Heupel Tests Heisman Hopes On Aggies Defense

Nov. 10, 2000

By MICHAEL A. LUTZ
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M's Wrecking Crew defense claims to have no fear of Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel.

Maybe it should.

Heupel administered the third-worst defeat in Aggies history, 51-6, last season in Norman, Okla., and he's only gotten better this season, leading the No. 1 Sooners to the top of college football.

"We aren't worried," said Aggies linebacker Jason Glenn, the team's sack leader with five. "If he does win the Heisman, congratulations to him, but that doesn't mean anything to me. You respect, him but you can't say you're afraid.

"If you let him put fear in your heart, the game's already won by Oklahoma."

The Sooners (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) vaulted to the No. 1 spot with consecutive victories over Texas, Kansas State and Nebraska.

"The more you win, the bigger they get," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said.

The Sooners will face the 23rd-ranked Aggies (7-2, 5-1) in raucous Kyle Field Saturday before 86,000-plus fans in what could be the largest crowd ever to see a football game in the state of Texas. The Texas-Texas A&M attendance last season of 86,128 is the record.

At stake for the Sooners is a possible national championship matchup in the Orange Bowl and a Heisman Trophy for Heupel.

The Aggies have more modest goals. A victory would keep them in the running for the Big 12 South title and a chance to play in the conference title game.

Heupel holds the key for the Sooners. He's been unstoppable this season, ranking fourth nationally in passing and total offense, operating Stoops' pass-oriented offense to near perfection.

"We've noticed the way he deals with pressure," Aggies linebacker Roylin Bradley said. "A lot of quarterbacks, when they get a lot of rush and people in their faces, they'll break down, but he doesn't make bad passes.

Heupel has dissected every defense he's faced this season. Heupel completed 31 of 50 passes for 372 yards and scored six touchdowns, three passing and three running, in last year's victory over the Aggies.

Now he's better.

"This year, people have tried everything and it hasn't worked. You have to mix it up. You can't do any one thing and expect to stop them," A&M defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz said.

For all their efforts, defenses have forced Heupel into only five interceptions this season.

"I think he's smart to start with," Aggies coach R.C. Slocum said. "He's got a very accurate arm and he makes precise passes. I've not seen him in a game so far where it looks like he's out of control."

Heupel said Texas A&M - ranked No. 6 nationally in scoring defense with a 13.1 average - could pose a challenge to the unbeaten Sooners.

"They mix up their fronts and their coverages. They disguise them well," Heupel said. "They've done a great job all year and don't give up big plays. They want to make sure they are very active. But that's not something we haven't seen during the course of the season."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Heupel Tests Heisman Hopes On Aggies Defense

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