GAME 3: Virginia Tech (3-0) at Texas A&M (2-0)
Sep 15, 2002 | Football
September 15, 2002
MATCHUP --- Virginia Tech HOKIES (3-0) at Texas A&M Aggies (2-0)
KICKOFF --- 2:30 p.m., Saturday, September 21, 2002
SITE (CAPACITY) --- Kyle Field, College Station, Texas (82,600)
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 Tom Turbiville (sideline reports).
TV INFORMATION --- The game will be televised regionally with Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Bob Griese (analyst) and Lynn Swann (sideline) calling the action. Bruce Clark is the producer.
VIRGINIA TECH-TEXAS A&M SERIES --- Texas A&M has won the two previous meetings between the schools - a 19-0 shutout at Kyle Field to open the 1976 season and a 27-6 win in Blacksburg, Va., the following season ... Tech will be the second consecutive Big East opponent for the Aggies (A&M beat Pittsburgh 14-12 on 9/7) ... In the Hokies' last trip to Kyle Field, the A&M defense limited VT to 98 yards of total offense.
TRENDS/GAME NOTES ---
- The Aggies have won seven straight games at Kyle Field in the 2:30 p.m. ABC time slot, and are 7-1 in those type games since the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996 (only loss was vs. Colorado in 1996).
- The Aggies' offensive line coach J.B. Grimes came to A&M in 1998 after five seasons in the same capacity at Virginia Tech.
- Virginia Tech (No. 7 USA Today/ESPN / No. 7 Associated Press) is the highest ranked NON-CONFERENCE team to come to Kyle Field during the Slocum era since the No. 7 Louisiana State Tigers in 1989.
- Head coach R.C. Slocum has never lost a non-conference game at Kyle Field. The last non-conference loss for the Aggies came at the hands of Alabama in the famed "Hurricane Bowl" against Alabama in Jackie Sherrill's final game as head coach in 1988.
- Slocum has compiled an 11-6 record against ranked teams at Kyle Field, including a 5-3 mark against teams ranked in the top 10.
- Slocum has compiled a 70-8-1 record (.892 winning percentage) in games at Kyle Field in 14 seasons at Texas A&M.
- Slocum has a career record of 37-8 (.822 winning percentage) in the month of September, including nine consecutive victories.
- A&M has no players on its roster hailing from the state of Virginia, and Tech has no players from Texas on its roster.
SLOCUM AND BEAMER --- The A&M vs. Virginia Tech contest will feature head coaches whose tenures at their respective schools rank among the longest active streaks in the country.
A&M's R.C. Slocum is in his 14th season, while Tech's Frank Beamer is in his 16th campaign with the Hokies.
Only Joe Paterno of Penn State, Bobby Bowden of Florida State and Fisher DeBerry of Air Force have been coaching at the same school for more seasons than Slocum and Beamer.
Longest Active Tenures at Same School 1. Joe Paterno 37th season at Penn State 2. Bobby Bowden 27th season at Florida State 3. Fisher DeBerry 19th season at Air Force 4. Frank Beamer 16th season at Virginia Tech 5. R.C. Slocum 14th season at Texas A&M Bill Snyder 14th season at Kansas State Sonny Lubick 14th season at Colorado State Mike Price 14th season at Washington State
NATIONAL AWARDS WATCH LISTS --- Six Aggies have been mentioned on the "watch lists" for various national awards.
- Sammy DAVIS, CB (Thorpe Award, Nagurski Trophy)
- Mark FARRIS, QB (O'Brien Award)
- Brian GAMBLE, ILB (Butkus Award)
- Jarrod PENRIGHT, OLB (Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award)
- Cody SCATES, P (Ray Guy Award)
- Ty WARREN, DE (Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy)
For more information on Texas A&M's national award candidates, please go to: AggieAthletics.com/nationalawards.
PITT REHASH ---
- R.C. Slocum improved his record away from Kyle Field to 49-33-1.
- With the win, the Aggies have started the season 2-0 eight times in 14 seasons under R.C. Slocum.
