COLLEGE STATION – Hype and anticipation are at equal levels as Texas A&M prepares to face top-ranked and defending national champion Clemson this Saturday.
Typically, the marching orders for players doing media interviews is to rely on a steady diet of clichés and avoid any comments that might give the other team any extra incentive. The 12th-ranked Aggies are 20-point underdogs despite giving the Tigers their closest scare in a 15-0 season.
Nearly a year later, Texas A&M is confident. Extremely confident.
Junior left guard Jared Hocker, from North Richland Hills, was asked about the oddsmakers favoring Clemson.
“I like being the underdog,” he said.
Does it make Clemson ripe for an upset?
“Yes, it does. There will be an upset.”
Well, then.
About an hour later, coach Jimbo Fisher was asked about Hocker’s Joe Namath imitation (Google search “Super Bowl III,” youngsters).
“Jared better play well,” Fisher said, drawing laughter from the reporters in the interview room.
Fisher didn’t appear upset about supplying the dreaded bulletin board/social media fodder. Having players who are confident isn’t a bad thing (although confident players who don’t make predictions is preferable).
Junior wide receiver Jhamon Ausbon supported Hocker’s swagger.
“For sure,” he said. “I’ve never thought about us losing a game this season. That’s the first time I’ve ever done that. There’s been so much work put in, attention to detail.
“If we execute and do our job there’s no reason why we can’t win.”
A year ago in Week Two, Clemson ventured to College Station. In the second game of the Fisher Era, the Aggies came within a failed two-point conversion of forcing overtime. The Tigers went on to reach the College Football Playoff and then embarrassed Notre Dame (30-3) and Alabama (44-16).
Ausbon recalled watching the championship game with quarterback Kellen Mond. He was surprised that Clemson won in a blowout, but that simply added to the regret of losing to the Tigers.
“Last year, the four games we lost, we let some things slip, we left points on the field. It was mistakes that we made,” he said.
After the Clemson-Alabama game, Ausbon, Mond and a few other Aggies started a group chat that served as a meeting of the minds during the seven months leading to the 2019 season. The initial texts focused on the Clemson loss.
“It was a big motivator during the offseason,” said Mond, who threw for 430 yards and three touchdowns against Clemson. “It was a two-point game and we left a lot of opportunities on the field. We had a couple of turnovers in the red zone. We’re never gonna dwell on the past but we’re confident. We think we’re gonna go in there and play a great game.”
Junior receiver Kendrick Rogers snagged a 24-yard touchdown pass from Mond inside the final minute against Clemson that pulled the Aggies within two. He was part of the offseason group chat.
“Last year we were the only team that played Clemson close,” he said. “It showed us how good we could be. We had a little doubt going into the game. This year we have no doubt.”
Comparisons between last year’s game and Saturday’s contest are borderline foolish. Quarterback Kelly Bryant was a key factor in Clemson’s victory but then lost his job to freshman Trevor Lawrence. Bryant transferred and is now Missouri’s quarterback. Also, the Tigers’ fearsome defensive line lost most of its talent to the NFL; they list five freshmen and four sophomores on their D-line depth chart.
“They lost a lot of linemen but they’re still dominant up front,” Fisher said. “Same bodies, different numbers. They’ll be playing at home and it will be a huge challenge. They’re an extremely dangerous team.”
Fisher’s mantra to his team is that each week’s opponent is faceless. That emphasis is designed to focus the preparation on Texas A&M and not worry so much about who’s on the other side.
“You have to learn to block out the clutter,” he said. “When Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus made clutch putts for a championship, it was about the putt, not the championship. You have to control yourself. If you only get motivated to play certain teams, you’re never gonna win a championship.”
Much has been made of the Aggies’ challenging schedule. Clemson is the first of three games against the top three teams in the preseason polls. It’s also the first trip to the South Carolina version of Death Valley; Texas A&M closes the regular season playing in the Louisiana version when it faces LSU.
A victory Saturday would hit the reset button on this season and suddenly vault the Aggies into early contender status. They don’t appear to think that’s an impossible dream.
“We have tremendous confidence,” sophomore running back Jashaun Corbin said. “That (the point spread) just puts a chip on our shoulder. I feel like we’ll shock the world this game.”
