State of the union address for Aggie football
By: Mike Sherman
Posted: 10/1/09
Over the last year The Battalion has been gracious enough to allow me an opportunity to give a "State of the Union" update on your Fightin' Texas Aggie Football Team. Since I have always sensed a very real connection between the Twelfth Man and the football team, I wanted to take full advantage of this occasion this week of the season to better inform you - the Twelfth Man - about your team.
I've got to tell you first and foremost I am proud of how this team has worked. Dating back to last January, this group of men have been challenged to be better. Better people, better students, better football players - and they have responded. Our winter workouts, spring ball and summer training, although not actually done in Junction, Texas, had a Junction-like feel to it. As motivation, I have constantly talked about how they represent the greatest student body and University in the country and that a huge responsibility comes with being an Aggie football player.
As I said, I am proud of how this team has worked, but I am prouder of how they have acted as a team. The chemistry they have demonstrated toward each other in the locker room, on the practice field, in Netum Steed weight room, across campus and on our sidelines during the games has been extraordinary.
Much has been made about the large number of true freshmen we have played within the first three ball games. The real story, however, is that the upperclassmen have embraced these "fish" and have guided them and taught them how to not only fit into our culture as A&M football players, but how to be better players on the field at their respective positions. In some cases, upperclassmen have lost their position to a freshman in the process of tutoring the younger player. This unselfish commitment toward helping us win has impressed me and it's like nothing I've ever seen before.
In trying to teach a greater sense of accountability and chemistry to the team, I took a page out of the Corps of Cadets handbook. I broke the team locker room up into six battalions. If a member of a battalion is late or misses a class, or does something that contradicts our team rules, the entire battalion has to pay the consequences for the one. If the battalion members do things right, they are all rewarded; if they do not, they must face the consequences as a group. This was a little thing that has turned into a big chemistry builder and has created a greater sense of accountability, as well as a connection to our great history with the Corps of Cadets.
Currently, as a football team, we are 3-0. Every week, we must always keep things in perspective. As I told them back in camp, Aggies are a great group of people but because of their passion they can sometimes lose perspective. If we win, they will think we are the best thing going. If we lose they will wonder if we can win a game. That passion and energy that all Aggies share is a good thing, because they care. I wouldn't have it any other way; neither would they.
As a football team, however, they must keep an even keel perspective. Don't get too high when things go your way, don't get down when they don't. We must never lose sight of taking care of the present. No matter what we did yesterday or last week - whether good or bad - it does not weigh in on what they do today or Saturday. What does hold weight is their work ethic, character and talent … and we can never take a backward step in these areas.
We really stress honesty and accountability in the program. We have to assess where we are and what we have to do to get better every day. I tell them all the time I want us better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today. They are working hard to achieve that. Sometimes we succeed at this, sometimes we do not. One thing is for certain, there is always the present to start the process over again. We must continue to improve. Every day is an opportunity we cannot afford to waste.
After every game - win or lose - we watch an "accountability" tape as a team. I take the plays in the game that were not good enough for whatever reason. This is tough for players to watch in front of their peers, but it holds them accountable to each other and I believe it is of great benefit.
I am pleased that the team is 3-0. They have done what I've asked them to do. They cannot be any better record-wise than they are at this point. We are, however, fully aware that the next part of the schedule, starting with Arkansas this Saturday up in Arlington, will be a new challenge for us; a challenge we must rise up and meet. With this game and the following Big 12 Conference games, teams will be bigger, stronger and faster than the ones we have already played. Mistakes we've made and overcome in the first three games may become more difficult to put behind us in the upcoming weeks. Therefore, we must play smarter, tougher and as always together.
This Saturday we play our first road trip of the season. We have been fortunate to have played our first three games in the friendly confines of Kyle Field with the Twelfth Man close by our sides. I'm hopeful we have a great crowd up in Arlington this weekend so we can "lean on" the Twelfth Man if necessary. It should be fun! I have to keep our young players focused on the job at hand and not let them be distracted in the new venue and the surrounding atmosphere.
To help in this area, the Yell Leaders have approached me about having a Yell Practice in Kyle Field on Thursday at 6 p.m. after our practice. I agreed and thought it was a good idea so the players can get a feel on just how much our student body wants us to "Beat the Hell Outta Arkansas!" At the Yell Practice, I will say a few words, as will a couple of the team leaders. Of course, the Aggie Corps and Fightin' Texas Aggie Band will be in full force to add to this special event. This is just another opportunity for our football team to connect with the Twelfth Man and for the Twelfth Man to connect with our football team. It should be a great event and a noteworthy send-off for us to play a great game against the Razorbacks in the 2009 Southwest Classic.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate being the head coach of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Football Team. I do not take the responsibility lightly. I am thankful to have the best student body in the country and the "Spirit of the Twelfth Man" by our sides. That "Spirit" has supported us over the last year through some tough times as well as the early successes we have seen thus far this year.
With that said, I decided last Saturday night after we beat UAB that I wanted to take the Twelfth Man with us to Arlington. I regret I can't take all of you but I will take four of you from the student body to come with us and be a part of our football team this weekend. We will draw the four Aggie students' names from those in attendance at the Yell Practice Thursday evening. Those four students will ride on the bus with the team, go to the walk-thru at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium, go to pre-game meal and meetings, as well as stay in the hotel with the team. During the game all four members of the Twelfth Man will wear Twelfth Man jerseys on the sidelines during the game with their names on them. In the true Spirit of the Twelfth Man and E. King Gill, they will stand on the sidelines in wait of being called into the game if need be. Hopefully, we won't need their services - for their sake and mine.
Bottom line, it should be a fun time and a great experience and hopefully become an addition to Aggie traditions that I will continue as we play this series throughout the next decade and beyond.
I hope you can make it to the Yell Practice on Thursday and to the game on Saturday in Arlington. If you're at the game, we need to hear you, and if there are tough times in the game, this young football team may need to "lean on you" a little. If you can't make it to Arlington, I know you will be with us in true "Aggie Spirit." Thanks for all you do for this football team.
Gig 'em and God Bless,
Mike Sherman
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