September 12, 1998
WINNING WITH NGUYEN --- Butkus Award candidate Dat Nguyen (pronounced WIN) continued his pursuit of the Aggie career tackles record with eight stops against Louisiana Tech. His eight stops against Tech gave him 391 for his career.
SLOWING DOWN RECORD-SETTING EDWARDS --- The Wrecking Crew held the La. Tech's record-setting Troy Edwards to "only" 11 catches for 67 yards. The 1997 Biletnikoff Award finalist came into the game averaging 17 catches and 305.5 yards per game. Edwards did show his play-making ability by rushing for Tech's only TD after lining up at QB.
SLOCUM STAYS UNBEATEN IN KYLE FIELD OPENERS --- Tenth-year head coach R.C. Slocum remained undefeated in home openers with a 28-7 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday. In addition to the win over Tech, Slocum's teams have posted season-opening home wins over Louisiana State (four times), Southwestern Louisiana, Tulsa, Oklahoma, North Texas and Sam Houston State.
AGGIES UNDEFEATED IN NON-CONFERENCE GAMES AT KYLE FIELD SINCE "HURRICANE BOWL" --- The Aggies haven't lost a non-conference home game since the "Hurricane Bowl" loss in 1988, in which Alabama handed A&M a 30-10 loss in Jackie Sherrill's final game as A&M head coach. The "Hurricane Bowl" was so named because Hurricane Gilbert forced the game to be postponed from its original date in September to the end of the season. Speaking of hurricanes, Kyle Field soaked up over six inches of rain in the days prior to the Louisiana Tech contest.
"TOUCHDOWN TIKI" KEEPS HITTING PAYDIRT --- A&M senior fullback D'Andre "Tiki" Hardeman scored a trio of touchdowns against Louisiana Tech, giving him 30 career rushing TDs, which ranks in a tie for No. 7 in the Aggie record book (with Bucky Richardson). It was Hardeman's third three TD game of his career --- the others were Louisiana Tech and Oklahoma State in 1996.
BRIDGES REPRESENTS 12TH MAN --- Drew Bridges, a junior from Odessa Permian High School, represented the Aggie student body on the 12th Man Kickoff team.
BYNUM BOOTS FIRST CAREER FIELD GOAL --- Russell Bynum, a sophomore from La Marque High School, booted the first field goal of his Aggie career as the first quarter expired against Louisiana Tech. Bynum is trying to fill the substantial shoes of Kyle Bryant, who finished his career last season as the most accurate field goal kicker in school history. Bynum added another field goal in the second quarter and was perfect on two extra points.
AGGIES EMPLOY "DIME" DEFENSE AGAINST LA TECH --- The Wrecking Crew countered the prolific Louisiana Tech passing attack with a "dime" defensive package that featured one defensive lineman, four linebackers and six defensive backs. The scheme held Tech to 239 yards on 30-of-49 passing. Tech's lowest passing output of 1997 was 269 against Northeast Louisiana. Tech's total offense against the Wrecking Crew was 323. Tech's lowest total offense output of 1997 was 341 yards against NLU. The game also was the lowest passing total of QB Tim Rattay's career and the first time he didn't throw a touchdown. Tech's seven points were their fewest in a game since a 29-6 loss to Vanderbilt in 1995.
LECHLER'S LEG --- Junior All-America punter Shane Lechler showed off his leg with a 69-yarder that was downed on the Tech 1-yard line by Jason Webster and Toya Jones. Lechler finished day with a 50.3 average on four punts. It was the sixth career 50-plus punting day for Lechler. Lechler also attempted the first field goal of his A&M career, missing wide and short with a 51-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.
COADY GRABS A PAIR OF PICKS --- Senior safety Rich Coady grabbed a pair of interceptions against Louisiana Tech, matching his career-best two INT performance against North Texas in 1996. The last A&M player to post two pickoffs in a single game was Dat Nguyen against Louisiana Tech in 1996. Coady, a former walk-on, now has seven career interceptions.
AGGIES IMPROVE SCORING STREAK TO 122 GAMES --- Texas A&M improved his school record scoring streak to 122 games, dating back to 1988. A&M has also scored in 138 consecutive games at Kyle Field, dating back to 1971.
LOUISIANA TECH POSTGAME NOTES
QB Tim Rattay's 1st-quarter completion to James Jordan for seven yards put him over 5,000 career passing yards. He is the 5th QB to reach the milestone and the quickest, doing so in his 14th game.
WR Troy Edwards' 16-yard reception late in the 2nd quarter moved him over 3,000 yards in his career. He is only the second receiver to do so.
Tech was shutout in the first half for the first time since the game at Vanderbilt in 1995.
Both Edwards and Rattay snapped eight-game streaks in receiving and passing. Edwards had eight straight 100-yard receiving games and Rattay had eight straight 300-yard passing games.
This is the first game in Rattay's career at Tech in which he has not thrown a touchdown. This was his 14th game.
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME QUOTES
Branndon Stewart (Texas A&M Quarterback): "It was nasty conditions, but we got done what we needed to get done. We had missed oppurtunities and turnovers, but we played to win and that is what we did. We stuck to our game plan. If it wasn't so nasty, we might of been able to make more throws. But we probably had a good day throwing anyway.
Rich Coady (Texas A&M Defensive Back): "I am happy with how we played defensively tonight. We shut down one of the most potent offenses in the nation to seven points. It's a win and I will take it."
On his Interceptions: "You are supposed to do that. It was good calls by our coaches, and I was in the right place at the right time."
Head Coach R.C. Slocum: "I am pleased to get a win here at home. We have had rain for several days and I thought conditions affected play tonight. I was pleased with our defensive effort in controlling a very good offensive team. I thought we had some oppurtunities we didn't take advantage of, but overall I was pleased with the effort."
LOUISIANA TECH POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Gary Crowton : "We had bad field position the entire first half. The punt to the one really hurt us. We had way to many turnovers in the first half as well. We approached the game a little more conservatively than usual because of the field conditions, but both teams have to play in the same conditions.
On Troy Edwards: A&M doubled him all night unlike Nebraska. He still played a great game. He pulled his quad in the second half, but did not want to come out. He is a tough kid and a great player.
On A&M Defense: They ran a great scheme and had great speed at every position. They are good at causing turnovers, and they hit you in the mouth everytime.
On Coady's two interceptions: It was the same offensive play on both interceptions. I probably should not have called it on third and one. If we score there, we onside kick and maybe get back in the game.