November 26, 2024 • 17 mins
Texas A&M Aggies broadcaster Andrew Monaco joined the show to discuss the restoration of the Lone Star Showdown. Andrew also talks about the QB carousel and the development of Marcel Reed. He also discusses the injuries to the RB position and the talent on the defensive side.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And speaking of icons joining us on the hotline, He's
joining us not from Brass County, He's joining us from
Las Vegas, Nevada. Is our good friend. The play by
play voice of the Fight in Texas, Haggis. That's Andrew Monico,
who's out there with some Aggie basketball going on. I
appreciate the time in a very very very busy time
in a busy week.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
How are you today, my friend?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
I'm doing great? But can we just stop? There's way Stevie, Ray, Fellini, Kean,
the King, George Strait. Where do I fit in this?
I feel like the old George, George Goebel, I'm the
I'm the brown shoes when everybody's wearing a tuxedo.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
No, you're you're part of.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Uh, you're part of and both of us are going
to be very fortunate to be part of the the
restoration of the rivalry and uh both of us get
a chance to call on our respective radio networks. The
first broadcast of a football game between the Aggies and
the Loghorns since that fateful night thirteen years ago and
twenty eleven, the last time they played when they played
(01:05):
at Kyle Field. So this is going to be your
first Loan Stars showdown. So how pumped are you about this?
Speaker 4 (01:13):
Very much so, very much so.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
And I think it's because of as you know, Craig,
in our business, it's the relationships, right, it's the people
we know. And now you've added, You've added, not just
the absence, and everybody looking forward to this matchup.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Now the stakes get even higher.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
As someone said to me today, it really is an SEC.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Semi final, right, the winner gets Georgia. That's what it is.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
And I don't think we ever could have guessed this
when we knew that it was now sixteen teams. Texas
was coming in, Oklahoma was coming in. We all knew
we were going to play in Thanksgiving, but we never
knew it was going to be for this. So I
think it just makes it even more And Craig, I
have to say this, like I was thrilled that Notre
Dame started this season. I thought, man, that's going to
be a fun atmosphere. And then Missouri comes in at
(02:00):
number nine, Like that's going to be a fun atmosphere.
A Kyle Lsu we black it out on a Saturday night.
The Tigers are number eight when they come in, Craig,
I don't think it's going to match at all what
that's going to be like on Saturday at Kyle Field.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
I really don't.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
I'm you know what, I'm right there with you because
i can tell you I've been there for some momentous
games and seen some momentous Texas, Texas A and M
games in Austin. Obviously Ricky Williams record breaking day in
nineteen ninety eight, and then obviously you know, the last
time they played over at Kyle Field, And there have
(02:35):
been some great, great games down through the years and
all this stuff. But even I'm expecting a ratcheting up
even more so of the atmosphere. Is it safe to
say that, even even if in the aftermath of the
disappointment of the loss that crazy four overtime game at
Auburn last Saturday night, even in the aftermath, that it's
(02:58):
not diminishing what this is all about, because the Aggies
still have their destiny in their own hands. That they
win this week and win next week, they're gonna get
a they're gonna be SEC champions, you're gonna get a buy,
they're gonna be in the playoff. All of those things. Yeah, disappointing,
what happened in Auburn, but you still have all of
those things in front of you.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Yeah, Craig, that's exactly what it is.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Now. I think the margin of error for the twelve
team playoff is much tougher. And I will say this
if they're fortunate enough to win on Saturday, but then
losing the championship. I don't know if a four lost
team gets in that playoff. So that's what I think
went away in the four overtime game at Auburn. But
what Mike Elko has said all week, it's in your hands.
Even through all of that, it's in your hands, Craig.
(03:41):
In twenty twenty, we needed help and we're on the
outside looking in when into that four team playoff at
that time, Notre Dame got in and Ohio State got
in a and m was number five there, and Mike
has told his team, look, it's in your hands. You
don't need help from anybody. And that's if there's a
good thing that comes out of that, besides playing a
classic game like that you do. Everything is within your grasp.
