October 06, 2001
Aggie Postgame Notes
DEFENSIVE RENAISSANCE --- In the last three games, the Wrecking Crew has allowed an average of 6.7 points and 207.3 yards per game. The Aggies held Baylor to just 232 total yards (30 on Baylor's final drive), just missing their third straight game allowing less than 200 yards of total offense. The last time an A&M defense held three straight opponents to less than 200 total yards was in 1991. Baylor gained just 85 yards on the ground, the third straight A&M opponent to gain less than 100. The last time the Wrecking Crew did that was early last season. In the last 14 quarters (starting with second half of Wyoming), the Aggies have allowed just four field goals and two touchdowns, with both touchdowns coming after A&M turnovers inside their own 10-yard-line. In fact, n the last 14 quarters A&M has allowed just no touchdowns on drives of more than 10 yards and/or two plays. In the last three games, the Wrecking Crew has allowed just three penetrations inside their 20-yard line, resulting in just one field goal.
SECOND HALF DOMINANCE --- The Aggies have outscored their opponents 66-10 in the second half this season, including a 18-0 bulge in the fourth quarter. Trailing 10-3 at halftime on Saturday, the Aggies held Baylor scoreless in the second half. The Wrecking Crew has strung together seven consecutive scoreless second half quarters dating back to a third quarter touchdown allowed against Wyoming.
ANOTHER 5-0 START FOR SLOCUM --- The Aggies are off to a 5-0 start for the fourth time during the R.C. Slocum era (since 1989). Prior to Slocum's tenure as head coach, the Aggies had posted just one 5-0 start (Emory Bellard's 1975 team raced to a 10-0 start before falling to Arkansas, 31-6) in the previous 32 seasons.
CAREER-HIGH CATCHES FOR GOYNES, FARMER --- Junior wide receiver Dwain Goynes grabbed a career-high 6 passes for 71 yards against the Bears. His previous high catch game was 4 against McNeese State and Wyoming. True freshman running back Derek Farmer, playing in just his third game in maroon and white, had career highs in catches and receiving yards with 4 for 29.
FIRST-TIME STARTERS --- A pair of Aggies made the first starts of their careers against the Bears. Senior Mickey Jones received the start as a third wide receiver, while redshirt freshman Marcus Jasmin started in placed of the injured Ty Warren at noseguard.
NOTABLES --- Quarterback Mark Farris has completed 50 percent or better of his pass attempts in 15 of 16 career starts at A&M. His lone sub-50 percent game was against Oklahoma last season when he completed 18-of-37 passes. Farris has also passed for 200 or more yards in 10 of 16 career starts .
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Aggie Postgame Quotes
R.C. SLOCUM
"I'm always happy to get a win. I told the team in the locker room that we can't get to the point where we take a win for granted. I thought the defense played well. I was disappointed from a team standpoint in the penalties, the turnovers, the penalty taking three points off the board and the dropped passes. We weren't as sharp as we need to be, especially on offense. I talk to coaches all the time and all those guys hate games like this. You're coming off a big, emotional game last week and it's a whole different atmosphere this week. The players become a part of that. I was grinding on them all week about being ready for the game. They have a dangerous offense where they are throwing the ball a lot and spreading the field. That puts a lot of pressure on you. Give Baylor credit. They are an active defensive team and they did a good job today.
(On first-and-goal problems) "We had a hard time getting it done. It was the Baylor defense. We weren't getting a surge on our offensive line. On that fourth-and-one play, we tried to go over the top, but we didn't get any movement. We couldn't get close enough to do that. We had too many problems to elaborate on all of them but it's obvious that we have too many problems on our plate. I hope to get them all sorted out this week and get ready for a good Colorado team.
(Is Baylor improved?) 'I think so and I'[ve talked to coach Steele and he thinks they are improved, too. When I saw them on film I thought it was apparent they have shown a lot of improvement. They weren't taking a lot of sacks and they were completing their passes. We knew we'd get their best shot and they did that today."
(On last two plays) "As a coach, you just make your best call and you go play. I've been on the good side of those plays more times than on the other side in my career. You don't have the time to analyze. We had everybody manned up and we had three guys deep."
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Baylor Postgame Quotes
KEVIN STEELE, HEAD COACH
"I think our defense came in here and played lights out. I've said we have a good football team, but a loss is a loss. I think everyone saw what I've been saying. We just have to put the nails in the coffin. We had the momentum the entire the game. I thought we stayed focused. A&M is a well coached team, but we just needed that one big play. I think our whole defense played extremely well against a very talented A&M team. We got in there and mixed it up. It seemed those first two drives in the second half may have set the tone. I thought we were going to make that last play in the game. We put the ball in the right spot. Our offense managed the clock really well in that last minute. As a coach, I feel good about our players. In terms of being a team, winning is winning and losing is losing. We're much closer that what most people think. But it really doesn't matter what everybody else thinks. It only matters what our kids think and that is that they are winners."
On Greg Cicero: "He made some big plays. His scrambling ability really helps out our offense. He placed the ball well and is really starting to come into his own."
Samir Al-Amin, defensive back
"We played excellent. We had all of assignments, but things didn't fall our way. They're a good team, but we're a good team too. We've got to win these close ones. I thought we did a good job of taking away their big plays. Right now we know we can execute and stay focused. We held A&M pretty well and hopefully we can use that for some momentum."