Texas A&M
ACU
Aggies Roll to 38-10 Win over ACU
Nov 18, 2023 | Football
Twenty-four unanswered points propelled Texas A&M (7-4, 4-3) past ACU (5-6, 3-3). Jaylen Henderson completed 16-of-23 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns, while Moose Muhammad III led the receiving corps with four catches for a season-high 104 yards and a score. Rueben Owens posted his first career 100-yard rushing game with 106 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Bryce Anderson, Jarred Kerr and Edgerrin Cooper recorded five tackles apiece to pace the defense, while Deuce Harmon led the team with a pair of broken up passes.
Texas A&M trailed early in the opening quarter following an ACU interception return for touchdown. The Aggies answered back on the ensuing drive with a 7-yard rushing touchdown by Owens. Randy Bond added a 34-yard field goal to give the Maroon & White a 10-7 lead with 7:59 left in the second quarter. Henderson connected with Noah Thomas for a 13-yard passing touchdown to extend the Aggie lead to 17-7 with 3:26 remaining in the first half.
The Aggies came out of the half attacking through the air as Henderson hit a streaking Muhammad for a 49-yard touchdown pass to make it 24 unanswered points as Ole Sarge's charges took a commanding 24-7 lead into the final stanza.
ACU nailed a 40-yard field goal to make it a 24-10 Texas A&M lead at 14:06. The Aggies tacked on two late scores from a 3-yard David Bailey Jr. rushing touchdown and a 13-yard Jaden Platt touchdown reception from Marcel Reed in the final minute.
Team Notes
- The Texas A&M offense racked up 448 yards of total offense in the victory, marking the seventh time this season it has eclipsed the 400-yard mark.
- The Aggies held ACU to just 93 yards on the ground, keeping the opposition under 100 yards in the category for the sixth time this season.
- The A&M defense made it back-to-back weeks without allowing an offensive touchdown, marking the fourth time this season the unit has not given up a TD.
- A&M limited its opponent to less that 250 yards of total offense for the seventh time this year, giving up just 244 to the Wildcats.
- One of the best defenses in the nation at limiting opponent third downs, the Aggies held the Wildcats to just 4-of-15 on third down conversions.
- A&M improved to 17-0 against in-state schools since joining the SEC ahead of the 2012 season.
- The Maroon & White tallied 6.0 tackles for loss in the victory marking the 10th time this season they have made 6.0-or-more TFLs in a game.
- The Aggies utilized a new 12th Man Kickoff Team composed of all walk-ons plus the placekicker late in the fourth quarter. The last time an all-volunteer group covered a kickoff at Kyle Field was Sept. 9, 2006, against Louisiana Lafayette.
- Today's captains against ACU were OL Layden Robinson, DL McKinnley Jackson, DL Fadil Diggs and WR Ainias Smith.
Individual Notes
- Graduate WR Ainias Smith made it 38 consecutive games with a reception, extending his streak with an 18-yard grab early in the game. He boasts the seventh-longest streak in the nation and the longest by an Aggie since Christian Kirk (2015-17) caught a pass in 39 straight games.
- Smith's two receptions in the game upped his career total to 172 and put him in a tie for fourth with Terrence Murphy (2001-04) for fourth all-time at A&M.
- Junior WR Moose Muhammad III caught the 10th touchdown pass of his career, using a season-long 49-yard reception to move into a seven-way tie for 18th on A&M's all-time receiving touchdowns list.
- Muhammad finished the game with 104 yards on four catches to register the third 100-yard game of his career.
- Sophomore WR Evan Stewart added an 8-yard catch on the day to help him move into a three-way tie for 22nd all-time at A&M with 98 career receptions.
- True freshman RB Rueben Owens had a career day, racking up 106 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown, registering the first 100-yard game of his career and the first by an A&M true freshman running back since De'Von Achane tallied 104 yards on the ground in the Orange Bowl win over North Carolina to cap off the 2020 season.
- Sophomore DBs Jarred Kerr and Bryce Anderson, along with junior LB Edgerrin Cooper led the defense with five tackles apiece.
Postgame Quotes: Elijah Robinson
(quotes courtesy Caption Pros)COACH ROBINSON: Would just like to say it was really good job by our opponents, Abilene Christian. They came out, they were prepared well. Coach (Keith Patterson) did a really good job preparing those guys for the game.
