Former A&M LB Brian Gamble relives 1999 fumble recovery vs. Texas

Known for his iconic fumble recovery during the 1999 Bonfire game, former A&M linebacker Brian Gamble is now on the coaching staff at UTRGV. During Tuesday's edition of TexAgs Radio, we caught up with Gamble as the Lone Star Showdown prepares to return in 2024.

Key notes from Brian Gamble interview

• UTRGV has been pretty wild and exciting. I have been through this before. I was coaching at UIW, and I was apart of the first staff that started the program. I have been at UTRGV from the ground floor. We went all fall and spring with four coaches. We were recruiting and driving all over the state. Doing what 11 to 12 guys would do. When it comes to setting a culture and buying equipment, you have to think about all that. It’s fun to have your stamp on something. 
   
• The big selling point is the opportunity to be the first to do something. To be trendsetters and leave your legacy. Coach Travis Bush was on the first staff at UTSA and built that program. The way things are set you here gives our young men an opportunity for success and for success early.
   
• We can't scrimmage other programs. We looked into all facets of NCAA rules. We will bring players in. They will all redshirt. It is a great chance for them to learn everything we want them to know at a pace where they are not breaking their neck. They can be involved. There are no scout teams. Everyone is trying to earn a spot. We will keep it fun and competitive. 
   
• I was excited to see coach Mike Elko get here. I had the opportunity to meet him recruitng on the road. I was always impressed with his defenses from a schematic style and style of play. Clearly, the stats show what he was able to do.
   
• At Duke, that is traditionally a pretty hard place to win at. He did it at a high level. He came in, and there wasn't a lot of razzle-dazzle around the program. He put his head down and went to work. That is what A&M has been built on. We don't need to talk a lot. Let the product show for itself.
   
• There are high expectations, which there should be. Anytime you go into year one, you kind of have to learn a new language, especially, There is a learning curve. They have a talented roster. How quickly they gel will tell the tale of season one. 
   
• It's become a little bit of a defensive game. Having a defensive head coach... You look at the programs that have been successful. Alabama and Georgia had defensive-minded head coaches. Typically, that brings success.
   
• Coach R.C. Slocum was a great mentor. He hired a lot of good coaches. I still talk to him at least once a year. My position coach was Alan Weddell. We are still very close. Part of the reason I got into college coaching was from my experience at A&M and with coach Weddell. I keep with a lot of the former staff. They have been great mentors to me throughout my career.
   
• The 1998 team had so many great leaders. Dat Nguyen, Dan Campbell, Rich Coady, Warrick Holdman... Dat probably had the most impact on me because I sat in the meeting room with him every day. I tried to emulate what he did. 
   
• I’m excited to see what this new era looks like. Anything can happen in the game of football, and that's what makes it exciting. 
   
• In the 1999 game against Texas, we could travel as freshmen. The game before, A&M was up. Texas ended up driving down late and kicked a field goal to beat us. It was the two-minute scenario.
   
• Jay Brooks made a good play on the quarterback. It was one of those bang-bang things. I saw the ball drop. Natural instincts, I got on it. There was a lot going on at the bottom of the pile, but it was one of those moments where you go to a happy place and hold onto that football.
   
• In any football movie you see, it’s normally former college and NFL players doing the stunts. We did a movie called “The Express.” It’s the story of Ernie Davis. We did “Friday Night Lights,” the TV show. I had a small speaking role in one of the season two episodes.