November 24, 2002
MATCHUP --- Texas A&M Aggies (6-5, 3-4 B12) at Texas LONGHORNS (9-2, 5-2 B12)
KICKOFF --- 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 29, 2002
SITE (CAPACITY) --- Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas (80,082 capacity)
RADIO INFORMATION --- The game will be broadcast by the 60-plus station Texas A&M Radio Network. For a complete list of stations, go to: AggieAthletics.com. Calling the game on the A&M Radio Network are Dave South (play-by-play), former All-America cornerback Kevin Smith (commentary) and Steve Miller (sideline reports).
TV INFORMATION --- The game will be televised by ABC. Calling the action will be Tim Brant (play-by-play), Ed Cunningham (commentary) and Samantha Ryan (sideline reports).
GAME INFORMATION --- The Aggies and Longhorns have split the last 10 contests with each team winning five games ... Over the last 20 games, the Aggies hold a 12-8 advantage ... A&M head coach R.C. Slocum has posted a 7-6 record against the Longhorns, which is the most wins by any A&M head coach against the Longhorns. D.X. Bible and Jackie Sherrill each posted five wins against the Longhorns ... A&M's most recent victory in Austin was a 34-10 triumph in the Aggies' undefeated 1994 campaign.
RIVALRY GAME --- The Texas-Texas A&M contest ranks as the fourth most-played game in Div. IA football with this year's game in Austin being the 109th in the series that dates back to 1894.
College Football's Most-Played Games Rk Games Rivalry Record First 1. 112 Minnesota-Wisconsin 58-46-8 1890 2. 110 Kansas-Missouri 51-51-9 1891 3. 109 Nebraska-Kansas 85-21-3 1892 4. 108 Texas-Texas A&M 69-34-5 1894
SLOCUM VS. TEXAS --- With a 7-6 career mark against the Longhorns, Texas A&M head coach R.C. Slocum has won more games against the Aggies' archrival than any other coach in school history. In fact, Slocum is one of only three A&M coaches to have a winning record against the Longhorns - the others are Jackie Sherrill (5-2 from 1982-88) and Charley Moran (3-1 from 1909-1914).
A&M HEAD COACHES VS. TEXAS Rk Coach, Years Record vs. Texas 1. R.C. Slocum, 1989-present 7-6 2. Jackie Sherrill, 1982-88 5-2 D.X. Bible, 1917, 1919-1928 5-5-1 4. Charley Moran, 1909-1914 3-1 5. Homer Norton, 1934-1947 3-11
TOP 10 WINS BY SLOCUM --- Aggie head coach R.C. Slocum has posted six career victories over top 10-ranked opponents, which is the most by any coach in A&M's history. No. 10 Texas will be the third top 10-ranked team A&M has faced this year - No. 7 Virginia Tech and No. 1 Oklahoma are the others.
TOP 10 WINS BY A&M COACHES Rk Coach, Years Top 10 wins 1. R.C. Slocum, 1989-present 6 2. Emory Bellard, 1972-78 4 3. Paul "Bear" Bryant, 1954-57 3 4. Tom Wilson, 1979-81 2 Jackie Sherrill, 1982-88 2
BOWL-ELIGIBLE AGAIN --- Texas A&M is bowl eligible for the 12th time in R.C. Slocum's 14 seasons at Texas A&M.
MOST BOWL APPEARANCES Rk Coach, School Yrs Bowls 1. Joe Paterno, Penn State 36 30 2. Bobby Bowden, Florida State 36 25 3. Lou Holtz, South Carolina 30 22 4. Jackie Sherrill, Mississippi State 24 14 5. R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M 13 11 Fisher DeBerry, Air Force 18 11 Source: NCAA.org
RECORD-SETTING OFFENSE --- The 2002 edition of the Texas A&M offense shattered two significant records and ranks as one of the most prolific in school history.
The 2002 Aggies became the first unit in school history to pass for more than 3,000 yards with 3,021 yards going into the Texas contest. The former record was 2,691 yards by the Kevin Murray-led A&M offense in 1986. A&M has also tossed 23 scoring passes in 2002 which breaks the 20-year old mark of 21 set by the Gary Kubiak-led Aggies in 1982. Going into the Texas game, the Aggies are averaging 390.6 yards per game, which ranks No. 7 in school history.
