By ROBERT CESSNAAnyone who follows Big 12 football knows that if Texas A&M beats Baylor on Saturday at Kyle Field, the Aggies will be bowl-eligible. A&M head coach Mike Sherman figures that's especially true for his players.
"I usually don't make a big deal about the obvious," Sherman said. "I usually talk about the not-so-obvious."
Just three weeks ago, a bowl berth seemed imminent for A&M after the Aggies played eight solid quarters to beat Texas Tech and Iowa State. That left them on the verge of postseason, just needing to beat 2-6 Colorado, which was coming off a 36-17 home loss to Missouri.
"We'll worry about [bowl-eligibility] once that happens, or if that happens," Sherman said at the time. "If we take care of business, I think we'll have a chance. I haven't thought that far ahead, actually, what the implications may be."
A&M has yet to take care of business. Colorado rallied for a 35-34 victory and Oklahoma beat A&M 65-10, leaving the Aggies (5-5, 2-4) needing to beat Baylor or Texas to reach the postseason. With Texas on an apparent roll to the national championship game, it seems imperative that the Aggies beat the Bears.
"I've got two more [games]," said offensive tackle Michael Shumard, one of seven seniors in A&M's starting lineup. "I'm not guaranteed anything after that. I was thinking about it today when I was trying to find an extra ticket for my family that are coming down for the Texas game. I could get hurt after this game and may play only one more game in my life. I may play only two more. I don't want to go out as being a loser."
Shumard said it's not the time for A&M to fret over what happened in Norman, Okla., nor the 48-point loss at Kansas State. It's time to step up and get the job done.
"A loss is a loss is a loss," Shumard said. "We're going to have to move on and to win, so I can have three more games left as an A&M football player."
An implication that wasn't in the equation three weeks ago is how Baylor can put a huge dent in A&M's progress in Year 2 of the Sherman era. The Bears are looking for a second straight victory over the Aggies and their first win at Kyle Field since 1984. The Bears (4-6, 1-5) also can become bowl-eligible by winning out.
"You play for a variety of reasons," Baylor head coach Art Briles said. "You play for the passion and love of the game, for the pride of putting yourself against another individual and another university. You play for your teammates and for your university and, hopefully, for yourself."
Baylor senior linebacker Joe Pawelek understands that and is familiar with the A&M-Baylor rivalry, which will have its 106th meeting in the Battle of the Brazos.
"Growing up, my dad graduated from A&M, so I was always pulling for the Aggies, but as you grow and the whole recruiting process comes along, that definitely changes some hearts within myself and my family as well," said Pawelek who is from Smithson Valley. "My fiancée is there right now and two or three of my cousins graduated from there, so it's definitely interesting from a family perspective."
The game also will feature brothers playing against each other. Baylor's punter is junior Derek Epperson. Freshman Ryan Epperson punts for the Aggies.
Both teams are hopeful their Epperson won't see the field much.
Ryan Epperson has yet to punt at Kyle Field. He was supposed to make his debut against Iowa State, but A&M never had to punt. He made up for it last week as A&M had a season-high nine punts against Oklahoma, which held A&M to a season-low 226 yards.
A&M junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson had a season-low 115 yards passing on 12-of-33 with an interception. Johnson still has great numbers. He's thrown for 2,722 yards with 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. He's rushed for 275 yards and seven scores. He's sixth in the nation in total offense (299.7 yards per game) and 10th in passing (272.2).
Johnson showed promise last year when he replaced an injured Stephen McGee, but he struggled mightily in season-ending losses to Oklahoma, Baylor and Texas. He was 34-of-72 passing combined in those games for 468 yards with three touchdowns, six interceptions and eight sacks.
"He had a horrendous game up in Waco a year ago," Sherman said. "Then he didn't play a lot in the Texas game."
Against Baylor, Johnson fumbled early, which led to a field goal and a 6-0 deficit. He suffered an interception on the next series that helped Baylor to a 13-0 lead. Pawelek's first of two interceptions of Johnson helped make it 41-7 lead.
"I remember they schemed us pretty well," Johnson said. "They always tried to disguise what they were doing by moving around right before the ball snapped."
Sherman said Johnson is vastly improved from last season, especially in his decision-making. Johnson will face a veteran defense with six seniors.
A&M will try to turn things around this year by forcing Baylor true freshman quarterback Nick Florence into costly mistakes. Florence, who replaced an injured Robert Griffin, has more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (six) this season.
"I've looked at a couple of the games and he looks pretty good to me," Sherman said. "He's really grown into that position. It's a credit to Baylor, to lose a great player like Robert and put someone in there, and he's doing a nice job. He's done a real good job."
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