(04:04):
If you play well enough and you're fortunate to win.
This is what's next Atlanta, And to me to cap
off Mike Elko's first season.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
I think he would be ahead of schedule, but it
would be a heck of a season, for sure.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
No question about it.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Visiting with Andrew Monico, who played by play voice for
Texas A and him when we visited in August, and
we did so after the big press conference with Cotton
Holdings and the announcement and all that stuff, and we
got a chance to step on stage together and had
a fun time. But when we visited with August, and
this is a fallo up to what you said a
few moments ago, there's no way we could have fore
(04:39):
cast or foreseen this playing out the way they did.
So with that in mind, what has stood out to
you the most about the Aggie season this year? Both
the good and if there's a disappointment, what the disappointment
would be. But what is really grabbed your attention as
much as anything else about this season of Aggie football.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Craig, I think the recency bias.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I'll tell you that the defense the last two road
games has been disappointing. I thought that was going to
be the strength, and I thought possibly in a game
like South Carolina, you know what, not the defense is
night let the offense carry it well. The offense tried
to carry that defense, I think because there were so
many explosive plays at Auburn falling behind twenty one nothing,
which I don't care what conference you're in, you can't
(05:24):
do that on the road.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
For that.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I like the development of Marcel Reid. I like the
way this team has improved.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
I like that the message more than anything, Craig, I
think the message by Mike Elco is being received when
he talks about and that consistency of message. You're seeing strain,
you're seeing effort, and Craig, when something goes wrong, they
don't point fingers, and I think that was a problem
before Mike got here for a couple of seasons.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So you look in the mirror and he's the first one.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
The defense has really been fun to watch, having seen
it for four years when Mike was a DC here,
and you can see how they get better week by
week by week. And to me, Craig, I think it's
fascinating that how many times have we gone into a
week and said, boy, the offensive line better be good
because this SEC opponent has two really good edge rushers
(06:11):
or great linebackers. Aggie's are going to face that again
on this Saturday. Texas is defense. You gotta take care
of the basketball excut basket. Sorry, you know where I
am football. I love what Trooper Taylor says that, you know,
to all his running backs, ball security is job security.
That's going to apply to Marcel Reid and all the
wide receivers as well, because Texas just dominates, whether it's
(06:35):
the interceptions or forcing those fumbles, but week to week
to see them get better. The disappointment to Notre Dame,
but then the elation of winning on the road at
Florida and doing it convincingly, and then just stacking these
wins and really for the most part being a top
the SEC for most of the season. I think has
been really a pleasure to watch. And it tells me
that this team's received Mike's message.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah, you brought up Marcel Reid and Sark was asked
about him at the news conference yesterday and he talked
about how tough he is and also how elusive he
can be.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Uh is that you know when uh.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
When they were the struggles early on and then and
then Connor Wigman got banged up as well as with
the struggles, then when Marcel got in. There was that
the big leaping off point that folks could see what
he was able to bring in terms of the total
package of the illusiveness and being able to make the
throws and be able to run and tuck it in
and run and take a hit if he had to.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, I think I think early when it was Florida,
when it was Bowling Green, when when Connor was still
out with the with the injured arm, I think he
would run more. And I think he goes through his
progressions more now does Marcel and runs when it's there,
but runs with his head up now looking looking for someone.
I've been impressed with the confidence that he has played with.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Look, they didn't he ran.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
He ran with the ones all week leading up to Florida,
but he wasn't total he was going to start until
before that snap in Gainesville after Connor warmed up. Now
he knows he's the number one Craig. He knows that
he can be electrifying for this team. And I just
think he's becoming more of a complete quarterback.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Mike made me laugh.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
He said, you know, in the old days, when you
called a quarterback a dual threat quarterback. He couldn't throw, right,
it was just a running quarterback. I was joking with
Quinn Grovey at Arkansas about that. He was going, Yep, yep,
that's exactly right. But I think those days of I
think those days of dual threat quarterbacks, that label being
can't throw, I think that's gone.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
And Marcel does.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
He does have a good arm and he's starting to
get that rapport with the wide receivers Noah Thomas and
Jibrie Barber and Jada Walker.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
That's what's really helped in Craig. You know, that's the experience.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
He had never played in an SEC road game. The
one game he played he had to play for Jalen Henderson.
