It’s been a busy few weeks for Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. Trips to the late night talk show circuit, meeting celebrities and finally coming out of A&M’s media shell could have been enough to distract the redshirt freshman from Friday night’s Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma.
Instead, showing maturity beyond his years, Manziel looked just like the player that earned the Heisman the month before. Manziel accounted for 287 passing yards, 229 rushing yards (a bowl record for a quarterback) and four touchdowns as the No. 10 Aggies handed No. 12 Oklahoma a Texas-sized beating in the Cotton Bowl, 41-13.
But it wasn’t just Manziel who had a big day. Senior receiver Ryan Swope finished with 104 yards and a score, playing the second half after apparently rolling his ankle. And, of course, A&M’s offensive line deserves credit for giving its quarterback ample time to throw, and when there were simply no opportunities downfield, run. The Sooners had no answer for any of it.
O-line play was a major reason A&M finished with 633 yards, a Cotton Bowl record. The Aggies concluded the 2012 season as the first SEC team with over 7,000 yards of offense and Manziel finished with over 5,000 yards. It won’t get as much attention as the offense, but A&M’s defense held too when it mattered most. Oklahoma had two early chances to score touchdowns inside the 10-yard line and had to settle for field goals both times.
Not bad for the SEC rookies.
The Cotton Bowl win brings to mind A&M’s first appearance during SEC media days this summer. First-year coach Kevin Sumlin was asked repeatedly about what he thought life was going to be like in the SEC with an undertone indicating that the Aggies would be in for a bloody debacle resulting, at absolute best, in five or six wins.
How’d that work out? A&M has surpassed just about every expectation this year except its own. Then, the Aggies came back and beat the co-champions of their former conference. It’s a disappointing end for the career of Sooners quarterback Landry Jones and another tough bowl loss for Bob Stoops, once known for his record in big games.
Although too much is often made of bowl games for better or worse, the Aggies will undoubtedly be near the top of a few more preseason polls heading into the 2013 season and Manziel will be an early favorite to repeat as Heisman winner.
That’s a good eight months away and plenty can happen in a year. For one, A&M’s O-line -- the same one that allowed Manziel to do anything he wanted tonight -- will be replacing key starters, but the talent and the coaching is there. With some good fortune, A&M will have the chance to eye bigger goals.