Howdy Ags! For this week’s article, I thought that I would write a response based on some of your posts to my blogs over the past few weeks...

First, let me say that I am not getting paid for the stories/blogs that I post each week. I do them as a way to say thanks for the many students and former students that were a big part of my years as the Head Coach and Athletic Director and to bring back some great memories. It’s also a way to give the readers a coach’s perspective on what we, as coaches, think and why some of the decisions are made, and why they are made.  Plus, I get to keep you updated on the 12thMKOT Foundation, which my former players started so that they can give back to A&M students by raising money for scholarships. At times, I personally write the article and, at other times, I will do a phone interview and then it is transcribed into an article.

However, let me say that I am not a cheerleader (yell leader). I will give you my opinion and insight into what a coach does or does not do in different situations. But I will never criticize a player – for players win ... coaches do not. When we lost, it was not the players fault, it was my fault. And when we won, the players won, not me the coach or my assistant coaches.

A coach’s responsibility is to:
1. Get the players mentally prepared. Prepared to execute and to handle any situation that might come up in the game. To know exactly what the opponent is trying to do, and probably will do, in every situation and to be prepared to handle anything that they do.

2. Practice the players physically and put them in the same situations that will come up in the game. Third-and-long, goal line, how to handle the blitz package and any checks that need to be made to have a successful play.

3. Put the players in the right position to make plays. You cannot ask a corner that cannot play man coverage to play man coverage. Make the right adjustments for the players as the game goes a long. Have the right calls and checks made for third-and-long, goal line and short-yardage plays.

4. If you have prepared the players mentally, practiced them physically and put the players in the right position to make plays, then get yourself out of the way and let the players make plays.

I call this the 4 P's:
1. Prepare
2. Practice
3. Position
4. Perform

We know that we are still making mental mistakes, like not having the QB and receivers on the same page, making silly penalties (off sides & illegal procedure) and missing assignments. But I will never forget the quote told to me years ago, "For every sophomore you start, you will lose a game.” That has now changed these days to, “For every freshmen you start, you will lose a game.” The most important thing to have is experience and, of course, talent, but experience is so important, especially on the offensive line.

We have made tremendous strides on defense with our attitude, hustle, determination and belief that we are becoming a really good defensive team.

To win championships at A&M in football, it takes more than x's and o's and players. It took me two-and-a-half years for me to realize that it was not my x's and o's, nor the players. It took a combination of the following:

1. Players
2. Coaches
3. Students
4. Former Students
5. Faculty
6. Administration

It had to be personal, from the head coach all the way down to the grounds keeper. And if it wasn’t, and you didn’t have an understanding of how to use the strengths of the groups that I mentioned, then you were not going to win a single championship.

I was very fortunate as a head coach while at Texas A&M. The students took me in, exposed me to and taught me the traditions of A&M and why A&M is different.

I was the only person that was not a Red Pot or Former Red Pot to be allowed into the Shack. I learned a lot being on the 4th stack wiring for bonfire, going to Duncan Hall, mid-night air out, walking the floors of the corps dorms, elephant walk, silver taps, mid-night yell practice, watching the seniors walking on campus with their senior boots on, standing tall and being taking under the wings by Randy Matson and Porter Garner during all of the Coach’s Night dinners. Yes, I was given a personal tutoring sessions by many on how to use the hidden magical strengths of A&M.

But with all of the personal tutoring, it was not until one of my players, Ray Childress, decided to make it personal to himself and help his teammates to understand how to make it personal. That happened during the 1984 TCU game, and that was when we became a championship team. You have to change the attitude of the players from the inside to make it personal. Ray's actions poured over to the rest of the team that they could, would and did win. And from that point forward, the players never doubted that they were good enough to win.

A few years ago, we had another player, Stephen McGee, that took the team and game over against Texas (back in 2006) and the attitude spread to the rest of the players. Remember, players win ... coaches do not. The players have to make that one play to win the game from the inside. It is our job, as coaches, to make sure we put the players in the position to make that one play to help them win.

I did not like watching us lose the last two games, just like you did not. But I do see great improvement in the defense ... their attitude, hustle, determination and their enthusiasm for playing the game. The offense is making plays, but giving up too many plays, and the special teams is getting better.

I do know this ... it is personal to Mike Sherman that A&M gets back to winning championships. He is holding everyone in the football program personally accountable for how they coach, practice and play. And he is trying to get them to understand that they have to make it personal as well, but it is going to take that one player, like we had in Ray Childress, to do this.