Longtime defensive lineman coach Manny Michel grew up a die-hard LSU fan and even spent two seasons coaching the Tigers. But the 60-something-year-old was struck by a strange feeling watching the Tigers play at Texas A&M Oct. 26: The urge to pull for the other team.
That’s because a man that Michel knew, one who poured his heart and soul into LSU football over the past quarter-century, was now the head strength coach for the Aggies, and the Aggies looked good: Tommy Moffitt, a longtime colleague and his college roommate.
Late in the fourth quarter with Texas A&M on its way to a 38-23 victory, Michel — battling mixed emotions as the Aggies’ toughness took over the game — texted his old teammate from Tennessee Tech. “Proud of you my brother! Ass-kicking.”
Michel helped Moffitt get his coaching start in the strength business 36 years ago, when Michel pushed for Moffitt to get the job at Louisiana prep powerhouse John Curtis. Before long, Moffitt was hired at Tennessee and Miami. In 2000, Nick Saban brought Moffitt back to Louisiana to become LSU’s strength coach. Moffitt played a key role in Saban leading LSU to a national title. When Saban left for the NFL, Moffitt stayed in Baton Rouge and helped Les Miles win a national title. He stayed again after a coach change and helped Ed Orgeron win a national title, too.
But when Orgeron was forced out and Brian Kelly was hired, Moffitt was the first staffer informed that he was fired.
Moffitt had been out of college coaching the last two years until Mike Elko hired him at Texas A&M, which had emerged as one of LSU’s biggest rivals over the previous decade.
To Michel, the way the Aggies came back from a 17-7 deficit and dominated LSU that Saturday was a reflection of everything Moffitt instills in teams.
“As the game wore on, and that’s always been Tommy’s deal — to be stronger in the fourth quarter and outlast their ass,” said Michel. “He understands the importance of toughness and being able to go out there and hit people in the mouth.”
Last year, the 64-year-old Moffitt started actively trying to return to the business. He reached out to a few agents; one later told him, “At your age, I don’t see you getting a Power 5 job.”
“When I hung up, I was like, damn. It kind of stunned me for a second,” said Moffitt.
But when Elko accepted the Texas A&M head coach job, he said his most important hire would be getting Moffitt as his strength coach. Elko didn’t know Moffitt but knew of him, having had one of Moffitt’s proteges, Jeremy Jacobs, on his strength staff at Duke.
“When we started talking, it was amazing to me how modern his ideas were, how well educated he was in the current state of sports science and strength and conditioning,” Elko said. “He seemed to be very much in the now and up to date with everything he was doing. It was a great balance. … To me the most important hire you ever make is the strength coach because of the tone he sets in terms of the mindset of your program.”
(When Elko hired Moffitt and the news became official, that same agent was the first person to call to congratulate him, and told him, “I guess I was wrong!”)
The Aggies, who had just one winning season in SEC play in the last five years, are 7-1 and ranked No. 10 in the nation. They’re also the lone undefeated team in conference play. The toughness displayed in whipping LSU was no one-time thing. Texas A&M, which ranked No. 11 in the SEC in yards per carry in 2023, leads the league this season in YPC and leads the SEC in rushing offense by almost 40 yards per game.
Those stats and that second half comeback are a direct reflection of the culture Moffitt and his staff have helped set in College Station, Elko said.
“I think the mindset in and around our program, he’s played a huge role (in it). He has a phenomenal staff. They’ve enhanced all of that. We’re certainly a stronger team than we were last year and we have stayed healthier, start to finish, all the way through this process from February to now,” added Elko.
It’s been invigorating for Moffitt, who described the victory against LSU as “surreal.” Two of his sons graduated from LSU and his youngest son is currently a student. He had coached or hired many of the men standing on the LSU sideline.
“I tried to make it a regular game. I just kept telling myself this one wasn’t any different from Mississippi State or Florida or anywhere else that we played,” said Moffitt. “I think that helped keep my emotions in check. But it was a big game. Everybody knew it was. Everybody was already excited about it without me adding any extra.
“I was proud of how the guys responded to being down. That is something that Coach Elko, and I and the rest of the staff have preached to them. Coach Elko has been talking to our team all season about winning the fourth quarter, and that is one thing that I’ve drilled into them.”
The Aggies now have a chance to make the College Football Playoff after their big win over LSU. They play at South Carolina on Saturday.
“I think we have a great group of kids,” he said. “Coach Elko and the staff did a great job in the portal. They picked high-character, tough kids. Those football coaches have worked their butts off. We started Dec. 28 and we haven’t stopped. … It feels great.”
(Top photo of Tommy Moffitt (right) and Shemar Stewart: Evan Pilat / Texas A&M Athletics)
