A scheduled season-opening matchup between two unranked teams has morphed into a top 25 battle thanks to Hurricane Isaac. Texas A&M and Louisiana Tech, both new members of the Associated Press media and USA Today head coaches polls, will face off on Saturday in a game originally scheduled for Aug. 30, but postponed to Oct. 13 when both teams had open dates. The game, featuring the 4-1 Aggies and 5-0 Bulldogs, will kick at 8:17 p.m., and will be televised nationally by ESPNU.
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- Saturday's matchup will mark the first time that Texas A&M has ever faced a ranked Louisiana Tech squad. Texas A&M has faced the Bulldogs as a ranked team three times previously -- in 1998, 1999 and 2002. It will be the first time the two teams have faced each other as ranked teams.
- It will be the first top 25 matchup in the city of Shreveport since 1993 Independence Bowl with No. 21 Indiana and No. 22 Virginia Tech. The Hokies logged a 45-20 win.
- It will be the second matchup between the Aggies and Bulldogs in Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La. The Aggies opened their 1999 season with a 37-17 win over Louisiana Tech in Independence Stadium. Saturday's matchup will mark just the second time A&M has faced Louisiana Tech away from Kyle Field.
- Texas A&M has never lost to Louisiana Tech, owning a 10-0-0 record against the Bulldogs since the first meeting in 1981.
- The Bulldogs are also a familiar opponent for first-year Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin, whose Houston Cougars rallied for a 35-34 victory over Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La., last season. The Cougars trailed 34-7 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter, but scored the game's final 28 points for the victory.
ABOUT THE TOP 25
Texas A&M made its first appearance in the top 25 rankings this week, debuting in the Associated Press media poll at No. 22 and the USA Today head coaches poll at No. 21. It is A&M's first time in the polls since falling out of the polls after losing to Missouri on Oct. 29, 2011.
Aggies, Bulldogs converge ... statistically
- Texas A&M and Louisiana Tech are two of the three teams in the NCAA FBS that rank in the top 30 nationally in rushing, passing, total and scoring offense. The other team is Oklahoma State.
- There are seven teams in NCAA FBS averaging 225 passing and rushing: Texas A&M, Arkansas State, Georgia, Nevada, Oklahoma State, Oregon and this week's opponent, Louisiana Tech. The Aggies are averaging 290.4 passing and 226.4 rushing per game, while the Bulldogs average 291.2 passing and 232.2 rushing.
Winning on the road
First-year Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin's teams have won eight straight games on the road -- six at the University of Houston and two at Texas A&M. Sumlin's last road loss was at Texas Tech in the Cougars' regular season finale in 2010.
Seeking the big 4-0
In his fifth season as a head coach and his first at A&M, Kevin Sumlin will be seeking his 40th career victory when the Aggies battle Louisiana Tech on Saturday. He enters the game with a career record of 39-18 (68.4 winning percentage).
overcoming turnovers
Texas A&M had to overcome six turnovers to earn its first SEC road victory over Ole Miss on Saturday. The last time Texas A&M had six turnovers in a win was 1995. In that game, A&M lost five fumbles and threw an interception in 56-14 rout of Middle Tennessee State at Kyle Field.
modest streakers
There are 17 teams in NCAA FBS with a longer winning streak than the Aggies' modest four-game string. Among those are four SEC teams (South Carolina/W10, Alabama/W9, Mississippi State/W7 and Florida/W6) and this Saturday's opponent, Louisiana Tech (W5).
freshman leader manziel
Aggie redshirt freshman QB Johnny Manziel is the NCAA's top freshman in four statistical categories: rushing (99.0), passing efficiency (162.83 rating), total offense (356.0 yards per game) and points responsible for (21.6 points per game).
Defensive scores
First-year Aggie defensive coordinator Mark Snyder's defensive crew has already logged three touchdowns in 2012, including one in each of the Aggies' last three games. The Aggies had interception TD returns against South Carolina State (22 yards by Deshazor Everett) and Ole Miss (37 yards by Steven Jenkins) and a 28-yard fumble return by Tramain Jacobs against Arkansas.
It's the first time that A&M has produced defensive touchdowns in three straight games since the 1997 and 1998 seasons when All-American Dat Nguyen was leading the Wrecking Crew. A&M scored on a 35-yard fumble return by Jason Glenn in the 1997 Big 12 Championship against Nebraska, and also on a 64-yard interception return by Brandon Jennings in the 1998 Cotton Bowl against UCLA (Nguyen made the interception and then lateraled to Jennings). In the 1998 season-opener against Florida State in the Kickoff Classic, Jay Brooks hit paydirt on a 21-yard fumble return.