A&M Season Passing Yards List Rk Year Pass Yds/G Avg. Ind. Leader Avg. 1. 2002 3,021/11 274.6 D. Long 210.4 2. 1986 2,691/11 244.5 K. Murray 223.9 3. 2000 2,588/11 235.3 M. Farris 231.9 4. 1968 2,337/10 233.7 E. Hargett 232.1 5. 1999 2,513/11 228.5 R. McCown 215.8 A&M Season Passing Touchdowns List Rk Year Pass TDs Ind. Leader Pass TDs 1. 2002 23 D. Long 17 2. 1982 21 G. Kubiak 19 3. 1986 18 K. Murray 17 4. 1993 17 C. Pullig 17 1983 17 K. Murray 14 A&M Season Total Offense List Rk Year Yards/Games Avg. 1. 1990 5,653/12 471.1 2. 1986 4,842/11 440.2 3. 1991 4,804/11 436.7 4. 1985 4,612/11 419.3 5. 1996 4,854/12 404.5 6. 1993 4,409/11 400.8 7. 2002 4,297/11 390.6
A&M'S AERIAL ATTACK --- The Aggies found a consistent and dangerous passing attack in 2002 and go into the regular season finale ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 in passing offense. It's the highest ranked passing offense since the Aggies led the Southwest Conference in 1986. Despite having three different quarterbacks make starts, including two who made their first career starts, the Aggies average 274.6 passing yards per game, a distant second to Texas Tech (383.1) but nearly 25 yards more than the Big 12's No. 3 passing team.
BIG 12'S TOP PASSING TEAMS Rk Team Passing Yds./GM 1. Texas Tech 383.1 2. Texas A&M 274.6 3. Oklahoma State 249.7 4. Texas 245.8 5. Iowa State 244.5
BIG PLAY RECEIVERS --- Few teams have receivers who can match the big play production of the Aggies' top four receivers - tight end Greg Porter and wideouts Jamaar Taylor, Bethel Johnson and Terrence Murphy.
The foursome has combined for 37 plays of 20 yards of more, which represents 76 percent of the team's "big plays."
The group has posted 156 catches, 2,606 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 16.7 yards per reception. The foursome is responsible for nearly 62 percent of the Aggies' offensive production in 2002.
A&M'S BIG FOUR Greg Porter 45 640 14.2 4 43 58.2 Jamaar Taylor 42 706 16.8 3 82 78.4 Bethel Johnson 38 693 18.2 8 78 63.0 Terrence Murphy 31 567 18.3 3 61 56.7 Total 156 2,606 16.7 18 82 -
BACK IN ACTION, BETTER THAN EVER --- Sidelined by a ruptured spleen for the majority of the 2001 season, senior Bethel Johnson has made a triumphant return to the gridirion in 2002.
The senior from Corsicana has been the Aggies' top deep threat while tying A&M's 34-year old season receiving touchdowns record of eight (set by Bob Long in 1967 and 1968). Johnson leads the team with a 18.2 per catch average while ranked No. 3 in catches with 38 and No. 2 in receiving yards with 693.
He's also solidified the Aggies' punt return situation with an impressive 12.9 return average.
A&M SEASON RECEIVING TD LEADERS Rk Player, Year Rec TD 1. Bethel Johnson, 2002 8 Bob Long, 1968 8 Bob Long, 1968 8 4. Albert Connell, 1995 7 5. Seven players 6 A&M SEASON PUNT RETURN AVERAGE Rk Player, Year PR Average 1. Aaron Glenn, 1993 19.9 2. Yale Lary, 1951 16.2 3. Dick Todd, 1937 15.2 4. Dante Hall, 1996 13.3 5. Bethel Johnson, 2002 12.9
RED-HOT IN THE RED ZONE --- The Aggies have been successful on 27 of 30 trips (90.0 percent) inside the "red zone" in Big 12 play. In those red zone opportunities, the Aggies have scored 20 touchdowns (7 run, 13 pass) and booted six-of-six field goals. For the season, A&M has scored 84.4 percent of the time in the red zone (38-of-45, 15 run, 14 pass).
RECORD-BREAKING BETHEL --- Senior wide receiver Bethel Johnson is Texas A&M's all-time leading receiver in both receptions and receiving yards.
Johnson has grabbed 38 receptions for 693 yards in 2002 which brings his record-setting career totals to 115 catches for 1,715 yards. He also has school season record for receiving touchdowns with eight, giving him 11 scores for his career which is fourth-best in school history.