That's neutral site, that was you know, that's Reliance Stadium,
that's NRG in Houston, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
So a lot of these things are really new for him.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
And when you start going up against these defensive coordinators, Craig,
they want to show Marcel something he's never seen before.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
So that's that's to me, that's that's.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Where you see the blossoming of a young quarterback where
he doesn't panic, you don't see you don't see him freeze.
I think when you can see that confidence in a youngster.
It's it's impressive. It's one thing to play college football, right, Craig,
It's another to play college football in the SEC and
play it well.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
With regard to the defense, who have been games when
they've looked spectacular and then there are games like you said,
there was some leakage because of explosive offenses that both
Alvred and South Carolina show. What's your take on where
the Aggie defense is right now?
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Their defensive line is what you have to be excited about,
and that's where you build from with here with Nick
Gorton coming back to Brian, Brian high school kid, but
he comes from Purduing Cash his hell. On the other end,
I really thought Shamar Turner staying and not going to
the NFL solidifies.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
The interior of that line.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
He and Albert Regis and Mike Elko always had that
in his four years here, and Craig, you know that
was also strength of the Wrecking Crews in the past.
That defensive line and that front four helps the back
seven and with a Mike Elko and a J. Bateman defense,
they're going to bring some pressure. You just never know
where it's coming from and you're not always sure when
(10:14):
it's going to come. I like that aggressiveness of this defense. Now,
can't have the ball go over the top and over
your head. That's what happened at Auburn. And the problem
at South Carolina was miss tackles and when they missed
Leonora Sellers that was becoming an explosive play.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
So it was the double whammy. Do you think you
have the sack now all of.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
A sudden, it's a twenty twenty five yard game. The
problem is it's kind of been different problems in the
last two games, and Mike's trying to figure that out.
But to me, I think that's a defense that you
can can flat out trust because I even going into
this season, I thought it was going to be a strength.
It's the offense that I think has surprised me a
little bit. I don't want to say overachieved, but they
played better than I thought they would this season. I
(10:54):
thought it would take a little longer to gel.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
What have your broadcast partners told you about this particular game,
Because Dave Elwndor played in the game. Yeah, and and
and as broadcast a many times, he's your analyst. Will
Johnson on the sideline. He's been around it a long
time as well. What have they told you about what
to expect in this game?
Speaker 3 (11:18):
You know, here's where they're really good. Craig, They kind
of they kind of watch it now through my eyes,
especially Elmo Elmo. Elmo is interesting because in his years
when freshman could not play as a sophomore, junior and
a senior, they weren't good results for Dave. Texas would
go on to win a national championship, you know, James
(11:39):
Street and that.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
But we've talked about this.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Dave's roommate with the Rams was a long worn I
think there's a lot of respect of it, you know,
So I think that's that was that's the respect in Craig.
You know, these are kids who played with one another
who now go to separate schools. And whether you're in
the same household, it could be an all Aggie household,
could be an all Longhorn household, it could be a
divided house. So that I think is what makes us
even more And and Craig is as you know, this
(12:04):
isn't just a Texas rivalry, it's a national rivalry. Anybody
who grew up anywhere New that this time of year
you were going to watch absolutely Longhorns. Yeah, and that's
and that's the thing. I think it's one of those
rivalries that captures so much imagination and you know, and
then the thought was, oh my gosh, we have missed
this this that we should we should be playing, you
know what I mean, like it should be that and
(12:25):
we played in every other sport.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
You know what, now there's now there's no more excuses.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
We get to do it and stakes makes it, makes
it even more fun, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Now before I let you go, I got to ask you, uh,
tell me a little bit about uh, Buzz Williams team.