The last time A&M had three defensive scores in a season was 2001.
Seniors within range of milestones
- Senior WR Ryan Swope needs just one catch to become the second Aggie to hit the 200-catch plateau in career catches. The other Aggie with 200 catches is Jeff Fuller. He also needs one TD catch to become the second player with 20 career TD receptions.
- Senior WR Uzoma Nwachukwu is 124 receiving yards away from becoming the fourth Aggies to hit the 2,000-yard level in career receiving yards (Fuller, Terrence Murphy and Swope).
Connections
Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was signed by former Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes, and played his freshman season for the elder Dykes in 1999. Kingsbury went on to develop into a record-setting passer the next three seasons under the direction of Mike Leach, whose Tech staff featured Spike's son and current Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes. During Kingsbury's time at Texas Tech, Sonny Dykes oversaw the Red Raider wide receivers.
There will be several familiar faces on the Louisiana Tech side of the field, which features a pair of former A&M staffers in Mark Tommerdahl and Stan Eggen, who served under Dennis Franchione from 2003-07. Also of note on the LT sideline will be Bulldog assistant coach Pete Perot, who is the father of former A&M tight end Joey Perot.
trends and notables
- The Aggies have scored 223 points in the first five games of 2012, which is the most prolific five-game scoring start since 1917 when A&M scored 246 points against Austin College (66-0), Dallas University (98-0), Southwestern (20-0), LSU (27-0) and Tulane (35-0). In the last four games, A&M has scored 206 points, which is the most in any four-game span by the Aggies since the first four games of 1917 (211 points).
- The Aggies have scored TDs via fumble return, interception return and punt return in a single season for the first time since 2001 when Christian Rodriguez had an INT TD return, Jarrod Penright had a fumble return for TD and Eric Crutchfield and Randall Webb returned blocked punts for scores.
- In his last 11 games, junior Damontre Moore has piled up 25.0 tackles for loss, and has had at least 1.5 in every game.
- More than half of the catches by freshman receivers Mike Evans and Thomas Johnson have resulted in a first down or a touchdown (29-of-47).
- Eighteen of the Aggies' 23 catches on third downs have produced a first down or touchdown.
- Freshman Mike Evans leads the way with six first down or touchdown catches on eight catches, and Uzoma Nwachukwu and Thomas Johnson are a perfect 3-for-3 on third-down catches.
- The Aggies have been dominant in the middle two quarters so far in 2012, but especially in the second quarter when they've outscored their opponents, 99-10. In the second and third quarters, A&M has outscored its opponents, 144-19.
- With 35 all-purpose yards last week against Ole Miss, senior RB Christine Michael became the 13th Aggie to hit the 3,000-yard level in career all-purpose yards.
- A&M already has three turnover-free games in 2012 (in five games). It's the most turnover-free games by the Aggies since 2010 when they had four.
- Texas A&M is completing 67.0 percent of its pass attempts in 2012, which is well ahead of the school record percentage of 61.6 set last season when NFL first-round draft pick Ryan Tannehill took the majority of snaps at quarterback.
- Fifteen Aggies have already made at least one catch in 2012.
- The Aggie defense has allowed 19 20-yard plus offensive plays in 2012, or an average of 3.8 per game.
- Opponents are completing only 53.4 percents of their passes after connecting on 62.4 percent in 2011.
- In the kicking game, punter Ryan Epperson has no touchbacks on 18 boots and kicker Taylor Bertolet has registered a touchback on 27-of-40 kickoffs.
- Freshman WR Mike Evans has led the Aggies in catches in every game.
- The Aggies have six pickoffs after five games, after making just seven in 13 games in 2011.
- A&M has rushed for 200-plus yards in four straight games, while opponents' high rush game is 159 yards (by Ole Miss) for the season.
- A&M opponents have just four punt returns in 2012 for a total of 11 yards with a long return of five yards.
- Opponents average 32:57 in time of possession to the Aggies' 27:03.
- The Aggie defense is limiting opponents to 31 percent in third-down situations (27 of 87).
- Texas A&M's SEC individual leaders are: Johnny Manziel (total offense, 356.0) and Damontre Moore (QB sacks, 1.4/TFL 2.5). Manziel is also third in rushing and passing efficiency.
