November 9, 2002
COLLEGE STATION, Texas-- Oklahoma couldn't escape Texas A&M this time, and it could cost the Sooners (No. 2 ESPN/USA Today, No. 1 AP) a shot at the national title.
Saturday's 30-26 loss certainly will drop the Sooners (8-1, 4-1 Big 12) from the No. 1 position in both the Associated Press poll and the Bowl Championship Series standings.
The Aggies (6-4, 3-3) beat a No. 1 team for the first time in school history behind freshman quarterback Reggie McNeal, who came off the bench to throw for 191 yards and four touchdowns. He had scoring passes on three straight possessions to give Texas A&M its first lead.
McNeal's 40-yard TD to Terrance Murphy with 1:51 left in the third quarter put the Aggies ahead 27-23 before the teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter.
Terrence Kiel, who was burned for an earlier touchdown, intercepted Nate Hybl's pass with 1:12 left to seal the victory.
When the Sooners won the national championship two years ago, they arrived at Kyle Field coming off three straight impressive wins over Top 25 teams. Then they overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 35-31, propelling them to the national title game.
Oklahoma was trying to follow the same path this time. It entered Saturday's game after beating Texas, Iowa State and Colorado. But the Aggies and McNeal, who also rushed for 89 yards, didn't cooperate.
Texas A&M not only damaged Oklahoma's title hopes but gave embattled 14th-year coach R.C. Slocum a sorely needed victory.
The Aggies had lost three straight games at Kyle Field, after losing just four times there throughout the 1990s. They'd blown fourth-quarter leads of 18 and 17 points their last two home games.
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME NOTES
BEATING NO. 1- Tonight's 30-26 win against No. 1-ranked Oklahoma was A&M's first against a top-ranked team in The Associated Press poll. A&M beat Kansas State in the 1998 Big 12 Championship game when the Wildcats were No. 2 by AP and No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. A&M is now 2-9 against top-ranked teams. R.C. Slocum is 6-5 at home against top 10-ranked teams.
McNEAL STEALS THE SHOW---
MURPHY GOES DEEP--- Terrence Murphy had five receptions for a season-best 128 yards and a career-best two touchdowns. His career high is 10 catches for 146 yards against Colorado in 2001. He has three TD catches for the season and six in his career.
JOHNSON MATCHES B. LONG'S RECEIVING TDS MARK--- Senior wide receiver Bethel Johnson pulled in his eighth touchdown catch of the 2002 to match the 34-yard old season receiving touchdown record set by Bob Long in 1967 and again in 1968. The touchdown also moved Johnson into a tie for fourth on the career touchdown receptions list with 11. Johnson had three catches today and is just one shy of the school record
FOR THE RECORD---
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME QUOTES
COACH R.C. SLOCUM:
(on putting McNeal in game)"It was just something I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to play both of them. We had the same game plan whether it was Dustin or Reggie in the game. Reggie's poise was impressive. I can't say I was surprised. I thought all along that he had special qualities. I didn't want to throw him out there too soon. We brought him along throughout the season. I'm going to continue to get him in the game and develop him as a player. The most pleasing thing is the character of our team. We've had a lot of things not go our way this year. We talked this week about how it was more important to focus on how well the guys on the field play and not those who aren't able to play. Cody's punting was an important part of the game. We knew this game would require us to do a lot of things right and we knew we had to beat them in special teams. It was important for us not to give them a short field to work with. At the time, all wins are special. This is certainly a big one. It ranks with all the others in the past. Our defense gave a great effort. We have tremendous respect for Quentin Griffin. We knew we'd have to gang tackle him. I thought he had a great game.
(on late first half TD) I thought when we got the ball back we needed to go down and do something. The offense did a great job."
TEXAS A&M QUARTERBACK REGGIE MCNEAL:
(On late first half TD)"We were just trying to score. At the last second, I saw Porter and took a hit for the team, but I found him. I knew I'd have chances to go deep on them. It's a great feeling to beat the No. 1-team in the nation. I knew going into the game that I would play a little, but I didn't know I'd play almost the whole game. I just gave it 110 percent and it worked out. I was able to get in the groove of the game and that might have helped. Coach told me if I got in to play like I knew I could play. After the first touchdown to Murphy, I felt like tonight was the night. We had that mindset and we were going to do anything it took."
TEXAS A&M SAFETY TERRENCE KIEL:
"There was no difference in practice this week. We just stayed focused and played with intensity."
TEXAS A&M LINEBACKER BRIAN GAMBLE:
"We've set a mark. We weren't ranked in the top 25 but we knocked off the No. 1 team in the nation at Kyle Field. (On Penright's early-week statements) He spilled his heart and he was challenging us to step up. It was important to get the crowd into it early. We did that with the play to Porter at the end of the first half and it carried over. Tonight was picturesque Kyle Field. Coach Slocum's got to be excited. He's known what we could do all along. We made the plays and finally got it."
TEXAS A&M LINEBACKER JERROD PENRIGHT:
(On early week statements he made) "It wasn't a challenge just to the team, but to me as well. We had settled for less in the past and we had to take advantage of the abilities we've been given. It is us understanding the ability God gave us and us using it. We can do anything that we put all of our hearts and souls into. (on fourth quarter) When knew we had lost most of our games in the fourth quarter, so we gave it our all. We gave 100 percent effort."