- Three-year starting QB Mark Farris was replaced by sophomore Dustin Long for the final drive of the first half. Long also opened the second half under center and completed the game at quarterback. Long, who was seeing action in the third game of his career, finished with 119 yards on 9-of-18 passing. Farris finished with 80 yards on 5-of-13 passing and now stands 51 yards short of 5,000 career passing yards.
- The Aggies used the same starting lineup on offense and defense for the second straight week.
- Wide receiver Jamaar Taylor recovered Pittsburgh's onside kick late in the fourth quarter.
- Quarterback Jason Carter made his debut at punt and kickoff returner for the Aggies against Pittsburgh.
- Pitt's initial first down of the game came at the 12:16 mark of the second quarter.
- Senior wide receiver Bethel Johnson's second quarter punt block was his first since he blocked a punt in the fourth quarter of the Oklahoma game in 2000.
- Sophomore wide receiver Terrence Murphy saw his first game action of the year against Pitt after sitting out the season-opener due to an injury. He led the Aggies with 88 receiving yards on three catches.
- The Aggies haven't allowed any points in the first three quarters of any game this season
- Freshman Jaxson Appel's fourth-quarter interception was his second of the season and the seventh of the year by the Wrecking Crew. Over the Aggies' past three games, the Aggies have produced 11 intercepions.
- R.C. Slocum's teams have compiled an 8-3 record in NFL stadiums.
ATTENDANCE RISING --- Texas A&M drew an average of 82,711 fans to Kyle Field during the 2001 season, which led the Big 12 Conference and ranked as the ninth-highest average attendance in college football.
2001 NCAA Attendance Leaders Rk. School Attendance Change from '00 1. Michigan 109,908 -914 2. Penn State 107,576 +12,034 3. Tennessee 106,843 -751 4. Ohio State 103,532 +5,775 5. LSU 90,491 +2,677 6. Georgia 86,520 +2,033 7. Auburn 85,449 +3,543 8. Florida 85,432 +179 9. Texas A&M 82,711 +5,133 10. South Carolina 82,614 +709 Source: Official 2002 NCAA Football Records book.
ZONE IMPACT --- Texas A&M has shattered its season home attendance record in each of the last three seasons since the completion of the Bernard C. Richardson Zone complex in 1999. Prior to "The Zone," A&M's home average attendance record was 66,623 in 1987, but since then the record has risen to 73,126 in 1999, 77,579 in 2000 and 82,711 in 2001.
HOME SWEET KYLE --- In 14 seasons with R.C. Slocum as head coach, the Aggies have compiled a sparkling 70-8-1(.892) record at Kyle Field. The Aggies have posted eight undefeated home records during that time, including seven perfect 6-0 home worksheets. Prior to Slocum's tenure, A&M had posted just eight undefeated season records at Kyle.
Undefeated home records at Kyle Slocum era Year Record 1990 5-0-1 1991 6-0-0 1992 6-0-0 1993 6-0-0 1994 6-0-0 1997 6-0 1998 6-0 1999 6-0 Before Slocum Year Record 1927 5-0 1939 5-0 1951 2-0-2 1956 4-0 1974 5-0 1975 5-0 1985 6-0 1986 6-0
PROTECTING THE HOME FIELD --- Under R.C. Slocum, the Aggies have fashioned the two longest home-winning streaks in school history.
Winning Streaks at Kyle Games Coach Years Ended by: *29 R.C. Slocum 1990-95 Texas 22 R.C. Slocum 1996-00 Colorado 16 Emory Bellard 1973-76 Texas Tech 15 Homer Norton 1938-41 Texas 14 Jackie Sherrill 1984-86 LSU 10 Jackie Sherrill 1987-88 Alabama 8 Paul Bryant 1956-57 Texas * - Unbeaten for 32 games dating back to 1989
COVERBOY CAPSULES --- Here's a quick rundown on the seven Aggies featured on the cover of the 2002 football media guide:
- SAMMY DAVIS, CB:
Last week: Contributed 12 tackles, including two third-down stops and a fourth-down stop.
General: A member of the Thorpe and Nagurski awards' "watch lists," Davis is the Big 12's active career leader in INTs with 10. His career PBU total is 24. His 10 career INTs are the most by an Aggie since current A&M radio analyst Kevin Smith collected 20 pickoffs from 1988-91.
