Texas A&M football faces another huge opportunity with LSU coming to town. Can they take advantage?
Texas A&M football's first game this year shook the faith of a lot of fans. There were many who felt disappointed, downtrodden—even embarrassed—after an offseason of hype that resulted in that first-game product.
That was the first of four huge home games for the Ags this year. And even though A&M was right in the thick of things up until about five minutes to go in the game, the offensive anemia had some fans feeling like the Aggies were nowhere near where they needed to be.
Five games and a heck of a lot of quarterback controversy later, and things looked quite different. The second test had come to town in the form of the Missouri Tigers, and this time the Aggies' opponent left with their tail tucked firmly between their legs. That's what a 41-10 beatdown will do to you—especially when it's only that close because of the most pitiful field goal you'll ever see.
Now, the third of four tests arrives—this one wearing a purple and gold visage and smelling strongly of corndog. The Bayou Bengals arrive to Kyle as the third top-10 team to square off with the Ags therein this year.
Whereas the Missouri game was a re-announcement of sorts, this one has a bit of a different character. The Notre Dame game, while not forgotten, has lost its sway somewhat at this point; the Ags are now once more teetering on the precipice of elite status, with the nation's eyes watching in great interest.
This is a stage in which the Aggies have repeatedly wilted over the last dozen years. That's what they're carrying coming into this game.
But, as any good financial planner can tell you, past performance is no guarantee of future results—in both good and bad ways. We will be breaking this game down every which way this week, but suffice it to say right now that there's every reason to believe this game could be the Aggies' breakthrough.
Of course, it's one thing to say it and another to do it. It doesn't matter if you're the better team on paper or in the court of public opinion if you're the inferior team on the field.
The thing about winning is that the games just keep getting bigger. The stage this contest is on is one that was carefully assembled by the veer option in Gainesville, a sack-fumble in Arlington, and any number of plays from the unholy beatdown in Kyle two weeks prior.
This is the fruit of the work that's been put in so far. It's time for the harvest.