WATCH: Sam Mathews Gets Emotional Discussing Being Named 12th Man for Texas A&M Football

Monday during a game week means it’s press conference time for Texas A&M football. The headliner is usually head coach Jimbo Fisher, but often players are made available to speak as well on a rotating basis. This week, Sam Mathews, who was recently given the honor of being the 12th Man for this 2023 Texas A&M football team, got a turn in front of the press. He was asked about telling his family, specifically his mom, and here’s how he reacted:

"Yeah, I wanted to get outside and tell my mom. She’s, uh… She’s been a rock for me. She sacrificed so much for me, you know… My dad was a marine, so, you know, he-he was out on, um, tours and obviously, you know the-the military life, maybe, they wake up early, and they come home late, and my mom did a great job raising four kids, so… Yeah, it was, um… It made everything worth it being able to call her, you know, and hear her talk to me and-and support me during that time."

Mathews, by all accounts, is a really high-character and hard working guy. Jimbo has said previously that no one works harder at practice than he does, and that he has earned this honor. It’s great seeing such hard work pay off for someone who walked on to this Texas A&M football squad. You can view the whole press conference here.

Mathews also mentioned that he had to apply for a waiver, as he found out at the end of last season that he had exhausted his eligibility. Upon hearing that it was approved, he said that he “came to tears in that moment.” You hope that every player on this Texas A&M football squad has the same love for the program that Mathews does. It looks like the number 12 he will wear this year is well-earned.