Volume 4

Final Review Texas A&M vs. Louisiana Tech By Homer Jacobs

Homer Jacobs, editor of the 12th Man Magazine, will publish his Final Review column on the 12th Man Website every Sunday Morning during the 1999 Football Season. The article will appear later in the week in the 12th Man Magazine.

SHREVEPORT, LA. — There are certain jersey numbers that are associated with certain schools the way Fred went hand in hand with Ginger.

At Texas, the No. 60 Tommy Nobis once wore is revered, while No. 44 — Jim Brown’s old number — is hallowed at Syracuse.

At Texas A&M, I nominate the No. 9. Dat Nguyen had it, now Bethel’s got it. Yes, there is star power with that Aggie jersey number, punctuated by Nguyen’s unparalleled past and sophomore receiver Bethel Johnson’s undeniable future.

Johnson made his debut in the Aggies’ 37-17 victory in the season opener over Louisiana Tech, and it was an eye-catching start considering Johnson was running with a twinged hamstring and a pin recently placed in his foot to ward off a stress fracture.

He caught four passes for 106 yards, including a 46-yarder and a touchdown. He just missed another TD on a streak down the sideline, as Randy McCown’s pass sailed just a few inches too long.

Most people weren’t expecting Johnson to play much, if at all. But thanks to an early detection of the stress fracture and the marvels of modern medicine, Johnson was cleared to play. And he wasted little time in whetting the appetite of every player, coach and fan of the maroon persuasion.

"I wasn’t that far off with what I saw in practice," said coach R.C. Slocum, who was not shy with his assessment of Johnson’s potential during the offseason. "I thought he got off to a great start."

Johnson, along with junior Chris Taylor and Chris Cole, now give the Aggies three speed burners at wideout, with Johnson showing the uncoachable knack to adjust to balls in mid-flight. On two of his four catches in the game, Johnson hesitated and came back for the ball as if he had been playing the game forever.

And the A&M coaches have yet to unveil the jailbreak screens and quick passes to Johnson, who was renowned in high school for his ability to take a 4-yard hitch and turn it into a 70-yard score.

Of course, Johnson had help Saturday night before 40,328 at Independence Stadium. McCown was in complete control of the line of scrimmage during the polished first half, when the Aggies rolled up 30 points and 308 yards of total offense.

A&M’s polish dulled a bit in the second half, but the signs are there that the offense features the capabilities that are more commonplace at pass factories like Florida or Florida State. Sure, A&M still delights in the power running game, but it showed flashes of loving the long ball.

McCown passed for a career high 252 yards on 17-of-28 passing, threw for two touchdowns and stayed away from any interceptions. And, perhaps best of all, he has a bevy of filling up the huddle. Against the Bulldogs, McCown found eight different receivers and threw toward every part of the field.

Of course, the Wrecking Crew did come up with the play of the game when inside linebacker Cornelius Anthony knifed through on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to halt Louisiana Tech’s bid to make this game closer than it should have been.

And even though Bulldog quarterback Tim Rattay completed 45-of-65 passes, he tossed two interceptions and had his longest pass go for just 18 yards.

"They threw the ball 68 times and came away with 17 points," Slocum said. "So you have to feel good about that."

Considering the ambushes that seem to go on every weekend in college football now — just ask Colorado this week and Texas in its opener — just getting in and out of road game against a gimmick team like Louisiana Tech should make the Aggies feel good about themselves.

The Aggies never buried the Bulldogs until late in the game, but a sparkling first half by its offense provided enough cushion for the season-opening victory.

And there will come a day when Johnson is completely healthy, and A&M turns in two halves of offensive football like the first 30 minutes Saturday night. That’s when defensive coordinators really begin to squirm.

"I never did run full speed because my hamstring was hurting. But my foot was all right," said Johnson, who had to endure the label of being the Aggies’ partial qualifier last year. "I didn’t want to come out and have people say anything negative about me."

If his subsequent outings are comparable to what he did in his debut, negatives won’t be uttered in anybody’s conversations except those in defensive back huddles on the opposing sidelines.

Yes, Texas A&M rolled out a new No. 9, the number that truly seems to have nine lives.



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