Not sure how/why #45 makes the cut. I love Von, but that was just another play. And he didn't make the tackle. And we were up 14 with 1:30 left in the game. Odd choice.
45-41 Discussion
Matt Bumgardner Q&A
Texas A&M Football
Oh my gracious, there have been dozens of great plays in Texas A&M football history.
With that in mind, TexAgs is ranking the greatest 50 plays in Texas A&M football history. The list will be revealed five plays at a time from No. 50 to No. 1.
There were big runs, big catches, big hits, big kicks and big returns. Some produced iconic moments. Some clinched championships. Some contributed to stunning upsets. Some even came in losses. There was “The Hit,” “The Texas Special” and “Bo No Go.” There was Johnny Football, Sirr Parker and Toooombs.
They will bring back great memories. They will cause great debates. There will be questions like “How could that play not be higher?” or “Why was this play omitted?”
Oh Doctor, it was hard compiling our list. See how closely yours matches ours.
45. Von Miller stuffs DeMarco Murray (Nov. 6, 2010): The Kyle Field crowd was going crazy with A&M holding a 33-19 lead late in the fourth quarter. However, No. 11 Oklahoma was threatening with a fourth-and-goal at the Aggies 2-yard line. A touchdown would keep the Sooners’ hopes alive. A&M, which had already mounted two goal line stands, could finish off the upset with another stop. Sooners quarterback Landry Jones handed off to running back DeMarco Murray, who headed around the left end. However, A&M linebacker Von Miller immediately converged and pushed Murray back to the 7-yard line on the sideline. Murray was able to get loose, but was quickly taken down by cornerback Dustin Harris at the 4-yard line to clinch the Aggies win.
44. Bumgardner’s diving catch vs. Kansas State (Dec. 5, 1998): The Aggies appeared beaten in the Big 12 championship game until Dat Nguyen forced Kansas State quarterback Michael Bishop to lose a fumble. Still, the Aggies were trailing 27-19 with 2:21 left and were facing first-and-25 at midfield against a Kansas State defense that ranked third in the nation. In need of a big play, quarterback Branndon Stewart threw deep to Matt Bumgardner, who was well covered by Dyshod Carter. Carter swatted at the football with his right hand and barely missed. Bumgardner made a diving catch at the 14-yard line with 2:15 remaining. The play — Bumgardner’s only catch of the game — set up a game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion.
43. Nguyen, Jennings team up for TD (Jan. 1, 1998): On UCLA's second drive of the Cotton Bowl, quarterback Cade McNown led the Bruins to the Texas A&M 9-yard line. But after a five-yard loss, the UCLA faced second-and-goal from the 14-yard line. McNown, under pressure, then attempted a screen pass. The pass floated and Dat Nguyen snagged the interception at the 16-yard line. Nguyen ran 21 yards with the football before pitching it back to the speedier Brandon Jennings, who covered the remaining 63 yards for the game’s first touchdown. At that time the 86-yard play was the second-longest interception return in Cotton Bowl history.
42. Toombs carries Sooners into the end zone (Nov. 11, 2000): Oklahoma came to Kyle Field ranked No. 1 in the nation, but struggled against the 7-2 Aggies. A&M held a 24-21 lead early in the fourth quarter and were driving toward another score. On fourth-and-one at the OU 27-yard line, coach R.C. Slocum eschewed a field goal attempt and opted to go for the first down. He got more than that. Quarterback Mark Farris handed off to Ja'Mar Toombs, who stormed through a hole over left guard Chris Valletta, got a crushing block from fullback Stacey Jones and rumbled into the OU secondary. He ran through an attempted tackle at the 20, collided with three Sooner defensive backs at the 10 and struggled backward into the end zone. The touchdown gave A&M a 31-21 lead with 13:36 remaining.
41. Bucky catches BYU by surprise (Dec. 29, 1990): The Aggies already held a 23-7 second quarter lead over BYU in the Holiday Bowl and were threatening again. Facing second-and-10 at the BYU 22-yard line, A&M quarterback Bucky Richardson pitched to tailback Darren Lewis on an apparent sweep around left end. Instead, Lewis pulled up and lofted a pass back to Richardson on the right sideline. Richardson was all alone when he made the catch at the 14-yard line and trotted into the end zone for a 30-7 lead with 3:27 remaining in the half. Richardson would go on to score via run, pass and reception as the Aggies pummeled BYU 65-14.
