E-mail Pete Fiutak 
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You just knew the Texas A&M offense wasn’t going to be that miserable throughout the rest of the season. 

South Carolina might not be that big a deal now, but remember, there was a time when the Aggies looked like they were going to rule the SEC West world – or at least be a major threat – with their high-octane attack. Things have changed, losses came to three SEC West superstars – Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State – and there’s a new quarterback, but there was no way, no how Kevin Sumlin’s offense was going to keep on struggling. 

It might have taken a few fumble recoveries to avoid a massive gag, but the fact remains that A&M went into Auburn and came out with a shake-up win that officially announced that the program really wasn’t just all about Johnny, and that there’s going to be staying power. 

Kyle Allen is just a true freshman, but he looked calm and cool early on throwing four touchdown passes in the first half, and coming up with the key drive late leading to what would turn out to be the game-winning field goal. Myles Garrett and the young defenders proved they could come up with a few big plays when needed – even with everything crashing around them in the second half. And the coaching staff came through. 

Sumlin and company proved to come up big against the No. 3 team, showing A&M is still a giant killer, and now we all know what was wrong with Texas A&M over the last month. 

Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. That’s it. 

E-mail Phil Harrison

Destiny can be a cruel friend.

Since head coach Gus Malzahn grabbed the headset at Auburn, the Tigers have had miracle finishes, furious comebacks, and timely, timely events that have led to a run to a run in which there seemed to be powers not known on the Auburn sideline.

Destiny kicked the Tigers in the teeth today.

It felt like the football Gods were going to smile on Auburn again. Down by eighteen, quarterback Nick Marshall began to turn things around, and the Tigers began to run the ball. As a result, the Aggies defense began to tire and momentum was calling plays for the home team.

Then, inexplicably and without warning, Auburn lost the game because of mistakes in winning time. First there was the fumble on the two-yard line while driving for the go-ahead score. Then after a stop and near safety on defense, Auburn looked to be driving for the win yet again before its center lost the snap count and snapped the ball too soon. A tired A&M team fell on the ball and destiny was kicked out of the window.

Now it’ll be tough for Auburn to meet its goals. With two losses in conference play and overall, your grandfather had an easier walk to school while going uphill both ways in waist high snow, than what the Tigers have before them to get back into championship form.