- The Aggies lead the SEC in total offense (516.80 yards/G), scoring offense (44.6 points/G) and net punting (45.5 average). A&M ranks in top 3 in rushing, passing, punt/KO returns and sacks.
Defensive improvement
The Aggie defense's biggest area of improvement under first-year defensive coordinator has been its ability to keep opponents out of the endzone. Texas A&M is allowing 14.8 points after five games, with a high-point game of 27 last week vs. Ole Miss. The 2012 average nearly halves the 2011 scoring defense average of 28.2. Texas A&M hasn't allowed less than 20 points for a season since 2001, when the Aggies finished with scoring defense average of 18.5.
Texas A&M's Scoring Defense since 2000
Year Points___ gm_____ Avg
2012 74_______ 5_____ 14.8
2011 366______ 13_____ 28.2
2010 285______ 13_____ 21.9
2009 436______ 13_____ 33.5
2008 449______ 12_____ 37.4
2007 337______ 13_____ 25.9
2006 267______ 13_____ 20.5
2005 343______ 11_____ 31.2
2004 291______ 12_____ 24.2
2003 *465_____ 12____ *38.8
2002 280______ 12_____ 23.3
2001 204______ 11_____ 18.5
2000 196______ 11_____ 17.8
* -- School worst total and average
Johnny football making mark
Redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel ranks among the nation's top 60 statistically in six offensive categories. He is the top freshman in rushing, passing efficiency, total offense and points responsibile for, and he ranked No. 2 among freshmen in passing yards.
Manziel in the NCAA Statistical Rankings
Category____________ NCAA Rk Avg. rank among freshmen
Rushing/G_____________ No. 29 99.0 No. 1
Passing Yards/G________ No. 32 257.0 No. 2 behind UCLA's Brett Hundley
Passing Efficiency______ No. 12 162.83 rtg No. 1
Total Offense/G________ No. 6 356.0 No. 1
Scoring/G______________ tNo. 51 8.4 pts tNo. 4
Points Responsible For__ No. 3 21.6 pts No. 1
Nation's Top Dual Threat?
Aggie QB Johnny Manziel has firmly established himself among the nation's most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. Among players ranked in the top 100 nationally in rushing, Manziel ranks No. 1 in total offense with an average of 356.0 yards per game.
2012 NCAA Total Offense Producers (Among Top 100 Rushers)
Rk. Player, School_____________ Total Off/G
1. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M___ 356.0
2. Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois___ 340.7
3. Cody Fajardo, Nevada____________ 331.0
4. Denard Robinson, Michigan______ 323.6
5. Braxton Miller, Ohio State_______ 303.8
Manziel has nose for endzone
Aggie QB Johnny Manziel has a knack for finding the endzone. After five games, Manziel ranks No. 3 nationally in points responsibility with an average of 21.6 points per game.
2012 NCAA Points Responsibility
Rk. Player, School___________ Pts resp for/G
1. Geno Smith, West Virginia________ 30.0
2. Nick Florence, Baylor_____________ 25.5
3. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M____ 21.6
4. Brett Smith, Wyoming____________ 20.5
5. Six players ______________________ 18.0
NEW FACES in New places
Texas A&M's depth chart is brimming with first-year players. The two-deep chart features 16 that are new to the team or redshirted last season, including 10 true freshmen.
Closer Look at the Depth Chart
Offense (8): WR Mike Evans, WR Derel Walker, WR Sabian Holmes, WR Thomas Johnson, OL Germain Ifedi, OL Mike Matthews, OL Joseph Cheek, QB Johnny Manziel
Defense (6): DL Julien Obioha, LB Michael Richardson, DB De'Vante Harris, DB Tramain Jacobs, DB Johntel Franklin
Specialists (3): PK Taylor Bertolet, PK Davis Plowman, KOR Trey Williams
Bold Caps denotes 2012 starter
New scheme, same results
Aggie defensive boss Mark Snyder's new 4-3 defensive scheme gets pressure from all over the front seven with a whopping 11 defenders with at least a half-sack, including five defensive linemen, five linebackers and a defensive back.
Similar to last year when they led the nation in sacks, the Aggies are again near the top of the NCAA quarterback sacks chart with 17 in the first five games despite logging just one sacks in the past two games. Last season the Aggies led the nation with 51 sacks (3.9 per game).