The 50: Ranking Aggie football's greatest plays (45-41)
The 50 is sponsored by The Stella Hotel. Click here to book now.
With that in mind, TexAgs is ranking the greatest 50 plays in Texas A&M football history. The list will be revealed five plays at a time from No. 50 to No. 1.
There were big runs, big catches, big hits, big kicks and big returns. Some produced iconic moments. Some clinched championships. Some contributed to stunning upsets. Some even came in losses. There was “The Hit,” “The Texas Special” and “Bo No Go.” There was Johnny Football, Sirr Parker and Toooombs.
They will bring back great memories. They will cause great debates. There will be questions like “How could that play not be higher?” or “Why was this play omitted?”
Oh Doctor, it was hard compiling our list. See how closely yours matches ours.
45. Von Miller stuffs DeMarco Murray (Nov. 6, 2010): The Kyle Field crowd was going crazy with A&M holding a 33-19 lead late in the fourth quarter. However, No. 11 Oklahoma was threatening with a fourth-and-goal at the Aggies 2-yard line. A touchdown would keep the Sooners’ hopes alive. A&M, which had already mounted two goal line stands, could finish off the upset with another stop. Sooners quarterback Landry Jones handed off to running back DeMarco Murray, who headed around the left end. However, A&M linebacker Von Miller immediately converged and pushed Murray back to the 7-yard line on the sideline. Murray was able to get loose, but was quickly taken down by cornerback Dustin Harris at the 4-yard line to clinch the Aggies win.
44. Bumgardner’s diving catch vs. Kansas State (Dec. 5, 1998): The Aggies appeared beaten in the Big 12 championship game until Dat Nguyen forced Kansas State quarterback Michael Bishop to lose a fumble. Still, the Aggies were trailing 27-19 with 2:21 left and were facing first-and-25 at midfield against a Kansas State defense that ranked third in the nation. In need of a big play, quarterback Branndon Stewart threw deep to Matt Bumgardner, who was well covered by Dyshod Carter. Carter swatted at the football with his right hand and barely missed. Bumgardner made a diving catch at the 14-yard line with 2:15 remaining. The play — Bumgardner’s only catch of the game — set up a game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion.
43. Nguyen, Jennings team up for TD (Jan. 1, 1998): On UCLA's second drive of the Cotton Bowl, quarterback Cade McNown led the Bruins to the Texas A&M 9-yard line. But after a five-yard loss, the UCLA faced second-and-goal from the 14-yard line. McNown, under pressure, then attempted a screen pass. The pass floated and Dat Nguyen snagged the interception at the 16-yard line. Nguyen ran 21 yards with the football before pitching it back to the speedier Brandon Jennings, who covered the remaining 63 yards for the game’s first touchdown. At that time the 86-yard play was the second-longest interception return in Cotton Bowl history.
42. Toombs carries Sooners into the end zone (Nov. 11, 2000): Oklahoma came to Kyle Field ranked No. 1 in the nation, but struggled against the 7-2 Aggies. A&M held a 24-21 lead early in the fourth quarter and were driving toward another score. On fourth-and-one at the OU 27-yard line, coach R.C. Slocum eschewed a field goal attempt and opted to go for the first down. He got more than that. Quarterback Mark Farris handed off to Ja'Mar Toombs, who stormed through a hole over left guard Chris Valletta, got a crushing block from fullback Stacey Jones and rumbled into the OU secondary. He ran through an attempted tackle at the 20, collided with three Sooner defensive backs at the 10 and struggled backward into the end zone. The touchdown gave A&M a 31-21 lead with 13:36 remaining.
41. Bucky catches BYU by surprise (Dec. 29, 1990): The Aggies already held a 23-7 second quarter lead over BYU in the Holiday Bowl and were threatening again. Facing second-and-10 at the BYU 22-yard line, A&M quarterback Bucky Richardson pitched to tailback Darren Lewis on an apparent sweep around left end. Instead, Lewis pulled up and lofted a pass back to Richardson on the right sideline. Richardson was all alone when he made the catch at the 14-yard line and trotted into the end zone for a 30-7 lead with 3:27 remaining in the half. Richardson would go on to score via run, pass and reception as the Aggies pummeled BYU 65-14.
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