthier and smarter.  When you go through something you can choose to embrace it and attack it or you can let it beat you up.  I have been fortunate to have so much support and help and I am so grateful for God’s blessings.  I have been able to attack it and grow from it and use this as a ministry in some respect and try to help others.  We press on, we press on.”

“I just spoke to our camp of about 300 kids and our word of the day was perseverance.  Never give up.  That’s what the end of the Northern Iowa game was about.  Northern Iowa really kicked us for about 38 and a half minutes and they were really good.  That is what people fail to recognize.  You have to give credit to our guys and it started with their leadership.  The older guys.  Alex Caruso played every possession the same way and we didn’t get caught up in the score.  We had a lot of things go well.  Northern Iowa contributed but we made the most of it.  People forget it went into two overtimes.  That says a lot about Northern Iowa.  They didn’t give up and had great perseverance.  That is what it is about in life. We all are going to go through some challenges and you have to push through the situation that you are given and we did that and got a great win out of it.”

“Those young guys got a good taste of playing time last season.  The work that we put in last year was just a part of it.  There is a quote that I have heard a number of times used in different ways it goes, ‘Culture eats talent for breakfast’.  We have a really good culture.  It started with Jordan Green, and Elston Turner and those guys.  Our guys work.  Darby Rich is the best strength coach in the country and does a tremendous job of getting our guys ready to be coached and they work.  Our guys are where they are supposed to be, they are on time, and academically they are doing what they are supposed to be.  You have that type of culture that can run itself, you just have to follow that up with talent and hopefully the rest takes care of itself.”

“At the 2,3,4, and 5, those guys you mentioned have improved, like Tyler Davis and his body.  He has lost maybe seven more pounds and his body fat is down.  He is one of the hardest working kids that I have ever coached before.  It is going to be built around him.  He will touch the ball.  There will be a rule where he will touch the ball every three possessions, but not every possession.  Our team is going to be different.  We are going to be a grinding team.  Maybe like Logan Lee’s teams back in the day where they were just so physical and front line oriented.  Tonny Trocha-Morelos has been our best player some days.  He is older now that he is a junior.  Tavario Miller is our hardest worker who provides depth there.  DJ Hogg and Robert Williams at the 3,4, and 5 provide a strength for our team right now.”

“Having all of those former player back was an awesome experience for our guys.  Admon and DJ worked out in the mornings with Khris Middleton.  It raised our guys’ level of play.  It is the end of the summer and they are tired of playing against each other.  We also don’t have a few guys right now.  We have had a couple of guys get beat up a little bit.  Those guys coming back just really helped finish up the summer strong.  Also, Danuel House came back and Alex Caruso has been back.  We have had Donald Sloan back.  We want those guys to come back.  That just builds an even stronger culture for our program.”

“Eric Vila from Spain was going to play in Turkey with his national team but that didn’t work out due to the tragedy that occurred in Turkey.  He will be here in a couple of weeks.  Just typical NCAA eligibility stuff with those other guys just finishing up classes, some in the summer, and it is taking longer to get through the process.  We are encouraged, and we expect all three of those guys (Vila, JJ Caldwell and Deshawn Corprew) to be here.  You saw at Kansas last year with Cheick Diallo, it is what we go through in college basketball in a typical fashion."

“Robert Williams is a special talent.  He was player of the year in Louisiana and he has a good chance to be a really good player once he learns how to work.  He is just young right now.  He is the best athlete we have had since I have been here by far.  He is a DeAndre Jordan type athlete.  He has gotten stronger and Darby Rich has done a great job with him.  He is learning how to work, but he is young and he has shown that but he does things on the floor that no one has done here since I came to A&M.”