2012 NCAA Team QB Sack Leaders
Rk. School QBS/G
1. Tulsa............................. 4.50
2. San Jose State............... 4.40
3. Arizona State................ 4.20
4. South Carolina............... 4.17
5. Buffalo.......................... 3.60
6. Nebraska....................... 3.50
7. Texas A&M................... 3.40
USC................................ 3.40
Moore on incredible defensive run
Texas A&M junior defensive end Damontre Moore is building on his strong play down the stretch in 2011 with an All-America-type beginning to 2012. In his last 11 games, Moore, in his first season at DE after lining up at LB his first two seasons, has compiled an incredible 13 sacks and 25 tackles for loss.
Damonster's Last 11 Games
Opponent_____________ QBS____ TFL
Missouri________________ 0.0_____ 1.5
at Oklahoma____________ 0.0_____ 2.0
at Kansas State_________ 2.0_____ 3.5
Kansas_________________ 2.0_____ 2.0
Texas__________________ 1.0_____ 1.5
vs. Northwestern _______ 1.0_____ 2.0
Florida_________________ 3.0_____ 3.0
at SMU_________________ 2.0_____ 2.0
South Carolina State____ 1.0_____ 3.0
Arkansas_______________ 0.0_____ 2.5
at Ole Miss_____________ 1.0_____ 2.0
Total________________ 13.0___ 25.0
2012 NCAA Individual QB Sack Leaders
Rk. Player, School_______________ QBS/G
1. Quanterus Smith, W. Kentucky______ 1.63
2. Travis Johnson, San Jose State______ 1.50
Scott Crichton, Oregon State________ 1.50
4. Damontre Moore, Texas A&M____ 1.40
5. Will Sutton, Arizona State__________ 1.30
2012 NCAA Individual TFL Leaders
Rk. Player, School_______________ QBS/G
1. Khalil Mack, Buffalo______________ 2.75
2. Damontre Moore, Texas A&M____ 2.50
Travis Johnson, San Jose State______ 2.50
4. Quanterus Smith, W. Kentucky______ 2.38
5. Scott Crichton, Oregon State________ 2.25
NCAA Active Career QB Sacks/G Leaders
Rk. Player, School_______________ QBS/G
1. Jarvis Jones, Georgia_______________ 1.0
2. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina____ 0.8
Scott Crichton, Oregon State_________ 0.8
4. Damontre Moore, Texas A&M_____ 0.7
Cornelius Carradine, Florida State____ 0.7
net gain for epperson
Incumbent starter Ryan Epperson, who fought off a strong challenge from sophomore Drew Kaser to win the 2012 punting job, has opened the 2012 season with several eye-opening performances. He is averaging 46.1 on 18 boots, and ranks No. 3 in the SEC and No. 8 in the NCAA.
Nine of his 18 punts have been downed inside the opponent 20 yard line with no touchbacks, and only four of his punts have been returned.
The Aggies' season net punt average stands at 45.5 and ranked No. 1 nationally. Last year, the Aggies were No. 94 nationally with a 35.0 net punt average.
2012 SEC Individual Punting Leaders
Rk. Player, School_____________ Avg.
1. Kyle Christy, Florida___________ 46.5
2. Dylan Breeding, Arkansas______ 46.4
3. Ryan Epperson, Texas A&M____ 46.1
4. Brad Wing, LSU_______________ 45.3
5. Richard Kent, Vanderbilt_______ 45.2
2012 NCAA Team Net Punting Leaders
Rk. School__________________ net Avg.
1. Texas A&M_________________ 45.5
2. Air Force___________________ 43.7
3. Texas _____________________ 43.4
4. Florida _____________________ 43.4
5. Eastern Michigan_____________ 42.8
Swope Sets Sights on Receiving Records
- After breaking A&M's single season receptions record in back-to-back seasons, senior wide receiver Ryan Swope is within range of most of the career receiving standard in the Aggies' record book.
- For his career, Swope has 199 catches for 2,298 yards and 19 touchdowns.
- Swope posted a school record with six 100-yard receiving games last season, and has a school record 10 for his career.
- He set another school record with four touchdown receptions against Baylor in 2011. His 206 receiving yards (on 11 catches) against the Bears was the fifth 200-yard game in A&M history.
- A second-team All-Big 12 pick last year, Swope is the SEC's leading active pass catcher in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs.
- Easily the team leader in offensive 20-yard plays last year with 16, including seven 20-yard plus TD plays.
