November 11, 2002
Texas A&M's football team has been named the National Team of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America in a vote by members of the organization's Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll, the FWAA announced Monday.
A&M (6-4, 3-3) rallied from a 10-0 first half deficit to Oklahoma this past Saturday at Kyle Field to beat an Associated Press No. 1-ranked team for the first time in school history.
A&M freshman quarterback Reggie McNeal came off the bench to toss an A&M freshman record four touchdowns. He was named National College Football Player of the Week by The Sporting News and National Player of the Week by collegefootballnews.com. McNeal was also selected as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
The FWAA/Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll, which has made its debut this season, will decide the winner of the Grantland Rice Trophy, the FWAA's national championship award presented since 1954. The presentation will be made on Sat., Jan. 4 in Tempe, Ariz., following the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
The FWAA "Team of the Week" will continue to be announced each Monday with the Super 16 Poll throughout the season.
The FWAA, in conjunction with the Charlotte Touchdown Club, also awards a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week award each week.
2002 FWAA Teams of the Week
Aug. 31: Duke (ended 23-game losing streak)
Sept. 7: Miami (routed Florida, 41-16, in Gainesville)
Sept. 14: California (upset Michigan State, 46-22, in East Lansing)
Sept. 21: Florida (beat Tennessee, 30-13, in Knoxville)
Sept. 28: Iowa State (beat Nebraska, 36-14)
Oct. 5: Ole Miss (upset Florida, 17-14)
Oct. 12: Miami (beat Florida State, 28-27)
Oct. 19: Arizona State (upset Oregon, 45-42)
Oct. 26: Notre Dame (beat Florida State, 34-24)
Nov. 2: Boston College (upset Notre Dame, 14-7)
Nov. 9: Texas A&M (upset Oklahoma, 30-26)
The new FWAA/Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll can be found at www.FWAA.com.