- MARK FARRIS, QB:
Last week: Completed 5-of-13 passes for 80 yards. Led the Aggies on one of their two scoring drives.
General: Former Pittsburgh Pirates farmhand's record as a starter stands at 16-9. O'Brien Award watch lister is on pace to set virtually every school passing mark. Was the No. 11 overall selection by the Pirates in the 1994 MLB draft.
- BRIAN GAMBLE, ILB:
Last week: Posted seven stops vs. Pitt, including three third-down stops and one fourth-down stop. Also had a QBS.
General: A Butkus Award watch lister, Gamble leads the team with 256 career tackles (7.3 per game).
- BETHEL JOHNSON, WR:
Last week: Had one catch for 19 yards vs. Pitt.
General: A ruptured spleen ended his 2000 season after two games, but is back at full speed in 2002 if season-opener is an indicator. Johnson has 84 catches for 1,137 yards for his career.
- TERRENCE KIEL, SS:
Last week: Posted 13 tackles, one QBS and one TFL vs. Pitt. Had two third-down stops.
General: Rated the nation's No. 3 "assassin" (strong safety) by ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, Kiel is A&M's second leading active tackler with 186 stops.
- JARROD PENRIGHT, OLB:
Last week: Had two QB sacks and a QB pressure against Pitt.
General: Member of Butkus and Nagurski watch lists, Penright might be defense's most disruptive player.
- TY WARREN, DE:
Last week: Posted seven tackles, including one for loss of yardage vs. Pitt.
General: Has 30 career tackles for losses. Member of watch lists for Lombardi and Outland awards.
SENIOR CITIZENS --- The 15-member senior class of 2002 might be the most accomplished senior class at Texas A&M since 1998 when Dat Nguyen and crew won the Big 12 crown.
Here are some facts:
- 2002 seniors have started a combined 236 games during their careers (an average of 15.7 starts per senior).
- Thirteen of 15 have started at least two games on offense or defense. Another player, Chance Pearce, has been the Aggies' starting deep snapper for 38 straight games.
- Eleven seniors have 10 or more career starts to their credit, led by three-year starter Brian Gamble's 37 starts.
- The class features nine fifth-year seniors.
- The seniors have compiled a 25-13 overall record, including a 16-3 mark at Kyle Field.
- The seniors have gone bowling three straight seasons. If the Aggies qualify in 2002, the '02 seniors will be the sixth senior class to go bowling all four years of their careers ('78, '92, '93, '00, '01).
EXPERIENCED AGGIES --- A whopping 28 players on the 2002 roster have started at least one game during their A&M careers.
Career starts list Player Pos Starts Brian Gamble ILB 37 Sammy Davis CB 28 Taylor Whitley OG 26 Mark Farris QB 26 Terrence Kiel SS 25 Sean Weston CB 24 Ty Warren DL 21 Jarrod Penright OLB 15 Bethel Johnson WR 15 Billy Yates OG 14 Dwain Goynes* RB 13 Jamaar Taylor WR 12 Andr? Brooks OT 11 Jared Morris ILB 11 Joe Weber RB 10 Derek Farmer RB 9 Terrence Murphy WR 8 Thomas Carriger TE 8 Jami Hightower OT 8 Marcus Jasmin NG 6 Richard Whitaker^ DB 5 Keith Joseph RB 3 Greg Porter WR 3 Jesse Hunnicutt OLB 3 Linnis Smith DE 3 Alan Reuber OT 3 Geoff Hangartner OC 2 Jaxson Appel FS 2 Oschlor Flemming RB 1 Terrence Thomas WR 1 Byron Jones CB 1 * - First 12 starts came at wide receiver ^ - all starts came at running back
TOUGH VS. THE RUN --- The Wrecking Crew's has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 14 straight regular season games dating back to Oklahoma State RB Reggie White's 112-yard effort in the ninth game of the 2000 season.
Over the past three seasons, A&M has allowed only five 100-yard rushers in 34 regular season games.
