By ROBERT CESSNASTILLWATER, Okla. -- Watching the Texas A&M football team Saturday night was like having a root canal.
You kid yourself that having a dentist poking around inside you mouth for 3 hours isn't going to be that bad. And at times, it's not. But long after the Novocain wears off, it still hurts like the dickens. And you sure don't want to do that again, at least not any time soon.
That's got to be how A&M feels after Saturday night's 56-28 loss to Oklahoma State.
The four-touchdown underdog Aggies were just as bad as the oddsmakers thought. A&M lost three fumbles and two interceptions. Twice, A&M tried to sneak a 12th man onto the field. A&M also gave up a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown, a 57-yard kickoff return and leveled the return man before catching one punt, good for a 15-yard penalty.
OSU had a couple receivers so wide open you looked at the officials to throw a flag, thinking maybe that the Cowboys had slipped a 12th man in.
Aggie fans had to close their eyes and wince on many plays. If the 21st-ranked overrated Oklahoma State Cowboys can do this, what will seventh-ranked Texas Tech do? What about fifth-ranked Texas? Or top-ranked Oklahoma?
Yet if you hung in for the entire game, you saw the Aggies do so many good things.
A&M rolled up a season-high 402 yards, which was a yard more than OSU managed. How much money would you have bet on A&M outgaining the high-powered Cowboys? Surely not next month's rent or mortgage payment.
Jerrod Johnson looked good at quarterback at times, using his legs to make something out of nothing. The popular Jorvorskie Lane got some productive playing time at tailback, and Mike Goodson, the starter, had a couple nice plays. Freshman receivers Ryan Tannehill and Jeff Fuller combined for 12 catches for 116 yards and two scores.
A&M's defense played well in the first half, holding OSU to one score in six possessions.
That's all good, but the bottom line was OSU 56, A&M 28.
"We did move the ball, I thought, and did some good things that are positives that, hopefully, we can build off of," A&M head coach Mike Sherman said. "It's just hard to swallow the score of the football game at this point."
This one looks the same as last year's 42-14 loss at Oklahoma. Or the 45-10 loss to Cal in the Holiday Bowl two years ago, or those lopsided losses to Colorado, Iowa State and Texas Tech in 2005.
A&M fans are tired of moral victories, and Sherman knows that. He refused to dwell much on mounting injuries. Quarterback Stephen McGee didn't play. Linebacker Matt Featherston, the team's leading tackler, and defensive end Paul Freeney, who returned a fumble for a touchdown last week, were lost early in the game to injuries. Offensive guard Lee Grimes, safety Jordan Pugh, Goodson, linebacker Jamie McCoy and linebacker Anthony Lewis also missed some snaps but played through injuries.
"That's part of the game," Sherman said. "We just have to go and get the next guy ready to go."
A&M didn't lose this game because of injuries. It lost because of a lack of execution.
A couple high passes from Johnson that went off the hands of McCoy and Bradley Stephens led to a pair of gift touchdowns for OSU. You can call those interceptions a fluke if you want, but when something happens twice, there's a reason for it. And the Aggies have to find a way to cut down on the turnovers yet keep all those good plays.
And the defense has to find a way to force turnovers. Freshman Terrence Frederick had an interception go right through his hands. A few plays later, OSU scores. A fluke? Nope. Just poor execution.
Frederick and the Aggies have a chance to learn from Saturday night's painful mistakes. If not, it's gonna hurt even more the next time.
Robert Cessna's e-mail address is robert.cessna@theeagle.com.
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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 10/7/2008
Comment Title: Matt
Thanks Matt. If nobody talks about this then nothing will ever be done. In all fairness I persoally give the guy through the february signing but I know deep inside what the outcome will be. Tell like it is, not like it was !!
Posted by: Matt On: 10/7/2008
Comment Title: Truth!
While many people here like to post some things which are simply untrue, some facts are in order. These are facts that need to be understood by those of you who live in the past and refuse to accept reality. I remember last week seeing people on these articles who actually had the audacity to say that McGee was going to play QB at the next level. If you actually believe that, then please read further down. Fact - Texas A&M will have a VERY hard time recruiting in the future. You will always be the 4th or 5th choice of recruits in the area. After Norman, Austin, Lubbock, and Baton Rouge. Fact - Very few recruits actually want to play here. Why in the world would you come to this town if you had a choice to go someplace else? It is far too conservative and stuck back in time. Fact - Complain about Sherman all you want...I agree he was the wrong choice. However, look to your University leadership. They want these boring guys with no fire who will just tow the Aggie line and stay quiet. You asked for it, now deal with it! Fact - A&M is not a top level program. Not in Texas and certainly not in the country. Your last title was 7 decades ago. People are sick of hearing about Bear Bryant, the Wrecking Crew, etc. Times change and they are NOT coming back. I am sure the Aggie cult koolaid drinkers will now come out. Instead of spouting crazy talk, if you choose to argue this point then give some facts with it.