You're out there in Vegas, got a couple of ball games.
How about uh this team that he has that's uh
that looked pretty good in some early season games.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Yeah, Craig, he brings back some experience. Way Taylor comes
back for one more year to bring in Zurich, Phelps
from SMU, CJ. Wiltscher from Nebraska, and Pharrell Payne from Minnesota.
I think there are three transfers that fit what Buzz.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Wants to do.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
But joining Anderson Garcia and Henry Coleman the third I
think when you have this many people, this many players
coming back, you're able to be really it's it's an
ambitious non conference schedule.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
This included, but this is also.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Going to be you know, playing Texas Tech in Fort Worth,
which got moved because of this tournament in Las Vegas,
to go play Purdue, to have the back end of
a home and home in Ohio state. These are these
quite possibly could be three quad one wins. And if
he doesn't have this kind of veteran leadership and this
kind of experience coming back, I don't know if he
would do this. But he wants to build this team
(13:35):
up for the NCAA, is Craig because he doesn't want
it to come down to man, I hope we get in.
He wants to solidify that resume and and be good
now conference and postseason. But I think it's because of
the returning players that he can trust and I think
he really likes I really do, and they and they
play his style. I think he's able to do something
(13:57):
like this this season.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
All right, looking forward to it. Hey, it's great to
hear from you. I appreciate check and carving out a
few minutes because I know it's a real busy time
out there, have fun out there in Vegas, and I'll
look forward to seeing you Saturday there at Kyle Field.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
It's going to be a lot of fun.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
My friend. I look forward to that as well. Happy
Thanksgiving to everyone.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah, and to you as well. Thank you. Andrew.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
That is Andrew Monica, play by play voice of the
Aggies of Texas A and M.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Yeah, they're out in Vegas for some basketball. Then he'll be.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Back, obviously, and it's Texas and Texas A and M.
The kickoff will be, I'm told in the six forty
five range in our pregame coverage will begin with long
Orange game day coverage from the Thompson.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Hotel right in the right camp. That's correct.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, a great sight to go by the way, and
they've got the rooftop bar of it. It should be
a nice night for being able to watch the game
on Saturday night. So three point thirty is our pregame
start time for that with Longhorns Game Day and then
at five thirty we'll have the network pregame show and
(15:08):
again the kickoff will be right around six forty five
something like that from Kyle Field, and I'm sure it'll
break the attendance record, which I looked in their game
notes right now, is at one hundred and ten thousand
for a game with ole myths.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I think it'll go beyond that.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Didn't you check ticket prices yesterday and it said what
in the four digit number even for like end zone
seats or something like that. I mean, it's crazy what
the prices are. It's going to be the It's going
to be the highest priced ticket for a sporting event
this year, bar none.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
So it'll be interesting. You what are you on earthing?
Right now?
Speaker 5 (15:49):
It's the most expensive regular season football ticket NFL in
college football on record. The current get in price right now,
the buye resale seven and forty one dollars, the average
purchase price one thousand, seventy nine dollars.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Wow, So there you go. Wow.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Okay, if you've got a ticket, good for you. If
you don't worry about it, sit back and you know,
watch from what you're ask you can definitely do that
and listen to our broadcast. You know what I used
to say Cam when they would play on Thanksgiving night,
including the last time they played, which was on Thanksgiving night,
(16:29):
right before kickoff, I would say, we appreciate you joining us.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Happy Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Everybody, sit back, relax, have that extra piece of pecan pie.
I used to say that, but in this case, I
think I'll say, have that turkey sandwich from yesterday's leftovers.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
You know, Becau, he's like the turkey sandwich.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
We play the less mile sound bite before we talked
about the turkey, so we'll play that tomorrow. All right,
up next, we've got Inconceivable. We'll get to that one.
