The year in review: report cards

Team members, coach Sherman reflect on historically tough season for Aggie football team.

By: Brad Cox

Posted: 12/1/08

In his first season on the job, Texas A&M Head Coach Mike Sherman can include the school's worst home loss in history, the school's worst loss to rival Texas in 110 years, a loss to Football Championship Subdivision Arkansas State and the school's worst home record since 1972 to his résumé.

However, the players that ran out on the field each week and practiced for Sherman each day painted a different picture after falling to Texas 49-9 on Thanksgiving Day.

"It's a new coach, new system, nobody is really familiar with it," said freshman safety Trent Hunter, who Sherman recruited away from Kansas State as a late signee. "I'm not really sure how to grade [Sherman], but he's a good coach and he knows what he's talking about and I don't have any doubts in him."

Senior quarterback Stephen McGee did not have the senior season he expected. He was the favorite to run Sherman's pro-style offense before suffering a shoulder injury against New Mexico. He spent much of the 2008 season observing from the sidelines.

McGee, who threw for 207 yards off the bench against Texas, was a vocal supporter of former head coach Dennis Franchione before Franchione was shown the door following his second consecutive victory over the Longhorns in 2007.

"[The program] is in good hands with coach Sherman," McGee said. "I've told you guys that all along and you know how I feel about coach Sherman. He's an incredible man and he's a guy that if I'm a recruit, I want to play for."

McGee said the Aggies would need depth to compete with Texas and Oklahoma for the Big 12 title. He said it doesn't matter how good a coach is, the players have to make plays.

Senior defensive back Alton Dixon made the shift to linebacker for Sherman mid-way through the season. He led the Aggies in tackles with 94, broke up two passes and made two tackles for loss.

"I think this program, this team, this family is headed in the right direction," Dixon said. "Coach does everything from a player standpoint. Every aspect of the game, we cover it. I don't know if that's the NFL background, I don't know if that's just him coaching. Coach Sherman is a great coach. He has a great staff."

Dixon said Sherman would bring good recruiting classes to A&M. He said he has friends at home in Lufkin, Texas, who want to play for Sherman because he uses an offense similar to the one run at Lufkin High School.

Sherman, who finished 4-7 overall and 2-6 in the Big 12 conference, said what happened in his first season would not happen again.

"The future of the program isn't predicated upon the season," Sherman said. "We came here to build a program, not just a football team, and certainly this year was a tough season for us."

Sherman said one thing he was happy about was that there was no lack of accountability or finger-pointing. He said the players and coaches owned up to their own mistakes and doing so would be critical in building a program.

"I think any coach would be disappointed by the fact that you didn't win more football games," Sherman said. "I'm very competitive; you want to have greater success. I do think there are elements of a football program that aren't always recognizable when you're putting the pieces in place."