Kevin Sumlin speaks with reporters at A&M bowl practice

* Thought that the ability for these guys to have continuity, to play in the bowl game and have a chance to win, for me to come in and try to coach the same thing in two weeks ... the same thing at the University of Houston, continuity is important for both teams. That's what has really worked out.

* I think, as I said before, it's hard for fans and alumni to understand those types of decisions (moving to another school). A lot of times, that's all on the coach to make those decisions, whether he coaches the bowl game or not. After my conversation with the football team at UH and the texts and everything I've received and the guys I've talked to, I think the players understand. They've put the work in and they won 12 games. As long as they understand it, I'm fine with it. I wish everybody else understood, but that isn't always going to be the case. I don't know if there's any unhappiness from anyone over the decision; there's some disappointment. Fans are different than players. That's OK. I wish it were different and I can't make any excuses or tell people that I just wish they understood. As long as the players do, it's fine.

* Oh yeah, I've come to grips with the responsibility of heading this program. It's a place that I've been before. It's a lot different now, moving to the SEC West. For a lot of people, they look at it as, "What's wrong, this can happen," and it's a heck of a challenge. But I want to be around people who want to play at the highest level, want to compete in THE best conference in America and the best division in America and, if you're scared of that, get a dog. That's how it is. There's a bunch of guys in this state that want to play at that level, want to be a part of it, and can now and have a chance to win there. As I said before, walking around for the last month with this SEC patch on hasn't hurt me a bit.

* To be honest with you, there really hasn't been any hurry to name a staff. From a recruiting standpoint, we've been able to obviously hold our class together through the last week or two. That was really my main goal, to get to Christmas. We're in the dead period now; I would say that the majority of the staff will be named somewhere between the second and the sixth (of January).

* It's kind of funny to be out here not planning anything. The last time I was out here (in Reliant), it was the day before we started practice, with my staff and my two kids watching the Texans practice. That was kind of a good omen for everybody. They're a playoff team, they've done very well, and we've got a great relationship with Gary (Kubiak) and Rick Smith. I think that relationship will continue, seeing how Gary's an Aggie, and it can only get better.

* It's always critical to have the staff together. It's always interesting to talk to people about where you get coaches from, but it's important also to know that I had a whole new staff when I got to Houston; some of those guys are head coaches now, some are still at Houston. Some were working in high school, some didn't have jobs. Hiring a good staff wherever you go is important, and there are some guys I hired who weren't even in college football who are pretty good coaches now and I still think a lot of. We'll see what happens, but different places, different situations may call for different coaches. Certainly, my loyalty to guys I've hired and who won me a bunch of games at Houston ... that isn't going to change.

* I think Levine getting the job at UH is fantastic. It makes you feel old.  I coached the guy, and now he's a Division I coach ... and I'm supposed to be a young coach! That's not a good deal. But there's something to be said for continuity. We didn't accomplish everything we wanted to accomplish, but it's not all broken. I think everybody knows how deeply I feel about our staff and players there and the ability to keep some continuity with a program that's really a top-15 or -20 program right now is important. It's a great decision, great for Tony, great for the guys. It really settles down the players to know there isn't a whole new group of people coming in and trying to shake their lives up a little bit.

* There's no doubt I would've looked at Tim DeRuyter if it had worked out. He and I have had many conversations. I'm sure he's talked to Troy (Calhoun) a bunch, and there's things they don't teach in head coaching school — you've got to figure it out on your own. Your first week or two, you call a bunch of people and say, "Hey, if I get this job, you comin'?" They'll tell you yeah, and as soon as you get it, they'll tell you, "I talked to my wife ... that's not gon' happen." That's happening to Tim and Tony, and the responsibility of designing everything from uniforms to playcalls is a lot. But I think Tim is a high-energy guy that I really like and I guy I've competed against a bunch and know real well, and he's going to be a great head coach.

* I'm a bit open on base defensive formation. Obviously, looking at where Tim was in run defense out of the 3-4 ... and I think there's a misconception about the 3-4. There's a lot of different types of 3-4 out there: 2-gap guys, guys that kick it to almost a 4-3 when they're playing with three down linemen, so just because you're a 3-4 guy doesn't mean you've got a true nose guard. I don't know that at A&M we have a true 2-gap nose guard, if that makes sense. Just watching practice, I haven't seen Vince Wilfork out here. We're going to have to get some things done.

* (Regarding scouting the team being inherited) I've been able to watch every practice last week, and that's better than any video I could ever see.