Tom Reel | 210Sa Contributor Aggies' Interim Head Coach Gary Darnell says that even with all the ups and downs of the season — the most significant being the loss of head coach Dennis Franchione — the team aims to have fun.

Dennis Franchione is out, and Mike Sherman has yet to start, so for one game, Gary Darnell is the head coach at Texas A&M. Darnell, who served as the Aggies' defensive coordinator this season, will be the team's interim head coach when it faces Penn State in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Before he leads A&M into its bowl game, Darnell talked to 210SA and a throng of media about the label of “interim head coach,” beating rival Texas and using the bowl game to audition for other coaching vacancies.
 

With everything the team has been through, do you expect the players to be less-than-focused for the bowl game?

I know this team, and one thing I know this team has been is a blue-collar kind of team. It's always been tough, but going to San Antonio and a great venue, we expect to have a good time.

What's it like having the opportunity to be a head coach again (Darnell previously was head coach at Western Michigan and Tennessee Tech)?

It's a little different in this case because I'm in the same situation I was in at Florida (where he was interim head coach for a spell in the late 1980s). I'll still be directly tied with the defense, and the offense will be handled by (offensive coordinator) Les Koenning ..... Basically what you do is run the defense and manage the game, and that's what you're doing for a one-game gig like this.

What's the buzz like in facing Penn State?

I really believe it started after beating Texas. We knew at that point we had validated ourselves as a good football team. We fought through some things and beat a good football team. We are a good football team, and we've earned the right to play in a good bowl game.

Is it enjoyable in any way to be an interim head coach?

That's the perfect word, and that's exactly what the mantra is with this team for this game. Moving on from Texas to this game, it's about being responsible, tough and fun. Those are the three areas our guys can handle. They are responsible guys, and from a physical development standpoint, they've still got a life out there in front of them. They're tough, in that we're a blue-collar team and have worked ourselves that way. It's the Fran brand. And at this time, there's no reason for them not to have fun. We have focused on that. This isn't a penalty trip. This is a reward. I make sure our guys understand that, and we coach it that way. We don't want to send them out there unprepared, but at the same time, we let them know that they've earned the right to do this. This isn't something you have to do.

Is this in any way an audition for what's next?

No. I've had enough auditions, and I don't need anymore. This is strictly for the players and for the game of football.

CLINT HALE | 210SA