Jan. 8, 2011

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Jordan Jefferson threw three touchdown passes to Terrence Toliver and ran for a score to help the 11th-ranked Tigers rally for a 41-24 victory over No. 18 Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.

LSU (11-2) has now completed its fourth season with at least 11 wins in Miles’ six years. The Tigers had only two 11-win seasons in their history before that.

During the postgame celebration, Miles sang the LSU fight song loud and proud with his players. When asked after that if he’d back next season, there was a pause before Miles responded, “It’s a wonderful place. I love it here.”

Texas A&M (9-4) led 10-0 in the first quarter, including a field goal after Jefferson threw an interception, but had its six-game winning streak snapped.

It was the 50th game between the border-state schools, but the first since the 1995 opener. Texas A&M had won the last five games in a series that likely will not be renewed in the regular season any time soon.

Jefferson was 10 of 19 for 158 yards with scoring passes of 42, 2 and 41 yards to Toliver, who had only two TD catches in the regular season.

LSU went ahead for good when Stevan Ridley had a a 17-yard TD run, jumping over a defender near the line and then sweeping right untouched into the end zone for a 21-17 lead with 4:43 left in the first half.

Ryan Tannehill, who had been 5-0 since taking over as the Aggies starting quarterback, then threw two interceptions in a span of three throws – after 127 consecutive attempts without a pick. The second interception was by Eric Reid, who returned it 34 yards to the 2 to set up Jefferson’s short TD pass to Toliver for a 28-17 halftime lead.

Ridley, who wasn’t sure he’d even get to play until the NCAA reinstated him this week after an unspecified “one-time” academic violation, had 24 carries for 105 yards. Spencer Ware ran for 102 yards on 10 carries as LSU got its first Cotton Bowl win in 45 years, since beating Arkansas 14-7 in the 1966 game.

After a three-game losing streak that included a loss to Arkansas in Cowboys Stadium, Texas A&M earned its Cotton Bowl berth with its longest winning streak in 12 years. The six-game surge included victories over Big 12 division winners Oklahoma and Nebraska, along with archrival Texas.

Uzoma Nwachukwu had two TD catches for the Aggies to match his regular-season total. He caught a 6-yarder from Tannehill and a 14-yarder on a halfback pass by Cyrus Gray, who also ran for 100 yards on 20 carries.

Tannehill was 22 of 35 for 204 yards with three interceptions and two touchdowns.

Coryell Judie help set up A&M’s two first-quarter scores.

Judie returned the opening kickoff 69 yards to the 31, setting up the first of Nwachukwu’s two TD catches touchdown. It was the first time all season that LSU’s defense gave up a score on the opening drive.

After the Tigers’ opening offensive drive was extended by a roughing the punter penalty, Judie had a one-handed interception near the end zone when he leaped and fully extended his right arm. The Aggies then drove for Randy Bullock’s 39-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead only 10 minutes into the game.

When LSU got the ball back, Oliver had both arms stretched over his head when he caught a 42-yard touchdown pass. He had the 41-yarder on the opening drive of the second half.

The Tigers took their first lead on Jefferson’s 1-yard TD run early in the second quarter after a missed field goal by Texas A&M. On that nine-play, 65-yard drive, Ware had a 24-yard run when he spun to avoid a tackler at the line and shed two different defenders before being driven out of bounds and Jefferson converted a third-and-11 with a 13-yard scramble.

DALLAS – Head coach Mike Sherman spoke with the media today about the upcoming game against LSU in the 2011 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. Quotes from today’s news conference are available below. Audio is available to the right in MP3 format.

