12.28.2001 Texas A&M Tops TCU in galleryfurniture.com Bowl
Casey Printers |
Texas A&M's defense, led by freshman CB Byron Jones and his three interceptions, proved to be too much for TCU to handle, as the Aggies posted a 28-9 win in the second annual galleryfurniture.com Bowl. The game, which likely was the final college football game ever at the Astrodome, drew a crowd of 53,480, the largest college football crowd at the facility since 1979.
2001 galleryfurniture.com Bowl Postgame Notes
Texas A&M 28, TCU 9
Most Valuable Player: Byron Jones, CB, Texas A&M (3 INTs-77 yards, 3 tackles)
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Joe Weber, FB, Texas A&M (9 carries-career-high 59 yards, 2 TD)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Byron Jones, CB, Texas A&M (3 INTs-77 yards, 3 tackles)
Most Valuable Special Teams Player: LaTarence Dunbar, TCU (3 ret-89 yards)
Today?s Attendance: 53,480
The attendance marked the largest crowd to watch a college football game in the Astrodome since the facility was expanded to 60,000 seats in 1988. It is the largest crowd for a college football game at the stadium since a Houston-Texas game in 1979 drew 53,650.
TCU NOTES (6-6)
With today?s defeat, TCU drops to 6-11-1 all-time in bowl games.
Senior WS Charlie Owens returned a Texas A&M fumble 89 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, the second fumble return for a touchdown by TCU this year (SMU). It was the second-longest fumble return in school history (95 yards by Larry Terrell vs. Rice in 1959). The return was the first career score for Owens, playing in his final game at TCU.
Junior LB LeMarcus McDonald finished the day with a career-high 17 tackles (11 solo, 6 assisted). Six of his tackles were for losses, a new career high as well.
Junior QB Casey Printers threw a career-high four interceptions, just the third time in 35 career appearances that he has thrown more than one INT in a game. The only game this season that he threw multiple INTs was on September 29 at Houston.
The safety recorded in the fourth quarter was the first for a TCU squad since September 5, 1999 against Arizona, a span of 34 games.
TEXAS A&M NOTES>/b> (8-4)
Today?s victory gives Texas A&M an all-time record of 13-14 in bowl games. The victory snaps a four-game losing streak in bowl games for the Aggies, with their last win coming in the 1995 Alamo Bowl, 22-20 over Michigan.
The win by Texas A&M marked the school?s 24th consecutive triumph over the Horned Frogs, dating back to 1972. It was the first meeting between the schools since 1995.
Texas A&M started five true freshman in the game (OT Jami Hightower, WR Terrance Murphy, RB Derek Farmer, TE Thomas Carriger and CB Byron Jones). During the first half alone, the Aggies freshmen accounted for 111 of the team?s 137 total yards (81 percent).
True freshman CB Byron Jones made the most of his first career start, recording the first three interceptions of his career, including two in the first half. No Aggie had ever picked off three passes in a bowl game. Jones returned his first interception 62 yards, the second-longest interception return in A&M Bowl history (Brandon Jennings 64 vs. UCLA in the 1998 Cotton Bowl). He returned his second pick 18 yards to the one-yard line to set up the Aggies first touchdown. Jones was starting in place of 22-game starter Sean Weston, who hyper-extended his knee during bowl workouts.
Freshman TE Thomas Carriger reeled in a 38-yard reception in the second quarter for the first reception this season by an Aggie tight end. He added a 19-yard catch later in the quarter.
The 42-yard kickoff return by freshman Terrence Thomas in the second quarter was the longest kickoff return by the Aggies this season.
Junior RB Joe Weber recorded his second career multiple touchdown game with two rushing scores (he had a career-high three at Wyoming on Sept. 6). Weber carried nine times in the game for a season-high 59 yards.
Senior WR Mickey Jones? 82-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was the longest offensive play in a bowl game in A&M history. In fact, that catch went for more yardage than Jones had ever produced in a game. It was just his third career touchdown.
The four interceptions by Texas A&M was a season-high.