The Long Game: Terrence Murphy and a story of what Texas A&M means

He was concerned, and that was understandable.

He was just a Texas A&M sophomore football player. He knew a coaching change was imminent. He understood the change could affect his NFL aspirations.

A different offensive system might not be conducive to his skill set. So, why not just walk away and transfer somewhere more advantageous?

That would make sense, right?

Well, it didn’t make sense to Terrence Murphy in 2002. It doesn’t make sense to him now, either.

He was at a Bible study last week when he received a text message alerting him A&M quarterback Kyle Allen was transferring.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he thought.

Then, he thought again: “I don’t want a kid who doesn’t want to be here.”

Murphy always wanted to be here. He was a record-setting receiver for A&M. He played professionally with the Green Bay Packers. He’s now a successful local real estate broker at TM5 Properties.

He could’ve started his business in LA or San Diego or somewhere else where the real estate market was more lucrative. He chose Bryan-College Station.

When he sees Kyle Allen and, now, Kyler Murray choose to leave College Station, he fears they’re woefully short-sighted. And when he sees Aggies bickering and attacking the A&M football program and each other on message boards, he fears they’ve just lost sight of what’s important.

“I’ve been back here (in Bryan-College Station) for eight years and I stay in the shadows (of the football program),” Murphy said on Thursday. “I have a burning desire in my heart to tell what Texas A&M means to a lot of Aggies, not just me. This is almost like having a family member that is getting misused in public.

“We are Texas A&M — one of the greatest universities in the land. When I signed my letter of intent to play ball at Texas A&M, my life changed. I feel like with all the negativity with the program, people are forgetting we are Texas A&M. This shall pass, and it's a bump in the road we will overcome as one family.”

Go ahead and dismiss Murphy as an out-of-touch crusty old guy who doesn’t understand today’s athlete.

Except, he’s only 33 years old and, well, he was in the same situation that today’s athletes are in.

He wanted to play in the NFL just like they do. He faced obstacles — just like Allen and Murray have.

Murphy’s situation was very similar to theirs. In fact, he faced a more a more daunting situation.

They were star high school quarterbacks on championship teams. He was a high school quarterback on teams that rarely won.

He fought to earn a scholarship. He had to learn a new position.

Murphy adapted and then excelled. He made some freshman All-American teams in 2001. He caught 36 passes for 599 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore. He had four catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns in the win over No. 1 Oklahoma that year. He was getting the attention of NFL scouts.

Then, coach R.C. Slocum was fired. Dennis Franchione was hired as his replacement. Franchione liked run-oriented option football. That’s a worst-case scenario for a receiver.

He was lining up in a three-point stance and leading Keith Joseph through a hole. Murphy still managed to catch more than 50 passes during his junior and senior seasons, but he might have doubled those totals elsewhere.

Murphy could have transferred and sat out a redshirt year. He could have gone to a pass-oriented program and got a lot of catches — and those opportunities to transfer were endless and really made a lot of sense.

“I couldn’t stomach leaving A&M,” he said. “There was no way I could put on someone else’s jersey and maybe even play against A&M and especially at Kyle Field.

“I easily could have transferred and still had two more years to play. But I was thinking, 'This is bigger than football.' To me, it was more than football. It was A&M, the Aggie Ring, the association with the university, the traditions, the Aggie network, this community, and the morals the school stands for.

“I could have left my junior year and entered the draft. I was (projected as) a late first- to second-round lock in the draft. Selfishly, this was the best move, but I couldn't leave Texas A&M after going 4-8 and let that be my legacy. I chose not to enter the draft and endure Coach Fran one more season because I wanted to come back and fight for A&M and my teammates, and then next year we made it to the Cotton Bowl.

“I knew one day football would be over and (A&M) would be attached to me, it would be my family. Now, generations of my family will forever be changed because I signed with A&M and chose not to leave A&M.”

Murphy does not begrudge Allen for leaving. If someone doesn’t want to be here, Murphy doesn’t want them here.

“We appreciate your two years. Now, see you later, bro,” he said.

Murphy is disappointed that one or two players would seem to become bigger than the program as a whole. Though he understands the allure of landing five-star rated prospects, Murphy was disappointed the announcement that Allen (and later Murray) was leaving caused so much angst and bickering within the A&M community.

“It gets under my skin to see people losing their minds because one guy left,” Murphy said. “Even if we lose two guys, we’re still Texas A&M. We will be fine. Never underestimate the grit Aggies have when we decide to go after something.

“I don’t believe in those (recruiting) rankings, anyway. I want a kid who wants to be here and wants to fight like Johnny (Manziel). He had the biggest heart on the field. That’s what I want. Everybody can’t be Johnny. I get that. But we want kids that want to be part of this great university and that take pride in wearing that maroon and white.”

Murphy uses himself as an example of what can be attained by staying at A&M. He hopes more players will see what he saw.

“I stayed through the Franchione days,” he said.” I saw my draft status go down from a projected top-25 pick to the second round, but there was so much more than that. I would not trade one bit of it to keep that brotherhood at A&M.

“I want them to look at the bigger picture and remember we are Texas A&M — a school that we all dreamed about going to growing up in East Texas. Let's not ever forget that in the times of trial and tribulation. Let's tighten the ranks and keep marching forward together. Gig 'em.”