Opening Statement:
“It’s certainly an honor to be here representing Texas A&M in the 75th AT&T Cotton Bowl. I think it’s a unique matchup in the sense that this will be the 50th time that LSU and Texas A&M have matched up against each other. There aren’t many times in bowl games where you’re reconnected with an old rival and certainly our proximity to each other enhances that. We’re excited about this football game. It’s been a great week. The AT&T Cotton Bowl has been just phenomenal in their hospitality, over the top even. I keep telling the players that we can’t get too soft with all of these activities and things that we’re doing. We still have business to do Friday night. I think they get that part of it. Every event has been just a phenomenal experience for our kids. I would have to say our visit to the hospital yesterday was an experience that many of our players will remember for the rest of their lives. To be able to connect with some kids who are battling just to live their lives and parents as well. There were a number of heart surgeries yesterday that we were privy to. We visited with a bunch of young people over there. What a tremendous staff at the Children’s Medical Center. We just had a phenomenal visit over there. Lawrey’s last night was great as usual. I don’t think our players ever have a bad meal there anyway. It was certainly over the top. Every event that we have attended, the AT&T Cotton Bowl has gone out of their way to make sure this is the greatest experience these kids could have. I told them earlier in the week that many of them may not get a chance to play in the Super Bowl, but this is really a Super Bowl environment. Having had a chance to coach in one at one time, it’s very similar. The celebrity status that our players feel and the different activities they attend is akin to a Super Bowl week. This is our Super Bowl. We’re playing a great rival in LSU. They’re a team that was maybe two or three wins away from playing in a national championship. We recognize their talent on the field. I recognize their coaching and their scheme from my video study. I’m looking forward to this game. Our players are very excited about playing. I think you get to a point in time of the week where they’re just ready to play. They can only eat so many cookies and have ice cream and have different activities. It’s time to play the game. They’re itching to get on the field on Friday night and show you all what they got.”

On realignment talk last summer and Texas A&M possibly moving to the SEC…
“When that talk was going on I had my hands full. I’ve been asked that question numerous times. I’m not trying to evade answering it, but I really didn’t get involved in that very much. The president did call me over to his house and we talked a little bit about our program and what we needed to do and where we were, but other than that I left that up to Bill Byrne and the president and the board of regents. I had too much on my plate to get our team ready for this season. So I never really thought about it or had an opinion about it. Whatever the university decided to do, I was for. We decided to stay in the Big 12 and keep the Big 12 together. You got to get your team ready. Whatever the powers-that-be tell you to do that’s what you have to do. We were just trying to get ready for our first ball game. Kind of an evasive answer on the Big 12 and the SEC, but I really didn’t get that involved in it.”
On how playing in the 75th AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic will affect recruiting…
“LSU has an established recruiting base in Texas. I think they’ve done a very good job of recruiting this state. Since I came on board at Texas A&M, I thought there was a lack of talent on our team from the Metroplex area. We’ve addressed that. We have numerous players on our team from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I think exposure, being on TV this week and the Cotton Bowl enhances it a little bit. The bottom line with recruiting is what your product is and the personal touch you have with recruits and how you connect with those recruits. I think we have a great product in Texas A&M, whether it’s in the Dallas area, or Houston, or San Antonio or West Texas or anywhere in the country. We have an excellent staff of recruiters. We talk the talk and walk the walk with them and tell them how important it is to get an education from Texas A&M, as well as being able to play on Kyle Field. I don’t know if the one game is definitely a game that’s going to enhance it, but it certainly doesn’t hurt it.”

On Texas A&M’s advantage having played in Cowboys Stadium multiple times…
“They’ve been in the locker room, they’ve been on the field. I think that the fact that the Cotton Bowl committee made the decision to practice in Cowboys Stadium has given both teams familiarity with the stadium. The jumbotron is on when you get in there, so they kind of lose touch of that. You know where the clock is. It’s a big stadium, so trying to find the play clock and the game clock and so forth and so on. The fact that we’re able to practice in there really enhances for both teams the familiarity that they’ll have out there on game day. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s an advantage, particularly because both teams have practiced there all week long.”

On the possibility of renewing the LSU-Texas A&M series in the future…
“That is something that I’ve thought about because LSU is so close to us and we do have a previous relationship with LSU. We’ve had some great games with the LSU Tigers. Obviously our commitment to the Big 12 and our current schedule and the way it is going to be laid out with playing each other and adding Arkansas, and then you add in the SEC schedule and who LSU plays, I don’t envision this happening at this point. But maybe down the road it’s a possibility. Certainly a boarder rivalry like LSU is something to consider.”

On LT Luke Joeckel’s impact this season…
“He’s a young man that came in the spring. We knew he’d be a great player, but you never know how soon they’re going to be able to mature. He went through spring and I put him in at starting left tackle right from the get go because I just believed he would be our best option at that time. For the first six ball games, he had some ups and downs but fought through them. Then he just started to grow up and mature and really became a strength and a staple for our offensive line. Our other true freshman, LT Jake Matthews, on the other side wasn’t able to come to spring ball so it took him a little longer to teach him the offense. But when he was able to get in there, he’s done a very good job for us. We have those two guys back for another three years. We’re excited about it. They’re two book ends and they’re big kids, they’re athletic, they work hard, they’re smart and they’re tough football players. They’re both going to have great days ahead at Texas A&M and down the road.”

