‘We have to move past this and move forward,’ Ainias Smith and McKinnley Jackson preview Texas A&M’s mindset heading into Week 3
As Texas A&M flips the page toward Week 3, their veteran leaders continue to echo the right mindset ahead of a bounce-back performance. Both Ainias Smith and McKinnley Jackson took to the podium on Monday to share how the team is preparing for UL Monroe.
It’s evident that everyone, from the coaching staff to the players, feels like they let one slip away in their 48-33 loss to Miami in Week 2. However, the season is not lost, and the Aggies enter a critical week in which they can steer the momentum back on track.
In his short time at the podium, Jackson echoed his confidence in the defense coming together to bounce back against the Warhawks on Saturday. Aside from having a chip on their shoulder, the group has more than a few veteran leaders who can help the unit get back to the caliber of play they are capable of.
Smith, who has no shortage of experience fighting through adversity, iterated the same message during his time in front of the media. The veteran wideout went a step further to proclaim that he will personally make sure this team won’t let the type of loss they suffered last week, rear its ugly head once more in the future.
Below are Ainias Smith and McKinnley Jackson’s full press conference videos, as well as highlights from their time speaking with the media.
McKinnley Jackson knows the defense must bounce back
“We feel hurt. We like to fight for each other against another team. That’s a devasting feeling. We have a long season, but why not win them all? As a defense, we have to come together.”
Step one starts with a better showing against UL Monroe
“We have to come together and execute the game plan like we should have last weekend.”
Jackson is confident the Week 2 loss won't rattle this team
“We love each other so much. We love, trust and believe in each other. This is a brotherhood. We didn’t handle adversity well, which we are built for.”
Ainias: A whole new season means a whole new mindset
“I believe each season is a new season. This year is definitely different than any season I’ve been a part of. It’s a mindset.”
Ainias: There's no use in dwelling on the past, time to move forward
“Coach talks about how we’re still a 5-7 team until we change it. My whole thing to the team is let’s not get stuck. We have to move past this and move forward, and that starts today.”
Ainias: Staying disciplined will be a key priority going forward
“We need to treat every rep in practice like a game rep. We need to emphasize the details and make sure we’re all on the same stage as far as communication and all of that.”
Smith's experience and leadership will be key in A&M handling adversity
“It’s all about a mindset… Let’s go back to 2020 when we took that loss to Alabama in the second game of the season. We weren’t expecting to lose. We came in expecting to win. We put in the work and fell short. At the same time, we knew we still had to work.”
Ainias: It starts with having the right mindset
“With this team, in order for us to bounce back, you have to change your mindset. You can’t be stuck, and the only way to do that is to go hard each and every day in practice.”
Ainias: The defense will be in good shape thanks to the leadership on that side
“The guys that are on this team, we definitely have some dogs and guys with the mentality to get better. You can see it already in the locker room. The guys in the locker room don’t want to feel this feeling again.”
Ainias knows the defense will put together a bounce back performance in Week 3
“Those guys are going to come stronger than ever. They always bounce back from tough days in practice. We have some really good leaders on the defensive side.”
Ainias is equipped to make sure this type of loss doesn't happen again
“I’m pretty sure that a lot of guys are taking it as personally as I am, if not everybody, and I’m going to make sure that we don’t let it happen again.”
Ainias continues to praise Conner Weigman's leadership and poise
“He’s a great quarterback and a great leader… He was the most pressured quarterback this week and played pretty well. He cares. He wants to win. He tries to bring everybody along with him.”
Ainias: Cleaning things up this week will only help quiet the noise
“As a football player, all types of emotions can come after a loss… It’s all bottled up right now. The only thing that can take that tenseness out of the locker room is practicing and making sure we go hard to get rid of that negative energy.”
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