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.
Click here to review plays 11-50. 10. Crow’s interception vs. Arkansas (Nov. 2, 1957): The No. 1 ranked Aggies expected to have a challenging day in Fayetteville. If fact, before the game Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant chided star John David Crow for his pregame conduct — from two years previous. Bryant told Crow, who had laughed at a joke on the way to the game in ’55, that “Crow owed him one.” Crow paid him back in a big way. The Aggies led 7-6 late in the fourth quarter, but Arkansas drove deep into A&M’s end of the field in the final two minutes. Then, with less than a minute remaining, Crow intercepted pass at the goal line to clinch the victory.
9. Loud crowd and Alex Morris’ sack (Nov. 28, 1985): This play against Texas was more memorable for what happened before the snap. The always raucous Kyle Field crowd was in a frenzy when the Aggies took a 28-10 lead late in the third quarter. But the crowd raised decibel levels to stratospheric heights when the Longhorns were backed up inside their 20-yard line on third-and-10. Texas quarterback Brett Stafford, claiming his team could not hear the count, would not go under center to take the snap. That only served to make the Aggies crowd even louder. After a nearly three-minute delay, Stafford finally took the snap and was promptly sacked by blitzing cornerback Alex Morris. Click here to watch the video (its settings don't allow us to embed it).
8. Aggies stonewall Bo Jackson (Jan. 1, 1986): Early in the fourth quarter of the Cotton Bowl, the Aggies held a 21-16 lead. However, the Auburn Tigers had driven from their own 6-yard line to the A&M 6 and threatened to take the lead. Three plays later, Auburn had fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line. The Tigers opted to go for the touchdown and looked to Heisman Trophy-winning running back Bo Jackson. He took the fourth down handoff and was quickly hit by linebacker Basil Jackson, then A&M defenders immediately converged as Bo was dropped for a one-yard loss. The Aggies also stopped Jackson on another fourth down run on Auburn’s next series and went on to post a 36-16 victory.
7. Gamble’s fumble recovery vs Texas (Nov. 26, 1999): The Aggies held a 20-16 lead late in the fourth quarter against Texas, but the Longhorns had driven from their own 11 to the A&M 45-yard line in the final minute. The previous year, Texas quarterback Major Applewhite had led the Longhorns on a game-winning last-minute drive, and the Kyle Field crowd was concerned he might do it again. This time, however, Jay Brooks sacked Applewhite and forced a fumble, which linebacker Brian Gamble recovered to clinch an emotional victory. Gamble then struck an iconic pose as he reached skyward from knees in recognition of 12 Aggies who had perished in the Bonfire tragedy days before.
6. Deshazor Everett interception vs. Alabama, Nov. 10, 2012: The Aggies were clinging to a 29-24 lead over No. 1 ranked Alabama, but the Crimson Tide was facing fourth-and-goal at the A&M 2-yard line with 1:42 remaining in the game. Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, who threw just three interceptions that season, threw toward the right pylon for receiver Kenny Bell. Instead, Everett stepped in front of Bell at the goal line to make the interception and clinch the Aggies’ upset victory.
#9 epitomizes the reason why I want to resume playing the 'sips. That was the absolute best game ever played at Kyle Field and that play plus the goal line stand in the same game were the best plays ever. We kicked their buts on the field where it counted and we ruled them for many years where it counted.
Carl Roach's end around on the second play of the '75 tu game needs to be on the list. At that moment everyone knew we'd break the curse and prevail that day!
