Cotton Bowl Media Day: Oklahoma Sooners

Bob Stoops

On what sticks out the most as a player regarding Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel...

“His ability to make plays. If you do not cover guys, he puts the ball where it needs to be. If you do cover him, uh oh, there you go, he’s running. He just has a knack for making something happen even when you have played well. It is hard to explain, he just has a way to make plays.”

On the successful coaching career of Kevin Sumlin...

“Kevin is a bright guy, relates with players well, and has a great background. He has all the enthusiasm and competitiveness and things that you want in a head coach. He did a great job with us and felt he would, moving forward continues to do well.”

On the Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma series, and Texas A&M leaving the Big 12...

“It is funny; we seem to have all kinds of rivals. Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas, Kansas State, Texas A&M. For whatever reason we seem to be a lot of people's rival. Playing them was always a challenge. Texas A&M is an excellent program. You always knew you had to come prepared to play.

“It is sad to see anyone leave. However, we are all businessmen, we are all big boys, we are doing fine too. If that is what needs to happen that is what needs to happen. I say it a lot; very few things in this world stay the same forever. You just have to keep evolving with it.”

Mike Stoops

"Well, he can throw things on time and, if it's not there, he can pull the ball down and run or he can pull the ball down and throw. So he has a lot of different options. He has three options every time he snaps the football. That's part of what makes them so creative and him who the player he is. Certainly they're smart enough to know not to take that away from him. That's the type of player he is and that's what makes them as successful as they are."

On whether he's looked at film of Florida and LSU's defenses against A&M...

"Those guys have great players up front, and that's where you've got to be able to put pressure on the quarterback, keep him in the pocket and try to limit his ability to make plays outside the pocket."

Corey Nelson

On how excited he is to play the Aggies in his hometown...

"Man, it's an exciting feeling to be able to play the Aggies. They're a very good team. Very explosive and it's just an amazing feeling. I'm blessed and honored to be able to go up against the Aggies because they had such a successful season and it also just feels good to be back in my hometown, Dallas, Texas. It feels good to come home to the people that I know to watch me and watch both teams play. It just feels good to be able to see that happen."

On how close he got to Manziel in recruiting...

"Not close at all. I didn't even know who the guy was (chuckle). The guy is incredibly. He makes plays when need be. He makes plays when you can't make a play. And he's just the type of guy that can do the impossible. You see stuff that normally doesn't happen when you're out there playing on the field. That's the type of guy he is. He's the guy that makes a way out of no way."

On his decision in retrospect to choose Oklahoma over A&M...

"I've been very pleased. I give God all the glory for that, for allowing me to be pleased with my decision. And for taking care of me and watching over me as I played at OU, it's been a magnificent decision. It's been a great choice I've been able to make."

Tom Wort

On whether he has any interest in the BCS title game...

"It's going to be a real interesting game. Looking forward to seeing how the front seven on the defense for Notre Dame matches up against their running attack. It'll be really good to see."

Jamarkus McFarland

On the Cotton Bowl and Cowboys Stadium experience...

"We played here against BYU, played Nebraska here for the Big 12 Championship a couple years back. It's top notch, at every level of football. You get treated outside of this. You go home to the hotel. Everything is top notch. The name of this bowl is kind of overlooked, but I'm loving it, every day that I've been here it's been enjoyable and you can't beat this stadium."

On this being only OU's second Cotton Bowl appearance...

"Yeah. And I wasn't in the first one, so I'm going to try to put a stamp on this one."

On what they're most looking forward to in containing Manziel...

"(Chuckle) That's the main thing, is to contain him. You've got to keep him in front of you. Guy makes plays and he's elusive. He's good on the run. That's the hardest part — once you feel like you've gotten to him, he can do something else to get away from you. So we have to keep in front of him. You can't get caught on different levels or he will go between you, so right now it's just focusing on creating a wall in the front and I'm trying to stop him."

On what the best part of Manziel's game is...

"Making the extra plays. Making something out of nothing. Like I said, when you think you've got him he can do a quick spin move and get outside. He makes the rest of his team better. He makes guys make better blocks off of his moves he makes outside of the pocket; his receivers continue to work down the field and they get open to create passes for him. He's just the head of that snake and controls that team."

On whether Manziel has improved as a pocket passer...

"Yeah. I saw them throughout the year, as they got comfortable in the SEC. He grew up and grew to more longer passes and creating stuff, not afraid to get out of the pocket — using his legs because he knew he could do it. I have respect for him. He's a Heisman winner."

On coming into the game without backup DT Stacy McGee...

"It's just knowing we have to step up. There's nothing else to it. We've been practicing together and we all know how to play together, no matter who's in there. We're just going to continue to play hard. You can't slow down the train, you've got to jump back on it and keep going."