Year Player, School Att/Yds 2002 none 2001 none 2000 Reggie White, OSU 19/112 1999 Hodges Mitchell, TEX 24/102 1999 Eric Crouch, NEB 15/137 1999 Dan Alexander, NEB 20/135 1999 Reggie Skinner, OU 15/106
SHUTTING DOWN THE BIG 12'S BEST --- The Wrecking Crew faced 10 of the Big 12's top 15 rushers last season. Here's how the group fared against the Aggie defense:
Player, School (RK) Att/Yds Avg. Tatum Bell, OSU (7) 22/94 4.3 Cedric Benson, TEX (5) 27/79 2.9 Ell Roberson, KSU (13) 13/77 5.9 Quintin Griffin, OU (11) 20/76 3.8 Josh Scobey, KSU (2) 18/74 4.1 Ennis Haywood, ISU (3) 18/69 3.8 Ricky Williams, TT (12) 18/48 2.7 Bobby Purify, CU (8) 11/42 3.8 Chris Brown, CU (6) 14/40 2.9 Ivan Williams, TEX (15) 0/0 ---
CHANGES IN 2002--- Shifting positions since the 2001 season were: senior Dwain Goynes from wide receiver to running back; and redshirt freshman Bryant Singleton from wide receiver to defensive back.
Players who saw action in 2001 with new jersey number are: junior Jamaar Taylor from #82 to #2 and junior Tim Van Zant from #49 to #83. The Aggies had a late addition to the team when freshman WR Anthony Wright joined the team in August. Retiring from the team in August was sophomore TE Joey Perot. Then, DB Richard Whitaker and DB Dawon Gentry retired in September.
DUPLICATE JERSEY NUMBERS --- Texas A&M has several duplicate jerseys which can be confusing to press box viewers. They are:
15 Adam Black DB 15 Anthony Wright WR 89 Brandon Fails DL 89 Haven Massey TE
SAMMY DAVIS AND THE RAT PACK --- Headlined by two-time All-Big 12 cornerback Sammy Davis Jr., and fellow three-year starters Terrence Kiel and Sean Weston, the Aggies' defensive secondary might rank as one of the best groups of the R.C. Slocum era.
Last season, the Aggies ranked No. 9 nationally in pass efficiency defense, while allowing just seven TD passes and picking off 14 opponent aerials.
The Sporting News rates A&M's secondary as the best in the Big 12 and second-best in all of college football.
Here's a closer look at the A&M DBs:
- Sammy Davis, CB --- Big 12's leading active pass thief with 10 career pickoffs ... rated one of the front-runners for the Thorpe Award, which is given annually to the nation's top DB ... has started 28 games, including 26 straight.
- Terrence Kiel, SS --- Led the team with 92 tackles in 2001 ... rated the nation's No. 3 "assassin" or strong safety by ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit ... has 186 career tackles and six career pickoffs ... has 24 caeer starts.
- Sean Weston, CB --- Has broken up 24 opponent passes in two seasons as a starter ... has 24 career starts.
- Jaxson Appel, FS --- Won the free safety job during fall camp ... impressed the A&M coaching staff with his aggressive hitting and savvy ... Has 2 INTs to rank No. 4 nationally.
BACK IN ACTION --- After sitting out the final 10 games of the 2001 season, there was probably no player on the Aggie roster more anxious to hit the field than wide receiver Bethel Johnson. He responded in a big way in the season-opener by leading the Aggies with six catches for 96 yards. The senior from Corsicana, Texas was supposed to the Aggies' bellcow at wide receiver in 2001, but instead Johnson fell victim to a ruptured spleen in the second game of the season.
Johnson is the first Aggie to enter his senior season with more than 75 catches and 1,000 receiving yards to his credit.
Johnson has shown impressive range during his A&M career. As a sophomore in 1999, Johnson was the team's top deep threat with a team-leading 19.0 per catch average. The following season, he was the consummate possession receiver, producing 26 first downs on 42 catches.
