By any measure, and as evidenced by the interest in its head coach, Texas A&M’s inaugural season in the SEC was an unmitigated -- and, yes, surprising -- success.
An 11-win season that was the Aggies’ most since 1998. A 28-point Cotton Bowl beatdown of then-No. 11 Oklahoma. And, the icing on the cake, handing Alabama its lone loss in a season that ended with the Tide’s second straight BCS title and third in four years.
Suffice to say, this season’s A&M-'Bama clash -- in College Station -- in mid-September will be the most anticipated of the early-season games, perhaps of the entire regular season. And an Aggie official has decided to add a little spice to the buildup of the contest.
Speaking at the Brazos County A&M Club Coach’s Night, athletic director Eric Hyman, well, went here:
“What does the moon and Texas A&M have in common?” Hyman said, setting up the obvious punchline, “we control the Tide.”
(Thank you. Drive safely. Don’t forget to tip the veal and try the waitress. Good night.)
(Writer’s note: I bow to the new Troll King, Sir Hyman)
Sensing what his boss may have wrought, head coach Kevin Sumlin came to the podium and stated, “No pressure, Eric. Thank you.”
Not that the Tide needed any extra motivation for the matchup -- Nick Saban and his staff have been doing prep work on the Aggies throughout the offseason -- but they just got some.
And Sept. 14, 2013, cannot get here fast enough.