Posted by: Josh Kendall on November 22, 2012

It's been a heck of a 12-month stretch for Kevin Sumlin.

This time last year, he was coaching an undefeated Houston football team that was on its way to a 14-1 record. Now, he is coaching a 9-2 Texas A&M team that still has BSC bowl aspirations and features the leading Heisman candidate in quarterback Johnny Manziel.

"As a coach, you really don't have a lot of time to enjoy a lot of things until it is over with," Sumlin said during his weekly news conference. "You are always going to the next deal or the next game. I think after the season you do a lot of reflection, but it's been fun."

The Aggies play Missouri on Saturday in the final home game for Texas A&M's seniors. Sumlin credited those seniors with this year's successful transition but admitted it wasn't always a smooth transition.

"In the beginning, there was a lot of tension," Sumlin said. "Now there is a lot of ease in talking to guys about things that have nothing to do with football. That's what makes coaching a lot of fun. From my standpoint, you can't do that without senior leadership. You are only with them so much as a coach. It's in the locker room where people have to be held accountable, and it's by example that you get guys to do things. Like I told them yesterday in the team meeting, we've got one more week, I'm going to ask you do it one more week. I said, 'I know I ask you that every time, but if you can just do it one more week, I promise you I'll let you rest before just a little bit.'"

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Josh Kendall is a staff writer for CoachingSearch.com and has covered the SEC for more than 15 years for papers such as the Athens Banner-Herald, Macon Telegraph, and The State. He’s the father of two boys who he’s hoping don’t inherit his wide receiver frame and offensive guard feet. Follow @EyeOnCoaches on twitter and send your feedback to josh@coachingsearch.com