In a Heap of Damn Trouble: Aggies Knock off Top Ranked Crimson Tide, 41-38
Texas A&M shocked Alabama Saturday night with a stunning upset as 18 point underdogs and sent the college football world into a frenzy.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Texas A&M safety makes a key interception in the 2nd quarter when Alabama was on the doorstep. Photo by Sam Craft, AP Photo
It was 1980 and Bear Bryant’s top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide made a rare appearance up north to New Jersey to take on the mighty Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. We lived close, so my parents seized the opportunity and we headed to East Rutherford to cheer on our beloved Tide. Bama eked out a 17-13 win on that cold and rainy October afternoon, and I am sure we were fortunate to win. Leaving the stadium, we came across a Bama fan who knew we escaped one. With a high powered Johnny Majors led Tennessee Volunteers squad up the next week, I remember him sharing a nervous laugh and stating to no one in particular “Next week, we are in a heap of damn trouble!” Bama would end up dominating the Vols 27-0, yet the term always stuck with me.
After the first half against the Aggies of Texas A&M, it was obvious that the top ranked Crimson Tide was in a heap of damn trouble, and the Aggies went on to knock off Bama 41-38, ending the Tide’s 100 game winning streak against unranked opponents and its overall 19 game winning streak as well. Despite being outgained 522 yards to 379, the Aggies rose up and made the key plays when needed to spring the upset. Behind beleaguered-turned hero sophomore quarterback Zack Calzada, who entered the game completing just 53% of his passes, and his gutsy 285 yard, 3 touchdown performance, the Aggies sprinted out of the gate to lead Alabama 24-10 at half, only to see the Tide rally in the second half to take a 38-31 lead with 5:00 remaining.
Jimbo Fisher, who became the first former Saban assistant to top his mentor, and his 4-2 Aggies would not be denied as they scored the game’s final 10 points to stun the 19 point favorite Tide. Senior placekicker Seth Small had ice water in his veins as he nailed a 28 yard field goal with no time remaining to secure the upset. At first, it looked like the winning kick was headed wide left, but the college football gods may have had enough of Crimson Tide dominance and the kick suddenly veered right and sailed through the uprights, sending the 12th Man into a frenzy that had to make even the most diehard Crimson Tide fan smile just a bit.
Saban had a lot to be upset about on Saturday night. Photo by Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Make no mistake about it...Texas A&M deserved this victory, and after suffering two straight heartwrenching losses at the hands of Arkansas and Mississippi State, the Aggies showed why they started the season as the 6th ranked team in the nation as they outplayed the Tide in this one. This was not a run and shoot, faced pace spread offense that many have said give Nick Saban (and everyone else) defenses fits, but a methodic, well-coached unit that a Bama defense supposingly is built for. On this night, Calzada was brilliant, completing his first 11 passes on his way to the best performance of his young career. Complimenting him was an offensive line that started two freshmen and played terrific, dominating the Tide front seven as Calzada was rarely touched and was not sacked on the evening. Ainias Smith had a night, hauling in 6 passes for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns while Isaiah Spiller was impressive, and even though he gained only 46 yards on 17 carries and 1 touchdown, he kept the chains moving, especially in the first half.
Defensively, the Aggies forced two crucial turnovers that resulted in 14 first half points and even though they surrendered 522 total yards, they made stops when they needed to, forcing the Tide to end two long drives in the fourth quarter with field goals. In addition, after the Aggies tied it at 38 with 3:00 remaining, the A&M defense forced the Tide into its only 3 and out of the second half, setting up Small’s heroics.
For the Tide, quarterback Bryce Young went 28 for 48, good for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns, which are solid statistics. Yet on this night, he will be remembered for the brutal second quarter goal line interception thrown on third and goal from the one yard line and for numerous missed passes that plagued the sophomore. Despite junior receiver Jameson Williams’ 10 catch, 146 yard, 2 touchdown performance, Young’s receivers had a rough night as they dropped several passes at critical junctures of the game. Most notably, reliable junior tight ends Cameron Latu and Jahleel Billingsley each had critical drops. Latu dropped a sure touchdown pass in the 4th quarter that would force the Tide into a field goal and Billingsley dropped a key pass that would have gone for a first down on the Tide’s final possession. The Tide would punt and the Aggies would march 54 yards on 8 plays to set up Small’s game winner. The line was suspect and confused much of the evening, giving up 4 sacks in the first half. Furthermore, special teams proved costly as after Bama blocked a punt for a touchdown in the third quarter to cut the Aggie lead to 24-17, Devon Achane returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to extend the A&M lead to 31-17.