We continue on Sports Radio AM thirteen Zone any iHeartRadio
app
And speaking of icons joining us on the hotline, He's
joining us not from Brass County, He's joining us from
Las Vegas, Nevada. Is our good friend. The play by
play voice of the Fight in Texas, Haggis. That's Andrew Monico,
who's out there with some Aggie basketball going on. I
appreciate the time in a very very very busy time
in a busy week.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
How are you today, my friend?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
I'm doing great? But can we just stop? There's way Stevie, Ray, Fellini, Kean,
the King, George Strait. Where do I fit in this?
I feel like the old George, George Goebel, I'm the
I'm the brown shoes when everybody's wearing a tuxedo.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
No, you're you're part of.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Uh, you're part of and both of us are going
to be very fortunate to be part of the the
restoration of the rivalry and uh both of us get
a chance to call on our respective radio networks. The
first broadcast of a football game between the Aggies and
the Loghorns since that fateful night thirteen years ago and
twenty eleven, the last time they played when they played
(01:05):
at Kyle Field. So this is going to be your
first Loan Stars showdown. So how pumped are you about this?
Speaker 4 (01:13):
Very much so, very much so.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
And I think it's because of as you know, Craig,
in our business, it's the relationships, right, it's the people
we know. And now you've added, You've added, not just
the absence, and everybody looking forward to this matchup.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Now the stakes get even higher.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
As someone said to me today, it really is an SEC.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Semi final, right, the winner gets Georgia. That's what it is.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
And I don't think we ever could have guessed this
when we knew that it was now sixteen teams. Texas
was coming in, Oklahoma was coming in. We all knew
we were going to play in Thanksgiving, but we never
knew it was going to be for this. So I
think it just makes it even more And Craig, I
have to say this, like I was thrilled that Notre
Dame started this season. I thought, man, that's going to
be a fun atmosphere. And then Missouri comes in at
(02:00):
number nine, Like that's going to be a fun atmosphere.
A Kyle Lsu we black it out on a Saturday night.
The Tigers are number eight when they come in, Craig,
I don't think it's going to match at all what
that's going to be like on Saturday at Kyle Field.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
I really don't.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
I'm you know what, I'm right there with you because
i can tell you I've been there for some momentous
games and seen some momentous Texas, Texas A and M
games in Austin. Obviously Ricky Williams record breaking day in
nineteen ninety eight, and then obviously you know, the last
time they played over at Kyle Field, And there have
(02:35):
been some great, great games down through the years and
all this stuff. But even I'm expecting a ratcheting up
even more so of the atmosphere. Is it safe to
say that, even even if in the aftermath of the
disappointment of the loss that crazy four overtime game at
Auburn last Saturday night, even in the aftermath, that it's
(02:58):
not diminishing what this is all about, because the Aggies
still have their destiny in their own hands. That they
win this week and win next week, they're gonna get
a they're gonna be SEC champions, you're gonna get a buy,
they're gonna be in the playoff. All of those things. Yeah, disappointing,
what happened in Auburn, but you still have all of
those things in front of you.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Yeah, Craig, that's exactly what it is.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Now. I think the margin of error for the twelve
team playoff is much tougher. And I will say this
if they're fortunate enough to win on Saturday, but then
losing the championship. I don't know if a four lost
team gets in that playoff. So that's what I think
went away in the four overtime game at Auburn. But
what Mike Elko has said all week, it's in your hands.
Even through all of that, it's in your hands, Craig.
(03:41):
In twenty twenty, we needed help and we're on the
outside looking in when into that four team playoff at
that time, Notre Dame got in and Ohio State got
in a and m was number five there, and Mike
has told his team, look, it's in your hands. You
don't need help from anybody. And that's if there's a
good thing that comes out of that, besides playing a
classic game like that you do. Everything is within your grasp.
(04:04):
If you play well enough and you're fortunate to win.
