SWC Game of the Week: Texas at Texas A&M

We’ve come to the last week of the college football season and the last SWC Game of the Week. (Look for a special bowl edition come bowl bids.) This week’s newsletter will come to you early to catch you before the Thanksgiving Break, and to allow you plenty of time to get all lathered up for this week’s game. We’ll end with the biggest game of the SWC, A&M vs. Texas. A&M won last year 12-7 on the Longhorns home turf, ending their BCS bowl hopes and their chance to play in the Big 12 Championship Game. This year the Longhorns have an outside shot at the Championship Game (if OSU beats OU) and the Aggies are playing for pride, and perhaps a bit better bowl bid. This may also be the final game for Aggie Coach Fran, who is expected to be released from his coaching duties after the season. Kyle Field should be rocking in this national televised contest, ABC 2:30. Enjoy the game, enjoy the turkey, and I hope everyone enjoyed this year’s SWC Game of the Week.

THIS WEEK’S GAME:

This week’s game is the big one, Texas at Texas A&M. This rivalry has been known to split households. The Longhorns and Aggies will meet for the 114^th time with Texas leading the all time series 73-35-7 in a series that dates back to 1894. Texas A&M won last year’s game 12-7 in Austin. With 1,473 combined wins, the Texas, Texas A&M rivalry has more combined wins than any in-state rivalry in the nation. This is the third most played rivalry in college football behind Minnesota vs. Wisconsin (116) and Kansas vs. Missouri (115). The game will not be played on Thanksgiving for the 14^th consecutive year, with the last 10 years the game as been played the Friday after Thanksgiving. The rivalry has been played on Thanksgiving 60 times, starting in 1901. The Aggies are led by a ground attack that along with only 4 other schools, features 3 backs with over 500 yards. Michael Goodson and Jorvorski Lane the “thunder and lightning” combo out of the backfield, and the Aggies leading rusher, QB Stephen McGee pace the Aggie attack. Aggie tight end, Martellus Bennett has caught a pass in 28 straight games, setting an Aggie record and providing a threat in the air for the Aggies. The Aggies have scored on 43 out of 49 trips to the red zone, relying heavily on Lane, the big back who has scored 44 career touchdowns, tying him for all time on the Aggie list. Senior defensive end Chris Harrington anchors the Aggie Defense, among the leaders sacks, tackles for loses and forced fumbles. The Longhorns offense is led by QB Colt McCoy and RB Jamaal Charles. Jamaal Charles has been named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker award given to the best running back in the nation. Charles has 1,366 yards on 214 carries and has scored 15 touchdowns so far this season, averaging 124.2 yards a game. McCoy has a 19-5 record as the Texas starting QB and is the 4^th UT player to record 2,500 yards in consecutive seasons. McCoy looks for Nate Jones, Quan Crosby, and TE Jermichael Finley, all with over 40 receptions. Texas ranks 12^th nationally in rush defense this year. Seniors Frank Okam and Derek Lokey lead the rush defense from their defensive tackle positions. Okam is on the Outland Trophy watch list. On paper, this game obviously favors the Longhorns, but in a big rivalry game such as this one, you can “throw the records out the window” and the Aggies home crowd should make this another great game in a long history of great games.

COTTON BOWL MEMORIES:

Since A&M won the game last year, 12-7, and there are too many Longhorn Cotton Bowl’s to choose from, this week’s Cotton Bowl Classic Memory will be from the 1968 game featuring the Texas A&M Aggies against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama (8-1-1) entered the game ranked #7 in the UPI and the Aggies at 6-4 ended a string of 10 Cotton Bowls with both teams ranked in the top 10. The game was almost secondary to the coaching match-up between the legendary Bear Bryant and Gene (Bebes) Stalling. Stalling was a Junction Boy, from Bear’s preseason training camp during Bryant first season at A&M. The Aggies began the season with a last second loss to SMU, and then lost the next 3 as well in narrow defeats. The Aggies found their game though and won the last 6 contests to earn the SWC title and a trip to the Cotton Bowl for the first time since 1942. Aggie QB Ed Hargett threw 21 passes in the first half, two for touchdowns, the last with 21 seconds to go before the half to give A&M a lead. Both teams scored in the 3^rd quarter and the Aggies held on while Bama QB Ken Stabler led the Tide to the Aggie 29 on the last drive before turning the ball over on downs. The Aggies would win that day, 20-16 and one of the Cotton Bowl’s most memorable photographs was taken, Bear lifting Stallings at midfield after the game.

EXTRA TIDBIT:

ESPN has a nice story on Dan Jenkins, the TCU Alum and college football fan / sportswriter. As Dan Jenkins wrote, “Football to Joe Coffman, and thousands of other Texans, had always been as essential as air conditioning. It was what a Texan grew up with, fed on, worshipped, followed, played, and, very often, died with." While Dan Jenkins may be more elegant than the SWC Game of the Week Correspondent, he’d be happy with you for reading and remembering the SWC and the “Good Ole Days” of College Football.

OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK:

Arkansas at LSU (Arkansas tries to knock off #1 LSU, and further cloud BCS Championship)

Texas Southern at Houston (UH takes on other cross town “rival” who is winless this year)

Tulsa at Rice (Rice looks for revenge against former coach, win by Rice knocks Tulsa out of championship game)

SMU at Memphis (SMU wraps up miserable season, hopes to send Coach Bennett out on winning note)

TCU at San Diego State (TCU working on bowl positioning)

RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK:

SWC Game of the Week, Week 11:

Arkansas 45 Mississippi State 31 (Arkansas keeps Little Rock streak alive, although McFadden held under 100 yards rushing)

Other Games:

Oklahoma State 45 Baylor 14 (OSU offense is rolling, Baylor starts coaching search, maybe Singletary?)

Houston 35 Marshall 28 (U of H now needs help from Rice to get to conference championship game)

Tulane 45 Rice 31 (Rice gives up too many yards on the ground, Drew Bear sees first college football game)

UCF 49 SMU 20 (SMU can’t keep up with Central Florida)

TCU 34 UNLV 10 (TCU wins, bowl eligible)

Texas Tech 34 OU 27 (Tech gets upset of the week, 11^th time top 5 team falls to the unranked)

STANDINGS:

	Conference:		Overall:
	W	L	W	L
Texas	4	0	9	2
Texas Tech	4	1	8	4
Houston	1	0	6	4
TCU	2	1	6	5
Arkansas:	0	0	7	4
Texas A&M	1	1	6	5
Baylor	1	4	3	9
Rice	1	4	3	8
SMU	0	2	1	9

FINAL WORD:

That’s a wrap for this week. Please feel free to forward to your friends, send me emails of those that should be included that aren’t, and submit your additions to the weekly newsletters (favorite SWC memories, player bio’s, funny old SWC stories, mascot hijinks, etc.) If you are receiving this note and you don’t want to, shame on you, but let me know, I’ll take you off the list.

Remember to visit http://www.honortheswc.com/home.asp and help build the SWC Gallery in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

SWC Game of the Week: Mississippi State at Arkansas

This week SWC Game of the Week must make our yearly stop in Arkansas. They of course were the first defectors from the SWC, but we must forgive and forget and include them in our tribute. Houston Nutt, the Arkansas coach, has been facing some heat lately as longtime legend Frank Broyles leaves as athletic director. It would be nice if Texas and Arkansas could find a way to play each other every year, but these days it’s complicated. (Just like A&M vs. LSU). We’re nearing the end of the season, only two more weeks, so enjoy while you can.

THIS WEEK’S GAME:

This week’s game is Mississippi State at Arkansas in Little Rock. The two will meet for the 18^th time with Arkansas holding a 11-5-1 advantage including 8 straight victories and 12 out of 13. Arkansas is also 21-1 in games played in Little Rock since 1998. Arkansas is lead on offense by their explosive back Darrin McFadden, who is also a Heisman Trophy winner. Darrin McFadden was Arkansas’s first Heisman Trophy finalist last year. He is the Razerback’s all time leading rusher and is 4^th in the country this year averaging 143.1 yards a game. McFadden is joined in the backfield by Felix Jones and the two are the first two teammates in the history of the SEC to rush for 1000 yards in back to back seasons. Jones is averaging 103 yards rushing a game, for 30^th in the NCAA. The Arkansas defense is ranked number 2 nationally in passing defense. The two corners, Michael Grant and Jerell Norton are leading the pass defense for the Hogs. Arkansas is bowl eligible for the 8^th time in 10 seasons for their coach Houston Nutt, however, the Hog faithful are not satisfied with this and there is some heat to fire Nutt. The Mississippi State Bulldogs are coming off a 21-17 upset victory of the Alabama Crimson Tide. With that victory they are bowl eligible for the first time since 2000 and will seek their first ever victory in the state of Arkansas. Bulldog sophomore tailback Anthony Dixon has 414 carries for 1582 yards and 22 touchdowns on his career, inching him up in the MSU record books in all categories. On defense sophomore Anthony Johnson was the SEC Defensive player of the game. His 100 yard interception return for a touchdown was the play of the game for MSU.

