Sept. 27, 2005

Head Coach Guy Morriss

On Texas A&M:
"I don't think anybody gives us much of a chance to win; but, that doesn't really bother me one way or another. This is a different season. People have been asking me all week about comparisons to last fall. I don't hear our kids talking about last year that much; this is a new season with new faces in the line up. It's just a totally different environment. We're going to College Station instead of playing here at Floyd Casey, and it's an early game. There's no comparison. The kids are concerned with the game Saturday instead of last fall."

On Kyle Field's noise level:
"The thing that we have to do is be focused, and usually it's the guys up front who have trouble hearing things. It's most important for those guys to just put that away. It shouldn't have any bearing on what goes on between the stripes. You have to tune that stuff out. But they are used to it, and we work on it everyday. I think we're to the point where all that pageantry really is not going to bother us."

On last year's win:
"I think we've grown as a football team since last season, and that was our one conference win. That's not good enough. That's unacceptable and they understand that. We can't be satisfied to go out and win one conference game every year. We want to win this one obviously because it's the only one we play this week."

On this year's approach:
"We are not going to change our base schemes up for A&M. I think where we have to be better is to execute our schemes. But we talk about that stuff every time we step on the field. I think we just stay the course the same way we've approached every game to this point. I'm not so worried about A&M as I am worried about us. If we do what we're supposed to do, we are going to be alright. And I don't think you change that."

Offensive Coordinator Brent Pease

On Army:
"From two weeks ago, about Army, I thought we played really well. There were some things that we saw in film, like where we left some points on the field with turnovers and stalled drives. We executed well and didn't have a lot of mistakes, and our kids played hard. Looking back on it, it's probably one of the best games we've executed, but we did leave some points on the field. That's where we feel is our biggest need for improvement."

On Texas A&M:
"We know what we have to prove now, and we have to make sure we don't leave those opportunities on the field as much because we know we are going to be facing better players in the Big 12. The key thing with A&M is that they have a lot of guys back on defense, their front seven; they played against us last year. Experience is the biggest thing. Obviously, their kids are going to be up for the game. They are pretty sound with what they do in assignments, and I don't see them making many mistakes. Their kids up front can dictate the game because they're big and strong. I don't think we can fall into their trap by letting their kids get to us, controlling our run game, or getting to the quarterback. If we don't play fast and we're not relentless, then we won't stand a chance."

Defensive Coordinator Bill Bradley

On Texas A&M:
"They are just a tremendous football team all the way around. They are very disciplined. Once you get involved and start breaking them down, they really become a big play offense. And nobody gives us a chance to go down to College Station and win this football game except the people in this room and downstairs. And I like those odds."

"Reggie McNeal is one of the premiere athletic quarterbacks in the nation. His only deficiency is the fact that he's not a true drop back passer. But he's second in the Big 12 and fourth in the nation in pass efficiency. So we have to stop their whole offensive unit but stop him first. Our number one objective is to make him beat us passing."

"Another interesting point is the turnover advantage. During coach Franchione's tenure at A&M, the Aggies are 11-0 in games when the turnover margin is in their advantage. In games when it's even or minus, they are 2-14. So that's a big emphasis for us and that's one of our strengths. We have to prove it again but it's worth keeping in mind. We need to play relentless football."