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COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Some of Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis most enduring lessons didnt come on a football field, but rather on a tractor while growing up in Dillon, South Carolina.His parents, Robert Jr. and Becky Jane Chavis, were Cherokee sharecroppers, and Chavis -- one of 10 children in the family -- learned at an early age the importance of earning his keep and doing things the right way. The family squeezed into a small house on the landowners property before Chavis father saved enough money to buy his own home. They mostly grew tobacco, but there were also other crops to be planted out of season.I can still remember my dad saying when wed be planting whatever we were planting at that time that if one little spot was crooked, that he was going to wear my rear end out, Chavis recalled fondly. To him, it wasnt just planting the rows. They had to be straight, or it wasnt good enough.Just as important in the elder Chavis eyes was the premise that the only job that mattered was the one you were doing right then.He was a farmer and not the most educated man, but he taught me a lot, how to fish and how to hunt. The most important thing he taught me, though, was how to work, Chavis said. The best job is the one youve got, and youve got to take the right kind of pride in that job to make it that way.If youre always looking around, then youre not doing what you need to do to do your job right.In a world where coaches chase jobs the way most neighborhood dogs chase the ice cream truck, Chavis is the refreshing exception. He has been the quintessential grinder, coaching at just three schools since he returned to his alma mater, Tennessee, in 1989 as a defensive line coach.Its not like he hasnt had chances to move around, either. He has turned down job interviews for head coaching gigs as well as NFL opportunities in the past. And, had it not been for his distrust of the LSU administration and his suspicion that Les Miles would eventually be forced out, Chavis probably never would have left LSU.Coach Miles is a good man and good coach. He was never the reason I left there, Chavis said.So here he is at Texas A&M, a year and a half into one of his greatest challenges yet -- resurrecting an Aggie defense that was beaten down, beaten up and floundering near the bottom of the SEC in most defensive categories when Chavis arrived prior to the 2015 season.We always felt like we had the talent, but that something was missing, Texas A&M junior safety Armani Watts said. Coach Chavis was that missing piece, the way he came in here and made us believe. We took on his personality on defense, that were going to be the ones to set the tone.Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin had already decided a few things needed to change in Aggieland if they were going to survive in the SECs rugged Western Division. He knew bringing in Chavis, known as Chief to most around the college football world, would go a long way toward making Texas A&M a tougher, more physical football team -- and not just on defense. Plus, Sumlin had grown weary of competing against Chavis, especially seeing the way he shut down Johnny Manziel and the Aggies for two straight seasons in 2012 and 2013. During Manziels Heisman-winning 2012 season, the Tigers picked him off three times and held him to 27 rushing yards in a 24-19 LSU win.Weve always had confidence offensively, the way weve done things, Sumlin said. Our defense was something that needed to not only change schematically, but to get some confidence and some pride. What (Chavis) has brought is an attitude that really started with our defensive players, giving them a reference point, or a standard rather, of what the defense should look like, and what the expectations are defensively, and hes held them to that standard.The No. 6 Aggies face their biggest test of the season Saturday at No. 1 Alabama, which has won three straight in the series (averaging 49.6 points in those three games) since losing in the Aggies debut SEC season in 2012.There are telltale signs Chavis has Texas A&Ms defense on the right track despite the Aggies giving up 684 yards, the most in school history, two weeks ago to Tennessee in a 45-38 double-overtime win. They are tied for second nationally in forced turnovers (17), third in tackles for loss (58), fourth in red zone defense (11 touchdowns in 26 red zone attempts), 13th in sacks (20), 22nd in scoring defense (19.2 points per game) and 28th in third-down defense (.340).With its back to the goal line, Texas A&M has been excellent. The Aggies played 18 snaps of defense inside their own 10 against Arkansas and gave up just 17 points in those 18 plays. Theyve allowed just 13 touchdowns in six games, and five came against Tennessee. But even against the Vols, the Aggies came up with seven turnovers, including Watts interception in the second overtime to seal the win.Even with defenses playing more plays than ever now because of all the teams utilizing tempo on offense, Chavis admittedly is still old school. One of his more legendary qualities is his stubbornness, and hes simply not ready to change his standards.If an offense scores more than 17 points or gains more than 300 yards against one of his defenses, Chavis is still going to be ornery, even in a win.Maybe Im not living in reality, but Im not going to