Happy for our guys to come up with a win. Some guys got opportunities today I really excited to see. Like I said, we're happy to walk out of here victorious.
Q. Moose Muhammad got a little extended run today. What changed in the last week that he was able to almost put up the exact same numbers that he had coming into the game just in this game?
COACH ROBINSON: It's nothing new. We all know what Moose is capable of. His time was called. He had opportunities to catch the ball and make plays, but we know what he's capable of. I'm glad to see that he got back after today. And I think he had 100 yards receiving, something like that. But just happy to see him have success today.
Q. What are some of the reasons you think that y'all were getting off to such a slow start in the first half? And what did y'all do at halftime to get those guys to be better in the second half?
COACH ROBINSON: It's been a trying week for those guys, which is not an excuse. Like I said, we got to come back out. First thing we got to do is make sure when we do go into halftime, be able to come back strong and play a full game.
Early on, just was out of the rhythm. Just had to get going. And I think Jaylen [Henderson] came back and did a really good job. I thought we started to move the ball better in second half. Defense kept forcing punts. I just think we started off slow, and I got to get that fixed in practice.
Q. Based off your relationship with these seniors, what did it mean for you to be able to coach them one last time and go out with a win?
COACH ROBINSON: It's a unique group. I told the locker room today, it doesn't mean it's the end of those guys. They just passed the torch on. When you have a brotherhood, the biggest thing is understanding this: It's an obligation to somebody else once they leave. So that's been an amazing group. They all had adversity, all fought through it. They've all been great leaders for us, and they led the way this week during practice.
Q. What did you think of Jaylen's [Henderson] performance going into his second start?
COACH ROBINSON: I thought Jaylen came out. I mean, he stayed consistent. He settled down after the first half. He didn't turn it over. We had the fumble, but he didn't throw the ball to the other team or give it to the other team. He'll keep getting better as the weeks go on.
Q. Toward the end of the game, you guys had the all-walk-on kick-off team. What went into that and having them go out there like that?
COACH ROBINSON: On Senior Day, to be honest, I didn't know we were honoring the 12th Man kick-off team. But on Senior Day, I was trying to figure out how could we get as many seniors out there as much as possible, especially the guys that come every day? They're on the scout team. They get no recognition. They don't get to play a lot. How could we get those guys the opportunity to go on the field? And they'll never forget that. I was excited to see those guys go out there and have success. And they'll forever live with that.
Q. What was your impression of them making that stop, especially on the first time?
COACH ROBINSON: Excited. They got the crowd into it. Like I said, Zach [Clay] comes out every week, and all those guys, and they give us a great look. They don't complain. They're a look team majority of the time. They don't play in the games, but all they do is keep coming back and helping us get better. Those are true Aggies. We had the opportunity to give those guys some playing time today, and they made the most out of it.
Q. How challenging was this week for you? What kind of helped you learn as the week goes and coach these guys?
COACH ROBINSON: Our support, we have a great support staff. We're always on the same page. The support staff and the coaching staff is all on the same page. We made sure as we sat down, we did what we thought was best for the guys. The way we planned practice, the way we had practice, we made sure it was best for the guys. Then you look at the players, the players bought in. Whatever we asked them to do, they did. That made it easy. Those guys wanted to come out here and leave our seniors out the right way. So again, talk about the love for each other. They're prepared to make sure the seniors walk out with a win.
Q. Your impression of what Rueben Owens showed today and how he's progressed this season?
COACH ROBINSON: He's talented. I remember making a statement before about the microwave works the oven. I'm going to keep saying that. He's a guy that trusted the process. He has a great position coach that constantly gets him better. And you see, as the weeks go on, he got better and better. He ran the ball really well today.
Q. You talked about the support staff and players helping you during the week. When you were out there on the sideline taking over the show, did it feel natural? Did it feel different?
COACH ROBINSON: Yeah, it felt natural. Like, all these situations that come up, we try to make sure we have these situations in practice. We try to prepare for them so there's new for us on game day. But it felt natural, yes.
Q. When you went through the week, did you sense a point where the team kind of put everything behind them and really started to turn the corner and just take care of business?