COTTON BOWL MEMORIES:

This week’s Cotton Bowl memory is from the 1965 contest between Arkansas and Nebraska. Arkansas was unbeaten and untied, representing the SWC and were ranked #2 in the land. Coach Frank Broyles squad trailed only Alabama in both wire service polls. The Cotton Bowl could have a decision in the national championship for the 3^rd time in 6 years and the second straight year. Nebraska was 9-1 however, ranked #3 in the UPI and #6 by the AP. Arkansas defense would limit the Cornhuskers to 11 first downs and 168 yards with one touchdown. It was the first score against the Razerbacks, who shut out their last 5 opponents, only allowing 57 points in 10 games. Nebraska, coached by Bob Devaney, matched the Hogs, allowing only 11 first downs and 176 yards. 80 of those 176 yards came on the last drive. QB Fred Marshall keyed the rally with a 10 yard run and a 28 yard pass to Jim Lindsey, taking the Razerbacks to the Husker 5 yard line. Bobby Burnett would score the winning TD from there with 4:41 left in the contest. Thanks to an old foe, the Razerbacks would win the Football Writers Association National Championship. The Longhorns, who lost only to Arkansas 14-13, beat Alabama in the Orange Bowl 21-17. Interesting note, the AP and UPI polls were not voted after the last game, not taking into account the bowl games.

OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK:

Oklahoma State at Baylor (Guy Morris’s last game as Baylor head man)

Marshall at Houston (Houston looks to rebound against the Thundering Herd)

Tulane at Rice (Rice, on two game win streak, looks to take it to the boys from the Big Easy)

UCF at SMU (SMU trying to find a few wins at the end of their season)

UNLV at TCU (TCU with rare Sat. game)

OU at Texas Tech (Tech has a chance to play spoiler against Sooners)

RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK:

SWC Game of the Week, Week 8:

Texas 59 Texas Tech 43

Other Games:

Tennessee 34 Arkansas 13 (Hogs struggle with Rocky Top)

OU 52 Baylor 21 (Baylor, only one more game…)

Tulsa 56 Houston 7 (Houston falls on its face in big conference showdown)

Rice 43 SMU 42 (Well, someone did have to win, and it was Rice on a last second field goal)

Missouri 40 Texas A&M 26 (Aggies out classed by the Tigers, but they play hard)

BYU 27 TCU 22 (TCU winding down a disappointing season)

STANDINGS:

	Conference:		Overall:
	W	L	W	L
Texas	4	0	9	2
Texas Tech	4	1	7	4
Houston	1	0	5	4
TCU	2	1	5	5
Arkansas:	0	0	6	4
Texas A&M	1	1	6	5
Baylor	1	4	3	8
Rice	1	4	3	7
SMU	0	2	1	8

FINAL WORD:

That’s a wrap for this week. Please feel free to forward to your friends, send me emails of those that should be included that aren’t, and submit your additions to the weekly newsletters (favorite SWC memories, player bio’s, funny old SWC stories, mascot hijinks, etc.) If you are receiving this note and you don’t want to, shame on you, but let me know, I’ll take you off the list.

Remember to visit http://www.honortheswc.com/home.asp and help build the SWC Gallery in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

SWC Game of the Week: Texas Tech at Texas

This week is the Tech vs. Texas game in Austin. For some reason it seems our friends in Lubbock do not get as excited about the Longhorns as they do for the Aggies. Or, the answer maybe that Texas just beats them, so you hear less about it. This week’s game should be a good one. Tech has struggled against top tier teams, which Texas is definitely included in that bunch. However, Texas has had to pull some last minute victories out this year, specifically the last two games. Now, this SWC Game of the Week Correspondent thought for sure that Texas was primed for an upset last week on the road against a decent OSU team, and I was proven wrong by a last minute field goal. Maybe that upset is waiting for this week? Tech has the funky offense that when clicking is hard to defend and Texas is without some key personnel due to injury. We’ll just have to wait until Saturday and let them settle it on the field.

THIS WEEK’S GAME:

This week’s game features the Texas Tech Red Raiders traveling to Austin to take on the Texas Longhorns. Texas leads the all time series 42-14 or 41-14 depending on what press release you read. The Longhorns have won the last 4 games however and Tech’s last win in Austin was in 1997. Tech is of course led by their ridiculous video game offense. QB Graham Harrell is now only 611 yards short of 10,000 yard passing for his career. That’s one good game for these guys. The Red Raiders are averaging 42.4 points a game this year, which ranks second in the Red Raider record books. They have only 11 drives stall after only 3 plays, the ole three and out, this year. While 16 Red Raiders have caught passes this year, the best may be freshman Michael Crabtree. He has accumulated 1512 yards receiving (first in the NCAA) thus far this season as well as catching 18 touchdown passes. He has caught a total of 118 balls this year, also first in the NCAA. The defense at Tech has been much improved since Ruffin McNeal took over as defensive coordinator. They currently rank 3^rd in the Big 12 conference in total defense behind only Kansas and Oklahoma, allowing 344.6 yards a game. DE Brandon Williams has led the defensive with 5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. CB Jamar Wall leads the Raiders with 4 interceptions. The Longhorns are coming off their annual come from behind victory over OSU. Since 1998 they are 39-4 against Texas teams earning them a state champ moniker. Center Dallas Griffin was lost for the season against the OSU Cowboys, and this will hurt the Longhorns. Colt McCoy gets most of the success and accolades for the Longhorn offense, but the recent comebacks have been as easy as giving the ball to sophomore Jamaal Charles. He has rushed for 1192 yards this season, the 10^th best total in UT history. The last two games, comeback wins over Nebraska and OSU, he has rushed for 470 yards and 6 touchdowns on 49 carries (9.6 yards per carry). Jermichael Finley, the Longhorn tight end, is another unexpected offensive source with 67 receptions for 872 yards this season with 5 TD’s. On defense the Longhorns have a veteran linebacker crew, with seniors Scott Derry and Robert Killebrew, junior Rashad Bobino, and sophomore Roddrick Muckelroy. This group will have their hands full against the high flying Tech attack. This game can be seen on ABC at 2:30 CST.

