What is the story about?
Texas
A&M is in the College Football Playoff for the first time, hosting Miami at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Kyle Field. Following the selection show, A&M Head Coach Mike Elko fielded questions from the media, along with team captains Trey Zuhn and Taurean York.
HC Mike Elko
Key takeaways:
- Playoff Selection: Elko states that the team is excited to see Texas A&M at the #7 seed and views getting into the playoffs as “step one” for the program’s direction (1:49-2:14).
- Opponent Analysis (Miami): While early in their preparation, Elko highlights Miami’s talent, emphasizing their long and athletic defense, strong D-line, and physical offensive line with talented skill players and a quarterback familiar with SEC football (2:36-3:17). He notes that past familiarity from his time at Duke or previous A&M games won’t significantly help due to coordinator and roster changes (3:44-4:15).
- Future Scheduling: Elko believes there needs to be clarity on metrics for playoff selection, and the goal is to create the best opportunity for programs to get into the playoffs (4:32-5:00).
OT Trey Zuhn
Key takeaways:
- Opponent Mentality: Trey Zuhn III states that regardless of the opponent, they will prepare and attack the game with the same intensity (0:03-0:08).
- Confidence in Team: He expresses confidence in his team’s ability to handle Miami’s top players, noting their strong offensive line (0:19-0:24).
- Playoff Excitement: Zuhn III highlights the honor of playing in the playoffs and getting another home game at Kyle Field (0:40-0:45).
- Winning Mentality: He emphasizes that their goal is not just to reach the playoffs but to “win it all” (0:47-0:49, 1:44-1:45). The team’s mindset remains unchanged, focusing on attacking each game (0:56-1:02).
- Motivation from Previous Game: The last game’s loss will be used as fuel for their playoff run (1:10-1:15).
- Return to Kyle Field: Zuhn III expresses excitement about getting one more opportunity to play at Kyle Field (1:23-1:29).
- Historical Significance: He acknowledges the honor of being the first Texas A&M team to reach this point in the playoffs (1:54-2:04).
- Moving Forward: The team is moving on from their previous loss and focusing on Miami (2:11-2:19).
- One Game at a Time: Zuhn III emphasizes focusing on the next game against Miami, not looking too far ahead in the bracket (2:29-2:32, 2:48-2:52).
- Coach Klein’s Departure: He comments on Coach Klein being hired at Kansas State, expressing happiness for him while appreciating his continued presence for the playoff run (3:12-3:18).
- Brotherhood: The moment of the playoff announcement was special for the team, signifying the culmination of their hard work (3:36-3:43).
LB Taurean York
Key takeaways:
- Excitement for the Playoff Game: York expresses the team’s excitement about hosting a playoff game at Kyle Field, aiming to “get this bad taste out of our mouth” after their previous loss (0:32-0:37, 1:49-1:51). He acknowledges the uniqueness of being selected as the 10th seed and the anticipation leading up to the announcement (0:46-0:55).
- Team Mentality: He emphasizes a “one shot mentality” for the playoffs, understanding that a single loss means the end of their season (1:15-1:20). He also highlights the team’s resilience and their immediate return to work after their recent loss (1:55-1:59).
- Miami Matchup: While initially not knowing much about Miami, York states he will focus on learning about them now that they are confirmed opponents (0:21-0:25, 3:01-3:04). He recalls their previous game against Miami in 2023 as a “rough week” for the defense, indicating a desire to perform better this time (1:27-1:33).
- Unleashing Their Best: York believes the team “haven’t played a complete game in all three phases” yet this season and is looking forward to doing so in the playoffs (2:03-2:09). He anticipates the home crowd at Kyle Field will provide a significant boost (2:13-2:19).
- Historical Significance: He recognizes the historical importance of being the first Texas A&M team to be in the college football playoffs, viewing it as a “big challenge” (2:28-2:35). He hopes this team will be remembered as “the best team ever to play A&M football history” (2:38-2:39).
- Focus and Trust: York dismisses external discussions about playoff seeding, stating it gives him a “headache” (1:01-1:08). He trusts the coaches to develop the game plan and practice schedule (2:48-2:56) and is only concerned about his team being in the playoffs, not the number of teams (3:16-3:18).