A&M Receptions/Receiving Yards List Rk. Player Catches 1. Keith Woodside 110 2. Rod Bernstine 105 3. Albert Connell 98 4. Shea Walker 98 5. Jeff Nelson 92 t11. Bethel Johnson 84 Rk. Player Rec. Yds. 1. Tony Harrison 1,576 2. Albert Connell 1,525 3. Shea Walker 1,411 4. Rod Harris 1,395 5. Mike Whitwell 1,372 16. Bethel Johnson 1,137
5,000 YARDS FOR FARRIS?--- Senior quarterback Mark Farris could become the fourth A&M QB to reach the 5,000 passing yards plateau with just 51 yards against Virginia Tech. Farris needs 51 yards to join Corey Pullig (6,846), Kevin Murray (6,506) and Edd Hargett (5,379) in the 5,000-yard club.
Farris in the A&M Record Book Rk. Player Pass Yds. 1. Corey Pullig 6,846 2. Kevin Murray 6,506 3. Edd Hargett 5,379 4. Mark Farris 4,949 5. Branndon Stewart 4,325 Rk. Player Completions 1. Corey Pullig 560 2. Kevin Murray 534 3. Mark Farris 435 4. Edd Hargett 400 5. Branndon Stewart 325 Rk. Player Attempts 1. Corey Pullig 992 2. Kevin Murray 926 3. Edd Hargett 821 4. Mark Farris 755 5. Branndon Stewart 623 Rk. Player Comp. % 1. Kevin Murray .577 2. Mark Farris .576 3. Corey Pullig .565 4. Lance Pavlas .565 5. Mike Mosley .554 Rk. Player Pass TDs 1. Kevin Murray 48 2. Corey Pullig 47 3. Edd Hargett 40 4. Gary Kubiak 31 5. Branndon Stewart 26 6. Randy McCown 22 7. Lance Pavlas 20 8. Mark Farris 18
FARRIS FACTS --- In 27 regular season games at QB, senior Davey O'Brien Award candidate Mark Farris has left an indelible mark on the A&M record book. Virtually every A&M passing record is within his reach.
- He is the first Aggie QB to post consecutive seasons with more than 200 completions.
- He is the second to post consecutive 2,000 yard passing seasons.
- Farris has three career 300-yard plus passing games, which is the most in school history.
- Farris has five career 40-pass attempt games, which is the most in school history.
A&M All-Time Winningest QBs Rk Player, Years Record 1. Corey Pullig, 1992-95 32-5-1 2. Kevin Murray, 1983, 85-86 25-6-1 David Walker, 1973-77 25-9-0 4. Bucky Richardson, 1987-88, 90-91 24-6-1 5. Joel Hunt (1925-27) 18-4-2 6. Mark Farris (1999-present) 17-9-0
TOP NOTCH COACHING --- Members of R.C. Slocum's coaching staffs have a history of being hot coaching commodities, as evidenced by four of Slocum's former coordinators serving as head coaches at the NFL or college level. Fifteen of Slocum's former staffers hold positions in the NFL, ranging from general manager to position coach to player personnel to scout.
Last year's A&M coaching staff, which featured four new assistants, returns intact in 2002, which hasn't happened since the 1996 season. Here's a list of former assistants and their current position (* - member of Slocum's original staff in 1989):
College Phil Bennett Head Coach, SMU Kirk Doll* Asst. Head Coach, LSU Jim Helms* RBs, Illinois Greg Mattison* DL., Notre Dame John Pearce* QBs, UCLA Larry Slade DBs, Tennessee Bob Toledo* Head Coach, UCLA Tommy Tuberville Head Coach, Auburn Trent Walters DBs, Notre Dame NFL David Culley WRs, Philadelphia Eagles Robert Ford* WRs, Miami Dolphins Pete Hoener TEs, Arizona Cardinals Bill Johnson DL, Atlanta Falcons Larry Kirksey WRs, Detroit Lions Steve Kragthorpe QBs, Buffalo Bills Gary Kubiak Off. Coord., Denver Broncos Steve Marshall OL, Houston Texans Ron Milus DBs, Denver Broncos Mike Sherman GM/Head Coach, GB Packers
NON-CONFERENCE GRAVEYARD --- Kyle Field has been a graveyard for non-conference opponents since R.C. Slocum took over the head coaching reins at Texas A&M in 1989. Slocum's teams are unbeaten against non-conference foes at Kyle Field with 29 straight wins against such opponents.
