Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) stands on the sideline during the first half of the Aggies’ Maroon & White spring NCAA college football game at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.MANZIEL’S OFFSEASON OF DISCONTENT• Jan. 5: A night after leading Texas A&M to a Cotton Bowl rout of Oklahoma, Manziel posts a photo of himself in a casino with a wad of cash.• March 23: Manziel reportedly shoves a graduate assistant after throwing an interception in spring practice.• June 16: After receiving a parking ticket, Manziel tweets that he can’t wait to leave College Station.• July 13: Manziel leaves the Manning Passing Academy early and has to deny at SEC media days that the departure was due to a hangover.• Aug. 4: Reports surface that the NCAA is investigating Manziel for profiting from signing memorabilia. He winds up sitting out the first half of the season opener.
Alabama coach Nick Saban talks with media during Pro Day at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.No matter how hard Alabama tries Saturday afternoon, the Crimson Tide will not be able to blanket Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel as thoroughly as CBS will.
The network will devote a camera — called the “Johnny Cam” — to cover Manziel’s actions on the field and the sideline. Manziel led Texas A&M to a 29-24 upset triumph at Alabama last season and became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, but the months since have been filled with turbulence.
“Everything that I try to do and everything that we try to do here at Texas A&M is about team,” Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin said Tuesday. “It’s about building our team and building our program and not being an individual. On Saturday afternoon, you’re going to have two football teams on the field, and I don’t understand why there has to be one guy singled out to put a camera on the whole time.
“That’s not what we’re trying to be about, and it’s not what we’re trying to promote. With all the criticism about individualism on a football team, I don’t think this helps enhance the team concept one bit.”