Slocum happy about move to SEC

Published 11:46 pm Monday, September 10, 2012

Although he’s never pleased with a loss, former Texas A&M football coach R.C. Slocum said the Aggies’ debut in the Southeastern Conference on Saturday was a great day for the university and he’s excited for the future.

Slocum, speaking Monday at the Tyler/Smith County Texas A&M Club Golf Tournament at Hollytree Country Club, said overall he was pleased after Texas A&M’s 20-17 loss to then-No. 24 Florida at Kyle Field.

“It’s a monumental change for us in the order of things, and I think it’ll be good,” Slocum said. “I’m very positive. I was supportive of the idea of going to the SEC.”

Slocum, in fact, toyed with the idea of moving to the SEC when he was coaching the Aggies in the early ‘90s. On Saturday, A&M fans showed their support for the move.

“I thought it was an awesome atmosphere at Kyle Field,” Slocum said. “We had a huge crowd; it was an electric crowd.”

Slocum, who led Texas A&M to its only Big 12 title in 1998, said with the strength of Texas high school football it’s only a matter of time before current coach Kevin Sumlin — once an assistant under Slocum — has the Aggies competing for SEC titles.

“I have great respect for him as a person and a football coach,” Slocum said. “I think he’ll do a great job with our program.”

One player Sumlin hopes to rely on moving forward is freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel, whose parents grew up in Tyler. Manziel dazzled in his first half before finishing with 173 yards passing 60 more on the ground in his first college game.

“I thought he showed some great courage,” Slocum said. “He looked like he belonged out there. I thought he showed a whole lot of poise.”

Slocum wasn’t the only one excited about the Aggies’ SEC debut on Monday. Brodie Greene, a 2006 Bullard graduate who starred on the diamond for Texas A&M, said he’s already looking forward to Oct. 20, when LSU comes to town.

Greene recently bought a home in College Station and just finished his season with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, a Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate. Playing shortstop, Greene batted .244 with 46 RBIs, coming on strong late in the year.

“It wasn’t my greatest year — wasn’t as good as last year — but I learned a lot,” Greene said. “I finished strong and that’s all that matters to me. It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. I’m looking forward to next year but I’m excited to enjoy my time off.”

Greene, like all Aggies, are hoping Texas A&M football finishes strong too. The path ahead, however, is difficult. After the LSU game, the Aggies go on the road for three straight SEC road games against Auburn, Mississippi State and Alabama.

“That stretch run there is going to be pretty difficult,” Greene said. “But it’ll be fun.”

NOTES: Other A&M notables at the golf tournament included former quarterback and Jacksonville native Randy McCown and former receiver and Chapel Hill native Terrence Murphy. … Greene said he thinks the Aggies will compete right away in the SEC in baseball, despite the departure of first-round draft picks Tyler Naquin and Michael Wacha. Having averaged 44 wins the past six years and with the renovations to Olsen Field, Greene said Texas A&M fits right in with the rest of the conference, which he called the best baseball league in the country. … Slocum praised high school football in East Texas, but was equally impressed with the quality of men that come from this area, Murphy being one such example. “There’s great football here; great high school coaches,” he said. “Not only good players, but good young men.”