Kevin Sumlin touches on recent developments

Excerpts from Sumlin's Dec. 19 media session

On what he looks for in an offensive coordinator...

Sumlin: "We want to incorporate more run game and do it as fast as humanly possible. It involved adding motion, play action stuff, and so now people have been around our system, our terminology and what the basis of it is. Where we’re at right now, I think we have a talented offensive staff.

"(Kliff Kingsbury) did a great job here and when he was at Houston. We’ve actually ... Clarence McKinney and B.J. Anderson did a lot during the year, most of the run game prep, personnel and for the game plan. Kliff and Klint Kubiak did a lot with passing.

"Kliff did a great job of organization, but our guys have been around it. David (Beaty) has done a fine job all year. We’re not in a hurry to hire a new coach. We’re not going to change what we’re doing before January 4th. Anyone we brought in would have to learn what we’re doing, not what they’re doing."

On the size of the Aggies' recruiting class and the quality of recruits joining it...

Sumlin: "What people are figuring out finally is that we a have a number of midyear signees and spots. We have some guys graduating early. The SEC rule is 25; I do know the rules, and I’m not going to sign more than 25. We’re able to go all over the country, East to West Coast, because our brand has grown. And guys understand where our program is headed."

On picking up where the team left off in the regular season...

Sumlin: "We have a lot of practices for not very long. We were out there today for about an hour. We’ve had more workouts than we’ve had in the past — because we have some moving parts — and utilized this as a second spring.

"We try to get them healthy, especially having 12 weeks without a bye. We try to keep them healthy. There's a lot on their minds, going home and seeing their family. When you get to the bowl site a lot of guys get excited. But it‘s about preparation before you get to the site. I’m happy to play the 4th, I know how tired I was flying all over the place."

On everyone buying in and success arising from it...

Sumlin: "It’s how you do things on an everyday basis, and the expectations you have. It’s about how you treat people, keeping families involved and caring for people."

On using bowl practices to work with lesser-used players...

Sumlin: "We’ve had about a total of six practices where we really work the young guys. The individual and last six practices have been for our young players and maintence of the older, developing D-linemen, and who will have a chance to play. Working with guys like Ed Pope — scout team player of the year — and getting them involved. So they can see the speed of the game, this is our offense.

"It’s a reward for those guys, that’s why you see a lot of good teams getting better. We’ll be back practicing the 27th and 28th and leaving and going up there, we’ll have a couple more of those kind of practices."

On going against OU and mentor Bob Stoops...

Sumlin: "We have a lot of admiration and respect for Oklahoma; I have a lot of admiration and respect for Bob. Not just Bob but guys I worked with five years ago. You never really like playing against good friends. It’s awkward at first, then you try and beat the hell out of each other.

"When you sit back and look at this game, besides the national championship game ... this might be the most exciting game. I do not have any more tickets! (Laughing.) That was my PSA for all my new relatives. When you look at bowl matchups, this might be the most exciting matchup there is. Its going to be a great atmosphere."

On balancing being a father and a coach...

Sumlin: "I was able to see my daughter play basketball last night. First time this year."

On the resulting prestige from Johnny Manziel's Heisman Trophy...

Sumlin: "For us to have two Heisman winners, it’s a huge deal. To have them sit there and shake hands ... you sit back in the room and you see those two guys talking. It’s a neat situation to see those guys talking, and those two guys at any given time in history were the best that year in college football."

On Thomas Johnson's situation...

Sumlin: "Thomas came in today, and he has withdrawn from school. He actually did about a month or so ago. That’s an ongoing process and I think he’s trying to decide where he is and if he’s going to come back next semester, or if he’s going to take the year off or if he’s going to transfer.

"He’s trying to figure out what his next step's going to be and we’re going to support him. It’s been difficult."

On Manziel post-Heisman and returning to playing instead of making the TV rounds...

Sumlin: "Johnny realizes what got him here. He loves to play the game. He was excited today because we started Oklahoma stuff. Everyone was worried he couldn’t speak English (before he was allowed to speak to the media), but that wasn’t the case.

"(Not speaking) was able to keep him focused. Week in and week out, I don’t care how old you are, you’re playing on the big stage every week and people are talking about you every week. The pressure builds. No goal is too big for him. Now he’s able to articulate his feelings."

On the impact of winning or losing the Cotton Bowl...

Sumlin: "What we have shown in one year in the SEC — not only that we belong but that we can compete and can win — I think kids see that more than one single game. Very few guys have I’ve recruited have based it off of one game. It’s over the course of time you build your brand.

"Oklahoma has done a great job of that and we’re trying to catch up quickly. Us being in the SEC and this year has helped us and we’re building our brand. It’s about playing the meaningful games."