Vol.4 No.18

Game Recap Texas A&M vs. Texas By Rusty Burson

COLLEGE STATION — Some 14 hours before kickoff, as he surveyed the intimate gathering of approximately 65,000 people at Kyle Field, Ja’Mar Toombs momentarily distanced himself from teammates, raised his arms skyward and began pumping his fists into the evening air. The crowd at the "modified" Yell Practice roared its approval, as Toombs practically had to be drug off the field by teammates and Texas A&M personnel.

Moved by the emotional outpouring, the dozen cannon blasts and the candlelight tribute to the 12 Aggies who died while building Bonfire, Toombs seemed to be indicating that he was ready to do his part in the university’s healing process.

That symbolic gesture to an audience in mourning proved prophetic the following morning. On a day charged with emotion and filled with meaning, the Aggies (8-3 overall, 5-3 Big 12) rode Toombs’ broad shoulders, the Wrecking Crew’s resolve and an entire stadium’s passion to one of the most uplifting victories in school history.

Texas A&M 20, Texas 16. In front of national television audience, a record-setting throng of media (712 press credentials issued) and the largest crowd (86,128) to ever witness a football game in the Lone Star State, it was an arm-raising, fist-pumping and tear-jerking moment for the ages in Aggieland.

It didn’t minimize the tragedy, of course. But the feel-good nature of it certainly went a long way toward aiding in the university’s recovery.

"No matter what, we weren’t going to lose," said a wobbly, worn-out Toombs, who scored two touchdowns and carried a career-high 37 times for a career-best 126 yards. "It was more than just a game to us. We relied on each other. We relied on the memory (of the 12 who died at Bonfire). And we relied on our crowd."

Following the game, A&M players, family members and fans also leaned on each other. In fact, when Toombs and other players exited the locker room, they were greeted by hundreds of teary eyes, joyous high-fives and genuine gestures of appreciation.

"I just wanted to say thank you," one elderly woman told players as they walked toward the parking lot. "Everyone in this community, everyone connected to this university, needed this."

For many, the comeback victory over the fifth-ranked Longhorns provided a sense of closure — or at least temporary relief — to what had been a week of grieving. It may also forever change how the 1999 season is remembered and how the current seniors are recalled.

Instead of being emotionally drained by the Nov. 18 tragedy, the Aggies played with more energy and emotion than they have in any game this year. The boisterous — often deafening — crowd fed off the inspired play. In turn, players fed off the energy of the fans.

"The crowd was absolutely unbelievable," A&M wide receiver Chris Taylor said. "You can’t even describe what it was like out there. It just makes you proud to be an Aggie. I’ve never heard this place like it was (on Friday). We weren’t going to let them down, and they weren’t going to let us lose a game that meant so much."

Until last Friday, meaningful games in 1999 had often been a source of frustration for A&M. Against Big 12 foes that finished the season with a winning record, the Aggies were 0-3 entering the Texas game. And in those three losses, A&M had surrendered an average of more than 36 points per game.

Against Texas’ high-powered offense, however, the Aggies held the Longhorns to just two second-quarter touchdowns. Texas managed a season-low 272 yards of total offense and was held to just 89 total yards and four first downs in the second half.

"That was the old Wrecking Crew at its finest," said Chicago Bears rookie linebacker Warrick Holdman, who along with Dallas Cowboys rookie linebacker Dat Nguyen, played on Thanksgiving Day and was on the A&M sidelines for Friday’s game. "I just felt fortunate to be here and experience it for myself. I got some goose bumps."

The Wrecking Crew put the game away with 23 seconds left when Jay Brooks stripped Texas quarterback Major Applewhite of the football and linebacker Brian Gamble recovered it. By doing so, the Aggies also erased the haunting memories of last year’s loss to Texas, when the Longhorns drove the length of the field in the final minutes for a game-winning field goal.

"There was too much at stake and too much to play for to let this slip away," A&M linebacker Cornelius Anthony said. "We’ve had some disappointments on the field this year, and we obviously had the tragedy at Bonfire. But it’s not what happens to you that defines you as a person. It’s how you react to it. I think this win defines what this team and this university is all about."

The A&M defense was able to close things out because the Aggie offense kept pounding away at two of the best defensive tackles in the nation and one of the best defenses in the Big 12. A&M blew several scoring opportunities in the first half and in the third quarter and found itself trailing, 16-6, as a result.

But an A&M offense that has struggled all year to establish a consistent running game continued to hand the ball to Toombs and D’Andre Hardeman. And as the game wore on, Texas’ outstanding defensive front wore down. Toombs brought the Aggies to within 16-13 on a 9-yard run late in the third quarter and helped set up the go-ahead TD, a 14-yard pass from Randy McCown to Matt Bumgardner with just over five minutes left in the fourth.

Toombs got the majority of the tough carries and hard-earned yards, but the blocking performance of the A&M offensive line and Hardeman was every bit as impressive and inspired. For Hardeman, who was declared academically ineligible early last season and has battled a series of injuries this year, the victory was especially sweet.

"That is what you call overcoming adversity," said Hardeman, who carried 10 times for 24 yards. "That’s what this team is about. Personally, I had to sit out a year, miss the Big 12 championship game, miss the Sugar Bowl and go through the summer not knowing my status for sure. Then, I had the injuries this year, which were really frustrating. But this win makes it all worth it. This is very satisfying to me personally and very rewarding for all of us after what we’ve gone through (since Nov. 18) and all season. We’ve overcome a lot of adversity.

"Everything that’s happened and everything we’ve overcome, it just makes you realize that this place is very special. Aggieland, there’s no other place like it."

And perhaps it’s never been quite as good as it was last Friday.

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