Amidst projectile ice cubes and water cups, I sat, maroon clad, in the Texas Tech student section. Violence was threatened and bestiality was encouraged through the mouths of the Red Raiders around me. But on Saturday night in Lubbock, the classlessness of the Tech students didn't even register following a long overdue 52-30 Aggie victory in Lubbock.
I stared at the score in the paper on Sunday morning for a good 10 minutes. Was this the same team as last week at Kansas State? Am I dreaming? And if so, why am I in Lubbock of all places?
Turns out I wasn't dreaming. Turns out Texas A&M walked into Jones Stadium in front of a record crowd and owned the rival Red Raiders. It turns out, after calling for Head Coach Mike Sherman's job in this spot last week, I get to eat a little crow.
I thought the team had quit on Sherman in the 62-14 embarrassment in Manhattan last weekend. Instead, the loss had the team looking to him more than ever. In the past week, Sherman challenged his team's pride. He worked their tails off all week in practice. And he let it be known that results such as last week were unacceptable at Texas A&M.
It looked like it was going to be a long night after Tech, on its first possession, methodically drove 80 yards to take a 7-0 lead. Following an Uzoma Nwachuwku fumble on the Aggies' first offensive play from scrimmage, I'm sure Leach and the more than 57,000 pirates in attendance smelled blood in the water.
However, the Aggie defense muscled up and forced a three and out. And when Jerrod Johnson and company came onto the field for a second time, the game took a complete 180. They drove it 86 yards and rammed it down Tech's throat. The Aggie offensive line established a presence during the drive that resonated throughout the rest of the game.
The anemic running game woke up and 321 rushing yards later, A&M was celebrating in the Tech end zone after Cyrus Gray's fourth touchdown of the night made the score 52-30.
In defeating No. 21 Texas Tech, Sherman earned his first win against a ranked opponent. Heck, he notched his first win over a team with a winning record.
In defeating a Big 12 South team for the first time in seven tries, Sherman and the Aggies restored hope in what was written off as another lost season.
That restored hope, however, hinges on the team playing up to its collective talent level. Yes, it's again time to temper optimism.
Saturday night showed this team is full of talent capable of competing in the Big 12. It may be young. Talent is, nonetheless, present.
It is the coaching staff's job to keep these 18 and 19-year-olds balanced. Sherman must point out to the team that in the Big 12, you can't just go out and play (see 62-14 at Kansas State). He must let it be known that in order to win in the Big 12, you must prepare and play focused football for 60 minutes.
With up to 16 underclassmen playing significant time, this, not X's and O's, will be Coach Sherman's biggest challenge.
Will the team come out this week at home against Iowa State with the same swagger that was so evident in Lubbock? Will they play up to their capability and defeat the teams they are better than (Iowa State, Colorado and Baylor)? Will they, gasp, welcome in Texas to Kyle Field on Thanksgiving with a record of 7-4?
If we are to call this season a success, the answers to those questions will be "yes." Sherman is not, by any means, off the hook. All of these newfound good vibes will be forgotten if the team comes out and lays another egg against an inferior opponent. Simply put, the overall perception and direction of A&M's program rests squarely on Sherman's shoulders and how his team performs in these next five games.
As for me, I couldn't stop smiling as I drove back to College Station on Sunday morning. Was it because I had all my limbs intact? Was the sheer act of leaving Lubbock able to bring about such glee? Partly, yes. But this smile wasn't just one of relief.
It was gratitude from the realization that the 2009 football season has been restored. It was a sense of satisfaction from knowing this program, under Sherman, could be headed in the right direction.
David Harris is a junior economics major.
Be the first to comment on this article!