change, Chavis said. Offenses have changed so much and are scoring so much. Its definitely a different feel, but then you look at the film, see things you can correct and feel a little bit better about it. I dont know if what constitutes good defense has changed or not. I just know that youre not going to win a championship unless you can stop people. Name me a team that wasnt good on defense that has won a championship. You cant.Indeed, only once since the start of the BCS era in 1998 has a team won a national championship and finished outside the top 30 nationally in scoring defense. The lone exception was Auburn in 2010. The Tigers finished 53rd that season in scoring defense, allowing an average of 24.1 points per game, but also had a guy named Cam Newton at quarterback.Perhaps the statistic that best puts into perspective what Chavis has meant to Texas A&M is how seldom it has given up 30 or more points on his watch. That was once a given in Aggieland, where winning a shootout was about the only way to win against a quality team. The Aggies yielded 30-plus points in half of their games (13 of 26) in the 2013 and 2014 seasons before Chavis arrived.But in Chavis first 19 games, it has happened only twice, and one doesnt really count because quarterback Kyle Allen threw three pick-sixes last season in a 41-23 loss to Alabama. The only other time came two weeks ago against Tennessee.We havent arrived, but were further along, Chavis said. The numbers may not be as good as last year. Im not sure, but I can tell you our players are more confident in what were doing, and they really, really want to be good. They care about each other, and theyre all buying into what were doing and the philosophy of this team.One of the assurances Chavis got from Sumlin before taking the job was that the Aggies would practice in such a way that would allow the defense to develop and keep an edge. Privately, just about all defensive coordinators curse the spread/tempo offense because of the lack of physicality in practices.?That has really bled over into what we want to do, Sumlin said. Weve changed a little bit philosophically offensively, obviously, to practice into that style and try to create a more physical football team. It started on defense. What weve tried to do across the board is continue that aggressive style and physical style, and I think its permeated throughout the football team.Whether he likes it or not, Chavis $1.6 million annual salary makes him a rock star among defensive coordinators. Of course, that doesnt mean Chavis has to act the part. Hes not big on publicity and has never been one of those coordinators constantly angling for a head coaching job.I guess I always cared more about winning than I did about being a head coach, Chavis said.When he was at Tennessee, he interviewed for the Middle Tennessee State head coaching job and turned down an opportunity to interview for the Army head job. He also briefly took a job on Dom Capers staff with the NFLs Houston Texans but changed his mind the next day. During his time at Tennessee and LSU, he had inquiries from everybody from Georgia to South Carolina to Texas about their open defensive coordinator positions. And when Miles hired Chavis prior to the 2009 season at LSU, the Mad Hatter had to beat Dabo Swinney and Clemson to the punch.When you start talking about the two best defensive coordinators in college football over the last 20 years, there are only two names -- Bud Foster and John Chavis, said Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, who grew up with Chavis and also played football with him at Tennessee. Sometimes guys are hot for a while and then sort of fizzle out, but not Chief. His consistency is remarkable, and its why so many of the top programs have come after him.The scars from being ousted at his alma mater when Phillip?Fulmer and his staff were fired following the 2008 season are still there, but it doesnt define his tenure in Knoxville.It took a little while to get over that. It really did, said Chavis, whose defense that final season at Tennessee was ranked No. 1 in the SEC and No. 3 nationally. But if you dont heal, then youre going to die. The memories I have at Tennessee arent defined by what happened that last season by any stretch of the imagination. We accomplished a lot of things, and a lot of young men who came through that program are young men I still love and care about.But with eight years to look back on it, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was never going to leave Tennessee and had gotten too comfortable there.Chavis, who turned 60 earlier this month, is bearing down on his 40th year in coaching. Hes plenty comfortable in College Station, and any time the subject of how much longer he wants to coach is brought up, Chavis references something one of his favorite players once shared with him.Al Wilson, the heart and soul of the Vols 1998 national championship team, said, Chief, youll never know what you did for me. I never thought I could be that good. You made me believe that I could be that good, Chavis recalled.Wilson went on to become a Pro Bowl linebacker with the Denver Broncos, and his words have stuck with Chavis.Its the best compliment Ive ever had, Chavis said. It was humbling to hear him say that and to know that you had that kind of influence on a young man. As long as I can keep having that same kind of influence on the young men here at Texas A&M, Ill keep doing what Im doing.And rest assured that hell do it his way, the right way, and that all of the rows will be straight. Cheap Jordan From China . