November 07, 1998
Texas A&M Postgame Notes
NGUYEN NAMED LOMBARDI FINALIST --- Texas A&M's senior linebacker Dat Nguyen was named one of four finalists for the Rotary Lombardi Trophy, which annually honors the college football lineman of the year. Named with Nguyen were Wisconsin's offensive tackle Aaron Gibson, Ohio State linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer and Georgia offensive tackle Matt Stinchcomb. The 29th annual Rotary Lombardi Award presentation will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1998 in Houston. Nguyen tonight posted nine tackles, including two for losses and recovered his second fumble of the year. For the season, Nguyen has posted 100 tackles. In his career, he has recorded 470.
WEBSTER TAKES ADVANTAGE OF AGGIES' PUNT RETURN TWIST --- A&M's punt return unit had a new twist against the Sooners. The Aggies used two deep men for the first time this season -- sophomore Chris Taylor and junior Jason Webster. And the ploy quickly paid dividends when Webster returned the first punt of the game 55 yards for a touchdown. It was Webster's first punt return of his career and the first punt return for a TD for the Aggies since Dante Hall scored on a 70-yarder against Southwestern Louisiana in 1997. Webster also posted his second interception of the year late in the fourth quarter to end a Sooners' scoring threat.
AGGIES MAKE HABIT OF GETTING ON SCOREBOARD EARLY --- In three games this season the Aggies have led 7-0 before their offense takes the field or after their first offensive play from scrimmage:
*vs. North Texas -- Aggies score on their first offensive play when QB Branndon Stewart connects with WR Chris Cole on a 60-yard touchdown pass.
*vs. Kansas -- Lombardi Trophy finalist Dat Nguyen intercepts KU quarter Zac Wegner on the first offensive play and returns it 18 yards for a score.
*vs. Oklahoma -- Jason Webster scores on 55-yard punt return after OU's initial offensive series.
WRECKING CREW SMOTHERS OPPONENTS --- The Aggies' Wrecking Crew defense has not allowed a touchdown in the last 10 quarters since Texas Tech scored a TD in the second quarter on Oct. 24. A&M has not allowed any points in the last six quarters since a second-quarter field goal by Oklahoma State last week. After an OSU first down in the third quarter last week, the Aggies did not allow another first down until the third quarter of tonight's game. From the start of the OSU game until the third quarter today, A&M's opponents were 0-of-19 on third-down conversions. The Aggis have not allowed a point in the second half since a fourth-quarter Baylor touchdown on Oct. 17. The Sooners finished with 124 total yards, the fewest by an A&M opponent since North Texas gained just 70 total yards in the third game of 1996. The Wrecking Crew also posted the fifth shutout of the R.C. Slocum era, and its first since a 66-0 win against Southwestern Louisiana in the second game of 1997. It was A&M's first shutout in a Big 12 game and its first in any conference game since a 7-0 win against Rice at Kyle Field in 1994. Oklahoma suffered its first-ever shutout in a Big 12 game and its first by any opponent since a 28-0 loss at Northwestern in last year's season opener. A&M's 29-point margin of victory ws its largest since a 51-7 win against OU last year in Norman.
PASSING FANCY --- A&M passed for 234 yards, its third best total of the year, all by senior quarterback Branndon Stewart, who completed 15-of-23 with two touchdowns. Chris Cole finished with 118 yards and two TDs on five catches, the second best game of his career. Cole had six catches for 174 yards and three TDs against North Texas.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY R.C. --- Aggie head coach R.C. Slocum celebrated his 54th birthday with tonight's 29-0 win over Oklahoma, and with his mother in attendance. Slocum's career record improves to 92-26-2, with a 30-2 mark in games played in November. Slocum's teams are 53-5-1 at Kyle Field and have won 12 straight at home since a 13-10 loss to Texas Tech in 1996. Slocum is one of 10 nominees as college football's coach of the year by Football News.
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Texas A&M Postgame Quotes
Texas A&M head coach R.C. Slocum --- "I thought our defense controlled the game from the outset. It was a big boost to get a big play from our special teams early in the game. I thought our offense did some good things and put some points on the board. The players gave me a birthday cake at the pregame meal and I told them I expected my gift to be a win and they came through. I thought it was another great job of players stepping in and getting the job done. "
Receiver Chris Cole --- "It was a fun game. We were glad to get the offense started tonight. We knew we would have to throw to be successful. I'm just happy to be a part of the win. (on second TD catch) I didn't think I was going to score. I slipped a tackle and got in. I'm just happy to help the team. We like to play in the rain. It's kind of a tradition now. It's no problem and it's fine with me."
Running Back Dante Hall --- "The purpose week-in and week-out is to win. This is not as pretty as we'd like but it is another victory. Every game we go into, no matter what offense we face, I have confidence in our defense. Branndon stepped in an I thought he did a good job. We knew we would have to throw the ball and we did okay. The way they play defense is to stop the run. I think coach Slocum was just happy to see another birthday."
Defensive Coordinator Mike Hankwitz--- "We had a good plan and the players executed it well. They immediately acclimated themselves to the weather conditions. If we keep doing this week after week until the end of the year, then I'll brag about it."
Linebacker Dat Nguyen--- "I think in the first half, we played as well as we could. Then in the second half, Oklahoma made some adjustments and moved the ball a little. It gave us a lot of confidence to shut down an offense with some great backs. De'Mond Parker is one of the best backs in the Big 12. I think in playing the game we made some mistakes. (on Lombardi Trophy) The Lombardi award is a great honor. To be a finalist for one of the most prestigious awards for interior linemen is great, but I'm not really into awards. Football is a team sport. Without my teammates, I wouldn't be a finalist."
Quarterback Branndon Stewart --- "I thought everybody played well tonight. We made some mistakes and we were able to get some of the fumbles back. We did some things really well. It was a sloppy game, but we did well."
Tight End Dan Campbell --- (on Wrecking Crew) "What can you say... all we had to do was kick a field goal to win that game. The Wrecking Crew is doing a great job for us. You can't ask any more from a defense. I guess they could have gotten a safety and we could have won 2-0."
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Oklahoma Postgame Quotes
Head Coach John Blake: "You have to give credit to A&M. Their defense was outsanding. The weather was not favorable for us or them but you can't use that as an excuse. Our defense fought hard and they gave us some chances to compete, but we just couldn't get it done on offense. We have two games left and we have to focus now on Baylor. The weather did affect our game plan quite a bit. We wanted to spread it out so they couldn't blitz. (on running up the score) They have their reasons for doing what they did."
Quarterback Jake Sills: "They have a great defense. We couldn't get anything going all night. We stopped ourselves sometimes but you have to give them credit. We just have to take some of the positives and build on them, but it's hard to build on any bright points when you're 3-6. The weather did affect the passing game in the 1st half. I wish we could have started throwing more early on. I'm kind of surprised at how they kept coming at me late in the game. There were four or five guys flying at me until the very end. They were going for two, I guess they kind of wanted to run up the score."
Linebacker Ontei Jones: "[Ja'Mar] Toombs ran the ball well inside. I think we could have beaten them though. We should have beaten them. I guess at the end they were trying to move up in the polls. I would do the same thing if I were them."
Cornerback Corey Ivy: "They came up with some big plays at some key times. The footing was bad out there but there's still no reason for that."