2009 Texas A&M Aggies football team

2009 Texas A&M Aggies football
Independence Bowl, L 20–44 vs. Georgia
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
DivisionSouth Division
Record6–7 (3–5 Big 12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorNolan Cromwell (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple pro-style
Defensive coordinatorJoe Kines (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumKyle Field
Uniform
Seasons
← 2008
2010 →
2009 Big 12 Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
North Division
No. 14 Nebraska x   6 2     10 4  
Missouri   4 4     8 5  
Kansas State   4 4     6 6  
Iowa State   3 5     7 6  
Colorado   2 6     3 9  
Kansas   1 7     5 7  
South Division
No. 2 Texas x$   8 0     13 1  
Oklahoma State   6 2     9 4  
No. 21 Texas Tech   5 3     9 4  
Oklahoma   5 3     8 5  
Texas A&M   3 5     6 7  
Baylor   1 7     4 8  
Championship: Texas 13, Nebraska 12
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2009 Texas A&M Aggies football team (often referred to as "A&M" or the "Aggies") represented Texas A&M University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by second-year head coach Mike Sherman and played their home games at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. The Aggies finished the season 6–7, 3–5 in Big 12 play and lost in the Independence Bowl 44–20 against Georgia.

This would be the Aggies' last losing season until 2022.[1]

Pre-season

Pre-season All-Big 12 honors

  • No A&M players were listed in the Media Preseason All-Big 12 team

Pre-season watchlists

Schedule

Phil Steele ranked A&M's strength of schedule 41st.[4]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 56:05 pmNew Mexico*W 41–673,887[5]
September 196:00 pmUtah State*
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX
W 38–3073,599[6]
September 266:00 pmUAB*
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX
W 56–1974,656[7]
October 36:30 pmvs. Arkansas*ESPN2L 19–4771,872[8]
October 1011:30 amNo. 15 Oklahoma State
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX
FSNL 31–3676,153[9]
October 176:00 pmat Kansas StateFCSL 14–6244,934[10]
October 246:00 pmat No. 21 Texas TechW 52–3057,733[11]
October 312:30 pmIowa State
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX
W 35–1072,530[12]
November 712:30 pmat ColoradoFCSL 34–3547,227[13]
November 146:00 pmat OklahomaFSNL 10–6585,013[14]
November 212:30 pmBaylor
W 38–382,106[15]
November 267:00 pmNo. 3 Texas
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX (rivalry)
ESPNL 39–4984,671[16]
December 284:00 pmvs. Georgia*ESPN2L 20–4449,653[17]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Coaching staff

Name Position Alma mater (Year) Year at A&M
Mike Sherman Head coach Central Connecticut State (1978) 2nd
Nolan Cromwell Offensive coordinator Kansas (1977) 2nd
Tom Rossley Quarterbacks Cincinnati (1969) 2nd
Randy Jordan Running backs North Carolina (1993) 2nd
Jim Turner Offensive line Boston College (1988) 2nd
Kirk Doll Special teams
Tight ends
East Carolina
Wichita State (1976)
2nd
Joe Kines Defensive coordinator
Assistant head coach
Jacksonville State (1967) 2nd
Buddy Wyatt Defensive line TCU (1990) 2nd
Van Malone Defensive backs Texas (1993) 4th
Charles McMillian Defensive backs Utah State (1995) 2nd
Dave Kennedy Strength and conditioning Nebraska (1985) 2nd

Game summaries

New Mexico

1 2 3 4 Total
New Mexico 0 3 3 0 6
Texas A&M 7 13 14 7 41

The A&M defense showed considerable improvement since the previous season. The defense registered five sacks, three of which came from Von Miller, who played the jack position. In the 2008 season, Miller finished with only 3½ sacks, while the whole defense produced a combined 16.[5] Jerrod Johnson completed 31 of 41 pass attempts for 349 yards to 10 different receivers. The team also lost 123 yards due to 14 penalties, a statistic Sherman was not happy about.[18]

Utah State

1 2 3 4 Total
Utah State 14 0 3 13 30
Texas A&M 14 10 7 7 38

During the second quarter, wide receiver Jeff Fuller suffered a leg injury while attempting to make a catch, and is expected to miss 4–6 weeks. Running back Christine Michael, who rushed for 94 yards, strained his left calf muscle during the third quarter, though should be able to return to practice the following week.[19] A&M did not improve their penalty issues from the season opener, as they were flagged 16 times for 147 yards. The defense also gave up 521 yards to Utah State.[20]

One of the positive aspects of the game was wide receiver Uzoma "EZ" Nwachukwu, who caught three touchdowns and rushed for one. He broke the Aggie freshman single-game touchdown record, which was last set by Leeland McElroy in 1993.[21]

