SEC Network's Cole Cubelic talks A&M spring game, SEC in 2017

Key notes from Cole Cubelic interview

• I cannot get a third microphone that works in my studio. My board is from the 1980s.  I have done Kayce’s show over the phone so I have seen some of the studio.  I was at practice yesterday and you tried to tell me where the studio was and I saw the sign in front.  I thought that was pretty legit. 

• I grew up in old school SEC territory and played at Auburn.  My favorite game I played in was the 1998 Iron Bowl when they were doing construction to Bryant-Denny Stadium and they played in Birmingham. If anybody was wondering if A&M belonged in the SEC, this is proof that A&M does.  If y’all are doing it big like this, there is proof. 

• A&M's SID was telling me about Fargo’s BBQ, Andy Staples told me he showed up at 12:10 and they had already locked the door.  Somebody tweeted me and told me I need to get some tacos here too.  I have never been to College Station. The bosses at SEC Network had me going to Auburn, which would have been cool but my choice was to come here and I have some connections with the coaches as well.  Mazzone was my OC, Terry price was at Auburn with me and Chavis recruited me when he was at Tennessee.  The coolest part here was being able to see the stadium from 40-50 miles out of town.

• The passion of the fans I have seen since I moved in here is great.  A guy I played baseball with growing up in Homewood, his dad was a big A&M fan. We always kind of a followed them and then I became a big fan of the Wrecking Crew defense A&M had.  Of course, Robert Davis, who went to my high school, was the best football player I ever saw and went for 170 against that same defense.  He didn’t pan out, but it was cool to see that. 

• College football practice fields are always right by each other.  At this Missouri practice, we were watching the defense and next thing I know, I get smacked in the face with a football from one of the kickers. Sunglasses fall off, and I don’t know what even happened.  I look at Tom Hart and he is laughing, so I want to fight Tom Hart.  All the kickers didn’t know whether to laugh or not. That was the hardest I had been hit since the last game I played in. 

•  We had the Houston/Memphis game then we had to go to Vanderbilt the next night for Vandy/Tennessee.  The tire pressure light in our car comes on as we are going to Nashville and the air comes completely out.  I had to be on Finebaum in like five minutes after that.  I acted like I didn’t know how t change a tire. Hart called me out on it, but I had to do Finebaum.  Andre Ware did more work changing a tire than anyone else out there.

• Talking to Coach Sumlin yesterday about splitting teams for the spring game, we did it once.  All the big coaches are all stepping back and letting the assistants and GAs call the plays.  I played offensive line, but was told I was playing defensive tackle in this particular spring game.  I hadn’t played a lick of defense since high school.  I played three technique and was really excited about it.  You take a little more pride when you split the teams up. This is a way to motivate to the players a little bit more.  We did Vanderbilt’s spring game last year and they had a long snapping competition.  They tried to long snap the mascots head off a trash can.  They try to make it fun, but I would prefer a kicking competition.

• When you watch quarterbacks perform next to Heisman Trophy winner, your insight seems to skyrocket. Andre was really impressed with Nick Starkel and seeing him yesterday reminded of the Mississippi State spring game last year.  The fans wanted to force Damien Williams to be the starting quarterback, he throws a beautiful ball with a nice spiral.  Then I see Nick Fitzgerald and knew he was the dude. Nick Starkel reminded me of that.  I didn’t expect to see that up close and personal yesterday.  No matter how you spin it, having experience at quarterback is a great thing to have in college football.  A lot of teams have one guy and then a huge drop off.  If one of these young guys takes the starting job, having Hubenak back there is huge.  You are going to need him. 

• You hear that guys can make all the throws, but then you see someone that can really make all the throws, the game totally changes.  The quarterbacks that Mazzone has worked with should make Aggie fans feel spoiled.  He has that mojo with quarterbacks.  The offensive running game last year was really centered around Trevor Knight, he helped the offense avoid so many negative plays.  Avoiding a sack on first down was a life saver for that offense. We don’t have an appreciation for a guy like that.  Whoever that quarterback is for A&M next year, if they can replicate that, it will go a long way. 

• If the run game is not predicated on your quarterback, you go to more five and seven step drops in the passing game.  One, your quarterback may take more hits, and two, this offensive line wasn’t asked to do that a lot last year.  You talk to O-line coaches and coordinators and they will tell you the guys just have to play.
  
  
• I think Jim Turner is fantastic. He brings experience at the collegiate and NFL levels.  Here is the thing, offensive line coaches don’t make first round picks.  Jake Matthews wasn’t coached to be 6-6 with a huge wingspan.  Jim Tuner is hard-nosed and has all the experience you want.  I did my midseason offensive line grades last year and A&M was included near the top of that list.  There is not a lot of stats in offensive line play, but Turner is a guy that I respect a whole lot in this industry.  That Tennessee game gassed this team and you don’t bounce back from that most of the time.  I respect what Turner does and A&M is lucky to have a guy like that. 

• Younger guys don’t know how to mentally bounce back and the only reason is because they never have.  We had a 12:00 game that Tennessee game day.  We got back to the hotel after the game and it was still in the third quarter. Those types of games really do take a toll on your body overall. 

• I am going to say Auburn is Alabama’s biggest challenger this year.  It is some for the reasons that people believe and some that are not. I love what Kevin Steele did with their defense last year, he made it fun and easy.  If Auburn and some other teams don’t score point, they are not going to win games.  It is not a reality in college football anymore to be dominant on defense.  Jarrett Stidham can stretch the field and Braden Smith is the best offensive lineman in the league in my opinion.  There are obvious concerns in the league.  I don’t know if LSU can show me a competent quarterback yet and they lose a ton of good talent from last year.  I think Arden Key is the difference in whether this team contends for a long time, or whether 4-5 weeks into the season they won’t be.

• I'll tell you about Alabama, they have questions across the front seven.  All I hear about is Christian Miller and Da’shawn Hand and how they will be next big things.  Rashaan Evans is the key for that defense.  They need him more at linebacker so I think he will play more there.  The biggest question for me in the SEC West is, who will finish in the three spot.  There are a lot of teams in that spot.  Arkansas fans hate me for saying they aren’t a ground and pound football team anymore.  Austin Allen had the best season for a guy that was taking a beating and surviving.  Put the A&M game on and the 'Bama game on and ask yourself how that kid made it through the season.  Whoever’s offensive line shows up and gives you a B average throughout the season will be that number three team.