On LB Coach Dat Nguyen…
“He brings a quiet intensity to our program. He’s not a loud vocal guy, but he’s an embodiment of intensity. When you watch his players play they play that way. Certainly when he speaks to those linebackers – his familiarity with playing that position and what he’s had to overcome and the adversity he’s had in his life – they certainly embrace their coach and play with the intensity that he would play with.”

On QB Ryan Tannehill’s preparations…
“Every game is an important game. Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas, Baylor – they were important games – so his preparation for those games was over the top as it is for this ball game. Every game matters. If we didn’t take the right mentality in those games, we wouldn’t be here today. Nothing changes necessarily because it’s a bowl game. You have more time. You sometimes can be at a disadvantage because you start doing the same thing over and over again you can get a little stale. So you try to put ourselves in position. I’ve tried to challenge him by putting our team in positions to be in situations in practice, game-like situations, to make them rehearse the game as much as possible. We haven’t played a game in six weeks, so I think when you’re playing a bowl game this late it’s so important to remember that you’re practicing to play a game, not practicing to practice. We’ve had officials out there for the past few weeks watching our kids to make sure we’re doing things right and we don’t get overly penalized in the course of the game. We’re always in situations in practice to make them think or react to that moment in the game – whether it’s the last four minutes of the game, the last two minutes of the game, the fourth quarter, how we’re going to start the game, the last five plays of the game, whatever it is – we’re challenging Ryan and the offense and the defense to respond to that situation. They’re ready to play now. We’ve run out of situations where we’re just ready to play the game.”

On facing a team with two quarterbacks…
“We haven’t seen a lot of that necessarily. Jarrett Lee is a good quarterback. Jordan Jefferson has demonstrated what he can do with his arm and his feet. They’re a little bit different, but as far as their concepts are concerned, their passing concepts, they don’t change a whole lot from one to the other.”

On RB Steven Ridley being cleared to play…
“As far as the running back concern, we anticipated him to play from the beginning. We really didn’t change a whole lot that way. We expected him to play. I think Michael Ford and Alfred Blue are good running backs. We know them from recruiting and know that they’re quality. You’re not going to change your scheme because of the running backs. The running backs fit their scheme. Those offensive linemen have been blocking a certain scheme so those backs fit that scheme. Nothing changes from that standpoint.”

On LSU’s special teams…
“They’re the best special teams team I’ve seen on film since I’ve been in college. The biggest concern I’ve said to our team the first time we met was field position, field position, field position. This team is very talented in their special teams. CB Patrick Peterson is very talented. He is one of the premier return guys in the country and we’re very aware of that. How do you handle that? Even when people have had good coverage on him, he’s been able to break free and make good decisions on where to run the football. I really believe this game will come down to special teams in the sense that field position will be dictated by how well they do against us and how well we do against them. They have a great scheme and excellent players and speed on their special teams and they play hard. We’re very much aware that one of the strengths of their team is special teams and the field position that they produce, as well as their kickers.”

On if momentum can carry over from one season to the next…
“I think every season is independent of the previous season. The chemistry changes, all of our seniors are gone. We have to develop new leaders on the team. We were 6-7 last year, did that carry over to this year? If you win it should carry over and if you lose it should carry over and I don’t believe it either way. I believe each season is independent of the previous one and each group that comes in that year has to start from scratch and has to try to prove themselves all over again. I don’t think there’s a huge carry over that way. I do believe that when you’re building a program and your culture is created, there’s a belief in your system and how you do things in the off season, in the spring, in the fall and so forth. There’s a belief in that culture, but as for the actual games, the players have to start from scratch again as well as the coaches.”

On preparations for LSU’s dual quarterback scheme…
“We’re going to do what we do from the defensive standpoint regardless of what quarterback is in there. When QB Jordan Jefferson is in there they do a fair amount of read option and do some things with running the ball. They both can throw the ball and they both can run read options. It’s not like you can totally negate one part of their offense. We’re just going to do what we do and hopefully that will work.”