UAB

1 2 3 4 Total
UAB 3 3 6 7 19
Texas A&M 7 21 14 14 56

Arkansas

1 2 3 4 Total
Texas A&M 10 0 3 6 19
Arkansas 7 23 7 10 47

Oklahoma State

1 2 3 4 Total
Oklahoma State 7 7 15 7 36
Texas A&M 0 15 7 9 31

Oklahoma State lost key players Dez Bryant, who was suspended indefinitely, and Kendall Hunter, who had an injury.[22] The Cowboys also lost 118 yards due to penalties, but were still able to win the game.[23]

Kansas State

1 2 3 4 Total
Texas A&M 0 0 14 0 14
Kansas State 17 21 21 3 62

Texas Tech

1 2 3 4 Total
Texas A&M 7 21 10 14 52
#24 Texas Tech 14 0 8 8 30

A&M picked up its first win at Tech since 1993. Tech was ranked #21 in the AP Poll and #24 in the Coaches Poll heading into the game. The Aggies also defeated the Red Raiders in front of a then record-crowd of 57,733.[24]

Iowa State

1 2 3 4 Total
Iowa State 0 3 0 7 10
Texas A&M 14 7 0 14 35

Colorado

1 2 3 4 Total
Texas A&M 7 14 0 13 34
Colorado 0 10 11 14 35

Oklahoma

1 2 3 4 Total
Texas A&M 10 0 0 0 10
Oklahoma 14 28 16 7 65

Baylor

1 2 3 4 Total
Baylor 3 0 0 0 3
Texas A&M 14 7 3 14 38

The Aggies became bowl eligible for the first time since 2007 with a win over Baylor. In the second quarter, freshman running back Christine Michael ran for a 97-yard touchdown, breaking an A&M record for the longest play from scrimmage.[25] The Aggies ran for 375 yards, and for the second time in the season, running backs Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael both ran for over 100 yards. Another record was broken in the third quarter, with Jerrod Johnson breaking Reggie McNeal's record for passing yards in a season.[25]

Texas

1 2 3 4 Total
Texas 7 21 7 14 49
Texas A&M 7 14 3 15 39

Georgia–Independence Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total
Georgia 0 14 10 20 44
Texas A&M 0 7 7 6 20

References

  1. ^ Sattell, Glenn (November 13, 2022). "Texas A&M football: 5 things that went wrong as Aggies guaranteed rare losing season". Saturday Down South. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "A&M's Gray Nominated for 2009 Doak Walker Award". Texas A&M University Department of Athletics. August 4, 2009. Archived from the original on August 10, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2009.
  3. ^ Revello, Bryan (July 29, 2009). "2009 John Mackey Award Watch List" (PDF). Nassau County Sports Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2009.
  4. ^ "Daily Blog – Tuesday June 9th". July 9, 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Justice, Richard (September 6, 2009). "Commentary: A&M takes Crucial Stride in Restoring Confidence". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
  6. ^ "Utah State Aggies vs. Texas A&M Aggies Box Score". ESPN. September 19, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  7. ^ "UAB Blazers vs. Texas A&M Aggies Box Score". ESPN. September 26, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  8. ^ "Texas A&M Aggies vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Box Score". ESPN. October 3, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  9. ^ Rohde, John (October 10, 2009). "How Zac Robinson went from pressing to 'Press On'". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  10. ^ "Texas A&M Aggies vs. Kansas State Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. October 17, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  11. ^ "Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Box Score". ESPN. October 24, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  12. ^ "Iowas State Cyclones vs. Texas A&M Aggies Box Score". ESPN. October 31, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  13. ^ "Texas A&M Aggies vs. Colorado Buffaloes Box Score". ESPN. November 7, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  14. ^ "Texas A&M Aggies vs. Oklahoma Sooners Box Score". ESPN. November 14, 2009. Archived from the original on March 3, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  15. ^ "Baylor Bears vs. Texas A&M Aggies Box Score". ESPN. November 21, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  16. ^ "Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies Box Score". ESPN. November 26, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  17. ^ "Texas A&M Aggies vs. Georgia Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN. December 28, 2009. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  18. ^ Scott, Andrew (September 9, 2009). "Texas A&M dominates UNM in home opener". Diboll Free Press. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  19. ^ Carlton, Chuck (September 21, 2009). "A&M's Fuller sidelined 4 to 6 weeks". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  20. ^ "Texas A&M jumps ahead, tops Utah State 38-30". Associated Press. Retrieved September 20, 2009.[dead link]
  21. ^ Riggs, Randy (September 20, 2009). "Nwachukwu's four touchdowns, A&M win overshadowed by injury to Fuller". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  22. ^ "Halftime: Aggies lead 15-14 over 15th-ranked OSU". Tulsa World. October 10, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
  23. ^ Chatmon, Brandon (October 11, 2009). "Oklahoma State penalized 11 times in win over Texas A&M". The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  24. ^ "Tech Football Notebook". Texas Tech Athletics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  25. ^ a b "Texas A&M bowl eligible with bashing of Baylor". ESPN.com. November 22, 2009. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2009.