Max Johnson and Fadel Diggs recap Texas A&M’s loss

Texas A&M (4-3, 2-2 SEC) fell 20-13 in a sloppy loss to No. 2. 19 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) on Saturday, and given the postgame emotion, you would think this team had been transported back to 2022.

Certainly the way this season is trending after back-to-back losses, that possibility can’t be taken out of the realm of possibility. With hopes of a College Football Playoff appearance long gone, the same can now likely be said for the race to the SEC title game. So, where do the Aggies go from here?

If you ask veteran captains Max Johnson and Fadel Diggs, the only path forward is upward, and speaking to the media during Saturday’s post-match, both players insisted a repeat in 2022 would not be on the cards. Why: This team is a far cry from last year.

Johnson, in particular, called for the need to get back to work in order to put the ship back on track. As for Diggs, who played a pivotal role in another inspired effort by A&M’s defense, he indicated there should be no finger-pointing after the loss to the Vols. Football is a team sport, and as such, the Aggies are moving forward from this setback together.

Below are the full post-match press conferences by Max Johnson and Fadel Diggs, plus some highlights from their time on the podium.

Pass protection was lacking, but Max Johnson still took responsibility

Katie McMeekin/News Sentinel – USA Today Network

“I honestly think we moved the ball well, we just have to finish shots. They were in my face, but I gotta make the shots.

Max Johnson knows that if the offense executed a little better, it would be a different ballgame

Brianna Paciurka – USA Today Sports

“We maintained what we were doing in the first half, we just have to do better.”

Max Johnson talks about the extent of accidents at A&M

Saul Young – USA Today Sports

“I know it was pretty windy out there, we just have to get back to training and working.”

Max keeps it honest and straight to the point

Brianna Paciurka – USA Today Sports

“We just have to get back to work and fix the things that weren’t right.”

Fadel Diggs isn’t pointing fingers after A&M’s second straight loss

Brianna Paciurka – USA Today Sports

“We can’t point to one side, it’s a team sport. I’m still confident in our attack, we can’t point fingers.”

Diggs shares some thoughts on the emotions surrounding the locker room

Katie McMeekin/News Sentinel – USA Today Network

“Losing is difficult. Everyone trained hard this week. After the result we achieved, it is difficult.”

Win or lose, you put it in the rearview mirror after 24 hours

Brianna Paciurka – USA Today Sports

“Going into the weekend, it’s disappointing that we lost, but that’s the 24-hour rule.”

Diggs remains confident a 2022 championship repeat won’t happen

Brianna Paciurka – USA Today Sports

“Because this is a new team. It’s not the same team as last year. “We’re going to move on.”

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