Texas A&M notebook: Sumlin counters Muschamp’s jab

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COLLEGE STATION - New Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin has fired a volley across the Gulf of Mexico at Will Muschamp after the Florida coach, coming off a 7-6 first year, poked fun at Aggieland last week.

"He needs to worry about his own team," Sumlin said Wednesday.

By the time these two rising stars in the coaching business are finished trading barbs, the Sept. 8 showdown between Florida and A&M at Kyle Field might be the most hyped game in history between two programs coming off 7-6 seasons.

Oh, and there's that A&M-playing-its-first-SEC-game factor as well, against the Gators on a historic Saturday along Wellborn Road. A&M officially exits the Big 12 on June 30 and enters the Southeastern Conference on July 1.

Muschamp last week had asked a gathering of Gators fans, "You ever been to College Station? It'll be the only time you go," according to the Lakeland (Fla.) Ledger.

A light jab, for sure, but one Sumlin didn't care for, considering he's proud to call College Station home, in a setting he vehemently defends as a great college town. While most of the offseason chatter has been about the Aggies' SEC entrance - and focused on the ballyhooed Florida game - Sumlin's attention is zeroed in on the week before.

A&M faces Louisiana Tech, last year's Western Athletic Conference champion, in the Bulldogs' backyard of Shreveport, La., on Aug. 30, a Thursday night. Sumlin, who spent the last four years at Houston, becomes the first A&M coach in 40 years (Emory Bellard at Wichita State) to open on the road.

"It's going to be a real challenge against a conference champion in our first game," Sumlin said. "We'll draw from the experience, and it will be good for us."

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin poses for a portrait with the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, in Houston. Sumlin, the former University of Houston head coach, is a finalist for the 2011 college football coach of the year. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle ) less Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin poses for a portrait with the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, in Houston. Sumlin, the former University of Houston head coach, is a finalist for the 2011 ... more Photo: Brett Coomer Photo: Brett Coomer Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Texas A&M notebook: Sumlin counters Muschamp’s jab 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Last season, Louisiana Tech led Sumlin's UH squad 34-7 before the Cougars, who'd finish the season 13-1, rallied to win 35-34 on Sept. 17 in Ruston, La. The Bulldogs, who return most of their team this season, also blew a fourth-quarter lead to TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl to finish their season 8-5.

"Anybody who watched that bowl game knows those guys are for real, and they're not going to be afraid of anybody," Sumlin said.

Meanwhile, Sumlin, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and offensive line coach B.J. Anderson spent the past two days in Green Bay, Wis., surveying the Packers' offense during their first organized team activities. Sumlin said he enjoys drawing from others this time of year - especially from an offense as successful as the Packers' in recent years.

Sumlin won't gather his players on the practice fields again until early August, and fans can count on at least one thing from training camp: Drills will be outside, where it's steamy and hot, just as they were during Sumlin's first spring on the Coolidge practice fields.

"I looked at our schedule, and we don't play any games in domes," said Sumlin, who primarily intends to use the indoor complex for bad weather.

"That's why you need (the indoor building) - you get to August in this part of the country, and it starts raining," he added. "In the SEC, just about everybody is in the same kind of (hot) climate. We need to condition that way and play that way."

brent.zwerneman@chron.com

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