By ROBERT CESSNA"We are really banged up. It's obvious we are playing without some of our best players."
A&M head football coach Mike Sherman didn't say that, even though he could have. Instead, those were the words of Oklahoma's Bob Stoops after his team had rolled to a 66-28 victory over the Aggies on Saturday.
The Sooners had the game's first four touchdowns en route to scoring the most points by an opponent at Kyle Field. OU also was the fifth foe to win at Kyle Field this season, another dubious first for the Aggies.
All that was bad enough, but it could have been worse as Stoops indirectly inferred.
OU lost its leading tackler, middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds, to a season-ending injury four games ago. Defensive end Auston English missed Saturday's game and fellow starting defensive end Alan Davis went out with a knee injury, while wide receiver Manuel Johnson was limited to one catch.
Maybe Sherman could laugh at OU's plight to replace starters if he wasn'tagonizing over his own personnel problems. It seems every time A&M finds a player, it needs to develop at least two more elsewhere.
A&M went into Saturday's anticipated shootout without freshman wide receiver Jeff Fuller, who is developing into a big-time playmaker. That allowed OU's defense to blanket Ryan Tannehill and sit on the routes of tight end Jamie McCoy.
It was a long day for A&M's passing game, which was 22 of 51 for 252 yards with two interceptions and four sacks. The Aggies were helpless without what had become a decent air attack.
The offensive line couldn't budge OU's defense, and tailback Mike Goodson hasn't looked good since his 24-carry, 124-yard effort in the season opener.
A&M's defense looked lost against OU's high-powered offense, which averaged 8.8 yards per play Saturday.
Along with the humility of giving up 653 yards, freshman safety Trent Hunter, another of the season's bright spots, injured his right foot.
OU was ahead 7-0 when Hunter went out. Hunter, Fuller and wide receiver Terrence McCoy -- who also was out with an injury -- aren't worth 38 points, but the problem was Oklahoma's reserves were much better than A&M's reserves.
Sherman has to find his best 22 players before he can worry about the next 22. A&M had enough talent for back-to-back victories over Iowa State and Colorado, but neither of those teams would stay close to the Sooners.
"We didn't play Oklahoma the last two weeks," Sherman said. "It's a little bit of difference there. [We] have to be honest with ourselves."
There's a reason Sherman became the third Aggie coach to lose to the Sooners in the last decade. Stoops has built a Top 10 program quicker and better than just about anyone in college football in the last two decades. He was 7-5 in 1999 and hasn't lost more than three games in a season since. He's built a juggernaut.
Stoops has been at his best against the Aggies, going 9-1. His lone loss came in 2002 when A&M beat a top-ranked team for the first time. Stoops has rebounded to beat A&M six straight times. Four times the Aggies have been ranked when losing to Stoops including his first two meetings, which allowed the Sooners' program to pass A&M.
Surprisingly, Stoops isn't loathed by Aggies, probably because he's shown good sportsmanship.
This is the third time Stoops has opted not to add cheap touchdowns against A&M. OU didn't score in the fourth quarter in a 77-0 victory in 2003. He also pulled off the pedal in a 51-6 victory in 1999.
Stoops refused to run up the score Saturday to impress a handful of voters, even though he's trying to get back to the national championship game.
"We played through three quarters and then let it go," he told The Oklahoman. "We had 66 points. You just have to choose sportsmanship over, I guess, BCS points. To me, I still think that's the right way to play."
There's no doubt the Sooners play hard, smart and with confidence because of Stoops.
The Aggies will do the same in time for Sherman, who also is a no-nonsense guy. He sure wasn't pleased with what happened Saturday.
That game was unacceptable, and it wasn't just the lopsided score. A&M had too many penalties. Too many Sooners were running free in space. The Aggies lost one-on-one battles at an alarming rate. The Sooners are good, but the Aggies made them much better. A&M played hard, but didn't look smart doing it.
Saturday's game looked too much like the blowouts that torpedoed Dennis Franchione's regime. The outcome wasn't decided by a handful of plays. OU dominated for three quarters, shattering any confidence the Aggies might have gained in the last three games.
A&M will have to play much better to win at Baylor or even stay close to Texas. Sherman could lament his lack of talent and injuries, but he won't, nor better his players. Sherman is constantly looking ahead, not behind. Saturday would be a good day to forget, but not to duplicate.
*
A&M's rushing defense plummeted to 112th nationally, allowing 214.6 yards per game. The Aggies are ahead of New Mexico State, UNLV, Washington, Fresno State, Southern Methodist, San Diego State and Washington State. A&M's rushing offense dipped to 108th nationally, averaging 102.2 yards per game.
Robert Cessna's e-mail address is robert.cessna@theeagle.com.
Notice about comments:
TheEagle.com is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. TheEagle.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not theeagle.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
(Requires free registration.)
Posted by: Pablo On: 11/15/2008
Comment Title: Time to eat crow...
OK, I predicted a win, because I believe in my Aggs.. but it ain't gonna happen. Fire at will! +pablo ps: Miller58.. he's right. We need more playmakers and FAST! It is just not gonna happen (firing Sherm after 1 year) that's where you don't understand A&M.