Speaking of drops from Alabama skill players. Photo by Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
It’s a rarity that a Nick Saban team gets out coached, but it happens to the best and few will argue that Jimbo Fisher’s staff had the upper hand all night. Fisher and offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey had Bama defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s number, taking advantage of blown coverages, missed assignments, and the continued sloppy play that has hurt this unit for the past two seasons. There were two coaching headscratchers in particular that are getting attention amongst fans and the national media:
With 1:08 left in the first half and trailing 24-10, the Tide had the Aggies pinned at their own 9 and were armed with 3 timeouts. On first down, Spiller carried for a yard and instead of using their timeouts and forcing a situation where the D could rise up and possibly force a punt, thus giving the offense a chance with a short field with the disposal of one of the best quarterbacks and placekickers in the country in your arsenal, to get much needed points on the board before half, Saban brought all three timeouts into halftime and let A&M run out the clock. When asked at halftime by sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl about the decision, Saban gave an answer that made absolutely no sense...it was so confusing, I can’t even summarize what he said. Points at the end of the half could have been the difference between victory and defeat, but Saban is known for playing it safe at the end of first halves. This time around, that philosophy may have cost the Tide much needed points.
With 9:43 left in the game, the Tide trailed 31-27 and drove to the Aggie 3 yard line. With Brian Robinson in the backfield, who for the evening ended up gaining 147 yards on the ground and who had four short touchdowns last week against Ole Miss, Bill O’Brien’s offense threw three straight passes from the three, completing a screen to John Metchie III for no gain on first down and then two straight incomplete passes, and settled for a field goal. Saban made post-game comments about how poor passes and poor pass routes by receivers cost the team in critical points throughout the night. Perhaps, however, did the staff have such little faith in the offense knocking it in from 3 yards out on the ground that they felt the best path to 6 points was through the air? Apparently so.
This game exposed the inexperience, and possible lack of leadership and maturity, that separates this Alabama team from last years’ championship squad. I have long thought that despite all of the talk about Alabama and Georgia being a step above the rest of the competition, the Tide is still an inexperienced squad that could take a loss or two. It is clear that this Bama team, right now, is not in the same class as the Bulldogs this season. In addition, despite the defense having a few solid games so far, they have weaknesses that good teams will, and have, exploited. Missed tackles continue to pile up, and solid offensive lines (A&M’s was certainly not considered solid until last night, which is disturbing to Bama fans) have been able to gash the Tide’s talented but vulnerable front seven.
The secondary remains suspect, and critical pass interference/holding calls continue to haunt this unit, as evidenced by DeMarcco Hellams’ obvious pass interference penalty with 14 seconds to play at the Tide’s 27 yard line that set up Small’s game winner. Also, the safeties have struggled all year, again evidenced by a critical Texas A&M play late in Saturday’s contest. With three minutes to go and the Tide holding on to a seven point advantage, Ainias Smith sprinted right by a flat-footed Brian Branch for a 25 yard touchdown that would tie the game. Golding’s crew gave up 10 points in the final 5 minutes and simply did not make enough plays to secure the victory, while in contrast, Aggie defensive coordinator Mike Elko’s unit did just that. In addition, a lack of discipline on the field is apparent, as on Saturday, the Tide was flagged 8 times for 82 yards. Lastly, injuries are starting to pile up, and losing outside backers Christopher Allen for the season and Drew Sanders for this game certainly hurt.
All is far from lost for Bama, and although the Tide dropped to 5th in the coaches poll, they remain atop, for now, the SEC West and due to A&M’s two conference losses, they still are a game ahead and hold the tiebreaker over Texas A&M. However, with games ahead against dangerous teams such as Arkansas and Auburn (yes, on the road against Auburn will be a challenge), and wildcard teams such as Mississippi State on the road next week (who beat A&M, 26-22) and a resurgent Tennessee squad at home (at this point, we can’t even think about a possible SEC title clash against Georgia), the margin for error is now gone. How the coaches and players react from here on will determine if the Tide is in a heap of damn trouble indeed.