CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Texas A&M preview

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Texas A&M Aggies

For once, A&M looks to sneak up on Big 12

College Football: The New Century

'99: 8-4, 5-3 Big 12

Coach

R.C. Slocum (12th season, 102-32-2)

Key offensive players

Ja'Mar Toombs, FB, jr.
Massive inside runner says he's comfortable moving back to fullback after strong games at tailback late last season.

Chris Taylor, WR, Sr.
Clutch team-lading receiver (33 catches, 591 yards, 4 TDs) who is fearless on passes thrown over the middle.

Seth McKinney, C, Jr.
Anchor of the Aggies' offensive line will be among the best centers in the Big 12.

Key defensive players

Rocky Bernard, DE, Sr.
Top producer among the Aggies' solid defensive front.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: John David Crow, B, 1955-57
No Aggie jokes, please: His whole life, Crow hasn't been able to spell quit.

Brightest Moment: At the 1922 Dixie Classic, the Aggies claimed a 22-14 triumph over Centre College, and the school's cherished "12th Man" tradition began when one student was called out of the stands by A&M coach Dana X. Bible to boost the Aggies' battered bench.

Lowest Moment: A&M students have built a bonfire to celebrate their burning desire to beat Texas for the past 93 years. That tradition turned into a horror Nov. 18, 1999, when a 59-foot tower of logs toppled, killing 12 people and injuring 27 others.

Jason Glenn, LB, Sr. Fast, aggressive defender who teams with Roylin Bradley to give the Aggies the best pair of outside linebackers in the Big 12.

Michael Jameson, FS, Sr. Lone returning starter in A&M's inexperienced but athletic secondary.

Key newcomer

Richard Whitaker, TB, RFr.
Favorably compared to former A&M All-American Leeland McElroy after winning starting job at tailback during the spring.

Throwback player

MLB Brian Gamble is a solid inside run-stuffer who plays with the subtlety of a bulldozer.

21st century player

WR Bethel Johnson has the speed to develop into the Peter Warrick-type receiving threat the Ags have always lacked.

Fast fact

Sophomore QB Mark Farris spent four years in the Pittsburgh Pirates' farm system before beginning his college football career last spring.

Outlook

Expectations are lower than they've been in years around College Station. The Aggies open the season with huge question marks at quarterback (Farris, redshirt freshman Colby Freeman and redshirt freshman Vance Smith are all in the mix) and in the secondary, and must settle on a kicker and punter. If those potential problems are settled, the Aggies could be the surprise team in the South Division. A&M has strong running backs, steady receivers and the fastest and most athletic front-seven defenders in their division. Those positives might be enough to boost them into a divisional title showdown with Texas in the season finale if they can avoid injuries.

-- Tim Griffin