COACH ROBINSON: On Sunday, those guys made an oath to each other. They were going to have a "what's next" mentality. And on Monday, we showed up for practice. They had a "what's next" mentality. Coach, what do we need to do? How do you want us to do it? Let's do it. Those guys were really locked in.
Q. Coach, could Saturday get here soon enough with what you guys had dealt with? I know you just wanted to get on the field and play again, didn't you?
COACH ROBINSON: Yeah, we did. We wanted to get out on the field and play, but trust me, we're going to trust the process. We're going to take everything we can in practice and prepare.
Q. What do you look to build on as you get ready to close out the regular season in Baton Rouge next week?
COACH ROBINSON: We're going to look at the tape, evaluate what we've done, and see what we got to get better at. First thing first, stretch and stride tomorrow. And the staff will get together and watch film and see what we need to get better at.
Q. Coach, for next week, is it your call about when y'all decide to head over to Baton Rouge? When would that be the case, if it is?
COACH ROBINSON: We'll discuss it as a staff and see what's best. The staff will meet tomorrow, we'll talk about that, and we'll see exactly what's the best thing for us to do as a team.
Q. Just for you, what personally does it mean to notch your first win as a head coach?
COACH ROBINSON: I stand on the shoulders of a lot of people. And I appreciate those people that prepared me for it today. Had my whole family here and my wife here and my mother and sister is here.
I remember when I went to my first football camp, okay? I borrowed $60 from my sister. I used my other sister's Pontiac, okay? And then my mother gave me gas money so I could make it down to a camp, then I got my first scholarship.
So it all started way back then. Like I said, I just look at it as there's a lot of people that sacrificed for me to get to this point. And I'm happy the players played hard for us. I'm happy the people that sacrificed for me to stand on their shoulders today. I'm just happy to make those people proud.
Q. You had the all-maroon uniforms. You had guys wearing sleeves. How much of today was about having fun and letting them be themselves this week?
COACH ROBINSON: Just want to eliminate distractions. Eliminate distractions, allow the guys to go play. Told those guys, I said, when we talk about a brotherhood, let's go back to the days when we just went to the park. We walked to the park with our ball and we picked teams and we just played. Didn't worry about anything else. Didn't worry about our reps, didn't worry about who was starting. We just picked the ball up at the park and we just played ball
And that was the message to those guys: Let's just go play ball. And I'm glad they got the win today.
Q. How old were you when you went to that camp? And where was the camp, those details?
COACH ROBINSON: I was a sophomore in high school. And it was at my alma mater.
ALAN CANNON: Penn State, for those that don't know.
Q. Elijah, was there any piece of advice from one of your former coaches that you took going into the process of getting ready for today? And if so, what was that advice and who told you it?
COACH ROBINSON: Look in the mirror. Know who you are. Know where you came from. That was a Camden coach. I'm from Camden, New Jersey. Look in the mirror. Know who you are. Know where you came from. Be yourself. And the guys will play for you.
Q. I think this was the first game Bobby [Petrino] was on the sideline calling the plays. What difference do you think that made? And how much did that help you having him?
COACH ROBINSON: As Coach Petrino was on the sideline to run the offense and being able to communicate with the other coaches and communicate with the quarterbacks was important. So we decided it was best that he came down on the sideline.
Q. Coach, you touched on a little bit earlier, but what was the feeling for you to lead the team out of the tunnel today and just kind of be front and center to lead them to victory?
COACH ROBINSON: Yeah, it was different for me, to be honest. I like to be on the sideline. I like to actually watch the guys run out. When I found out I had to run out, I asked Dustin [Chason], I said, Do I have to? Can I stand on the sides and watch the guys run out?
But it was good. Like I said, I appreciate every opportunity I'm getting right now. And every experience has been great so far.
Q. Coach, I've got a defensive question for you. I think at least the second game in a row where you guys have not allowed them to cross the goal line as a defensive unit. Just how the defense continues to step up and play and give you guys a chance to win games.
COACH ROBINSON: We always tell those guys, we do not want anybody to get into the end zone. No matter where they move the ball to, they don't get in our end zone. Those guys stepped up today. We have a standard, and we want to play at that standard at all times.
Thank you, guys. Have a good day.