BABERS ON BCA BOARD --- Second-year A&M offensive coordinator Dino Babers accepted a seat on the Black Coaches Association Board of Directors in August.
CLIMBING THE CHART --- The Aggies haven't had a losing season since 1982 or 19 consecutive seasons, which ranks as the 24th longest non-losing streak in NCAA Div. I-A history. Among active streaks, it ranks No. 7 nationally. Since 1970, only 11 schools have had non-losing streaks longer than the Aggies.
Active Consecutive .500 or Better Seasons Rk Team Seasons 1. Nebraska 40 2. Michigan 34 3. Brigham Young 27 4. Florida State 25 Washington 25 6. Florida 22 7. Texas A&M 19 8. Marshall 18 9. Syracuse 15 10. Tennessee 13
SENDING PLAYERS TO THE NFL --- Texas A&M stands as the Big 12's No. 2 producer of National Football League talent with 30 players on 2002 opening day rosters.
Big 12's Top NFL Talent Producers Rk School Players 1. Nebraska 37 2. Texas A&M 30 3. Colorado 29 4. Kansas State 28 5. Texas 22 6. Oklahoma 16 7. Baylor 13 Kansas 13 9. Oklahoma State 10 10. Texas Tech 8 11. Iowa State 7 12. Missouri 5
WRECKING CREW RANKINGS --- Texas A&M's famed Wrecking Crew defense has been the stingiest team in the country versus the run. The Wrecking Crew ranks No. 1 nationally in rush defense at 33.5 yards per game. As a unit, A&M ranks No. 4 nationally in total defense at 218.5 yards a game, best in the Big 12. The Aggies are No. 1 nationally in turnover margin.
SLOCUM AT A GLANCE ...
In his 14th season as the Aggies' head coach, R.C. Slocum (McNeese State, '67) has compiled a 119-41-2 (.741), ranking him No. 6 in winning percentage among active Div. I-A head coaches and A&M's all-time winningest coach.
- Slocum is 75-23-2 (.760) in conference games, 70-8-1 (.892) in games at Kyle Field and 44-24 (.647) 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 2-0 1.000 --- --- 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 119-41-2 .741 75-22-2 .760 11 Bowls # - Coach of the Year * - Southwest Conference Winningest Active Div. I-A Coaches by Percentage (5-Year Minimum) Rk Coach, School Yrs. Record Pct. 1. Bob Pruett, Marshall 6 70-12-0 .854 2. Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee 10 97-20-0 .829 3. Bobby Bowden, Florida St. 36 326-91-4 .779 4. Joe Paterno, Penn State 36 329-96-3 .774 5. Lloyd Carr, Michigan 7 68-21-0 .764 6. R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M 13 119-41-2 .740 7. Dennis Erickson, Oregon St. 16 139-52-1 .726 8. Rick Neuheisel, Washington 7 60-25-0 .706 9. Tommy Bowden, Clemson 5 42-19-0 .688 10. Paul Pasqualoni, Syracuse 16 126-58-1 .684
AGGIES SINCE 1989 --- Since taking over the Texas A&M football program in 1989, head coach R.C. Slocum has developed the Aggies into one of the nation's winningest teams.
Nation's Winningest Teams during the Slocum era (since 1989) Rk. School Conf. Record 1. Florida State ACC 140-20-1 Bobby Bowden 2. Nebraska Big 12 140-23-1 Tom Osborne, Frank Solich 3. Florida SEC 130-33-1 Galen Hall, Gary Darnell, Steve Spurrier, Ron Zook 4. Tennessee SEC 129-29-3 Johnny Majors, Phil Fulmer 5. Miami (Fla.) Big East 127-29-0 Dennis Ericksen, Butch Davis, Larry Coker 6. Michigan Big 10 120-36-3 Bo Schembechler, Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr 7. Texas A&M Big 12 119-41-2 R.C. Slocum 8. Penn State Big 10 117-41-1 Joe Paterno 9. Ohio State Big 10 115-42-3 John Cooper, Jim Tressel 10. Colorado Big 12 111-43-4 Bill McCartney, Rick Neuheisel, Gary Barnett
SLOCUM IN GOOD COMPANY --- R.C. Slocum's 117-41-2 record in his first 13 seasons ranks as the eighth-fastest start in Div. I-A history, and puts him on a list with some pretty heady company. Nebraska's Tom Osborne, who won 127 games in his first 13 seasons, tops the list and is followed by Oklahoma's Barry Switzer, Penn State's Joe Paterno, Florida's Steve Spurrier, Oklahoma's Bud Wilkinson, BYU's Lavell Edwards, the legendary Amos Alonzo Stagg and Slocum.
