Former DE Chris Harrington excited about defensive-minded coach in control

An All-Big 12 defensive end at Texas A&M, Chris Harrington joined Monday's edition of TexAgs Radio as football season is right around the corner. Harrington spoke about his time in Aggieland, his thoughts on first-year head coach Mike Elko and much more.

Key notes from Chris Harrington interview

• My time at Texas A&M was a great experience. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. They were great years, and I learned a lot of lessons. I made lifelong relationships, and I still have a bunch of former teammates and friends that I am still in contact with. 
   
• I chose Texas A&M because of the opportunity. We had a coaching change when R.C. Slocum had just been let go, and they were moving from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense. I just saw an opportunity to play early and to play a lot. I’m a firm believer that God has a plan, and we just have to walk it out. It was between LSU, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M, and I’m glad I ended up in College Station.
   
• There were some great moments. Beating Texas during our junior and senior years to cap off coach Dennis Franchione's time at A&M were some really memorable moments. There were lots of games, lots of plays, and lots of memories with teammates, but those games were really great to leave off on.
   
• I think Texas joining the SEC is great for the state of Texas and college football. The landscape of the game is changing, and it's shifting more towards super conferences. I think it was a logical move.
   
• In my junior year, we played Oklahoma at home, and I remember the last drive when I tackled Adrian Peterson for loss. We set up a fourth down, and they were going to punt the ball. Then, they called a timeout and decided to go for it, but I thought that was my breakout game that caught people’s attention.
   
• I gave the NFL my all. You know they say it stands for “Not For Long,” but I made it to three years which is the average. My wife and I had just got married, and it opened a lot of doors for me. Playing in the NFL definitely served its purpose.
   
• My wife, Melissa Garey Harrington, played soccer here. They won four Big 12 Championships, so that was pretty cool. We met in College Station and started dating right before my senior football season. I came back, proposed, and now the rest is history.
   
• As Aggies, we are very passionate. Sometimes, too much so. I can’t really speak to the past, but in our former teammates' text thread, we knew that coach Mike Elko was the guy. When was the last time we had a defensive-minded coach? You have to go back to Slocum. It’s been a calm offseason with no headlines, so I’m excited to see what that looks like this season.
   
• Chemistry is developed through repetition and time spent together. Going through the ups and downs, learning to trust each other, and learning how to communicate all comes with time. I’m excited to see that this fall. I trust Elko and the things I see from him are aligned with A&M and its core values. 
   
• You’re just going to see relentless effort, tenacity, and pursuit to the ball. That’s how I like to play the game. Play sideline to sideline and to play until the whistle blows. You can expect a relentless attitude and effort.
   
• I think everybody knows that the Notre Dame game is a big one. The pressure is there. We have no control on the output, but what we can control are the inputs. If they execute, practice, and come together as a team, that’s the most important part. It seems like they are all coming right.
   
• I’m excited to see a fresh group of talent with the type of character and motor that A&M is looking for. I’m looking forward to seeing Kyle Field packed to start the season. It’s going to be loud at that 6:30 p.m. game time, so I’m looking forward to that. Those early-season pressure-filled games are really important because they bring the team together.
   
• We all know how talented Conner Weigman is. I’m excited to see how he’s moving and feeling after surgery. No doubt he has the talent, but can he and the team stay healthy? Changes in strength and conditioning, and from what I’ve seen, it has been good. I love Tommy Moffitt and the way he is going about it. He’s a tough guy. During the offseason, your strength coach is your daddy. He’s the one you’re always around.
   
• Stephen McGee was tough as nails. You take one of the top passing quarterbacks in Texas High School Football history and turn him into an option quarterback. He was in there in the weight room with us grinding like the rest of us. I have memories of him battered and bruised, but he never quit. I will always have a tremendous amount of respect for him.
   
• I think the input is important My expectation is that A&M is going to have a really tough, relentless defense that will keep them in games. A&M has great talent. Putting the offense in the position to make plays is key. Conditioning, endurance and diet are all things that Elko is doing, and that’s how we compete.