This is what's next Atlanta, And to me to cap
off Mike Elko's first season.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
I think he would be ahead of schedule, but it
would be a heck of a season, for sure.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
No question about it.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Visiting with Andrew Monico, who played by play voice for
Texas A and him when we visited in August, and
we did so after the big press conference with Cotton
Holdings and the announcement and all that stuff, and we
got a chance to step on stage together and had
a fun time. But when we visited with August, and
this is a fallo up to what you said a
few moments ago, there's no way we could have fore
(04:39):
cast or foreseen this playing out the way they did.
So with that in mind, what has stood out to
you the most about the Aggie season this year? Both
the good and if there's a disappointment, what the disappointment
would be. But what is really grabbed your attention as
much as anything else about this season of Aggie football.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Craig, I think the recency bias.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I'll tell you that the defense the last two road
games has been disappointing. I thought that was going to
be the strength, and I thought possibly in a game
like South Carolina, you know what, not the defense is
night let the offense carry it well. The offense tried
to carry that defense, I think because there were so
many explosive plays at Auburn falling behind twenty one nothing,
which I don't care what conference you're in, you can't
(05:24):
do that on the road.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
For that.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I like the development of Marcel Reid. I like the
way this team has improved.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
I like that the message more than anything, Craig, I
think the message by Mike Elco is being received when
he talks about and that consistency of message. You're seeing strain,
you're seeing effort, and Craig, when something goes wrong, they
don't point fingers, and I think that was a problem
before Mike got here for a couple of seasons.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So you look in the mirror and he's the first one.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
The defense has really been fun to watch, having seen
it for four years when Mike was a DC here,
and you can see how they get better week by
week by week. And to me, Craig, I think it's
fascinating that how many times have we gone into a
week and said, boy, the offensive line better be good
because this SEC opponent has two really good edge rushers
(06:11):
or great linebackers. Aggie's are going to face that again
on this Saturday. Texas is defense. You gotta take care
of the basketball excut basket. Sorry, you know where I
am football. I love what Trooper Taylor says that, you know,
to all his running backs, ball security is job security.
That's going to apply to Marcel Reid and all the
wide receivers as well, because Texas just dominates, whether it's
(06:35):
the interceptions or forcing those fumbles, but week to week
to see them get better. The disappointment to Notre Dame,
but then the elation of winning on the road at
Florida and doing it convincingly, and then just stacking these
wins and really for the most part being a top
the SEC for most of the season. I think has
been really a pleasure to watch. And it tells me
that this team's received Mike's message.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah, you brought up Marcel Reid and Sark was asked
about him at the news conference yesterday and he talked
about how tough he is and also how elusive he
can be.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Uh is that you know when uh.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
When they were the struggles early on and then and
then Connor Wigman got banged up as well as with
the struggles, then when Marcel got in. There was that
the big leaping off point that folks could see what
he was able to bring in terms of the total
package of the illusiveness and being able to make the
throws and be able to run and tuck it in
and run and take a hit if he had to.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, I think I think early when it was Florida,
when it was Bowling Green, when when Connor was still
out with the with the injured arm, I think he
would run more. And I think he goes through his
progressions more now does Marcel and runs when it's there,
but runs with his head up now looking looking for someone.
I've been impressed with the confidence that he has played with.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Look, they didn't he ran.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
He ran with the ones all week leading up to Florida,
but he wasn't total he was going to start until
before that snap in Gainesville after Connor warmed up. Now
he knows he's the number one Craig. He knows that
he can be electrifying for this team. And I just
think he's becoming more of a complete quarterback.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Mike made me laugh.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
He said, you know, in the old days, when you
called a quarterback a dual threat quarterback. He couldn't throw, right,
it was just a running quarterback. I was joking with
Quinn Grovey at Arkansas about that. He was going, Yep, yep,
that's exactly right. But I think those days of I
think those days of dual threat quarterbacks, that label being
can't throw, I think that's gone.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
And Marcel does.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
He does have a good arm and he's starting to
get that rapport with the wide receivers Noah Thomas and
Jibrie Barber and Jada Walker.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
That's what's really helped in Craig. You know, that's the experience.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
He had never played in an SEC road game. The
one game he played he had to play for Jalen Henderson.
