Saturday, January 5, 2013

Cotton Bowl

And then there's Johnny Football...


This game has been played on Friday nights the last couple years and while I'm kind of annoyed with games like the Fiesta and Sugar bowls getting played away from New Year's Day, I like this game being at the end of a work week.  Friday Night Football!

Everyone at home has finally begun to deal with the games (that only took 32 games) and just ask, "When is your game coming on?" when I walk through the door.

Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma

The hype that's going to surround Johnny Manziel next season is going to be immense.  I don't know if I've seen a player like him.  It's not just the ability to run and throw well, it's like he sees the field differently than other players.  Like he can see where the holes are going to open up, not where they are open at the moment.



Texas A&M kind of plays like Oregon when it comes to tempo, but unlike the Ducks, everything revolves around Manziel.  On the Aggies first quick touchdown drive, Manziel darted to his left and looked like he was going out of bounds but he danced along the sideline and then skipped into the end zone.  I think the Sooners were watching him instead of trying to tackle him.

Oklahoma's game plan was good in the first half, keep Manziel off the field.  The Sooners were trading field goals for touchdowns, usually a recipe for losing but they took a sure Aggie touchdown away with a pick and finally got in the end zone to make it 14-13 Aggies at the half.

Then the A&M train came out of the tunnel at full speed to start the second half. Enjoy.

The Aggies had almost 300 yards of offense in the third quarter alone (!) while scoring three touchdowns and putting this game away.

Final totals for Manziel, 287 passing yards, 229 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and one of the most dominant performances I've ever seen.  Johnny Football footballed all over Oklahoma.  The Sooners looked punch drunk with about eight minutes left in the game.  No mas Johnny.

Texas A&M 41  Oklahoma 13

Game notes:

-Remember when all those people were crowing about Northern Illinois not belonging in the Orange Bowl, the Huskies taking Oklahoma's rightful spot. Actually, the Sooners would have been a good match up for the Seminoles.  I'm sure they would rather have been in Miami instead of in front of Manziel and A&M.

-Looks like the Cotton Bowl folks went back to 1986 for their champions hats.

-Huge crowd for this game - not surprising, being in Texas and the two teams playing.  Didn't look like an empty seat in the house.  For as much as Jerry Jones has screwed up the Cowboys, he's done an amazing job marketing his stadium and making this a top tier game again..

-Texas A&M fans really enjoy football.  They never stopped making noise, even when the game was decided.

-Players got their beef on at the pre-game Beef Bowl.  It is Texas.

 
-Bowl swag:   The game does not disclose the gifts bestowed but last year the players received an iPad2 and...a Fossil watch!  Also, the Sooners all received Johnny Manziel's cleat prints on their back.

I had the Aggies to win this one, bumping my bowl record to 19-13.  I'm in second place in my picks confidence pool.  I probably need to win out to take the top prize.

Today, the BBVA Compass Bowl from dilapidated Legion Field in Birmingham.  Pittsburgh fans must feel like Russians exiled to Siberia every January.  Birmingham, again? 

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