At first glance, there isn't a lot you can say about a game you lose by 40 points. The commentators seemed content to just say that texas dominated on both sides of the ball all game long, and leave it at that. I think simplifications like that shortchange the game, because it ignores what actually happened on the field.

The fact is, A&M was in this game early. It was a 7-0 game after the first quarter, and I would argue we were in it all the way until we chose to go for the FG instead of the first down on our only scoring drive in the second quarter. While I can understand Sherman's desire to put points on the board, I think maintaining momentum and showing confidence in your offense is more important. texas was able to take the ball after that FG and move down the field and score, essentially putting the game out of reach, for all intents and purposes, at 21-3.

While I didn't have any problem with the decision to take Jerrod Johnson out for a series, I thought we should have put him back in sooner. Leaving McGee in until the 4th quarter accomplished nothing, and they put Johnson in too late for him to really do anything. He scored a TD, but Sherman foolishly chose to follow the chart, and go for two instead of kicking the extra point. At that point in the game, it was 42-9, we weren't going to mount a huge comeback and win the game. Get us into double-digits in the score, and move on with the game.

My biggest problem with this game, after the QB rotation, was the playcalling. I don't know why we kept trying to run slow-developing plays against a defense that was faster than we were to the outside. The way to attack this texas defense was to go after their secondary and their LBs with the short passing game. There were times where we did this, and we were successful. But then we would turn around and try to run power outside and get stuffed for loss yardage or no gain. We were never content to just run it inside.

I don't understand the decision to use McGee and Johnson under center in the pro set so much. With a weak offensive line like we have this season, making it a shorter trip for the defensive line to get to the QB is not advisable. Stay in the shotgun, spread them out, and make them defend the whole field. Our playcalling appeared to be disjointed, almost as if we didn't have a true gameplan, and were just grabbing plays out of the air to try to make yardage. I appreciated the attempt at a trick play where we had Tannehill attempt a pass off an end-around, but after showing we couldn't block their defensive front all game long, running yet another slow-developing play was just asinine.

We came out early looking like we were going to try to run the ball and pound on their defense, which would have been an understandable approach. When you face a defense with speed, you run right at it to tire it down. Well, we get 8 yds on our first two plays to set up a 3rd and short, but then penalties start to rear their ugly head.  A false start by Lee Grimes makes a 3rd- 2 become a 3rd-7, and an incompletion ends the drive, so we punt. On our second offensive drive, we run Lane for 3 yds to set up a 2nd and 7, but then get a substition infraction that makes it 2nd and 13. Johnson is then sacked on second down, and we have a 3rd and 23. Our answer to make 23 yds is a shovel pass, which falls incomplete. Great playcalling, guys. Let's not go with a short passing game to the backs and receivers, no, let's use a shovel pass play that they've been practicing against every day for the last week and a half. Next offensive drive, Johnson is pulled for McGee, and the merry-go-round begins.

The penalties were one of the most frustration aspects of the game; we were penalized 10 times for 71 yds. I know we're in Austin so we're going to have some calls go against us, but seeing the same mistakes made at he end of the season that we saw at the beginning of the season is beyond frustrating. Being penalized for substitution infractions and having to call timeouts because you don't have the correct personnel on the field shows poor organization, which is a direct reflection on the coaches.

Ultimately, I try to find something positive to take out of any game, and there were some positives in this game. Terrence Frederick and Matt Featherston both had QB sacks in this game. Both Featherston and Frederick will return next season. Jerrod Johnson added to his single-season passing TDs record by tossing his 21st in the fourth quarter. Jeff Fuller set a new school record for WRs with his 9th TD reception of the season, which sets both new records for a freshman WR and for a WR of any class at A&M. We have some positives to look forward to next season.

 Unfortunately, we're going to miss out on the extra practice you have to prepare for the next season when you go to a bowl game.