This is the game people have been talking about since the last time these teams met up and the game clock struck zero. It was at that point that everybody knew that the next time these they met up it would be a HUGE game. Yes, the Game of the Year and the most anticipated game – Alabama vs Texas A&M.
In College Station, the Aggies have waited for this day ever since knocking off the defending Champions, Alabama Crimson Tide on their home field in Tuscaloosa. And of course Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide are ready for their revenge on the Aggies. It will make for a special College Game Day.
Last year, Texas rolled into Alabama with an already impressive and rather surprising start to their season sitting at 7-2 and ranked #15 in the BCS polls, only to be facing the toughest challenge yet. The Crimson Tide were ranked #1 and sitting at 9-0 on the season. This game was said to be close but no one picked the underdog Texas A&M to be the one to come out on top….but that’s exactly what they did.
Texas A&M stormed out to an early lead 20-0 in just the first quarter, shocking everyone. At the looks of things, Texas A&M was gonna roll the tide. But that score didn’t stop Alabama from coming back and making it a 29-24 score with just four minutes left in the game. ‘Bama quarterback A.J. McCarron heaved the football down to wide open receiver Kenny Bell and tackled at the 6-yard line. Alabama’s fans went crazy and it looked like to everyone Alabama was going to get out of another game with a close victory.
Sitting six yards away from the endzone, the Tide drained almost three minutes off the clock to get down to 4th and goal from the 3-yard line. Then A.J. McCarron snapped the ball and turned to his WIDE OPEN – or so he thought – receiver only to be picked off by Texas A&M Cornerback Deshazor Everett at the goal line. This allowed Johnny Manziel and the Aggies to drain the clock.
However, with 40 seconds left, A&M was forced to punt the ball. This means Alabama had one more shot to win the game. So on 4th down and 1, when Texas A&M was just about to snap the ball, a player from A&M’s offensive line moved. A flag was thrown but not on A&M, it was on Alabama’s defensive line that jumped offside, which caused a flag to be thrown, a five-yard penalty, which would give A&M a first down.
Now Alabama could not stop the clock anymore, and all A&M had to do was kneel the ball one time and this game was over. Texas A&M shocked the world and knocked off the number 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, 29-24. Alabama’s National Championship hopes looked over, but they recovered and won the SEC championship over Georgia and the national Championship over Notre Dame in dominating fashion, making The Tide back-to-back champions.
From that moment, Texas A&M in College Station was circled. The offseason was a long wait, and a wild one. Johnny Manziel had an off-season no one in college football will ever forget.
Finally, the 2013 season arrived and it came with huge games in week 1, including Virginia Tech vs Alabama. Alabama rolled to a 35-10 victory and began the season 1-0. Texas A&M took their first two games and are sitting at 2-0 right now and ranked 6th.
Alabama had some struggles vs Virginia Tech, for example the offensive line has holes all in it. McCarron only had 110 yards passing with one interception. Alabama would have to fix this if they want their revenge on A&M.
For Texas A&M, many defensive starters were suspended along with Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. Texas A&M’s first game against Rice was pretty sloppy to say the least. Rice lead after the first quarter 14-7. Texas A&M could absolutely not stop the run. That is something A&M must figure out if they want to stop Alabama’s RB T.J. Yeldon from running all over them.
This game has a lot of attention on it for many reasons, most importantly being that the winner is in prime position to win the national championship. Bragging rights are also on the line. It is a hugely anticipated game. It will be where the famous College Gameday will be stationed for Game of the Week.
This weekend, September 14th, will tell the tale of the 2013 college football season. This game is most likely going to be the number one rated game of the season and in the history of A&M football history. The whole season is going to be written on this one game. We will wait and see and let the story unfold and show us which is the best team in the SEC.
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