On the long break between the end of the regular season and the bowl game…
“By the time we get done with the preparation, we had 19 practices which is more than in spring football. There’s been quite a lay off. If you ask every coach and player on our staff, you would have loved to have played the next week because I do think in the context of a season you can have momentum. We felt like we had some momentum at the end of the season. I think in this environment and the bowl environment, I think the length off between the last game and the bowl game, you kind of have to relight the fire again and get it going. Fortunately for us, we’re playing a great opponent. We have watched a lot of tape on LSU and we know what’s going to show up there Friday night. Our kids are really excited about that challenge. I’m sure that will be enough fire for us to get going and play this game with a lot of passion and energy.”

On working alongside LSU’s TE Coach Steve Ensminger…
“I was a line coach and Steve was a coordinator. Steve’s a very bright coach. He was a great game planner and a great game caller. I thought he was an excellent quarterbacks coach. He was hard on those quarterbacks and very demanding. I thought he brought the best in the quarterbacks. I was impressed with him as a football coach.”

On DE Tony Jerod-Eddie…
“Tony Jerod-Eddie has made just about as much improvement this year as just about anybody on defense. He’s an important element on our defensive line. I think our defensive line has really been the mainstay of our defense. Their consistency from week to week has been phenomenal. Tony Jerod-Eddie is a big part of that. If we were playing an earlier bowl game, he wouldn’t have had the surgery. He would have played with the injury. As it was, our doctors felt like we could get him ready to play. He’s going to play. How many snaps he’s going to play we have to monitor that, but he’s very instrumental in our defense.”

On Aggies in Louisiana…
“We have a fair amount of Aggies in the Cajun State with the oil industry and having a university with a great petroleum engineering program. When I first came on board, I circled our instate area and I put Louisiana in that instate area because I feel like the culture and the people in Louisiana and Texas are very similar. I feel like our school is a good place for kids in Louisiana. They’re family oriented kids with good values. I feel like they’re the type of kids that we want to recruit to Texas A&M.”

On LSU WR Russell Shepard…
“We recruited him and thought we had a shot at him and then LSU was able to get him early. I thought he was one of the best players I’ve seen on tape in my short time as head coach of Texas A&M. He’s an athletic and talented young man and has great length and speed and toughness. He can run after the catch, he can make the big catch. LSU has some big-time tall receivers. They have some big, long kids at receiver and he’s one of them. He’s an extremely talented athlete and I think he has a phenomenal future ahead of him.”

John Stewart of the Cotton Bowl Council and CMC President Chris Durovich welcomed the Aggies to the Center’s Butterfly Atrium, where the team interacted with patients and family members, signed autographs, drew and took pictures. After the initial welcome, the Aggies divided into groups and toured the various hospital floors, visiting children in their rooms who could not make it down to the atrium.

“It is a privilege of ours to be here today,” Sherman said. “This hospital is known throughout the community and the country. The positive attitude of your staff and patients in times of adversity is remarkable. We tip our hats to you and my heart goes out to the families and children. In difficult times, I always turn to family and faith and so it is special for us to be here today.”

Stewart presented Durovich and the hospital with a commemorative 75th AT&T Cotton Bowl Vault book. The AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic in partnership with the Dr Pepper Snapple Group provided gift bags which contained 75th Annual AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic t-shirts and posters for the children. The Dr Pepper Snapple Group also provided snacks for the guests.

The visit was as special to the student-athletes as it was to the patients.

“It means a lot especially when you are in a position to give back to the community and children not as fortunate as us,” Aggie linebacker Von Miller said. “It is always good to give back. We are here because life is bigger than football.”

Those sentiments were shared by quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

“It is wonderful anytime you are able to give back to the community,” Tannehill said. “These are some kids that are going through some tough times. It is really encouraging to us as players. We play a game that we take very seriously, but it really lightens it up when you compare it to the things that these kids are going through. It inspires us for the game and it inspires them for their fight against their illness.”

Wide receiver Jeff Fuller, who spotted some Longhorn fans in the group he committed to convert to TAMU followers added, “Coming here puts things in perspective. You see all these kids here going through a lot of different things and we all have our small problems, but then you come here and you see how strong these kids are and it is definitely motivation.”

Children’s Medical Center is private, not-for-profit, and is one of the largest pediatric healthcare providers in the nation. It is the only academic healthcare facility in North Texas dedicated exclusively to the comprehensive care of children from birth to age 18.

Read the original release from ATTCottonBowl.com

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Cyrus Gray and Jonathan Stewart:

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Ryan Tannehill:

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DALLAS – Head Coach Mike Sherman and members of the Texas A&M Football team met with the media today after practice to talk about the upcoming game against LSU in the 2011 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.