Posted by: On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: Please keep your promise
I have never seen such a delusional hater as Miller58. All he can do is spew thinking that if enough people are as negative as he is A&M will be better off. Just keep your promise not to come around a game. And stay away from representing Aggies while you are at it
Posted by: On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title:
Any coach who has the ability to turn this program around would have done more with less at this point. Those of you who hang your hat on what happened 12-20 years ago need a dose of reality and sherman may be that dose. All the speculation about how we will be better because certain people were affiliated with certain teams long ago is just absurd. You didn't like franchione from day one because he replaced a certain person affiliated with certain teams in the old southwest conference where if you were a stud player in this state you begged tu or A&M to find a spot on their roster for you. Franchione did not produce results but more importantly he kept the "al davis" and "jerry jones" alumni out of the "locker room", out of the "playbook" and pretty much out of his life. We know how all these things went over and what the results were. When, for the first time, you knew franchione's days were numbered think of the names that crossed your mind as a successor. If sherman was one of the top 8 or 10 I question your real concern for this program. He is losing fan support more and more each day. The next thing he will lose is the confidence of the team. When that happens and word gets out, you can kiss this program good-bye for a long, long time. His most fertile recruiting grounds exist now because he can recruit based on promises rather than records.
Posted by: Agjosh On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: Patience required
First, miller58 is a fool. He always rants about (unsubstantiated) recruiting junk. I think he may actually be Fran. He never answers any questions or points about actual football (I think he is Fran!) Sherman will turn things around, but its going to take time. No one could win consistently with our offensive line right now. And yes, penalties and mistakes are partially to blame on coaching, but also mainly to blame on youth and inexperience and a new system. It takes time for a coach to install and instill discipline and Sherman definitely has more to offer there than Fran ever came close to. We have a great staff for coaching and recruiting, but we must be patient. Give Sherman the time you gave Fran and I guarantee more success and less embarrassment all the way around. If Fran and Darnell were still here, we would probably be 1-4 or 0-5.
Posted by: Shiner On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: Miller58, Please name them
Name all 17 who decommitted after Sherman was named coach. I know several decommitted whie Fran was still here. I know our class did not shrink by 17 in November - February. Name them.
Posted by: On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: Re; Relax
Thanks for the input on mc coy and bradford. Both 3*, huh. Now I have one for you: did YOU know jeff fuller, tony jerrod, mcgee, lane, pugh, freeney, anthony lewis, shumard, morrow von miller, heard, goodman,etc were 4* and above. Wow ! I bet if I could name some more we may not have known who you were talking about.
Posted by: miller58 On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: To: " miller is crazy" and "relax"!
My personal opinions: The list of 17 decommits that Sherman couldn't hold/re-recruit has been published, and linked to several times on Ag blogs and nationalpublications by name, ranking, position, height, weight, 40 time, and school deommitted from and to! Similar lists have been posted on all other commit/decommits. And if you aren't aware of their names then you're either clueless about A&M recruiting, or your lying to make excuses for Sherman; which is it? miller58."not buying A&M tickets to any sport until after A&M signs 14 4/5 star difference makers some future Feburary"?
Posted by: On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: TO "MILLER IS CRAZY" & "RELAX"
We have the talent to be more competitive than we are.....that's coaching. Too many penalties...that's coaching and discipline. You can't say ALL of our squad for the next 4 years is a loser. Missed assignments out the ying-yang....that's coaching. You believe 4, 4* commits is a good class then you need to be in wyoming, not the big-12. Twelve men on the field TWICE....that's coaching. Even Cessna is tired of the "moral victories". This great school, with these great facilities, with this great fan base, with this much money, in a recruiting rich state deserves more than the results of a one-man coaching search for a job that pays more than $4000.00 A DAY, EVERY DAY.
Posted by: On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: Miller is crazy
We had three or four decommits after Sherman was hired, not 17, he's so dillusional. He also brought in four recruits, so it was a wash. I saw the post about the linebackers, only one of the three you mentioned ever committed to A&M (Johnson) and he decommitted long before Fran was let go.
