Eric SorensonAs ‘The Rolling Stones’ so eloquently chimed…
“You’re not the only one, with mixed emotions.”
Publicly new Arizona State Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/OLB’s Shawn Slocum is saying all the right things about his Sun Devil coaching debut next month against Texas A&M. In many ways it would be difficult for even Hollywood to pen a better script.
Slocum, after nearly a decade on staff with the Green Bay Packers, returns to the college game against his alma mater who both played and coached for.
Did we mention his dad, College Football Hall-of-Famer R.C. Slocum, happens to be the greatest coach in Texas A&M Aggie history?
“Coach Slocum gunna be turnt up,” special teams captain DeAndre Scott told Sports360AZ.com flashing a wide grin after a recent practice about game one. “Coach Slocum’s not going to be playing [any] games.”
The 50-year Slocum, who graduated with a construction management degree from A&M in 1987, played politician when broached on the September 5th showdown.
“Couldn’t be a greater environment,” he coolly told Sports360AZ.com. “I’m really looking forward to it. They’ve got a great program.”
ASU head coach Todd Graham offered far more than “coach-speak” on the impact Slocum has already made in an area the Devils desperately need to show improvement in this fall.
“He was actually the person that in [past off-seasons], we’d pay to come in,” Graham said with a smile. “To be able to hire him…we’re very fortunate to have him.”
Slocum’s coaching resume sparkles. He most recently helped lead the Packers to five division championships and a Super Bowl title in 2010. Besides a stint at his alma mater, the married father of four had stops at USC, Ole Miss and the University of Pittsburgh in his 25 years on the sideline.
His no excuses, no non-sense approach on the field mirrors the beliefs of Graham and his entire staff in Tempe. Off the field, Slocum’s persona changes quite a bit.
“He’s really quiet,” Scott said. “You can talk to him about anything.”
Except apparently facing his alma mater.
I guess some things are better kept in the family.
