Man for the job? Cook, coaches react to Hyman introduction

Jason Cook

* We're at a point right now where we haven't executed a contract. It's a five-year agreement with the potential of a 2-year extension after 24 months. It won't be the same kind of performance clauses. We have some academic components, which is very important to both President Loftin and Mr. Hyman.

* The committee went through an interesting process. We talked about attributes, who we were looking for in terms of the type of person, and once we got interest from some high-level BCS ADs, we had to tweak the process. These guys don't want to meet in front of a big committee ... they have good jobs and don't want to be exposed. But there was a connection between Loftin and Hyman. We think we got a tremendous person for our AD position.

* I don't think there was any one factor about Hyman. The three other primary candidates were also high-level BCS, successful ADs. Hyman was just the combination of them all, the perfect package. Texas roots, understands A&M, has family here, isn't going anywhere. We weren't necessarily looking for SEC experience, but it was a factor. We're transitioning and he knows everyone, hs a longstanding relationship with Mike Slive.

* The firm we used helped keep things under wraps. They have connections and were able to introduce us to folks we hadn't thought of. We got candidates in a number of ways ... through the firm, through advertising the position, etc. We had a number of candidates to look through.

* I had met Hyman in an informal manner at the SEC spring meetings at the end of June, and we had some shared connections within the SEC. I knew of him before that.

* South Carolina has had a lot of success. They were in the SEC championship game in football a year ago. He understands what it takes to be successful in football and in the SEC. He's very methodical in his approach. Across the board, the advances they made in all sports, he was impressive. The resources he provided the South Carolina baseball program opened perhaps the best baseball park in the country. He's a team-builder and he wants to give resources. They have risen from the bottom of the SEC and they're rising as a program.

Gary Blair

* Very impressed with what he's done in the past. His presence, how he walks up, how he talks about family, how he talks about this not being a dream job, just about making every job he's been to into a destination job. Very businesslike. I liked how he gave the good news and bad news. Didn't realize he used to be a JUCO women's basketball coach. His wife said he sits across the bench and he'll help you, but he'll help the refs too.

* Look at his last two hires. Dawn Staley, Frank Martin. Now we have a basketball person who's also an AD, who understands the game. We're in great shape for the Big 12 ... are we in great shape for the SEC? We have to learn 12 new schools. The other schools only have to learn two new schools. We have to learn restaurants, how to fly in, time zones, all in a transition year.

* The best thing this search committee did was finding an SEC person. It's imperative. That's why I was so high on Bill Byrne staying another year and completing his contract, getting us through another year while we found the perfect person. But we might have found the perfect person already. He's got Texas, military, SEC background. Well-spoken, worked well on the baseball program, excellent hires, facilities ... he's going to come in and put his footprint on what we need to do to Kyle Field. I love the plans, but I don't want to see things get stagnant.

* I want to see a move in a hurry. I also want to see Pat Henry have a track, Jo Evans have a new softball stadium, an indoor tennis facility and our basketball facilities to be considered the best. There's still a lot of work to be done.

J.T. Higgins

* Hyman is terrific. Really impressed with everything he had to say. I like that he thinks we need to keep building and not settle for what we've got. Texas likes to say they're the Joneses, but I think the SEC is the Joneses. We want to get ahead of the conference and let them try and catch up to us. If you're going to play, you might as well be as committed as you can be. SC's golf coaches said Hyman was really committed to supporting them.

* He'll be huge for our athletic department in the SEC transition, but in golf we play those guys a lot and it might not affect us much. I know the coaches in that league. We'll show up ready to play. I was surprised nobody asked him anything specifically about football in the press conference, but I think he'll pay major dividends there.

Glynn Cyprien

* I'm super-excited. He's familiar with the SEC and it really helps in the transition period. Extremely excited about the hire.

* He's got a great background, an athletic background, so he understands. To have someone like that in the transition period helps. We're all really excited about it in the basketball office.

* He and I just talked about getting Frank Martin, and for him to do that shows that he's a basketball guy as well. He made a national hire in Frank. We're awfully excited (about Hyman being here).