Postgame Quotes: McKinnley Jackson
Q. McKinnley, what was this week of preparation like for you in practice and then leading up to today?
McKINNLEY JACKSON: Nothing changed, honestly. Just us having fun, enjoying the sport we've been playing since we were kids. Nothing changed. Coach E. (Elijah Robinson) just getting the interim role, and continuing what Coach [Jimbo] Fisher had instilled into us, just continuing that streak and just having fun with it, like I said.
Q. Just because this is your last home game, did you feel like you were able to leave it all out there and have a bit more fun knowing that you're bowl-eligible and there's less of a -- not really workout but more so a balance that you know where you guys are?
McKINNLEY JACKSON: I leave it out there every game. You never know when your time is up with this sport. You never know when the clock ticks for your time with football. So I try to leave it out there every day.
Q. And what did Texas A&M mean to you and what did the 12th Man mean to you?
McKINNLEY JACKSON: Gave me the opportunity of a life just beyond football. I met great people here. I became a better man, a better person, a better player at this university within four years. I think I excelled and made a great decision coming to this school for my life and my family's life, and for their families' lives. I feel like coming here has been the best decision not only for myself but for others.
Q. You mentioned kind of the thought process coming in was to have more fun. I know y'all had the all-maroon uniforms. What were some of the other things that were for y'all that were fun this week that made it a little bit more laid back?
McKINNLEY JACKSON: Laid back?
Q. More fun.
McKINNLEY JACKSON: More fun? Just going out there every day is fun. Like I said, I've been playing this sport since I was, like, four years old. Another opportunity creates itself, and that's the fun. You got to find the fun every day. Just being a kid, just enjoying these moments. You get with your brothers, every year, it's a new team. So you got to make these moments last forever.
Q. Did you have a good angle on Moose's [Muhammad] one-handed hurdle catch? What did you think of that?
McKINNLEY JACKSON: I'm not surprised at that. Y'all see the practice film. It's way more of than what y'all seen today. Moose is an excellent player. Actually, I've been seeing him since high school, so I'm not surprised what Moose do. His future's bright.
Q. McKinnley, was it possibly the distractions of the week that caused maybe the slow start? Or was it just kind of a slow start today?
McKINNLEY JACKSON: We were kind of in our head, just lackadaisical. I wouldn't say the week got to us. Like I said, nothing changed besides, like, Coach [Jimbo] Fisher just moving on. That's it.
Like, besides that, it was just like us making minimal mistakes, small mistakes, and just like --like I said, lackadaisical, not being urgent enough. And we picked the tempo up as the game went, but I wish we would have started off quicker than we did.
Q. McKinnley, Coach [Elijah Robinson] kind of talked about on Sunday y'all talked as a team about focusing on the next task in front of you. What was the conversation like between yourself and some of the team leaders, the players, of just putting everything behind you and focusing on what's ahead of you?
McKINNLEY JACKSON: I mean, this is a sport where it's a new opponent every week. Every opponent is faceless, so you got to keep pushing and pursuing no matter what happened the week before. Nobody remembers what happened. You got to keep pushing and straining. There's a new task at hand, so you got to do the little details every day of the week to handle that one task.
Q. And then Coach Elijah [Robinson] seems like a pretty humble guy. What did it mean for you guys, especially you guys on defense and that D-line, to play for Coach Elijah and get that win for him?
McKINNLEY JACKSON: It was a great feeling. Most of us were really just proud for him, because he's one of the biggest reasons why we're here. So there was nothing but joy to see him get that role. We feel like he earned it and deserved it. Just us being proud for him.
He made us better men, and we watched him become a better man. Most of us see his motivation.
Q. In terms of Senior Day for you, how did you distribute the idea of soaking it all in your last game at Kyle Field while also remembering, hey, we got to go win this game and get that on the scoreboard as well?
McKINNLEY JACKSON: Like I said, it's a new opportunity every week, new task at hand. Let's just get the job done. At the end of the day, still, let's have fun because, like, this is my last time playing here. I won't ever get this back with y'all. So let's just give our all right now, have this moment for life.
I got two more opportunities with them next week, LSU and then the bowl game. So let's leave these moments for life and just enjoy the moments. Let's have fun with what we're doing.
