Aggies looking forward to road
Saturday’s game at Ole Miss is first game A&M has played out of state.
Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen likes the road. He doesn’t mind the plane rides or taking the bus to the opposing team’s stadium.
“I love the atmosphere of playing road games, especially in the SEC with all the great stadiums,” Allen said this week. “I think everyone is excited about it just to get out of Texas and play somewhere else.”
The college football season is nearly 2 months old, and Allen’s Aggies are playing their first true road game. They’ve played away from Kyle Field twice, opening the season at Houston’s NRG Stadium against Arizona State, then against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. On Saturday, the Aggies will contend
with a night contest at Mississippi. It’s basically a knockout game for the SEC West.
Coach Kevin Sumlin was asked his thoughts on playing a true road game this far into the season. He didn’t much like the question.
“We’ve been on the road,” Sumlin said. “We’ve been in Houston; we’ve been in Dallas. So when we cross the state line, we’re on the road?”
“We’ve been (to Oxford) three times in four years, so we’re used to going over there,” Sumlin said. “I don’t know how that schedule worked, but that’s how it worked.”
Most teams have better records at home. A&M, under Sumlin, has enjoyed its most significant SEC victories on the road. The Aggies are in their fourth season in the SEC. They’ve beaten one ranked conference team at Kyle Field in seven tries. The one victory was Mississippi State this month. The Bulldogs, at the time, were ranked 21st.
But think about A&M’s best victories. The Aggies knocked off defending national champion Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2012. Last November, Allen guided A&M to a road victory over then No. 3 Auburn.
Due to a quirk in the schedule, this will be the third time A&M has played at Mississippi. The Aggies are 2-0 in Oxford. Mississippi beat A&M last October in College Station.
The dynamics of the game are of high interest because both teams are happy to be playing in Oxford.
The Aggies are out to prove that last week’s 41-23 loss to Alabama was an anomaly and not an accurate barometer of where they are in the SEC pecking order.
Mississippi upset Alabama on the road last month and jumped to No. 3 in the national rankings. But the Rebels have lost twice since then. Florida whipped them 38-10 in Gainesville. Then last Saturday, Mississippi stumbled badly at Memphis, losing 37-24.
Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze apologized to the fans this week.
“Our staff hurts for the Ole Miss family,” Freeze said. “I understand when you love a place and want to give a great joy through the job you’re assigned, it is difficult. It’s disappointing. It’s testing at times. We’ll show great resolve and leadership and move forward. We’ll shut out the negativity and remain true to our core values.
“I’m optimistic and confident that our young men are going to play with great passion for those last 300 minutes (of games) that we have and prepare daily for those. It starts with Texas A&M, a very talented team with extremely good athletes on both sides of the ball. ... It’s nice that we have them at home. I know our people will be excited to get a night game here. Another SEC game, and our kids will feel the support of the great Rebel fans.”