DALLAS – Head Coach Mike Sherman and members of the Texas A&M Football team met with the media today after practice to talk about the upcoming game against LSU in the 2011 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.

About 150 of the Spirit Passes remain and can be purchased for $50 from tickets.12thManFoundation.com or via phone at 888-99-AGGIE.

The 2011 Cotton Bowl will mark the 50th meeting between the two longtime rivals, with the Tigers holding a 26-20-3 advantage in the series. A&M has won the last five meetings with the Tigers. It will be the Aggies’ 12th Cotton Bowl, while the Tigers will be making their fifth appearance in the prestigious bowl game.

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Head Coach Mike Sherman

Opening remarks:
“Myself, the coaches and the players are very excited about having the opportunity to play in the prestigious 75th Cotton Bowl Classic.  We’re really looking forward to our matchup.  We have an extremely well-coached and talented opponent in LSU, but our players have practiced hard in preparation for this game and are looking forward to the ball game.  Everything we heard previous to coming up here about the Cotton Bowl Classic and the first-class attitude they have towards everything that applies to us has been fulfilled and I’m sure it will continue that way.  Our players are just in awe and everything being thrown at them with the hospitality and the things they’re able to do.  As I’ve explained to the players, this is still a business trip for us but part of that business—after we’re done with the meetings, after we’re done with the practices—is for them to relax and get closer to their teammates and enhance our chemistry further than it already is.  There are two components here, the business part and the relaxation part.  The business part has been going very well.  The meetings have been very attentive, the practices have been very crisp, so we’re looking forward to continuing that effort throughout the course of the week.”

On LB Michael Hodges success this season:
“I think the defense plays to his strengths.  He’s an excellent blitzer.  When he blitzes, he cuts to the fat, he takes air out of the defense and is skinny through the hole.  Part of it is that he came off major knee surgery last year and when we did get him out on the field, he was never 100 percent.   Fitting into our scheme, understanding our scheme, as well as being 100 percent healthy, and being in a scheme that highlights what he does, he’s a pressure guy—not that he can’t cover, not that he doesn’t cover, he does—I think one of his strengths is knowing the small windows and how to cut the fat on blitzes and be able to get through there.”

On DL Von Miller’s last game of his college career in Dallas:
“He’s been pretty much himself throughout the course of our practices.  He’s always a little bit loosy goosy and we have to wrap him up a bit at times, but he’s been practicing hard and is very focused on what we have to do, but at the same time, as I tighten the team up, he loosens them up.  It’s a good complement to have.”

On Miller’s performance on the field:
“LSU knows this because they’ve had great players, and still have great players there, those players can not only make plays while they’re there, but teach the younger guys how to play the game.  This year, more than ever, Von has stepped it up and has played as consistent football has he’s played since I’ve been here.   Play after play after play, even with injury, he’s been able to not only make the plays we’ve asked him to make, but to demonstrate to the other guys how it’s done.  Those guys may not have his talent, but his effort to the ball, they can certainly can learn that from him.  He’s been a huge contributor, obviously, when offenses have to worry about where he’s at and how to contain him.  He changes the tempo of the game and disrupts their rhythm.   I told him before the season began, ‘You won’t have the same stats you had a year ago.  You’re not going to get that because people know who you are and they’re going to know where you are and they’re going to make it harder on you.  But you can still play better. ‘  He didn’t really quite understand what I meant, but he has, he’s played better without the stats he had last year.  He’s occupied some people, he’s forced quarterback hurries that don’t count as sacks, and he’s affected the game.  He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do.”

On Building block, G Patrick Lewis:
“Patrick, from East Saint John, Louisiana, has really been a foundation of us trying to build the offensive line.  When I first came to A&M, I earmarked the offensive line.  Any championship team I’ve ever been on always had good offensive and defensive lines.  In addressing those issues, Patrick came in as a freshman, Larry Dougherty was his high school coach, everybody in Louisiana knows Larry.  He came out of a very good program, was fundamentally very sound for a high school kid coming into a major college program, and he started as a freshman.  He’s had his ups and downs his freshman year, but he’s started for us and he’s been the foundation of our group as we’ve molded it together trying to get it to the point where it is now, and hopefully will continue to improve.  He’s been invaluable.  He plays hurt, he’s smart, plays hard.  We’re excited about him, he’s got a bright future.”

