Aggie Flashback with legendary A&M cornerback Ray Mickens
Key quotes from Ray Mickens interview:
"I think [going to the SEC] was a great move. Hiring Kevin Sumlin was a move that no one really expected. It was something that we didn't know what we were getting into. He has proved that he is as good as any other coach in college football. I couldn't be more excited that he is our coach."
"Hopefully [Coach Sumlin] will be here for a long time. He's a cool guy."
"Obviously [this current offense] is a new challenge. [Our defense] had a lot of talent... but that would be a good challenge. I would have been all in favor for it."
"Mike Evans is going to be a future star in the NFL. He has a great work ethic. I know he is a player."
"It is tough to find lock-down corners today. We loved to play man-to-man. It was our passion. We took pride it what we did."
"Everyone likes the flash of the offense. Being a top tier defensive back is kind of lost now-a-days. Right now, it is hard to see those pure defenders."
"Texas was one of the first teams to step up and say they wanted me to play CB... and that surprised me... but I declined their offer."
"I came on an official visit to Texas A&M before I was even offered. I had a great time. The spirit and the passion of the wrecking crew defense overwhelmed me and I knew that was the place I wanted to go."
"My heart was racing pretty fast [the night before the 1993 Texas game.] It came down to that goal line play. I knew they were coming at me on 3rd and long... I anticipated the jump and I broke it up. It was the biggest play for me in my college career because it put me on the map."
"No one ever expected me to do anything at Texas A&M. As far as my expectations... I wanted to fit in. High school coaches told me I would get lost in the shuffle... I will never forget that. That was a motivating time for me."
"When I got to A&M, I got to prove those people wrong. Going to the NFL... it was another thing. You always here the nay-sayers, but I had confidence. But did I envision playing 11 years? No. It's one of those things that comes with being a competitor. But if you focus on being the very best you can be, everything else will fall in place."