That's neutral site, that was you know, that's Reliance Stadium,
that's NRG in Houston, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
So a lot of these things are really new for him.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
And when you start going up against these defensive coordinators, Craig,
they want to show Marcel something he's never seen before.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
So that's that's to me, that's that's.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Where you see the blossoming of a young quarterback where
he doesn't panic, you don't see you don't see him freeze.
I think when you can see that confidence in a youngster.
It's it's impressive. It's one thing to play college football, right, Craig,
It's another to play college football in the SEC and
play it well.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
With regard to the defense, who have been games when
they've looked spectacular and then there are games like you said,
there was some leakage because of explosive offenses that both
Alvred and South Carolina show. What's your take on where
the Aggie defense is right now?
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Their defensive line is what you have to be excited about,
and that's where you build from with here with Nick
Gorton coming back to Brian, Brian high school kid, but
he comes from Purduing Cash his hell. On the other end,
I really thought Shamar Turner staying and not going to
the NFL solidifies.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
The interior of that line.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
He and Albert Regis and Mike Elko always had that
in his four years here, and Craig, you know that
was also strength of the Wrecking Crews in the past.
That defensive line and that front four helps the back
seven and with a Mike Elko and a J. Bateman defense,
they're going to bring some pressure. You just never know
where it's coming from and you're not always sure when
(10:14):
it's going to come. I like that aggressiveness of this defense. Now,
can't have the ball go over the top and over
your head. That's what happened at Auburn. And the problem
at South Carolina was miss tackles and when they missed
Leonora Sellers that was becoming an explosive play.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
So it was the double whammy. Do you think you
have the sack now all of.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
A sudden, it's a twenty twenty five yard game. The
problem is it's kind of been different problems in the
last two games, and Mike's trying to figure that out.
But to me, I think that's a defense that you
can can flat out trust because I even going into
this season, I thought it was going to be a strength.
It's the offense that I think has surprised me a
little bit. I don't want to say overachieved, but they
played better than I thought they would this season. I
(10:54):
thought it would take a little longer to gel.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
What have your broadcast partners told you about this particular game,
Because Dave Elwndor played in the game. Yeah, and and
and as broadcast a many times, he's your analyst. Will
Johnson on the sideline. He's been around it a long
time as well. What have they told you about what
to expect in this game?
Speaker 3 (11:18):
You know, here's where they're really good. Craig, They kind
of they kind of watch it now through my eyes,
especially Elmo Elmo. Elmo is interesting because in his years
when freshman could not play as a sophomore, junior and
a senior, they weren't good results for Dave. Texas would
go on to win a national championship, you know, James
(11:39):
Street and that.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
But we've talked about this.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Dave's roommate with the Rams was a long worn I
think there's a lot of respect of it, you know,
So I think that's that was that's the respect in Craig.
You know, these are kids who played with one another
who now go to separate schools. And whether you're in
the same household, it could be an all Aggie household,
could be an all Longhorn household, it could be a
divided house. So that I think is what makes us
even more And and Craig is as you know, this
(12:04):
isn't just a Texas rivalry, it's a national rivalry. Anybody
who grew up anywhere New that this time of year
you were going to watch absolutely Longhorns. Yeah, and that's
and that's the thing. I think it's one of those
rivalries that captures so much imagination and you know, and
then the thought was, oh my gosh, we have missed
this this that we should we should be playing, you
know what I mean, like it should be that and
(12:25):
we played in every other sport.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
You know what, now there's now there's no more excuses.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
We get to do it and stakes makes it, makes
it even more fun, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Now before I let you go, I got to ask you, uh,
tell me a little bit about uh, Buzz Williams team.
