Mark Hocke attempting to bring attitude change to Aggie program

An attitude adjustment is something the A&M program has undergone since the arrival of strength and conditioning coach Mark Hocke. It’s easy to see something different when he walks through the door with his constant upbeat attitude, and it appears to be infectious among his players.

Since his arrival in Aggieland, one goal has been clear: change the way the Aggies finish, especially in the second half of the season.

The late season collapses under Kevin Sumlin are well-documented, but this offseason, the head coach let go long-time strength and conditioning coach Larry Jackson and brought in Hocke.

“The opportunity that Coach Sumlin has given me and my staff – we just cherish it every day," Hocke said. "It’s a gift every day to be pushed and set high expectations and attack the work on our plate.”

There is no lack of work on the strength and conditioning staff's plate. Hocke and team inherit a squad that broke down late in the year after a rough SEC schedule, but they also have to acclimate 29 new guys who have never played a down of college football to the rigorous league.

Since his arrival on campus, Hocke has not only tried to change the way that A&M approaches the game physically, but mentally, as well.

One way he plans to combat the 8-4 records and end-of-season slides is by treating this group as a completely new team, one with a clean slate.

They will leave the past in the past.

“I think for us, right now we are 0-0," he said.

"We are going to take everything one day at a time, one rep at a time. Every day is an interview, and every rep is an interview.”

He’s right. Every rep is an interview on a team that is looking to replace starters at 10 different positions, including quarterback.

While he implements his new system, Hocke has one of the best players in the country, Christian Kirk, to use as an example. Hocke spoke very highly of the junior receiver, even hinting at the fact that he is one of the best workers he’s ever been around.

“There is no comparison. Christian Kirk is one of a kind, and I’ve said that to everybody,” Hocke said after Tuesday’s practice. “He is the type of leader that comes around every so often, and it’s not often enough. He is a consummate professional.”

That's not bad coming from a coach who has spent time in programs with Nick Saban at Alabama, Jimbo Fischer at Florida State and Mark Richt at Georgia.

One of the largest changes Hocke has noticed since January is the way his guys communicate and work together on a day-to-day basis, which is why he believes in this team.

“I’ve seen real growth from January through the summer," he said. "What that looks like is how they communicate with one another, the standards that they continue to set on higher levels. I continue to see growth, and I continue to see hunger.”

Hunger for victory is something A&M fans have been looking for on a on the big stage since the 2013 Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma that capped off an 11-2 season.

Hocke also mentioned on Tuesday that “attitudes are contagious.”

If he implements changes within the program that help change the end-of-season slides, one thing will be certain: the attitudes of Aggies everywhere will change come the end of November.