Div. I-A Best Career Starts by Wins (After 13 seasons) Coach, Teams Seasons Record Tom Osborne 1973-85 127-30-2 Nebraska Barry Switzer 1973-85 126-24-4 Oklahoma Joe Paterno 1966-78 123-25-1 Penn State Steve Spurrier 1987-99 122-35-2 Florida, Duke Bud Wilkinson 1947-59 121-13-3 Oklahoma LaVell Edwards 1972-84 118-37-1 Brigham Young Amos Alonzo Stagg 1890-02 118-45-12 Chicago, Springfield R.C. Slocum 1989-01 117-41-2 Texas A&M Dennis Erickson 1982-94 113-40-1 Idaho, Wyoming, Washington St., Miami (Fla.) Bob Neyland 1926-34, 36-39 109-13-8 Tennessee
SLOCUM PACES BIG 12 COACHES --- Aggie head coach R.C. Slocum has won four conference championships, which is more than any other coach in the Big 12 Conference. Slocum won three Southwest Conference crowns from 1991-93 and also won the 1998 Big 12 Championship.
Coaching Champions Head Coach, Schools Coached Yrs. Titles R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M 14th 4 Gary Barnett, Colo., NWstrn, Ft. Lewis 12th 3 Gary Pinkel, Missouri, Toledo 12th 1 Frank Solich, Nebraska 5th 1 Bob Stoops, Oklahoma 4th 1 Kevin Steele, Baylor 4th none Dan McCarney, Iowa State 8th none Mark Mangino, Kansas 1st none Bill Snyder, Kansas State 14th none Les Miles, Oklahoma State 2nd none Mack Brown, Texas, UNC, Tulane, App. St. 19th none Mike Leach, Texas Tech 3rd none
SLOCUM KEEPS ON WINNING --- In his 14th season at Texas A&M, head coach R.C. Slocum is one of the few coaches who has never felt the sting of a losing campaign. Among coaches with 10 or more years experience, only Slocum and Tennessee's Phil Fulmer have never had a losing season. Slocum's .500 or better streak of 13 seasons ranks No. 3 nationally behind Florida State's Bobby Bowden (24 seasons) and Syracuse's Paul Pasqualoni (15 seasons).
Consecutive .500 or Better Seasons 1. Bobby Bowden, Florida St. 24 2. Paul Pasqualoni, Syracuse 15 3. *R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M 13 4. Mack Brown, Texas 12 5. *Phil Fulmer, Tennessee 10 t6. Dennis Erickson, Oregon St. 9 Bill Snyder, Kansas St. 9 Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech 9 Joe Tiller, Purdue 9 10. Four coaches 8
* - Slocum and Fulmer are the nation's only 10-year coaching veterans to never experience a losing season.
SLOCUM SINCE 1990 --- Texas A&M's R.C. Slocum is the nation's second-winningest coach since 1990 behind Florida State's Bobby Bowden.
Winningest Div. I-A Coaches since 1990 1. Bobby Bowden, Florida St. 130-19-1 2. R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M 111-37-2 3. Joe Paterno, Penn State 109-39-0 4. Mack Brown, Texas/North Carolina 107-39-1 5. Bill Snyder, Kansas State 107-39-1 6. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech 99-44-1 7. Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee* 97-19-0 8. Fisher DeBerry, Air Force 95-53-0 9. John Smith, Louisville/Idaho/Utah St. 94-53-0 10. Paul Pasqualoni, Syracuse 92-41-1
