VOLUME 8, NO. 11, Page 1
Monday - November 11, 2002
EDITOR & WRITER - Billy Liucci
Copyright 2002, ASI, Inc., All rights reserved.

AGS FOLLOW REGGIE McNEAL'S LEAD AND TOPPLE TOP-RANKED OKLAHOMA

Down 10-0 in the second quarter, R.C. Slocum's Texas A&M Aggies were on the verge of falling to a previously unthinkable 5-5 and losing their fourth home game of the season. In stepped true freshman Reggie McNeal. Two hours and four touchdown passes later, Reggie's leadership, poise, legs, and powerful right arm led the Aggies to a stunning 30-26 upset over top-ranked Oklahoma. As suddenly as Reggie's 61-yard touchdown strike to Terrence Murphy brought life to what had been a silent Kyle Field crowd, the Aggies were national media darlings. McNeal's long scoring strikes and Terrence Kiel's game-clinching interception were all over ESPN and the Aggies were front page news all over the country. McNeal even made the cover page of the New York Times' Sunday edition.

What a difference one player makes, right? Yes and no. While it's true that McNeal was the difference on Saturday, the entire A&M team finally put together the type of four-quarter effort that had been lacking all season. All season, Aggie coaches, players, and fans alike wondered what this team was capable of if they put together a complete game. On Saturday, despite the fact that seven starters were in street clothes during the second-half, the Aggies managed to excel on offense, defense, and special teams. The result? A&M beat one of the two best football teams in the nation, the first time that A&M has ever knocked off the top-ranked team in America.

McNeal was the catalyst and he had plenty of help. Cody Scates, Joe Weber, Keelan Jackson, Terrence Murphy, and Randall Webb all had career games. The much-maligned A&M offensive line had their way with an Oklahoma defensive front that was considered the nation's best unit.

With Kevin Sumlin calling a beautiful offensive game and the Wrecking Crew defense finding their old swagger and knack for the big play at the perfect time, the inspired A&M squad was too much for Oklahoma to handle. The Sooners came to College Station on a big-time roll, having blasted Texas, Iowa State, and Colorado in consecutive weeks. On Saturday, the Sooners had no answers for McNeal or the Aggies' intensity, execution, and focus. Every single time that the Sooners seemed to gain back momentum, the Ags answered.

For the Aggies, the challenge now is to keep the momentum and regain their focus in time to beat a dangerous and talented Missouri squad. Once again, the Aggies will have to win without several of their top players. If the Ags can get by the Tigers, McNeal will have yet another chance on the national stage, this time in a head-to-head battle with Texas' Golden Boy, Chris Simms.

How important was the win over OU? For starters, any questions about Slocum's job security can finally be put to rest, which should allow the Ags to put the finishing touches on an incredible recruiting class, perhaps the nation's best. Furthermore, the Aggies took a giant leap towards proving that they have the talent and the desire to climb back into the Big 12 hierarchy, which had come into serious question in recent weeks. Thanks to an unforgettable performance from #16 and his entire supporting cast, the future of A&M football suddenly looks as bright as it has in several seasons. Considering the circumstances, the four-point victory was truly one of the biggest wins in the history of the program. Some might say that Saturday's win over the Sooners was just one game. That's true, but those who see the big picture realize that it was much more than just one game.