You're out there in Vegas, got a couple of ball games.
How about uh this team that he has that's uh
that looked pretty good in some early season games.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Yeah, Craig, he brings back some experience. Way Taylor comes
back for one more year to bring in Zurich, Phelps
from SMU, CJ. Wiltscher from Nebraska, and Pharrell Payne from Minnesota.
I think there are three transfers that fit what Buzz.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Wants to do.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
But joining Anderson Garcia and Henry Coleman the third I
think when you have this many people, this many players
coming back, you're able to be really it's it's an
ambitious non conference schedule.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
This included, but this is also.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Going to be you know, playing Texas Tech in Fort Worth,
which got moved because of this tournament in Las Vegas,
to go play Purdue, to have the back end of
a home and home in Ohio state. These are these
quite possibly could be three quad one wins. And if
he doesn't have this kind of veteran leadership and this
kind of experience coming back, I don't know if he
would do this. But he wants to build this team
(13:35):
up for the NCAA, is Craig because he doesn't want
it to come down to man, I hope we get in.
He wants to solidify that resume and and be good
now conference and postseason. But I think it's because of
the returning players that he can trust and I think
he really likes I really do, and they and they
play his style. I think he's able to do something
(13:57):
like this this season.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
All right, looking forward to it. Hey, it's great to
hear from you. I appreciate check and carving out a
few minutes because I know it's a real busy time
out there, have fun out there in Vegas, and I'll
look forward to seeing you Saturday there at Kyle Field.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
It's going to be a lot of fun.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
My friend. I look forward to that as well. Happy
Thanksgiving to everyone.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah, and to you as well. Thank you. Andrew.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
That is Andrew Monica, play by play voice of the
Aggies of Texas A and M.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Yeah, they're out in Vegas for some basketball. Then he'll be.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Back, obviously, and it's Texas and Texas A and M.
The kickoff will be, I'm told in the six forty
five range in our pregame coverage will begin with long
Orange game day coverage from the Thompson.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Hotel right in the right camp. That's correct.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, a great sight to go by the way, and
they've got the rooftop bar of it. It should be
a nice night for being able to watch the game
on Saturday night. So three point thirty is our pregame
start time for that with Longhorns Game Day and then
at five thirty we'll have the network pregame show and
(15:08):
again the kickoff will be right around six forty five
something like that from Kyle Field, and I'm sure it'll
break the attendance record, which I looked in their game
notes right now, is at one hundred and ten thousand
for a game with ole myths.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I think it'll go beyond that.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Didn't you check ticket prices yesterday and it said what
in the four digit number even for like end zone
seats or something like that. I mean, it's crazy what
the prices are. It's going to be the It's going
to be the highest priced ticket for a sporting event
this year, bar none.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
So it'll be interesting. You what are you on earthing?
Right now?
Speaker 5 (15:49):
It's the most expensive regular season football ticket NFL in
college football on record. The current get in price right now,
the buye resale seven and forty one dollars, the average
purchase price one thousand, seventy nine dollars.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Wow, So there you go. Wow.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Okay, if you've got a ticket, good for you. If
you don't worry about it, sit back and you know,
watch from what you're ask you can definitely do that
and listen to our broadcast. You know what I used
to say Cam when they would play on Thanksgiving night,
including the last time they played, which was on Thanksgiving night,
(16:29):
right before kickoff, I would say, we appreciate you joining us.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Happy Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Everybody, sit back, relax, have that extra piece of pecan pie.
I used to say that, but in this case, I
think I'll say, have that turkey sandwich from yesterday's leftovers.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
You know, Becau, he's like the turkey sandwich.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
We play the less mile sound bite before we talked
about the turkey, so we'll play that tomorrow. All right,
up next, we've got Inconceivable. We'll get to that one.
We continue on Sports Radio AM thirteen Zone any iHeartRadio
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