Injury update—DL Tony Jerod-Eddie, WR Ryan Swope:
“Tony Jerod-Eddie, coming off the foot surgery, did a little bit out there today.  Change of direction wasn’t what he needs to be game time, but we still have the rest of the week, he’ll continue to practice on it.  Swope as well, came down catching a ball last week in practice and had a foot sprain and he did some things out there today.  In my experiences with Ryan, he’s been good when we have him practicing, but he’s been able to play, so I don’t think he necessarily needs to practice.  We’ll probably get him out there part of tomorrow and the next day.”

Challenge to prepare for LSU offense with uncertainty of  RB Stevan Ridley:
“I don’t think they change their personality because the quarterback in the read option is a major staple for RB Alfred Blue.  They’re good backs.  I’m sure they’re a lot like us, we lost RB Christine Michael and we had a guy to step up.  They have guys to step up.  Taking nothing away from Ridley and his 14 touchdowns, he’s had a phenomenal season, but they’re offensive line is good, they block well for those guys.  I’m sure they’ll have somebody ready to go if that happens.”

Coaching Brett Favre and his not playing final two games of his career:
“Of all things that he’s done in football, I think that is probably what he’s most proud of, that streak.   When you think about it, it’s a phenomenal streak to have.  It will be odd turning on that game today and not seeing him out there.”

Rush defenses in the bowl games this year:
“I haven’t necessarily noticed that a whole lot, I know in some teams that have pretty good run defenses that didn’t step-up.  I’ve noticed that some teams maybe haven’t been as hungry as they have been.  When I watch the bowl games, I write down things that happen in the ball games, like: last second rally play to kill the clock, make sure the field goal team doesn’t run out there, which happened once this past weekend; the penalties that happen on the sidelines; the late hits on quarterback; the illegal formations.  As I go through and watch bowl games and see the mistakes that are made, I make a list and I share it with these guys to make sure.  ‘Hey listen, we can’t do this, we can’t do this.’  The longer your out of the game, the more susceptible you are to making those types of mistakes.  That’s why we had officials at practice today and officials at practice the last week, to make sure we’re playing pretty clean and we’re still making some errors we have to clean up but I think it’s put an emphasis on playing it clean.  From the run defenses perspective, I don’t know if there’s anything to that.  I do know that tackling is always an issue, when you don’t tackle live.  When you get into these practices, you don’t want to get anybody hurt, you want to get better, but you don’t necessarily have live tackling drills in full-speed scrimmages everyday like you do in the spring, possibly.  We have tackled and we’ve worked on tackling circuits throughout the course of these drills, so hopefully we won’t be suspect to that.  LSU is a pretty good run offense, we’re going to have to wrap up.”

Statement game to elevate program:
“We’ve talked about it.  We talk about our opponent a lot, particularly LSU being such a worthy opponent.  We put the tape on and they see the athletes, they see how these guys play and they’re very well-coached.  They know the challenges we have out there.  It’s something we’re excited about.  We’re excited about the opportunity to play the 75th Cotton Bowl Classic against this team who’s really relatively close in proximity to our campus and was one of our top rivals for years outside our conference.  This will be the 50th time we’ll play them.  How often does that happen in a bowl game?  They’re excited about being on a national stage and being able to have this opportunity.”

How was today’s practice?
“It was good.  We’ve practiced about four days per week, and then we’d take a couple days and go four days per week.  We’re in a normal game-week scenario.  This will be equivalent of a Monday practice for us and we had full pads on and scrimmaged against each other like we do at the beginning and the end of practice.  They were very focused, very business-like about what they were doing on the field, everybody was pretty focused on what had to get done today.”

On OL Matt Allen transferring from LSU:
“We were fortunate, Matt is a Texas high school football player that went to LSU and was actually there for the national championship season, if I’m not mistaken.  I believe he had a situation that he wanted to get back closer to home.  He got his release and asked us if we’d be interested.  I looked at his high school tapes, he’s very athletic, a tough kid, and we gave him that shot.  We were in a position where we didn’t have a bigger man lineman.  I was reluctant to take a transfer at that point, but, having come from LSU’s program, having won a national championship, I figured that would only be a plus that he had been in that environment.  We took a shot at him and he’s done a nice job for us.  He stayed healthy throughout the season,   always healthy last year, and has really been a leader on our offensive line.”

