A&M confident in strong finish after renewed 'buy-in' during bye week

The bye week seems like a buy week for Texas A&M.

The Aggies (4-3, 2-2), who lost their last two games, took the week off to reassess and apparently again buy-in for the remainder of the football season.

“I think right now we all kind of rallied together over this bye week,” senior tight end Max Wright said on Monday. “We came together and said, ‘Listen, all this stuff that’s happened isn’t other teams beating us or us not doing the right things offensive play calling-wise. It’s us finding ways to beat ourselves.’ That’s the truth of it.

"We’re in every single one of those games. We probably should have won every single one of those games if you go back and look at it. We feel that way. That gives us a sense of confidence to where we know if we execute we can go out and win.

“We’re rallying together and excited to finish it out.”

No one would argue the Aggies could’ve — and perhaps should’ve — won games against Alabama and Tennessee.

The Aggies led both games at halftime, but managed just three points in the second half amid a barrage of unforced errors.

The belief a victory over South Carolina on Saturday at Kyle Field could spark a season-closing winning streak is admirable. It’s also… well, hard to buy.

Last season the Aggies came out of the bye week and promptly lost to South Carolina. They also lost the next three in what was the low point of a 5-7 debacle.

Why will this season be different? Wright had an answer.

“I think the team buy-in to each other is much stronger. This year, especially, guys… we’re in it for the long haul for the good and the bad,” he said. “I think a lot of guys this year, especially some of the older dudes… this is their last shot. How do we want to go out?

“Some of the older dudes like me, Ainias (Smith), Layden (Robinson), Fadil (Diggs)… all these guys are looking at these younger dudes like ‘hey, this is setting the foundation for the next few years to come.’ How are we going to leave this place? How are we going to leave it standard-wise for the future?

“It’s important to us that we finish out this year strong. Everyone feels that way.”

Wright said that was obvious in the first practice following a 20-13 loss at Tennessee.

“I think any time you come off a two-game skid and go into a bye week some guys can get lackadaisical. Some teams can get upset and start to have a little bit of a woe-is-me kind of feeling,” Wright said.

“But we came in, I feel like, we were fired up. Guys were annoyed or maybe even ticked off a little bit that we did lose those two games. Some frustrations came out. Some guys had some conversations on the team that needed to be had.

“There’s a bit more of a sense that this year is not going to be what happened last season. We know we can win out and go 9-3 and then go to a bowl game and finish up with 10 wins on the year.”

Coach Jimbo Fisher acknowledged the Aggies had physical, tough practices in the open week.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Battling for the Bonham Trophy this weekend, Texas A&M is 4-0 vs. South Carolina at Kyle Field.

He reminded them that even though the goal of winning the Southeastern Conference championship is unattainable, a strong season could be.

A strong finish and a bowl victory would give results in a 10-win season. A&M has not managed a 10-win season since 2012, although the Aggies did post nine victories in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

“We can still have a very successful season,” Fisher said. “It’s not exactly what we wanted, but at the same time (we) can have a heck of a year.”

Injury Report

Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and defensive tackle Walter Nolen were among players that left the game against Tennessee with injuries.

Fisher would not say what players would be back in action against South Carolina, but he did express a high level of optimism that injuries would not be a major factor for the Aggies.

“Most guys healed up,” he said. “The week was really good for us. Probably after seven weeks you start to get them (injuries). Guys needed a couple of days off here and there.

"I want to say a large, large, large portion of them will be (back).”

Legette Is Legit

Fisher expressed admiration for South Carolina senior receiver Xavier Legette.

“You’ve gotta know where’s he at,” Fisher said. “You can’t just say, hey, you’ve got him. You’re going to have to get help under him, you’re going to have to get help over him at times. I think you’ve got to mix looks up. You’ve got to affect the quarterback somehow. Hopefully, the ball doesn’t get to be held a long time.

“There’s different things to do. But you’ve got to know where’s he’s at and make sure he’s not in a one-and-one situation.”

Legette is third in the SEC with 736 receiving yards on 38 catches. He averages 19.3 yards per catch.

Also, last season he returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the Gamecocks’ 30-24 victory over A&M.

Briefly

• A&M is the “Home of the 12th Man.” It’s also become the home of the 11 o’clock game. An 11 a.m. kickoff was announced for the Aggies’ game at Ole Miss on Nov. 4. That’s one of five 11 a.m. games for the Aggies. They had 11 a.m. starts for their wins over Auburn and Arkansas. Kickoff against South Carolina is at 11 a.m. The Aggies will also kick off at 11 a.m. against Abilene Christian on Nov. 18. Also, a Nov. 11 game against Mississippi State may be a top candidate for an 11 a.m. kickoff.
• Aggie basketball star Wade Taylor IV was named to the watchlist for the 2024 Bob Cousy Award, which is given to the top point guard in Division I basketball.