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Discount Air Jordan .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. https://www.wholesalejordanshoeschina.com/ . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Air Jordan Sale . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Air Jordan 19 For Sale . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Ryan Hunter-Reay knows what its like to work on IndyCars fringe, a harrowing place that can rob drivers of the instincts that make them want to race in the first place. Rather than focusing on passing the car in front of you, you worry about getting the track around in one piece. You wonder where the next sponsorship deal is going to come from. You fear its all going to evaporate with a wrong turn of the wheel. "I remember, back in 2009, it felt like I was living from race to race," Hunter-Reay said Saturday morning as he prepared to qualify for Sundays stop at Mid-Ohio. So forgive the defending IndyCar champion if hes not too concerned about chasing down points leader Helio Castroneves over the final six races starting Sunday at the tricky 13-turn track in hilly central Ohio. Survive the ever churning waters in the middle of the pack the way Hunter-Reay did early in his career and you learn not to sweat the small stuff. Dont misunderstand. Hunter-Reay plans on doing what he can to eliminate the 69-point deficit he faces heading into the final third of the schedule. He just no longer loses sleep over it. If anything, the title he captured last fall when he slipped past Will Power in the season finale to become the first American to win the IndyCar championship since Sam Hornish Jr. in 2006 has freed up Hunter-Reay to focus on the fun side of his job. Its the part where he can drive the wheels off his No. 1 Andretti Autosport Chevy free from the anxiety of ticking off his boss and losing his ride. "Its time to go for broke," Hunter-Reay said between bites of Raisin Bran. Hours later the 32-year-old went out and backed it up, capturing the pole for Sundays Indy 200 at the 2.258-mile track. Hunter-Reay turned a lap in 1:05.3519, edging Power for the top spot. Scott Dixon, attempting to become the first North American open-wheel driver to win four straight races since 2006, will start third. Marco Andretti qualified fourth, followed by Charlie Kimball and Dario Franchitti. Castroneves will begin in 15th at arguably the toughest place to pass in North America. The three-time Indy 500 winner has ridden nine consecutive top-10 finishes to the top of the standings as he tries to win his first season championship. The cushion he currently holds over Dixon and Hunter-Reay will likely get a little less comfortable Sunday, particularly after Hunter-Reay the kind of edge-of-your seat qualifying lap he might have throttled back on in the past. Call it one of the unexpected bonuses of becoming a champion.dddddddddddd His future at Andretti set, Hunter-Reay is free to go "all in." "Its hard to explain," he said. "It makes you feel like you have more confidence in your team and in yourself and when you do have a bad weekend you dont get all spun out of control about it. Its more, Lets regroup. Lets get back to it. We know we can do it." Now might be the time to start. Track position is pivotal at Mid-Ohio. The narrow lanes leave only one or two spots on the circuit to pass. There hasnt been a winner who started outside the top six in seven years. If Hunter-Reay can stave off Power when the green flag drops, hell have nothing but clean air and his own high expectations in front of him. Theyre expectations that have evolved has hes cemented his spot as one of IndyCars top drivers. Three years ago, coming to Mid-Ohio in third place would have Hunter-Reay fixated on protecting his spot. Now, not so much. "Usually youd be like lets just finish second or third in the championship and thats good for your career, thats good to bank that result," he said. "But after the championship you know second isnt good enough, third isnt good enough. You feel like you dont remember who finished second or third in the championship two years ago so why do it." Hunter-Reay has avoided any real title hangover. He dominated the first while winning at Barber in the second race of the season and added a career-best third at the Indy 500 in May then led 65 laps while taking the checkered flag in Milwaukee on June 15. July, however, was unkind. He qualified second at Pocono but was punted by Takuma Sato at the entrance to the pits and finished 20th. A week later at Toronto, he slipped to 18th on Saturday after his car stalled twice leaving the pits and tagged a tire barrier with six laps to go. Things didnt get much better the next day when he got caught up with Power and came in 19th. Hunter-Reay already has one more DNF this season (four) than he did in 2012. Earlier in his racing life, it would have eaten away at him. Now he need only point to the way his team came together for the stretch run a year ago as proof all is not lost. He brushed off a mechanical issue at Mid-Ohio last summer to surge to victory at Baltimore and grabbed the crown with a third-place finish at Sonoma in the finale. "We finished on a strong note last year," he said. "Its time to do it again." ' ' '