Press Conference: Ags head to Knoxville focused on Vols, not the CFP

Texas A&M could find their way into the playoff with a little help this week, but the Aggies are focused squarely on beating Tennessee on Saturday. Ahead of A&M's trip to Knoxville, Jimbo Fisher, Kenyon Green, DeMarvin Leal and Isaiah Spiller spoke to the media.

Video courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics.

The following are live, paraphrased notes from head coach Jimbo Fisher's media availability on Monday.

• Glad to get back to game week. I thought we had a good week of preparation and practice. We got on some fundamentals and things. I thought we got better. Tennessee had a good win this weekend, and they’re a very good, physical football team. Eric Gray is a good player. Their receivers are strong. Their young quarterbacks have played well. They’re coached very well. We’re going to have to play an “A” game in an SEC road game. We need to play a good game against a tough Tennessee team.
   
• We’re not discussing playoff implications. What you do postseason results from what you do in-season. The season is not over. We need to worry about what’s going on now. I tell our players what I tell you. You control where you go by controlling what you can. That talk is all poison, and it doesn’t help you. What helps you is playing well, and we’ve done a great job of blocking that out this season. The maturity has allowed us to do that.
   
• Kenyon Green’s knowledge has grown, and that allows him to apply his physical gifts. He’s just now scratching the surface of what he can become. He has a great future. I think he’s worthy of All-American consideration. A lot of our guys are. Our offensive line is playing tremendous, and he’s one of those guys, for sure.
   
• If we’re in position to be in the playoff, we’ll make our comments and do what we need to do. The people on the committee know what they’re doing. Everything else and the lobbying is good social media, but we have faith in the committee.
   
• We feel very good about our recruiting class. You know that you have to get everything across the board, but we like the guys we have. Our staff has done a tremendous job, and hopefully, we will close well.
   
• The offensive line’s confidence and camaraderie have helped a lot. It’s a very intelligent, prideful and competitive group. Josh Henson has done a great job with them.
   
• Kenyon is a very motivated young man with great parents at home. It doesn’t shock me that he’s getting better.
   
• The season isn’t over yet, but we will do something for the seniors after the year ends.
   
• Demond Demas is practicing, and everything is going well.
   
• Tennessee’s confidence is ramped up. Jeremy Pruitt is a heck of a coach, and he will have his team ready to go. We need to play a heck of a football team.
   
• I’ve been to Neyland Stadium. Our players haven’t. Unless it has changed, their field is still 100 yards long. It’s a tremendous atmosphere, and that’s the case throughout the SEC.
  Everybody has players too. It is a place we haven’t been to, but hopefully, we can adjust to it.
   
• Everybody has stuck together, but some of the opt-outs were for their own reasons. The reason we have had success is because of the bond and trust we have in each other. That has been a huge part of our success this season.
   
• Micheal Clemons is still rehabbing right now.
   
• Tennessee has one quarterback that they use in a running package, but they have some guys that are very similar.
   
• The phsyciality and filling those gaps is huge vs. Tennessee. Eric Gray is a great player. Their line is big and physical. They have a good group. We’re going to need to be physical and hold the point.
   
• Certain officials call more. If you’re consistent with it, you know how to play. If a guy calls it one way, that’s fine. If an umpire gives you a speck off the black when some do or don’t give any of it, that’s part of it. You have to play by the rules and the standards that they set.
   
• Demani Richardson is practicing and doing well.
   
• It’s a shame that Gus Malzahn got fired. He’s a very good person and an excellent football coach. I don’t know why, and that’s none of my business. It’s unfortunate. He’s 6-4 with an all-SEC schedule. He’s had great success in this league, and he’s been there for a long time. That’s their choice. I’m sure Gus will be fine, and he’s a heck of a football coach.