On WR Seth Gardner:
“Seth’s done a nice job in practice giving us a good look.  He has great hands and I think he’s going to be a good receiver.  I think this is going to be a great opportunity for us.  He’s actually eligible to play in the game.  He’s been working hard, he’s done a good job.  He catches the ball very well, he’s going to learn a little more about how we run routes and whatnot, but he has a chance to play sometime.  I don’t know if it will be this week, but he has a chance to play.”

Offensive transitions:
“The obvious changes start up front.  Our offensive line has been through transition and then we end up with the two starting tackles as true freshmen.  Our starting tight end is a true freshman.  It doesn’t happen very often in this day and age.  Not only are they starting, but they’re doing a nice job for us.  That’s one transition we had.  We lost RB Christine Michael, RB Cyrus Gray started while Christine was healthy, then Christine got hurt, Cyrus continued in that role.  He’s really stepped it up and been a workhorse and has gotten a lot of snaps, so that transition was a little more seamless.  The quarterback transition was a challenge.  We had our record-setting quarterback in Jerrod Johnson playing for us.  We were into it six games and were 3-3 at the time.  I thought against Oklahoma State, with exception of the turnovers, he played extremely well and threw the ball very well.  Then we came home and played Missouri, there’s a team we didn’t play very well, certainly us losing that game wasn’t a reflection of Jerrod Johnson, it was a reflection of all our players and all our coaches not doing what we needed to do to win that football game.  Plus Missouri played very well.  I felt at that point we needed a change.  We gave QB Ryan Tannehill an opportunity to play in the next game against Kansas and start the subsequent ballgame against Texas Tech and he had a record-setting game that day and we stayed that way.  As far as complementing each other, as quarterbacks g, in this system, you want to stay with your guy.   As he gets reps in the game, I think quarterbacks… there are so many mechanics in the ballgame, so many things he’s in charge of, that it’s hard to get two guys ready.  In our situation with Tannehill and Jerrod Johnson, they’re very similar I don’t feel the need for both of them to play.  So we stayed with Tannehill.  Jerrod Johnson has done a great job at helping him from the sidelines and being very supportive.  I’ve never been more proud of a young man handling adversity as he had to handle when I sat him down at the Texas Tech game and how he responded.  It tells you the type of people you are in that situation.  He’s responded very positively, he’s been very supportive of Ryan the whole way through and I look at him like a coach out there.  I’ll ask him ‘What did you see while he’s out there on the sidelines and he’ll tell me.”

How Swope and WR Jeff Fuller complement each other:
“I don’t know if they complement each other necessarily.  They both have different roles.  Swope is an inside receiver that has different responsibilities more so zone coverages, where you have to find those windows.  Your outside receivers versus man, you take your shots outside a lot of times.  I don’t know that they necessarily complement each other, they both have different roles in the offense.”

ILB Michael Hodges

On Working for New Orleans Saints:
“I spent every summer in New Orleans and I got to do minicamp with the Saints at Millsaps College before their 2008 season.  I was with PR and media.  I wrote a blog every day for the New Orleans Saints website.  Every morning I’d get up and they’d have two guys for me to interview.”

OLB Sean Porter

On the LSU rushing offense:
“They have very athletic backs, big tight ends and a big line.  They’re and SEC power football team.”

RB Cyrus Gray

Facing LSU in Dallas:
“There’s a few of us guys from the Dallas area back home.  This is my third time to play at Cowboys Stadium.  It’s going to be very exciting, we’ve got a great opponent with LSU, they’re preparing well and we’re going to prepare well, also.”

Respect for A&M:
“I think we are [getting the respect A&M deserves].  The way our team has been this year, we’re trying to demand more respect.  I think that will continue as we progress.”

Playing at the Cotton Bowl in front of family:
“It’s a great feeling. I’ve never had the chance to play at a bowl game here at home and now we’ve got fans and all your family here.  It’s going to be a great environment and very exciting.  I know it’s going to go down as one of the best bowls at A&M and I’m just glad to be a part of it.”

QB Ryan Tannehill

Third time to play in Cowboys Stadium a charm?
“I hope so.  We’re excited about our opportunity on Friday.  The stadium is big, the whole atmosphere is very exciting, and it’s amazing every time you come in here.  We’re definitely excited about Friday.”

FS Trent Hunter

Settling into the Cotton Bowl:
“They put us in a great hotel here, the Gaylord Texan.  It’s the biggest hotel I’ve ever seen, it’s like a town inside of a town.  I’m settling in very nice.  There are a lot of good people around, a lot of Aggies in that hotel.”