Postgame Quotes: Ainias Smith
Q. Most of the guys who have come up today talked about how this week was a lot of fun. What made it so much fun and maybe different from other weeks?
AINIAS SMITH: Yeah, man, first of all, I have to start off by saying, you know what I'm saying, Coach E. (Elijah Robinson) came in with a lot of energy. Sunday, we got news and whatnot. Everybody was a little down. But we turned that right around on Monday.
Coach E. came with a different energy. It was not necessarily bad in the past, you know what I'm saying, it was just a little different. Shoot, I'll say this. We came in, walking in the meetings with music, you know what I'm saying, like music blasting. And that gave everybody energy to want to go out there and practice. Even though we had the adversity we had to deal with before, you know what I'm saying.
I just feel like Coach E. did an amazing job at bringing us together and really just helping us have a reason to continue to fight, you know what I'm saying. I'll say this, it was Coach E.
Q. What was different about Moose [Muhammad] this week? Did you see this kind of thing coming? And also, what was your perspective on the catch and the hurdle?
AINIAS SMITH: Man, so, thing about Moose, man, he's always working, you know what I'm saying. He's always making crazy catches like that. And Coach (Dameyune) Craig told us, this game was going to be a patient game, you know what I'm saying. So we were just going to have to wait, just be patient and let the plays come to us.
Moose, he's always making plays like that. He's always ready for the moment, you know what I'm saying. Just making sure he's staying locked in. Whether he playing z, y, x, it don't matter, he just want to go out there and ball. And today I feel like he did that.
That catch was amazing. The hurdle was even more amazing, you know what I'm saying. I'm watching it live. At first, I thought I was getting the ball for a second. I see, he go up one. I say -- with the left was crazy. With the left is crazy. But then the hurdle, I threw my hands up. I say, boy, he got it. No faking.
Q. You mentioned the loose attitude this week. Do you feel like that this team was maybe under a little bit of pressure throughout and maybe there was a little pressure release this week?
AINIAS SMITH: I mean, I guess you could say we were under a little pressure. I could see where, you know what I'm saying, that can kind of creep in. I'll say this, I don't think we were in as much pressure as we were in previous years. But then as the season went on this year, things didn't go our way.
I feel like this week, we were just like, well, I mean, we don't really have nothing to lose. We got in a bowl game, you know what I'm saying which is great for us, great for the program. Great for some of the young guys to experience that environment and whatnot.
But at the same time, like, we had to make it fun. You know what I'm saying? We didn't want to just go out there and be like -- we honestly could have gave in. But shout-out to our team. Shout-out to the way they played, their heart, their character. That shows a lot about who those guys are and the way they came back. We're not going to stop. We got to keep going. I love the guys for that, for sure.
Q. What did it mean to walk out of the tunnel of Kyle Field one more time?
AINIAS SMITH: Man, it was crazy. For a second, it didn't feel real, you know what I'm saying. Early morning game, it was cool. I got up on time. Got up, warmed up, had a pretty smooth warm-up before the game. But everything just felt like totally different. I don't know. It just felt weird.
Q. Can you talk about the emotions from the sidelines when you watched the 12th Man kick-off?
AINIAS SMITH: Man, so Coach E. (Elijah Robinson), he actually put that in during the week of practice. We were already turnt for them before they even called them up. We were just hoping that we would score enough points so they would be able to get their opportunity. Them boys went out there and made plays. So we were lit for sure.
Q. Ainias, seems the offense was kind of lethargic to start. Did you feel that way? And if so, do you have any thoughts on why it was lethargic to start? And how y'all flipped it?
AINIAS SMITH: I feel like, yes, we started pretty slow. Why? I wouldn't be able to give you an answer on that. It just -- I don't know. That's a great question. But we just going to have to go back and watch the film and figure it out.
The switch part, I know we came -- I wanted to have time -- after the first few drives, I ain't going to lie, I started getting mad. I got kind of heated and was like, what are we doing? Why are we letting these guys stay in the game with us?
But I feel like everybody's mind just switched, like, what are we doing? Let's breathe. Relax. Let's not try to make it harder than what it is, you know what I'm saying. Let's just play our game. And I feel like that's what happened.
Q. Ainias, was your game plan to fair catch any of those punts today? Or did a coach have to get in your ear and be like, okay, let's start waving the arm a little bit?
