November 03, 2003
Game notes for Saturday's regionally-televised matchup with No. 1 Oklahoma in Norman (PDF posted later)...
Texas A&M AGGIES (4-5, 2-3 Big 12)
at
Oklahoma SOONERS (9-0, 5-0 Big 12)
KICKOFF --- 11a.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, 2003
SITE (CAPACITY) --- Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (81,000 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), Tim Cassidy (commentary) and Chris Valletta (sideline reports).
TV INFORMATION --- The game will be regionally televised by ABC. Calling the game will be Tim Brant (host), Ed Cunningham (analyst) and Sam Ryan (sideline).
SERIES INFORMATION --- The Sooners have a one-game advantage in the all-time series between the schools, 11-10 * The first meeting between the schools was a 6-0 thriller in 1903 * A&M has a 4-3 advantage in the series since the formation of the Big 12 Conference. A&M won the first three, OU took the next three and A&M won last season. * The last time A&M beat OU in Norman was 1997 when the Aggies defeated John Blake's Sooners, 51-7. * Last season's 30-26 Aggie victory gave A&M's its first-ever win over a team ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll.
REJUVENATED AGGIES GEAR UP FOR TOP-RANKED SOONERS --- Fresh off an impressive 45-33 home victory over Kansas, the Aggies will hit the road this weekend to take on top-ranked Oklahoma in Norman. The game is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The Aggies improved to 4-5 overall and 2-3 against the Big 12 Conference with the win over the Jayhawks, while OU moved to 9-0 and 5-0 after shellacking rival Oklahoma State, 52-9, in Norman.
AGGIES FACE AP NO. 1 TEAM IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS --- The 2003 A&M-OU game marks the first time since 1970-71 that the Aggies have faced a No. 1 ranked team in back-to-back years. * Texas A&M will be facing the Associated Press No. 1 for the 11th time. The Aggies have compiled a 1-10 record in games against the AP No. 1 with the lone victory coming last year in a 30-26 Aggie upset of the Sooners at Kyle Field. * The Sooners have been No. 1 three of the last four times the Aggies and Sooners have faced off.
LEWIS EMERGES AS ALL-BIG 12, TOP FRESHMAN CANDIDATE --- Redshirt freshman running back Courtney Lewis has emerged as one of the Big 12 Conference top running backs and also is a contender for Freshman of the Year honors. With 868 yards and 11 touchdowns on 144 carries in 2003, Lewis ranks No. 4 in the conference and No. 30 nationally in rushing yards. Among national freshmen, Lewis leads the nation in rushing touchdowns and ranks No. 2 in total rushing yards and No. 4 in rushing yards per game. Lewis also continues to move up the Aggies' freshman season rushing yards list and has positioned himself to be A&M's first 1,000-yard rusher since Dant? Hall in 1998. Lewis ranks No. 2 on A&M's freshman rushing chart behind Greg Hill's 1,216 yards in 1991, and he's just 132 short of reaching 1,000. Lewis has produced five 100-yard rushing games in 2002, including the past two games. He posted his career-best of 171 yards on 26 carries two weeks ago against Oklahoma State.
APPEL ON PACE TO SET RECORD FOR TACKLES BY AN A&M DB --- Already just the third defensive back to hit the century mark in tackles in a season, sophomore Jaxson Appel now sets his sights on A&M's record for season tackles by a defensive back. Appel, who is averaging 11.6 tackles per game, is on pace to break the school mark of 132 set by Carl Grulich in 1977. Appel has posted double-digit tackles five times this season, including a career-best 18 stops against Virginia Tech. Appel leads the team and ranks No. 4 in the Big 12 Conference with four interceptions. For his career, Appel has grabbed eight pass thefts, which ties for 15th best in school history. He is tied with, among others, current pros Rich Coady and Terrence Kiel and 1957 Heisman winner John David Crow.
APPEL CONTINUES TRADITION OF STRONG SAFETY PLAY --- Assuming that Jaxson Appel leads the team in tackles this season, four of A&M's last five tackle leaders have been defensive backs. Terrence Kiel led in 2001 and 2002, while Brandon Jennings paced the team in 1999.
AGGIES AVERAGE 15.2 YARDS PER COMPLETION --- The Aggies average 15.2 yards per completion, which ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference.
AGGIES' "O" JUST ONE OF EIGHT OFFENSES NATIONALLY WITH 200/200 BALANCE --- Texas A&M's offense has been a model of run-pass balance in 2003 with a 208.4/214.6 run-pass average through nine games. Only seven other schools nationally and two others in the Big 12 Conference are averaging over 200 yards rushing and passing. Only one A&M offensive unit has ever finished the season with a 200/200 run-pass average. The 1985 Aggie offense averaged 211.6 rushing yards and 207.6 passing yards per game.
MONTGOMERY IMPACTS AGGIES' DEFENSIVE FRONT --- Junior Mike Montgomery, a transfer from Navarro Junior College, is making his presence felt on the Aggies' defensive front. In the past five games, Montgomery has compiled 26 tackles, including six for a loss of 16 yards. Montgomery missed the first two games and had just two stops in the next two games.