Longtime Rivals Gearing Up For Bowl Showdown
12/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 26, 2001
HOUSTON - Considering Texas A&M and Texas Christian began their rivalry more than 100 years ago, it's about time they meet in a bowl game. It only seems like it's been a century since the Horned Frogs last beat the Aggies.
The former Southwest Conference foes renew their rivalry at the Galleryfurniture.com Bowl in the final collegiate football game at the Astrodome on Friday.
These teams have met 91 times, the first of which came in 1897. Texas A&M holds a 55-29-7 advantage in the series, and has won the last 23 meetings by a combined 860-231 score.
The TCU faithful must be happy its team finally has a chance to end that streak, which dates to 1972. These teams have not played since 1995 because following that season, the Aggies went to the Big 12 while the Horned Frogs joined the Western Athletic Conference before jumping to Conference USA this season.
"This is a big opportunity for them. They are playing in a different league than we are and this is a chance for them to play against a team in a quote 'bigger or more prestigious league,"' Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said. "I'm sure they're playing that up."
Slocum's squad failed to play up to its standards late in the regular season, losing its final three games to miss out on going to a more prestigious bowl.
Offense was the problem, with the Aggies (7-4) scoring a total of just 17 points in losses to Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Texas. Their offense had gone 10 quarters without a score before Keith Joseph's 4-yard touchdown run early in the third of a 21-7 defeat to the Longhorns on Nov. 23.
Quarterback Mark Farris has been a big part of the problem, completing just 26 of 57 passes (46 percent) for 182 yards with two interceptions over the last two games. Farris, however, is only the second player in school history to throw for 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
"Mark recognizes that he's a better player than he played," Slocum said. "I think our whole offense is motivated and Mark understands his role as quarterback in terms of when things go bad, he bears the brunt of that. But it's the quarterback that can help turn it around, too."
The Horned Frogs (6-5), on the other hand, played very well offensively down the stretch. They averaged 410.6 yards on offense over the last five games, led by quarterback Casey Printers.
In the last four contests, Printers has thrown for 1,159 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions. His favorite target lately has been wideout Adrian Madise, who has four straight 100-yard receiving games.
TCU is making a school-record fourth straight bowl appearance.
"A win would be a great way to top off the season," said first-year Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson. "Plus, with losing only 10 seniors off this year's squad, it would be a great springboard as we continue to build towards next year."
This game will be the last at the Astrodome, which is being shut down with Reliant Stadium set to open next year.