AINIAS SMITH: No, for sure, my game plan was definitely to take every single one that I had just because I know that I was going to get the opportunity to. And I felt like the game was moving a little slow at the beginning. So I was like, I'm going to go ahead and make something happen on punt return, you know what I'm saying.
And yes, that was my original goal to not fair catch any one of them. But yeah, I did get kind of like -- not cussed out, but I guess you could say I got ripped for trying to make every one. They were like, "You got to think about yourself. You got a future ahead of you," this, that, and the third. But I just be trying to ball. They be on my head for sure.
Q. Just touch on your last game at Kyle Field, big picture, do you ever go back and think, especially to last year, when that could have been your last game, not being able to play? And then just the week leading up, having this opportunity, what went through your mind when you thought about the journey?
AINIAS SMITH: So, I mean, I had those thoughts, you know what I'm saying. Back before the season had started. Like, ah, last year could have been my last year, this, that, and the third. But now, I'm just where my feet are. I'm trying to be where my feet are. Just keep moving. Keep pushing toward. Not really let the moment get too big.
I feel like what I was trying to do today, not let the moment be too big. Like, yeah, it's the last game at Kyle Field, but you still playing a game, you know what I'm saying. You still got to go out there, do your job, help everybody else out on the field.
I feel like, for me, I try not to think so much in the past, you know what I'm saying, and really just let the journey come to me. Because there's so much life ahead. Shoot, God got a plan, so I'm going to just keep living.
Q. How much did it mean to you and just the other guys to see Coach E. (Elijah Robinson) get his first win as a head coach?
AINIAS SMITH: Man, everything, you know what I'm saying. I mean, I'm so proud of Coach E. So happy for him. I'm so glad that he's getting things that he's getting, you know what I'm saying. I'm so glad that we got the win for him.
Things in the Aggie Nation is definitely been changing since Coach E. has been the head coach, you know what I'm saying. But I feel like he's been doing a real good job. Amazing job. And I'm just happy, so happy for him, you know what I'm saying. The seniors got to present him with the game ball today, and that was cool.
I'm just proud of the fact that he's able to step up and be the leader that we needed him to be, you know what I'm saying. Like, I'm pretty sure it was hard for not only him but his family to be able to make that adjustment. And he's taking everything in and doing a very good job with it. So, shout out to Coach E. for sure.
Q. Ainias, as you guys are trying to focus on games, obviously, there's a coaching search going on. How do you guys try to balance focus on what's happening right now and also kind of learning and giving input on sort of the future of A&M football?
AINIAS SMITH: So guys and coaches have their thoughts or whatever. But we try to, like, just keep that for after. Like, I heard something not too long ago. I think it was from Coach [Kevin] Elko -- not Coach Elko, but Dr. Elko. You know what I'm saying? He works with A&M.
But he was basically saying, like, basically, when that time comes, like, don't make the decision too early, basically. Like make the decision when that time is needed. And that can go for a lot of guys. Guys fixing to go to the league. Guys that's thinking about transferring. They don't know what's going to happen, whether we keep the coaching staff. Whether the coaching staff switches.
So, I go back to Coach E. (Elijah Robinson), you know what I'm saying. Coach E. has been trying to bring everybody together and give us a purpose on why we need to continue to still fight. And the whole message was brotherhood. You know what I'm saying? So right now, we're doing everything for each other and just trying to better each other and not make the season as bad as probably the outsiders are saying it is, you know what I'm saying. Because we still have a great team. Still have a great coaching staff.
And I just feel like now we're coming together even stronger, toward the end of the season, just because we have another reason to continue to fight, which is the brotherhood. And not really worried so much about what's going to happen in the future. Just be where your feet are, you know what I'm saying, and continue to keep your head down and push.
Q. I know we talked to Layden Robinson about this on Wednesday. Do you plan to play in the bowl game? Do you know yet?
AINIAS SMITH: Man, like I said, man, I'm going to make that decision when that time comes. Right now, I'm worried about LSU. Try to get this W against LSU. Personally, I would want to play in the bowl game, but like I say, I'm going to make that decision when that time comes.
Q. Ainias, I'm not sure if you know this, but you got a catch today. So you extended your streak. So you're one game away from tying Christian Kirk for the most consecutive games of all time with a catch.
