QBs Starkel, Mond find themselves in ‘tough guy’ battle
Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher offered a clue as to who he’ll start at quarterback: The toughest guy between sophomores Nick Starkel and Kellen Mond.
“I believe this, if the quarterback is not the toughest guy you have on your team, your team is not going to be tough,” Fisher said Monday, during the first of four SEC media days. “That’s the only position in the world where you have to stand there and let 310-pound guys run at you. You don’t get to hit them back.”
Starkel and Mond each endured their fair share of hits last season, with Mond starting eight games and Starkel the other five.
The spring game in April also offered little differential between the two, with Starkel throwing for more than twice as many yards (373 to 180) but with Mond tossing three touchdown passes to Starkel’s two. Starkel also threw the spring game’s lone interception.
Who will start on Aug. 30 in the Aggies’ opener against Northwestern (La.) State? Fisher said it’s anyone’s guess in July.
Oregeron owns up to hiring mistake
Some coaches could take a cue from LSU’s Ed Orgeron, who was big enough to admit to an error in judgment in bringing onboard offensive coordinator Matt Canada a year ago.
“Here’s the deal,” Orgeron said of Canada’s failed one-year stint at LSU. “It’s tough when you make a mistake, but it’s even tougher not to admit you made a mistake, and it’s just not a good fit. And I had to do what I thought was the best for the LSU program, and that’s why I did it.”
Orgeron fired Canada follow- ing last season and promoted
Steve Ensminger from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator.
Ensminger had served as interim offensive coordinator at LSU late in the 2016 season.
“I’m more comfortable with Steve,” said Orgeron, whose job likely hinges on Ensminger’s success. “He’s able to adapt to the things that we want to do as a staff. He’s an excellent gameday caller. He knows our players, and he’s a great recruiter.”
Odds and ends
Texas A&M coach Jimbo
Fisher fielded a question about a fake national championship plaque A&M chancellor John
Sharp humorously awarded him in the offseason before a bunch of program boosters, a plaque with a fill-in date. “People are never going to put more pressure on me than I put on myself in this business,” Fisher said. “There was no problem with that at all. I have a great relationship with (Sharp). I thought it was kind of nice myself. I hope we can fill that in quickly.” … Texas A&M defensive tackle Daylon Mack ,a former five-star prospect, hasn’t lived up to expectations through three prior seasons with the Aggies. Coach Jimbo
Fisher, who’s preached toughness since his arrival in December, offered fans a glimpse of hope that Mack might finish up his college career on a solid note. “Daylon Mack made as much progress this spring as anyone we had,” Fisher said. … Texas A&M redshirt freshman linebacker Santino Marchiol and junior running back Kendall Bussey are no longer part of the team. Marchiol is seeking a transfer and Bussey has retired from football, at least for now. Both were backups, and their exits hurt the Aggies’ depth at both positions.
Brent Zwerneman