Texas A&M can't stop Clausen, Tennessee
| WERE YOU THERE? |
Did you attend this game? If so, start chronicling your sports memories today with ESPN's Sports Passport. Enter the games you attend, upload your photos and share your memories!
I was there »
|
| Team Stat Comparison |
| |  |  |
| 1st Downs | 32 | 17 |
| Total Yards | 474 | 318 |
| Passing | 233 | 241 |
| Rushing | 241 | 77 |
| Penalties | 9-100 | 7-65 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 10-16 | 2-9 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 0-0 | 1-2 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 5 |
| Possession | 40:22 | 19:38 |
| | Texas A&M Passing | | | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | | McNeal | 23/38 | 241 | 1 | 1 |
|
| |
| |
| Scoring Summary |
| FIRST QUARTER | TENN | TA&M |
| TD | 12:33 | C.J. FAYTON 57 YD PASS FROM RICK CLAUSEN (JAMES WILHOIT KICK) Drive info: 6 plays, 80 yards. | 7 | 0 |
| TD | 3:52 | CORY ANDERSON 12 YD PASS FROM RICK CLAUSEN (JAMES WILHOIT KICK) Drive info: 4 plays, 28 yards. | 14 | 0 |
| SECOND QUARTER | TENN | TA&M |
| TD | 13:05 | CEDRIC HOUSTON 8 YD RUN (JAMES WILHOIT KICK) Drive info: 1 plays, 8 yards. | 21 | 0 |
| TD | 8:54 | TONY BROWN 13 YD PASS FROM RICK CLAUSEN (JAMES WILHOIT KICK) Drive info: 6 plays, 67 yards. | 28 | 0 |
| THIRD QUARTER | TENN | TA&M |
| TD | 6:04 | GERALD RIGGS 9 YD RUN (JAMES WILHOIT KICK) Drive info: 12 plays, 94 yards. | 35 | 0 |
| FG | 2:36 | JAMES WILHOIT 37 YD FG Drive info: 8 plays, 26 yards. | 38 | 0 |
| FOURTH QUARTER | TENN | TA&M |
| TD | 5:13 | EARVIN TAYLOR 5 YD PASS FROM REGGIE MCNEAL (TODD PEGRAM KICK) Drive info: 9 plays, 69 yards. | 38 | 7 |
DALLAS (AP) -- The stands were filled with Texas A&M fans going
bonkers when their beloved Aggies were on defense. They were so
loud Tennessee quarterback Rick Clausen went up and down the line
screaming out signals to make sure everyone heard him.
At least, that's what it was like early, before the Volunteers
gave the fans no reason to hurt their throats.
Looking nothing like the third-stringer he was most of the
season, Clausen led Tennessee (No. 17 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) to five touchdowns in just 2½
quarters and the defense had its way with the Aggies (No. 25 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP) in
a 38-7 victory in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday.
Winning was nice enough for the Vols after losing their last two
bowl games and four of the last five. Winning big was especially
sweet after losing those last two by a total of 40 points and never
leading in either game.
"Probably our best effort of the year," coach Phillip Fulmer
called it.
It also was the most lopsided victory in the school's 45-game
bowl history. The Volunteers (10-3) came within 5:13 of their first
bowl shutout since the last time they played the Aggies, way back
in the 1957 Gator Bowl.
The rout began when C.J. Fayton turned a short pass into a
57-yard touchdown on the game's seventh play. Tennessee surprised
A&M by continuing to pass and the Vols defense stunned the Aggies
(7-5) by producing five turnovers. A&M had just eight all season.
"Go figure," coach Dennis Franchione said.
The Aggies were looking for a great ending to their big
turnaround from last season's 4-8. Instead, they got a reminder of
last season -- their worst performance since a 77-0 loss to
Oklahoma. It also was their fifth straight loss in the Cotton Bowl.
"We just had too many mistakes," said quarterback Reggie McNeal, who was 23-of-38 for 241 yards and a touchdown. He also
threw an interception, just his fourth of the season, and was
involved in two fumbles -- a lost option pitch and a drop when hit
by three defenders, one of whom ripped off McNeal's helmet.
Aggressive defense was part of Tennessee's game plan. The Vols
were aiming for four turnovers and to be stingier than their last
three games, when they allowed between 31 and 38 points each time.
"We were talking the whole bowl preparation about a comeback,
playing better, not giving up plays that would end up being the
difference," Fulmer said. "I'm really proud of that."
He should be pretty proud of outsmarting A&M on offense, too.
The Aggies expected the Vols to pound away with running backs
Gerald Riggs Jr. and Cedric Houston. Instead, they turned to
Clausen's arm and added to the confusion by using him in a variety
of formations.
Clausen showed the poise and patience of a season leader, not a
junior transfer who was beaten out by two freshmen and was playing
only because they were both hurt.
He finished 18-of-27 for 222 yards with three touchdowns, no
interceptions and no sacks. In addition to proving himself, he
improved his family's bowl reputation; brother Casey went 1-3 as
Tennessee's starting quarterback its last four bowl games,
including a loss in the 2001 Cotton. Rick watched that game from
the stands, just like Casey did this time.
He humbly accepted the offensive MVP trophy.
"My job is very simple: Get the ball in their hands," he said.
"As long as I do that, good things happen."
Riggs followed his career-high 182 yards in the SEC championship with 102 and a touchdown on 18 carries. Houston ran 13 times for 62 yards, enough to make him and Riggs the first Tennessee teammates
to have 1,000 yards in the same season. He also had a touchdown
before leaving with a bruised thigh in the third quarter.
A&M's first two turnovers came on consecutive snaps in the first
quarter and the third came on a fumbled punt. They helped Tennessee
stretch its quick 7-0 lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter. It
was 28-0 at halftime.
The Aggies had a chance to make it a game when Terrence Thomas ran 54 yards to the 15 on the opening drive of the third quarter.
Then McNeal was tackled from behind on fourth-and-1 from the 6 and
the Aggies hardly threatened again. They finally scored in the
closing minutes on a 5-yard pass to Earvin Taylor.
"We moved the ball decently at times," Franchione said, "we
just didn't hold onto it long enough to do what we needed."
The Vols hit 10 wins for the eighth time under Fulmer. They have
a lot to look forward to next season as up to 18 starters could
return. For this game, though, they remembered the past by wearing
a small cross decal on the back of their helmets to remember former
star Reggie White, who died last week.
Tennessee 38, 
Texas A&M 7