AINIAS SMITH: That's what's up.
Q. Just for you, knowing what kind of impact you made at this university and how your legacy will be forever remembered. Kind of pretty full-circle moment?
AINIAS SMITH: Man, it's wild. Honestly, like today, I got the little catch or whatever. I was just happy to see my dogs go out there and eat, you know what I'm saying. Like today was Senior Night and whatnot. It was supposed to be for the seniors. Coach [Elijah Robinson] was talking about, we got to get you more touches, this, that, and the third.
And I didn't really touch the ball for real today. I really wasn't tripping or nothing. But you know what I'm saying, today was a day for the guys, not so much just the seniors. Like it was a day for the seniors, but like, I was just happy to see my dogs balling, for sure.
But I mean, yeah, it's cool. You know what I'm saying, stats and whatnot, the little one game away, that's cool. But I'm just trying to ball, bro. Trying to get the W.
Thank y'all. God bless.
Postgame Quotes: Sam Mathews
Q. What was that walk-on kick-off team like for you?
SAM MATHEWS: That was special. Being a walk-on, obviously, me and the other walk-ons have a lifelong bond that not a lot of people will share. They put in the same work and don't get the same recognition. So I was blessed to be out there and just lead them on the field and just get the opportunity to go watch them do the thing that they've been working their tail off their whole career to even get a play. So it meant more to me than -- it meant more to me than a lot of other things, getting to watch that, you know, my walk-ons get out there and finally get their play.
Q. You guys were obviously in the locker room at halftime. Did you have any idea that the original 12th Man kick-off team was honored on the field, though?
SAM MATHEWS: I had no idea. I think it's the same day a couple years -- or 40-something years ago, but I had no idea that they were recognized on the field. That's pretty awesome.
Q. Do you know anything about -- what do you know about that 12th Man kick-off?
SAM MATHEWS: Oh, great history, great team, great special teams unit. I want to say they averaged maybe 13-something yards per return, and that's phenomenal stuff.
To even hear that going into this week of practice, whenever we installed that 12th Man kick-off team, there's a lot of -- the standard's still there. We still got to go in and handle our business.
It was a great opportunity, but I also think it got the guys fired up. Walk-ons and scholarships, they were all excited about it.
Q. What did you say to Alex [Zettler] and Will [Smoot] after they made that tackle?
SAM MATHEWS: That was awesome. Both of them have been one of my best friends since I've been here. Great guys. And so it was, honestly, special to be out there with them while they made their tackle, because those are guys that come in every single day, consistent, work their tail off only to go out there on Saturdays and maybe not see the field.
So it was awesome getting out there, especially with both of my closest friends. It was great.
Q. Sam, can you just talk about the week of preparation? Where was your mind? Where was the team's mind and how you guys were able to get ready for the last game at home?
SAM MATHEWS: Right. Sunday morning was a bit of a shock to everybody. Obviously, there's nothing that us players could have done. We can only control what we can control.
We respected Jimbo [Fisher] and everything that he had going on. And I still think he's a great coach. And I have nothing bad to say against him. But, obviously, the decision was made.
And Coach E. Rob (Elijah Robinson) came in, and I don't think there's a more qualified person to have taken over the job. Coach E. Rob, he's done a great job getting all the guys rallied around him. Getting them motivated, hungry.
So this week of practice was fun. It might have been a little different, but I think the players responded to do it.
Q. For you as a walk-on, being able to be on it on Senior Day, being the 12th Man in your final moment at Kyle Field is you making the last tackle at Kyle Field for the regular season, where does that rank in all-time moments of your life?
SAM MATHEWS: It's got to be number one. It's not even close.
I don't think I was ready for that final whistle. Everybody tells you to maybe take it slow. And you just want to grow up, and time flies by so fast. You don't really get to stop and smell the roses.
Today I really tried to soak it in, be a kid, and just have fun with it. That's what it's all about. That final whistle came quick. And maybe I'll leave a little bit of the emotional details out with my brothers on the field and my family in the stands.
It was a sad day. I would say bittersweet because there was so much good. But, you know, I'm leaving behind Kyle [Field]. There's nothing like it.
