Aggies play Baylor for the cellar

Texas A&M travels to Baylor in search of a 5th win

This is a game where traditions and blood count more than records and the bowl games.

The Texas A&M Aggies (4-6 overall, 2-4 Big 12) play the Baylor Bears (3-7, 1-5 Big 12) Saturday at 3:05 p.m. in Waco.

Baylor is coming off a 45-21 drubbing by Texas. The Aggies were smashed last week 66-28 by Oklahoma. The stakes are not high, but prestige and emotions are incalculable. In years past, this game was billed as the Battle of the Brazos, but the Aggies have dominated.

The Aggies hold an 11-1 series record since the inception of the Big 12. The one victory came against failed Aggie Coach Dennis Franchione. It was the first year of Franchione’s five-year tenure.

Both Baylor Head Coach Art Briles and Aggie Coach Mike Sherman are in their first years at their respective teams. Sherman’s record has closely paralleled Franchione’s 4-8 final record in 2003 when the Aggies last lost to the Bears.

The game will be for the absolute cellar dweller in the Big 12 South. It’s an “honor” that no football player wants. Both teams are expected to go all out to avoid that dubious “title”.

Sherman still has a quarterback quandary. He benched sophomore Quarterback Jerrod Johnson in the third quarter against Oklahoma after two of his errant passes were intercepted. Senior QB Stephen McGee came in to finish the game. It appeared that McGee’s shoulder would not allow him to throw deep.

Receivers Jeff Fuller and Terrence McCoy were injured and held out last week. Tailback Mike Goodson played in the second half. He may be ready to start against Baylor.

If Goodson cannot play, Sherman can rely on freshman Tailback Cyrus Gray who was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week. He ran back an OU kickoff. He rolled up an Aggie record 261 yards of kickoff returns including the 98 yard return for a TD.

The Aggies will get their first look at one of the most promising quarterbacks in the Big 12, Robert Griffin. The Bear freshman has been nothing less than a sensation. He has passed for 1,759 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has rushed for 688 yards.

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Sherman praised Griffin this week.

“Well, … he's a threat. When they line up in empty and spread you out all over the field, they're going to try to find that gap that's not fitted up just right and try to attack you there with him. When he takes off he's something special to watch...as a spectator, not as an opposing coach,” Sherman said.

Griffin’s primary target is Wendell Wright, who has 43 catches for 544 yards and four touchdowns.

Baylor has one of the best linebackers in the league. Joe Pawelek is accredited with 114 tackles.

The Bears close out their season next week against Kansas.

Baylor is an eight point favorite on Covers.com.

By Jay Goode
Big 12 Fans Texas A&M Correspondent

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