Manziel Mania: A&M won't discuss "starting quarterback"

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel isn't going away. Unfortunately for the Aggies and Manziel, neither is the NCAA.

Grilled for six hours on Sunday by investigators from college sports' governing body, Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, is listed atop the depth chart for Saturday's season opener against visiting Rice.

However, the school has until the noon kickoff time to make a decision on whether he sits or plays.

Reports indicate Manziel is taking all the snaps with the first team this week in practice, although coach Kevin Sumlin dutifully did not go into that issue in Tuesday's press conference.

"We're not discussing that," he said of Manziel. "I thought we went over that right from the beginning."

Sumlin was referring to a mandate issued Monday by A&M athletic director Eric Hyman that says coaches and players could not discuss the "starting quarterback."

An A&M official read Hyman's statement twice during Tuesday's press conference.

Meanwhile, Sumlin said the competition between backup quarterbacks Kenny Hill, a freshman out of Southlake Carroll, and Matt Joeckel, a junior from Arlington, is ongoing and that he has often made game-time decisions before about starters.

"A lot of the things going on internally are different than the perception that's outside," Sumlin said. "I'm very, very pleased with how our players and coaches have handled it, and more than anything else they're looking forward to playing football."

Also, although it is difficult to gauge what it is worth, A&M system chancellor John Sharp says he knows Manziel is innocent.

--Team correspondents for The Sports Xchange contributed material for this story.