A&M Receptions/Receiving Yards List Rk. Player Catches 1. Bethel Johnson 115 2. Keith Woodside 110 3. Rod Bernstine 105 4. Albert Connell 98 5. Shea Walker 98 Rk. Player Rec. Yds. 1. Bethel Johnson 1,715 2. Tony Harrison 1,576 3. Albert Connell 1,525 4. Shea Walker 1,411 5. Rod Harris 1,395 Rk. Player Rec. TDs 1. Bob Long 19 2. Tony Harrison 14 3. Albert Connell 13 4. Bethel Johnson 11 Don Jones 11 Jeff Nelson 11
PASS-CATCHING PORTER --- With 45 catches for 640 yards and for touchdowns to his credit, Texas A&M senior tight end Greg Porter ranks No. 2 nationally in receptions by a tight end, just two behind Michigan's Bennie Joppru.
Earlier this season, Porter set the A&M tight end record with nine catches for 154 yards against Oklahoma State. The previous marks were eight catches by Rod Bernstine (twice in 1986) and Greg Schorp (in 1992) and 107 yards by Rich Siler (1983).
Porter's 2002 numbers are the best by any A&M tight end since Bernstine set the school record with 65 catches for 710 yards in 1986.
TIGHT END RECEIVING LEADERS Rk Player, Team Rec Yds TDs 1. Bennie Joppru, Michigan 47 499 5 2. Greg Porter, Texas A&M 45 640 4 Chad Bartoszek, Buffalo 45 350 0 4. Tim Swoboda, California 42 451 7 5. Kevin Ware, Washington 41 451 5 A&M TIGHT END RECEIVING LEADERS Rk Player, Year Rec Yds TDs 1. Rod Bernstine, 1986 65 710 5 2. Greg Porter, 2002 45 640 4 3. Rich Siler, 1983 40 465 4 4. Mike Jones, 1989 36 501 3 5. Derrick Spiller, 1997 25 436 4
TAKEAWAYS PAYING OFF FOR AGGIES --- The Aggies have done a good job of making their opponents pay for their lost fumbles and interceptions. The Aggies have scored a whopping 103 points after a takeaway, but have limited their opponents to just 23 points after giving up a turnover.
TAYLOR EMERGES --- Junior wide receiver Jamaar Taylor has emerged as the Aggies' "go-to" receiver with three 100-yard receiving performances this season, but he's missed the past two games with an injury.
That matches the school record for single season 100-yard games set by Robert Ferguson in 1999. It also gives him four 100-yard days for his career which matches the career school record set by Albert Connell (1995-96), Tony Harrison (1990-93) and Bethel Johnson (1999- ).
Taylor is second on the team with 42 catches for team-leading 706 yards. His 78.4 receiving yards per game rank No. 5 in the Big 12 Conference and No. 38 nationally.
BIG 12 RECEIVING YARDS LEADERS Rk Player, Team Yds/Gm 1. RaShaun Woods, Oklahoma St. 118.6 2. Reggie Newhouse, Baylor 95.0 3. Justin Gage, Missouri 89.5 4. Lane Danielson, Iowa State 85.5 5. Roy Williams, Texas 85.1 6. Wes Welker, Texas Tech 79.5 7. Jamaar Taylor, Texas A&M 78.4 8. Bethel Johnson, Texas A&M 63.0 9. Greg Porter, Texas A&M 58.2 A&M SEASON RECEIVING YARDS LEADERS Rk Player, Year Yds 1. Robert Ferguson, 2000 885 2. Albert Connell, 1996 872 3. Ken McLean, 1965 835 4. Barney Harris, 1968 745 5. Mike Whitwell, 1981 731 6. Rod Bernstine, 1986 710 7. Jamaar Taylor, 2002 706
WALKON IMPACT --- The Aggies have received a sizable boost from a large number of non-scholarship athletes in 2002.