COTTON BOWL MEMORIES:

This week’s Classic Memory is from the 1939 game featuring Texas Tech “hosting” St. Mary’s. National Champion TCU elected to go to the Sugar Bowl this year, leaving Tech to host. Remember, this is before Tech was a SWC member (that would come 21 years later), but also before the Cotton Bowl had an agreement with the SWC to invite its champion. Tech, coached by Pete Cawthon, was 10-0 that year and was ranked #11 in the nation. The Red Raiders viewed this game as a chance to show they deserved SWC membership. The St Mary’s Gaels from California were 5-2, but the two loses by a total of 8 points were to national powers California and Fordham. They also suited out 31 sophomores on a 47 man squad. (Remember freshmen were not eligible for the varsity squad.) Tech struggled with turnovers with 8 on the day, 5 coming on interceptions. Tech QB Gene Barnett did throw two 4^th quarter touchdown passes to Elmer Tarbox and E.J. McKnight to pull Tech within 7 but another Barnett pass to George Webb for 45 yards was a few yards short as time expired with Tech just short of the goal line. The final score read St. Mary’s 20, Texas Tech 13, the first defeat for Tech since losing 12 months earlier to West Virginia in the Sun Bowl. Texas Tech would not appear in another Cotton Bowl until 1995, getting the nod after a funky 6 team tie for first in the conference (A&M at 10-0-1 was ineligible for post season play) because their Cotton Bowl drought was the longest.

OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK:

Arkansas at Tennessee (If Dolly Parton has recorded your fight song, you need a new one)

Baylor at OU (Dr. Pepper and Oreo’s, Breakfast of … Bears!)

Houston at Tulsa (Houston looks to keep rollin’ in the CUSA against the Golden Hurricanes. What is a Golden Hurricane? (Keep responses PG please))

Rice at SMU (Someone has to win, and Rice is on a roll)

Texas A&M at Missouri (Fran’s farewell tour hits the Show Me State, why don’t they just fire him and we can all get on with our lives?)

TCU at BYU (TCU wanted a conference with big games, like BYU, huh? On Thursday night, but no ESPN. Big Time!)

RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK:

SWC Game of the Week, Week 8:

Houston 38 SMU 28 (SMU stomps on UH symbol before game, then UH wins game after that apparently upset them)

Other Games:

Arkansas 48 South Carolina 36 (Run DMC goes off for 323 yards, Hogs beat Cocks)

Texas Tech 38 Baylor 7 (Baylor woes continue. Tech good at beating bad teams)

Rice 56 UTEP 48 (Clement throws for 395, runs for 103, accounts for 8 TD’s, gets a buckeye)

Texas 38 OK State 35 (Well, I forgot to factor in the Cowboy 2^nd half collapse against the Longhorns)

OU 42 Texas A&M 14 (Fran can’t get the Aggies motivated, Sooners have a cake walk)

TCU 37 New Mexico 0 (These Aggies were shut out by the Froggies)

STANDINGS:

	Conference:		Overall:
	W	L	W	L
Texas Tech	4	0	7	3
Texas	3	0	8	2
Houston	1	0	5	3
TCU	2	1	5	4
Arkansas:	0	0	6	3
Texas A&M	1	1	6	4
Baylor	1	4	3	7
SMU	0	2	1	7
Rice	0	4	2	7

FINAL WORD:

That’s a wrap for this week. Please feel free to forward to your friends, send me emails of those that should be included that aren’t, and submit your additions to the weekly newsletters (favorite SWC memories, player bio’s, funny old SWC stories, mascot hijinks, etc.) If you are receiving this note and you don’t want to, shame on you, but let me know, I’ll take you off the list.

Remember to visit http://www.honortheswc.com/home.asp and help build the SWC Gallery in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.