- Was a running back at Austin Westlake High School, but lined up at WR from day one at Texas A&M.
- Aggies are 8-2 in Swope's 100-yard receiving games, and are 8-4 when he has 8 or more catches.
Career Receptions
Player Rec. Years
Jeff Fuller 233 2008-11
Ryan Swope 199 2009-
Terrence Murphy 172 2001-04
Uzoma Nwachukwu 135 2009-
Bethel Johnson 117 1999-02
Career Receiving Yards
Player Yards Years
Jeff Fuller 3,092 2008-11
Terrence Murphy 2,600 2001-04
Ryan Swope 2,498 2009-
Uzoma Nwachukwu 1,876 2009-
Bethel Johnson 1,740 1999-02
Career Touchdowns
Player TDs Years
Jeff Fuller 34 2008-11
Bob Long 19 1966-68
Ryan Swope 19 2009-
Uzoma Nwachukwu 16 2009-
Tony Harrison 14 1990-93
C-Mike returns
- Christine Michael's first name is pronounced: CHRIS-tin, not Christian or chris-TEEN
- Michael's last two seasons have been cut short due to season-ending injuries. He broke his right leg in game 8 in 2010 (vs. Texas Tech) and tore his left ACL in game 9 in 2011 (vs. Oklahoma).
- Despite missing nine games the past two seasons due to season-ending injuries, Michael is the SEC's second-leading active rusher with 2,478 career yards behind Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina.
- Has nine career 100-yard plus rushing games, including four in nine games last season. Aggies are 7-2 in games when C-Mike rushes for 100-plus yards.
- His 2,478 career rushing yards rank No. 11 in school history, and his 3,005 career all-purpose yards rank No. 13.
- Was well on his way to his first 1,000-yard season in 2011 with 899 yards in nine games, including a monster 32-carry, 230-yard, three-TD effort against Arkansas.
Aggies in the NFL
Texas A&M had 18 former players on NFL Opening Day active rosters.
Aggies on NFL Opening Day active rosters
#85 Martellus Bennett, TE, New York Giants
#71 Michael Bennett, DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#95 Rocky Bernard, DL, New York Giants
#79 Red Bryant, DL, Seattle Seahawks
#96 Ron Edwards, DL, Carolina Panthers
#25 Mike Goodson, RB, Oakland Raiders
#42 Cyrus Gray, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
#63 Geoff Hangartner, OL, Carolina Panthers
#96 Kellen Heard, DL, St. Louis Rams
#41 Jorvorskie Lane, FB, Miami Dolphins
#9 Shane Lechler, P, Oakland Raiders
#60 Kevin Matthews, OL, Tennessee Titans
#58 Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos
#48 Don Muhlbach, DS, Detroit Lions
#32 Jordan Pugh, DB, Washington Redskins
#17 Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins
#74 Cody Wallace, OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#94 *Ty Warren, DL, Denver Broncos
* -- Injured in season-opener, placed on
Injured Reserve
Practice Squad
#79 Ben Bass, DL, Dallas Cowboys
#37 Terrence Frederick, DB, New York Giants
#83 Jeff Fuller, WR, Miami Dolphins
#63 Tony Jerod-Eddie, DL, San Francisco 49ers
#80 Jamie McCoy, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
#77 Lucas Patterson, DL, Kansas City Chiefs
Injured Reserve:
#4 Randy Bullock, PK, Houston Texans
NFL Coaching Staffs:
Dennis Allen, Oakland Raiders (Head Coach)
Dan Campbell, Miami Dolphins (Tight Ends)
Kyle Caskey, Cincinnati Bengals (Offensive Quality Control)
Jerry Fontenot, Green Bay Packers (Tight Ends)
Johnny Holland, Oakland Raiders (Linebackers)
Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans (Head Coach)
Kirk Parrish, Seattle Seahawks (College Scouting Coordinator)
Shawn Slocum, Green Bay Packers (Special Teams Coordinator)
TEam captains, leadership council
- Team captains, selected by player voting, are seniors LB Sean Porter, DB Steven Terrell, OL Patrick Lewis and WR Ryan Swope.
- Leadership Council, also selected by player vote, is comprised of SENIORS: LB Sean Porter, TE Michael Lamothe; JUNIORS: OL Jake Matthews, OL Luke Joeckel; SOPHOMORES: QB Jameill Showers, RB Brandon Williams; FRESHMEN: QB Johnny Manziel, WR Mike Evans.