Mark Johnson talks Ray Dorr Golf Classic, A&M's series vs. Missouri

Key notes from Mark Johnson interview

• I think the most interesting moment was after their fifth loss in conference.  That was a 17-3 boat race against Vanderbilt.  They came out the next day and won the game and then took the series from LSU the next weekend.  Nobody knew it at the time, but Kentucky is a pretty good ball club.  We have played the right teams to help us get started again.  It is fun to watch this team right now and we are waiting to see how it all flushes out. 

• They have some stuff to work on, for example, the two strike approach and hitting with two strikes.  Not to be critical of the ball club, but the mound is really falling in to place.  This may be the best middle infield we have had since I was here.  The defensive player of the month in my opinion is Joel Davis. At the beginning of the year he was looking shaky, but he has made some really nice plays over there.  The old saying goes, "If you are not hitting, you have to play defense,” which is what he is doing right now.

• Shewmake hasn’t played second base a whole lot.  Now you see the double plays begin to emerge as he has gotten more comfortable.  This team has some tough games ahead, but I don’t think this team will lay down to anybody.  You could have a fluctuation of 4-5 games in the standings, and it is getting close enough down the stretch, that every single pitch matters.  That is where you learn the most about your team.  Each team in the SEC has a hope to play for a long time which makes it fun to watch. 

• Shewmake is the best freshman I have seen at Texas A&M and that is up against some really good players, Cliff Pennington, Chuck Knoblauch and others.  He can run, throw, field, hit, and hit with power.  Day in and day out he has kept it up.  Obviously you see more stuff when conference comes around, but he has done a good job of hanging in there.  He told me had played 13 games at second base before the season.  He just gets it done out there.

• There are three different flights for the Ray Dorr Golf Classic.  It is going to be at Traditions and it is going to be a scramble.  They are going to have a “tee” party on Sunday night.  Coach Sumlin and some of the football players are going to come speak about FCA and what it is about.  If you have a ticket to play, we want you to come Sunday night.  We want to share the platform of FCA.  All of the proceeds are going to scholarships around the community which is great. FCA has been here since 1954 and let’s God get on campus.

•  The credibility and integrity of FCA has continued to be strong all over the world.  It is a chance for players and coaches to see the influence they can have on a community. The influence is incredible.  FCA gives us a platform for God to come in and learn about the life of Jesus Christ.  It is a great program for us to use for the young people around here. 

• Ray Dorr was a great man who was a top dog quarterback coach.  He had Lou Gehrig’s disease and God took him home.  All of the coaches that I have talked to about this have wanted to help out because of Ray and what he was about.  He had a big impact.

• A&M is going to have to swing the bats this weekend because Missouri can really swing it.  This is a team that is similar to us statistically.  They have some pitchers that will challenge us, but they can’t come out and have double digit strikeouts on the weekend.  This will be a mental test for the team.  It will be cold, windy, and probably rainy as well.  You have to have a positive reaction to a negative situation.  Rob and his staff do a tremendous job.  They give positive energy which is something you don’t find at every program.