Aggies' Speedy Noil sent home before bowl game

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said he sent junior receiver Speedy Noil home over the holidays to mull his future with the Aggies following Noil’s arrest a week ago on charges of marijuana possession.

The Aggies are in Houston preparing for Wednesday night’s Texas Bowl against Kansas State in NRG Stadium, and Sumlin addressed Noil’s suspension for the first time on Monday night. Noil turned himself in to College Station police a week ago regarding the charges from an incident at his apartment on Dec. 16.

“I told him the focus is not going to be on you, you’re not here at the bowl game,” Sumlin said following a bowl rodeo event at George Ranch Historical Park in Richmond. “That you need to go home and think about what you really want to do in life, and give us some time to think, too.”

Noil was suspended two games last season for undisclosed violations of team rules, and Wednesday’s suspension will mark his second this season, as well. He sat out the season opener against UCLA dating to last year’s team rules violation.

“Just like we’ve talked about (before), it’s one step forward and two steps back,” Sumlin said. “The things he’s done have not been malicious, it’s (just) been on him. He’s made mistakes, and he’s come a long way as a person believe it or not, but he’s still making a ton of mistakes.” 

The Aggies practiced on Monday afternoon in the Texans’ Houston Methodist Training Center, across Kirby Drive from NRG Stadium. The Wildcats practiced at Rice Stadium.

“Being in the bubble was good for us, getting over there (to the stadium) and putting our stuff in the locker room, and walking across the street,” Sumlin said.

Both teams will take part in a luncheon at the Westin Galleria on Tuesday afternoon. The Aggies are 2-0 against the Big 12 since leaving the conference in 2012 for the SEC (wins over Oklahoma and West Virginia in bowl games), but Sumlin wanted no part of that conversation on Monday.

“We’re playing Kansas State,” Sumlin said, emphasizing the opponent is a program, not a conference. “Every game is different, and we’re not talking about conference deals or anything like that. Every time we take the field it’s about us, not necessarily about the opponent, and I haven’t really thought about (leagues).”