December 05, 1998
Texas A&M Postgame Notes
AGGIES FIRST-EVER WIN OVER NO. 1 TEAM: Today's Aggie 36-33 win over top-ranked Kansas State marked the first time A&M earned a victory over the nation's No. 1 team. A&M's previous highest ranked victim was No. 2 Nebraska earlier this season. The Aggies were 0-8 against No. 1 teams coming into the Big 12 Championship. R.C. Slocum's Aggies are 4-1 vs. ranked opponents this season with wins over the then-No. 1 (KSU) and No. 2 (Nebraska) teams. The only loss was a 23-14 decision to then-No. 2 Florida State.
BIGGEST COMEBACK IN SCHOOL HISTORY: The Aggies rallied from 15 points down (27-12) to tie the game and eventually win, which matches the biggest comeback in school history. It equals the 15-point comeback against Oklahoma State in 1997 (28-25 Aggie win in overtime).
FIRST CONFERENCE CROWN SINCE 1993: A&M's win over Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship game gave the Aggies their first conference crown since 1993 when they won the Southwest Conference Championship. It is the fourth overall conference title for Slocum in 10 seasons at Texas A&M.
BACKUP QB STEWART HAS A&M'S NO. 3 PASSING DAY : Senior quarterback Branndon Stewart, forced into action because of Randy McCown's broken collarbone, responded with 324 yards and three TDs on 15-of-31 passing. The 324 yards rank as the third-best single game total in school history. Stewart now has the No. 1 and No. 3 single game passing totals (No. 1 is 385 vs. Colorado in 1996).
NGUYEN'S 17 TACKLES SETS BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: Senior linebacker Dat Nguyen shattered a Big 12 Championship game record with 17 tackles today against Kansas State (old record of 14 by Dusty Renfro of Texas in 1996).
*** Today's game marked the 29th double-digit tackle game of Nguyen's career, including his ninth against top 25-ranked opponents.
*** For the season, Nguyen posted 147 tackles, which leads the team and the Big 12, and are also a career-high for him. Nguyen is the first Aggie to lead his team in tackles for four straight seasons. Nguyen led the Big 12 by 27 tackles over No. 2 tackler Michael Allen of Kansas (120).
*** Nguyen increased his school-record career tackle to 517 stops today.
*** Nguyen made the 50th consecutive start of his career at inside linebacker, which is the most ever by an Aggie.
*** For his career, Nguyen has averaged 10.8 tackles per game, which is also a school record (old record of 10.6 by Johnny Holland, 1983-86).
A&M's HALL GOES OVER 1,000: With 113 rushing yards today, junior running back Dante Hall become the first Aggie running back to pass the 1,000-yard rushing barrier since Leeland McElroy rushed for 1,122 in 1995. Hall rushed for 1,090 yards on 243 carries this season. For his career, Hall has rushed for 2,639 yards on 469 carries, which ranks No. 7 in school history.
COMMON BOND BETWEEN OSBORNE AND WEDDELL: Before tonight's victory by the Aggies, what did Aggie inside linebackers coach Alan Weddell and former Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne have in common? They were the last two head coaches to emerge victorious in games against Michael Bishop-quarterbacked teams. Osborne's Cornhuskers defeated Bishop and KSU on their way to the national crown last season and Weddell's LaMarque Cougars defeated Bishop and Willis High School on their way to the Class 4A state crown in 1994.
LECHLER WINS BATTLE WITH ALLEN: A&M All-American punter Shane Lechler kept Kansas State's record-breaking David Allen in check with a series of long and high punts. Lechler averaged 45.3 on three punts and gave Allen only one return opportunity (17 yard return).
TWO-POINT CONVERSIONS: With the successful two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, the Aggies have now converted 4-of-5 two-point tries this season, including all three passing attempts. Today's two-point conversion appeared to be the same play that tied the Aggies' game against Oklahoma State in 1997 (28-25 overtime victory for A&M).
WELCOME TO ASTROTURF: Several Aggies went down with injuries in the first half:junior offensive tackle Andy Vincent (sprained left knee/did not return) was replaced by junior Shea Holder; sophomore defensive end Rocky Bernard (sprained left ankle/returned and left again) was replaced by freshman Lonnie Madison; freshman center Seth McKinney (sprained right knee/returned); senior quarterback Branndon Stewart (bruised right knee) was down but did not miss a snap.
RUN, RUN, RUN: The Aggies got on the scoreboard with a field goal in the second quarter with a 12-play, 72-yard drive without passing the football. Dante Hall carried seven times for 53 yards on the drive, while Sirr Parker carried twice for 22 yards.
Notes: The game marks just the second time this season that the Aggies have reached the 30-point barrier in a game. The other was a 35-14 win over Baylor. *** The Aggies are now 2-0 in overtime games. *** Having career-best games today were: sophomore outside linebacker Roylin Bradley (13 tackles); sophomore wide receiver Chris Taylor (4 catches, 99 yards).