SACK ATTACK Texas A&M: 24, Notre Dame 3 By Rusty Burson

COLLEGE STATION – Officially, Saturday’s attendance of 87,206 at Kyle Field will enter the record books as the biggest crowd ever to witness a football game in the Lone Star State. But by the end of the first quarter, it probably also could have been labeled as the world’s largest and loudest FFA day.

Mark Farris strolls in for the score on a throwback pass from Oschlor Flemming.

That’s "Farmer Fans of Aggieland," and judging by the postgame buzz of the parking lot parties, membership is united, excited and down-right delighted.

True freshman tailback Derek Farmer made his first collegiate start against Notre Dame and, during the course of Texas A&M’s thoroughly dominating 24-3 win, made believers of virtually everyone inside Kyle Field. Including his teammates.

"During two-a-days, I saw him run and realized he was going to be pretty good," A&M linebacker Christian Rodriguez said of Farmer, who rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. "Then against Oklahoma State, I started thinking he could be great. And he definitely proved that by rushing for 100 yards against Notre Dame. He may bring back memories of Leeland McElroy, Greg Hill and Darren Lewis. What a great way to play in your first start."

Indeed, Farmer was fabulous in first collegiate start, darting past Irish defenders early and running through them late. The same cannot be said of Notre Dame quarterback Carlyle Holiday, who also was making his first career start.

The sophomore from San Antonio was wearing street clothes and a neck brace late in the game – the result of the relentless attack from the revitalized Wrecking Crew. Before he left the game late in the second quarter with a sprained neck, Holiday had been sacked three times, intercepted twice and pounded countless times by the A&M defense.

It wasn’t any better for his replacement, Matt LoVecchio, who was also sacked three times, intercepted once and knocked out of the game with an injury late in the fourth quarter.

True freshman Derek Farmer dazzled the record crowd at Kyle Field with a cutback run for a touchdown in the first quarter.

The combination of Farmer on offense and a ferocious Aggie defense left the Irish physically abused, embarrassed and 0-3 for the first time in the long and storied history of Notre Dame football.

"Right now, we’re an anemic football team," Notre Dame head coach Bob Davie admitted.

For the most part, the Irish looked slow, lethargic and generally uninspired against the Aggies. In fact, the ghosts of Notre Dame’s past probably have more life than this current team.

But no matter how troubled the Irish may prove to be, the real storyline of the game – and the month of September, for that matter – is how vastly improved the Aggies are since the start of the season.

Lackluster wins over McNeese State and Wyoming to begin the year seemed to spell trouble on the horizon for A&M. But ever since R.C. Slocum lit into his team – and particularly the defense – during the post-Wyoming off week, the Aggies have done a 180-degree turnabout in terms of intensity and aggressiveness.

The Wrecking Crew recorded six sacks for the second consecutive game and held its opponent to under 200 yards of total offense for the second straight week. Suddenly, the Aggies’ horizon seems far more promising than problematic.

"We’ve come light years, worlds, whatever, since the start of the season," said inside linebacker Brian Gamble after the Aggies improved to 4-0 for the first time since 1997. "The effort has been outstanding, and we’ve been playing really physical. We’re going out recently and whipping teams physically. We’re wearing teams down, too. Late in a game, they’re huffing and puffing, and we’re thirsting for more. It’s just fun to dominate games. And if we keep improving, we’re going to be an outstanding defense.

"When (Slocum) decided to get on us, we had a complete makeover. Our practices have been full of intensity, and it shows when we go on the field. We’re playing more physical, flying to the football. It’s the old style Wrecking Crew, and it’s exciting."

It wasn’t limited to one side of the football, either. This was, by far, the most complete game of the season for the Aggies, featuring big plays from a variety of individuals and every unit of the team.

Seven A&M players recorded sacks, while three defensive backs made interceptions. The offense, especially in the first half, was crisp and creative. On back-to-back plays in the first quarter, for example, Mark Farris hit Terrence Murphy on a beautiful 45-yard pass, and Farris then caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from running back Oschlor Flemming on a perfectly executed throwback.

It was reminiscent of the Darren Lewis-to-Bucky Richardson throwback in the 1990 Holiday Bowl, and it certainly seemed to take the wind out of Notre Dame’s weary sails. The throwback gave the Aggies a 14-0 lead in the first quarter against a team that has yet to score more than 10 points in a game this season.

A&M’s special teams also joined the fray, as Dawon Gentry set up a field goal with a 39-yard punt return on the first play of the second quarter. And Mr. Special Teams, Jay Brooks, helped put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter when he blocked a punt that was scooped up by true freshman Randall Webb and returned 13 yards for a touchdown.

"They don’t call me ‘Big Play Jay’ for nothing," joked Brooks, who now has five career blocked punts. "To beat good teams, you gotta have big playmakers."

And with much better teams on the Aggies’ schedule in the second half of the season, it was the perfect time for A&M to discover a playmaker of Farmer’s ability in the running game.

Farmer’s 31-yard scoring run in the first quarter gave the Aggies a 7-0 lead and displayed his big-play potential. With his power and speed, he’s a threat to make something big happen every time he touches the ball – something the Aggies have lacked in the running game since at least Dante Hall’s junior season in 1998.

Farmer, who had originally committed to Alabama, didn’t decide to play for A&M until the night before Signing Day last February. Now, the Tyler Lee product says he has no doubts about making the right decision.

"The night before (Signing Day) I just got by myself and made a list of pros and cons about both schools," Farmer said. "I’m just glad I chose Texas A&M, because there’s nothing like playing in front of your home state fans. These fans are great."

The feeling definitely appears to be mutual, Derek.