MAKING THEIR PRESENCE FELT Player POS Hometown (High School) Matt Douglas DB White Oak, Texas (High) 4 tackles on special teams, KO team gunner Blake Kendrick LB Willis, Texas (High) 6 tackles on special teams Nick Losada DE Arlington, Texas (Lamar) 9 tackles, 2 QB sacks, 5 QB hurries Haven Massey TE Denton, Texas (High) Sees much action in two tight end sets John Pierson PK Missouri City, Texas (Elkins) Backup placekicker, 7-of-9 on PATs Will Mays RB Coleman, Texas (High) 2 tackles on special teams Don Muhlbach SNP Lufkin, Texas (Lufkin) No. 2 on depth chart deep snapper Scott Stickane LB Trophy Club, Texas (N'West) Sees action on special teams, 2 tackles Anthony Squillante DB Southlake, Texas (Carroll) Blocked punt vs. Neb, 3 tackles on special teams Tim Van Zant WR Victoria, Texas (High) Has 5 catches for 60 yards
RECORD-SETTING LONG --- Sophomore Dustin Long has already made his mark in the A&M record book.
Long passed for a school record 399-yards against Kansas on Oct. 19. The previous week against Baylor, Long's addition to the record book was reaching the 1,000-yard mark in career passing yards in his sixth career game, which was the fastest in school history. The week before, Long threw a school and Big 12 record seven passing TDs against Texas Tech.
Long's 2,314 passing yards rank No. 5 in school history and his 117 passing touchdowns are tied for No. 2 in A&M history.
Long, who did not take a snap as a freshman in 2001, is the only A&M quarterback to see action in every game. He made eight straight starts at quarterback before freshman Reggie McNeal started against Missouri in the Aggies' most recent game.
LONG GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS Opponent Comp-Att % Yds TD INT LP LA Lafayette 3-12 .250 45 0 2 26 Pittsburgh 9-18 .500 119 0 0 37 *Virginia Tech 13-28 .464 111 0 1 18 *Louisiana Tech 13-26 .500 205 1 0 38 *Texas Tech 21-37 .568 367 7 1 82 *Baylor 13-31 .419 169 2 1 43 *Kansas 18-32 .563 399 3 1 69 *Nebraska 20-37 .541 269 2 2 35 *Oklahoma State 25-43 .581 332 2 2 42 *Oklahoma 3-9 .333 28 0 1 24 Missouri 22-35 .629 270 0 2 55 Total 160-308 .519 2,314 17 13 82 * - games started at QB
A&M SEASON PASSING LEADERS Rk Player, Year Passing Yds. 1. Mark Farris, 2000 2,551 2. Kevin Murray, 1986 2,463 3. Randy McCown, 1999 2,374 4. Edd Hargett, 1968 2,321 5. Dustin Long, 2002 2,314 A&M SEASON PASSING TDS LEADERS Rk Player, Year Passing TDs 1. Gary Kubiak, 1982 19 2. Dustin Long, 2002 17 Corey Pullig, 1993 17 Kevin Murray, 1986 17 5. Edd Hargett, 1968 16
LONG LEFTOVERS ---
- Dustin Long already has three career 300-yard passing days to his credit, which ties Mark Farris for the most in school history.
- Long has passed for 2,314 yards this season, making him the sixth quarterback in school history reach the 2,000-yard barrier in season passing yards.
- Long reached 2,000 in just nine career games, which is the fastest in school history. He is the only A&M QB to reach 2,000 in his first season of action.
FARMER JOINS 1,000-YARD CLUB --- Running back Derek Farmer became the sixth sophomore to join the Aggies' 1000-yard club in career rushing with a 111-yard effort against Kansas. It took Farmer just 15 games to reach 1,000, which is tied for fifth-fastest in school history.
QUICKEST TO 1,000 Rk Player Year(s) Games 1. Greg Hill 1991 8 t2. George Woodard 1975-76 13 Curtis Dickey 1976-77 13 4. Darren Lewis 1987-88 14 5. Derek Farmer 2001-02 15 Dante Hall 1995-96 15
PORTER PRODUCES FIRST DOWNS--- Senior tight end Greg Porter leads the Aggies with 45 catches (for 640 yards), but his best contribution to the A&M offense may be his ability to move the chains. Of his 45 grabs, 27 have produced first downs.
PORTER'S IMPACT 1st Dn Opponent Rec/Yds Catches TDs LA Lafayette 5-59 3 0 Pittsburgh 4-31 2 0 Virginia Tech 2-10 0 0 Louisiana Tech 4-43 2 0 Texas Tech 6-79 6 1 Baylor 2-47 1 0 Kansas 2-51 2 0 Nebraska 4-59 1 1 Oklahoma State 9-154 7 1 Oklahoma 2-64 2 1 Missouri 5-43 1 0 Total 45-640 27 4
OFFENSIVE SURGE--- The Aggie offense has surged forward in the past eight games.