Q. Sam, you kind of touched on it, but I guess how would you encapsulate the day as a whole? I mean, between the ceremony, the couple tackles you had, the kick-off team, is there any one particular memory you think you're going to carry away from this game?
SAM MATHEWS: It's definitely got to be the 12th Man kick-off. You know, getting to be there and spend that time with my family was great. But there's just been so much work put into this season, but even more this week. So it really took a lot from the guys to respond well and just keep coming together and build a team. So I think that's got to be my favorite moment. It was something that I had no idea was going to be put in the game plan before this week. But I really appreciate Coach E. Rob (Elijah Robinson) and everybody else that made that decision to bring it back, because, man, that was special, wasn't it?
Q. Sam, just beyond this game this week, this season, what did being an Aggie mean to you -- or what does being an Aggie mean to you?
SAM MATHEWS: Being an Aggie is honestly everything that I've known since I was maybe 9 years old, coming to that first game in 2009.
My dad was a Marine. He was a Marine for 21 years. So all I know is that military background. Whether you're on time, just being disciplined, mowing the lawn, just small stuff like that, it helped build me towards -- you know, everything that A&M stands for, it's all about people coming together to change the world.
Instead of looking for excuses, we're finding solutions. So I feel like my story, as a whole, is kind a testament to this university and everything it stands for. People are going to stick their finger in your face sometimes and tell you you're not going to make it. Like, Give up. It's not going to be easy. But everything that I feel like I've went through, it kind of stands as itself for this university and as a 12th Man.
Q. Yeah, you mentioned you didn't know they were going to do the kick-off team. When did you find out? Who told you? And how much do you know about where the idea came from?
SAM MATHEWS: So I know -- I mean, I know a fair amount. Obviously, I wasn't around back in the '80s and '90s, so I wasn't about to watch it firsthand.
Q. I meant for this go-round, for today. When did you hear about it?
SAM MATHEWS: Okay, okay.
Q. That you were going to do this today?
SAM MATHEWS: We learned about this probably, I want to say, Monday or Tuesday. And it was a huge thing in the locker room. Everybody was super excited about it. Obviously, the walk-ons wanted their shot to go out there.
So, obviously, the game, we might have started a little slow, so it might have put a damper on people's moods going towards the game. Obviously, the walk-ons were hoping that we would secure a good lead so we would be able to go out there and do a kick-off.
But I think our team went about it the right way. Obviously, we started slow, but we found it again. And it all led to the walk-ons being able to get out there and show us what they can do.
Q. And you mentioned a couple times about how much fun this week was in practice and this game. What was it about this week that brought that fun out?
SAM MATHEWS: It's just another challenge. I feel like every time this team gets challenged, we just respond, just respond, and respond.
And so obviously Sunday morning, everybody woke up and saw the same ESPN update. And it was a sad day for everybody. I love Jimbo [Fisher]. He gave me the opportunity to chase my dream. So, obviously, things happen. We can't control any of that, but we still got to show up.
I made a promise to my brothers that I'd show up and give my all every single day. And that promise still holds true today. And they've all made me the same promise. There's nothing to do but keep growing, keep coming together, do something special here. Why not?
Q. (Question regarding last time on the field.)
SAM MATHEWS: Yeah, maybe -- I just told them, this is exactly what we've been waiting for. You guys have been working your tails off since you guys have showed up for this one spot -- or this one opportunity. Make the most of it.
I mean, you might not get another opportunity to go run out on the field. You better do something special right now with the time at hand.
I hope that got them a little motivated. I think it did. You seen [Alex] Zettler down there running. It wasn't really hard to get them motivated. They all wanted it. I saw it in their eyes. It was time to go attack.
Q. Sam, let's talk about the challenge of next week and the fact that you are really going to have to step your game up as you go to Baton Rouge. What's that going to be like for this team because you've kind of just done an about-face. So can you just kind of address that a little bit?
SAM MATHEWS: I think we're ready for it. We're not scared. We're ready to attack every day. We're going to take it day by day. Monday, come in, focus on the things that we have to do, and just take it all the way to Saturday.
I mean, there's nothing really else you can do. You can worry about it all you want, but you're not making any progress towards your goal. It's going to start with stacking days.
We have a great staff, great team in here. I think we're all bought in. So just take it day by day. Hopefully, Saturday we put a good product on the field.