Posted by: On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: RELAX!
"Win baby win" went out with Fran. For the next 3-5 years, it's got to be "recruit baby recruit" & all you "win now" guys need to grab a seat for awhile - you're not helping. If you want to vote with your feet, that's fine. I really don't want to sit next to you anyway. By the way, I don't buy Miller58's numbers. Sherman saved most commits from last year & even added a few (i.e., Fuller). This is his first class & it's not bad. We're one or two commits away from a great class. I trust him to recruit to need. I also believe he'll build in a great offensive line - that'll sure cure a few of these problems. I don't believe 20+ decommits since January. Did you guys know McCoy & Bradford were both 3 star recruits?
Posted by: miller58 On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: The significance of the number "20"!
My personal opinions: A&M had 14 difference makers committed last year, and Fran had us in the final cut for 2 more five star and 4 more four star players, Thats "20" difference makers Fran brings to A&M this year, plus a 7 win and a 9 win season in the last two years plus he's a proven winning college head coach and recruiter. With Sherman this year, he brings 17 decommits plus exactly 3 more decommits this year already. Amazingly that also adds up to "20", but with a four star linebacker commit visiting 'bama, Sherman may bet Fran and bring "21" or more decommits to A&M this year! With Fran, we wouldnt have a 2-3 W/L record and be ranked #5 out of the bottom 10,improving to # 109 this past week. A proven college loser at coaching and especially recruiting! miller58. "not buying another A&M ticket to any sport, until after we sign at least 14 difference makers some future February!"
Posted by: On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title:
Tht's an interesting post Local-Yocal. Now I want you to read the same post but each time you come to the name "sherman" I want you to insert the name "franchione" and maybe the lights will come on for a few out there.
Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: RE: local-yocal
Agree 100%. Right now with our faciities, fan base, financial support, and future handed to the current staff we appear to be in some real trouble. I would give them thru signing day but no longer. We can't wait on guys who are "all hat and no cattle".
Posted by: local-yocal On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: re: Brian '85
"Austin east"? Right now that sounds pretty good, don't you think? As far as filling seats, Kyle seats ~84,000 while DKRoyal/UT has over 85,000 season ticket holders in their 98,000 seat stadium. Sherman is the only option at the moment. With Stoops, Mack, Leach, and Gundy having success, who would want to come here and be the #5 or 6 coach in the south alone? If there is such a coach, do you want them? For any mover-n-shaker to take notice, Sherman needs to find a way. Otherwise no quality hire will look. A challenge? Yeah, most coaches like a challenge, but to struggle to even get out of conference play to a decent bowl? Heck if Texas had won 2-3 of their games vs. Oklahoma between 2000-2004, they would've played in more championship games. My point is, without a huge turn around under Sherman, there will be no other choice. The Aggies haven't been a dominant team but once or twice in past 15 years. So there is no recent history the young recruits can hang their hats on. Unfortunately, that leaves the Aggies football team at the mercy of Sherman's success as a coach.
Posted by: Rick-O-Shay On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: CESSNA: Finding joy in this game like pulling teeth
Miller58 may be an old two-percenter, but he's not an old army Ag!!!
Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: Back to the Future
Brian....get a grip. We are concerned about our future because of the past. If we don't get a handle on this NOW and change the current mindset and old school politics then we don't have a future. WE HAVE GOT TO GET THE TALENT TO GET THE TALENT !!! Just a couple of quick FACTS: Last 5 years; A&M 32 4/5 stars (7 from out of state).....tu 61 4/5 stars (only 4 from out of state).....HANG ON NOW....ok 66 4/5 stars (28 FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS) and in that 5 years ok has signed 10 5 stars ..SIX FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. If you think this is OK then fall in behind the old school politicians. If you think we need immediate improvement, which by the way has not shown itself, then fall in behind those of us who REALLY care.
Posted by: Brian C - Class of 85 On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: Nice Response from one of our "old army" ags
a model response you got going there. so an empty kyle field will encourage these 4 and 5* recruits? Not to mention what it will do for the current players. Aggies, don't listen to this, otherwise we have just turned into the austin east
Posted by: miller58 On: 10/5/2008
Comment Title: My Decision is NOT to buy Another Ticket until After A&M signs 14 4*/5*Difference Makers Some Future February!
My personal opinions: There will be plenty of good tickets available after I see results. The Regents and Byrne undrstand an empty Kyle Field! miller58.