Posted by: miller58 On: 11/11/2008
Comment Title: Re: miller58 or muskrat
My personal opinions: As a father of an Ag player, the most important thing for your son today is football; but the most important thing for you as a father today, is you must (must) do today, whatever it takes to daily encourage your son to work to get that degree! It will open many doors to a great future for the 60+ years after football. Doors that will never be opened otherwise; if your son doesn't still work his rear off after the door opens, the door will close fast. I truly regret that your son has to endure the bottom of the Big 12 during his football days now, and would love to see him hold that throphy, but it just ain't realistic, unless we change McKinney, Byrne and Sherman this December. A&M's football future starts when we recruit the same 13-14 four and five star difference makers that tu and ou have averaged every year this decade; nothing else will change this or matters, and anybody telling you anything else is football stupid! There are at least a dozen or more good coaches out there that A&M can hire this Decenber and would sign 13-14 four and five star difference makers in Feb 2010, their first season; Sherman won't even do it in his second season or seventh season. If you don't want the truth, there are Ag blogs that delete, and ban the truth, you can read, and even encourage Ag Spin machine lies; like last fall "hiring coaches with a new emphasis on recruiting": like immediatly deleting our ten coaches resumes I posted showing their five year recruiting history: or my favorite email" We know what you post is 100% true, but we'd rather you didn't post it". I appreciate that your son chose A&M, and hope we get the changes necessary this December for him and future Ags to enjoy winning! I always wish you and your son the best! Thanks, miller58.
Posted by: Florida Mike On: 11/10/2008
Comment Title: Bob Stoops
A class act, a great coach, and one helluva recruiter. I watched him at Flordia under Spurrier as DC. Boy was he impressive. A great hire by OU. Stoopsy will win more Big 12 and National Championships. All we have to look forward too is maybe beating Baylor but having our clock cleaned by UT. What does all this mean for TAMU? We will suffer until we recruit and hire an AD who can do more than talk about vision!
Posted by: On: 11/10/2008
Comment Title: Miller58 or Muskrat, whatever you call yourself
I am not happy, Aggies are not happy, but firing someone after one season? Just look at Kansas State and the lack of respect around the country now. I do not like the hire of Sherm, but give the guy a chance. I have read your junk all year, you have not said one ting positive abou thtis team. Give it a rest, my son goes out every week and plays his guts out for every aggie and for you to not say anything positive at all....is a joke. Yes, they need improvement, but they have never given up and they never will. Give these kids a chance and sherman a chance, to pull the plug in one year is not smart. Maybe the eagle should pull the plug on you, you have not improved any of your posts all year and the garbage you spew is getting old. I cannot believe you will not at least tell the KIDS to contiue to work hard and help us out in the recruiting war. THey are the best assets we have and when other kids read your gardbage, why should they come to A&M? Get over it and move on! There are some positive signs and for you to just downgrade the program every week makes me sick inside. NEGATIVITY BREEDS NEGATIVITY! When my son holds the big 12 champ trophy in 3 years, I will call you out!
Posted by: miller58 On: 11/10/2008
Comment Title: Re: dee 68 - "!3 or 14 four and five stars would be #1 in the country and with 22, Obama would make you pope!"
My personal opinions: Dee68 please, you are like so many Ags from the censored blogs, from the football bench, and the old fuddy duddy admjnistration that just don't understand modern day football? Just this February after his first season out of the nfl, nick saban signed 22 four and five star difference makers, and in this, his second season is 10-0, compeating for the sec and a mnc spot? First year coaches just this year expected to sign 13-14 or more in Feb 09 include rick neuheisal with 6 of 13 and rich rod with 9 of 17 already. As far as #1 classes, many just this year will exceed your 13-14: already usc 16 of 16 today, osu 16-24, tu 12-19, lsu 13 -16, 'bama 9-16, georgia 11-16, nd 10-17, etc! This past Feb in addition to Saban, ND signed 19, mich 17, miami 17, ou 15 usc 15, etc. So wheather you are looking at good first year coaches or good multi year coaches 13-14 is the norm. tu and ou have averaged that every year this whole decade. That's why Shermans 3-4 this year is absolutely terrible, and reason to replace him this December! Lets just sign us a new good coach that successfully compeats with mac and bob with for players the first season, and the Big 12 and the mnc the second season; not keep a complete failure around for even more years of failure! miller58.
Posted by: dee68 On: 11/10/2008
Comment Title:
miller, 13 to 14 four & five star recruits the first year??? You'd have, BY FAR, the #1 recruiting class in the country!! 22 four & five star recruits & obama would appoint you pope. You really don't make much sense so quit embarassing yourself.
Posted by: AgsRule! On: 11/10/2008
Comment Title: You're All Wrong!
I have been the head coach of Aggie Football for the past two seasons, (on Xbox360), and I already have 1 national title, and I did it by running the ball up the middle on every play on offense and blitzing on every down on defense, so if "it's in the game-it's in the game", is true, then it should work in real life right? Or am I living in a fantasy world?
Posted by: On: 11/10/2008
Comment Title:
coach franchione, give it a rest....
Posted by: miller58 On: 11/10/2008
Comment Title: What's your opinion?
My personal opinions: When RC was fired, Wally was let go, too! If we fire Sherman this December, do you think McKinney and Byrne should go, too? After the way A&M has screwed up recently, I would like to see us completely clean house! Then bring in that good head coach that can sign 22 four and five star difference makers the first season, and have us compeating for the Big 12 and the mnc the second season! The only thing that tu and ou do differently from A&M, to win 10 games every year, is average bringing in 13 to 14 four and five star difference makers each year. I do not think at the very least, Mckinney or Byrne should be part of the selection process as I've lost all confidence in them! miller58
CU fans not excited about A&M; Remember that bad CU team in 2000? McFerrin thoughts