First Three Games --- 2002 Opponent RUSH REC TOTAL PTS LA Lafayette 179 244 423 31 Pittsburgh 82 199 281 14 Virginia Tech 38 188 156 3 Average 99.7 187.0 286.7 16.0 Last Eight Games --- 2002 Opponent RUSH REC TOTAL PTS Louisiana Tech 206 238 444 31 Texas Tech 150 367 513 47 Baylor 138 257 395 41 Kansas 138 428 566 47 Nebraska 53 269 322 31 Oklahoma State 71 332 403 23 Oklahoma 185 219 404 30 Missouri 36 350 386 21 Average 122.1 307.5 429.1 33.9
SCATES CLIMBS PUNT LIST --- Junior punter Cody Scates has taken his game to a new level after averaging just over 40 yards per punt as a freshman and sophomore. This season Scates is averaging 44.2 yards per boot and has deposited 20 of his 58 boots inside the opponent 20-yard line. He ranks No. 9 nationally in punting and No. 2 in the conference.
SEASON PUNT AVERAGE LIST Rk Player Year No-Yards Avg. 1. Shane Lechler 1997 56-2,631 47.0 2. Shane Lechler 1997 60-2,787 46.5 3. Cody Scates 2002 62-2,731 44.0 4. David Davis 1992 70-3,067 43.8 5. Shane Lechler 1998 80-3,485 43.6 Phil Scoggin 1965 88-3,833 43.6 BIG 12 PUNT AVERAGE LIST Rk Player, Team Avg. 1. Mark Marischal, Colorado 48.2 2. Cody Scates, Texas A&M 44.0 3. Kyle Larson, Nebraska 43.3 4. Brock Harvey, Missouri 42.5 5. Cole Farden, Okla. St. 42.2
SLOCUM AT A GLANCE --- In his 14th season as the Aggies' head coach, R.C. Slocum (McNeese State, '67) has compiled a record of 123-46-2 (.725), ranking him No. 6 in winning percentage among active Div. I-A head coaches and A&M's all-time winningest coach.
- Slocum is 78-27-2 (.738) in conference games, 72-12-1 (.853) in games at Kyle Field and 46-25 (.649) in road games.
- Slocum, a four-time Coach of the Year, has led the Aggies to one Big 12 Conference crown, three SWC Championships, two Big 12 South Division titles and 11 bowl games, including five on Jan. 1st.
- Ten of Slocum's 13 teams have finished the season ranked in the Top 25.
- Slocum's teams compiled a 29-game SWC unbeaten streak running from 1991-95.
- This is the 30th year he has been associated with A&M football, the longest of any football coach in school history. He was an assistant from 1972-80 and once again from 1982-88, interrupted only by a one-year stint as defensive coordinator at USC in 1981.
- With the Aggies' win over Texas in 1997, Slocum became A&M's winningest head coach by passing Homer Norton, who posted 82 wins from 1934-47 and won the 1939 national championship.
- He closed out the Southwest Conference ranked as the No. 1 coach in SWC history in overall and SWC winning percentage.
Slocum's Record at Texas A&M Year W-L-T Pct. W-L-T Pct. Bowl 2002 6-5 .545 3-4 .429 2001 8-4 .667 4-4 .500 Gallery 2000 7-5 .583 5-3 .625 Indy 1999 8-4 .667 5-3 .625 Alamo 1998 11-3 .786 7-1 .875 Sugar 1997 9-4 .692 6-2 .750 Cotton 1996 6-6 .500 4-4 .500 - 1995 9-3-0 .750 *5-2-0 .714 Alamo 1994# 10-0-1 .954 *6-0-1 .929 Ineligible 1993# 10-2-0 .833 *7-0-0 1.000 Cotton 1992# 12-1-0 .923 *7-0-0 1.000 Cotton 1991# 10-2-0 .833 *8-0-0 1.000 Cotton 1990 9-3-1 .731 *5-2-1 .808 Holiday 1989 8-4-0 .667 *6-2-0 .750 Hancock Total 123-46-2 .725 78-27-2 .738 11 Bowls # - Coach of the Year * - Southwest Conference