Aaron Glenn, Texas A&M. 1994 New York Jets 1st Rd Pick vs Notre Dame ~ 1993 Cotton Bowl

[Music] [Applause] it's the fifth rank fighting iries of Notre Dame and the third rated agies of Texas A&M in the mobile cotton bow classic the temperature fell some 40° in Dallas yesterday and as the teams took the field just moments ago the wind chilled 20 with a Chance of freezing rain before the day is over Texas A&M wins the toss they defer into the second half so Notre Dame will get the ball first [Applause] Miller the Deep man for the Irish as ventulus kicks it off it bounces into the end zone through the hands of Miller who will cover it there for the Touchback Brooks and Bettis thunder and lightning over 2100 rushing yards between them Dawson top receiver on the offensive line Taylor and Hall have received allamerican mention two wide receivers to the right eye formation in the back field will Ben the fullback Brooks is the tail back Reggie Brooks averaging eight yds a carry for the season picking his way forward for a gain of three that Aggie front Adams telan in England and all Southwest Conference front Buckley leads the team in sacks Atkinson the second leading tackler and in the secondary Glenn set a conference record breaking up 20 passes All-American free safety baates is the top tackler on the team again it's Brooks slips Falls forward to the 26 yd line it Brooks now lined up on a wing to the right Myers first pass of the day plenty of time dumps it off short complete tight end IR Smith with the grab and takes it across the 40 to the 41 yd line yard game green Gerald in the game for the Irish F to Bennis and the option play Benn do get the hand off from Meer boys is what he stressed for this team today and they might need it all right Hannah here's a playaction pass and Meer going deep and off the hand of the intended receiver Mike Miller as and it's third and nine for Notre Dame opening possession of the game Peggy show blps and here they come it's a hand off Brooks bounces off one man takes it to the outside makes another cut Brooks close to the first down on a tremendous run dodging tacklers all the way got the first down Brooks slips flat on his back at Midfield eighth play of the Notre Dame drive off the opening pickoff Brooks is on a wing lap now in motion Reggie Brooks behind bet slits again perhaps he'll have to change as Paul said here's Gerald wide left third and 11 reaction pass Meer again to IR Smith for a first down to the 35 of the aies written down there by Patrick bit but marching down the field they average over 300 yd in offensive game here's Meer on the option cutting up with keep and getting a couple of yards back in the tail back behind dtis me with a second down pass again plenty of time he has his receiver over on the sideline complete to Ray Griggs third down already the Irish have converted three third Downs on this drive it's the 12th play my may be changing the play here and the g Straight Ahead close to the first down pennis pennis pound Straight Ahead taking tacklers with him across the 20 Clint Johnson set wide to the left here on second and four for the Irish 9 minutes left in the opening quarter took the ball off the opening pickoff here's Brooks fumbling and it's recovered by chattam of A&M keepa chadam recovers the fumble By Reggie Brooks Jerome Bettis getting his shoes reted as A&M has the ball for the first time Cory ping The Freshman quarterback in trouble and sacked Brian Hamilton Thomas rushed for over 850 yards during the season tied in short the leading receiver up front Dawson and osur all Southwest Conference players three wides in the game Thomas with his first Carry and he's stacked up by here is that Notre Dame starting defense which improved greatly as the season progressed Bryant Young the anchor of the defensive front he and McDonald one two in sacks despite missing the first two games Demetrius Duos finished with 12 more tackles than any other Irish player and there's the secondary Carter's the best coverman he and tied for the lead in interceptions they had five each and bins is in for Thomas and he will play in in the HB position nickle defense on the field for the Irish third and very long pulling roing TI of by some time sends it down field complete the pass is complete Miller standing at about his 35 low Line Drive kick Miller takes it at the 34 trying to get a block to the outside Miller with a pretty nice return Bounds at the 43 ydd [Applause] line fire with a delayed hand off to Brooks reverses his Direction and Lors his head bounces to Midfield penalty down Brooks on that Wing right and in motion Meer now trouble got away from the first tackler and Out of Bounds at the 40 second and six for the Irish 641 left first quar and0 score hot B classic from down pitch to Brooks V tried to get him AB Brooks Cuts up backs his way forward about a yard or two short of the first down they up less than three points in the first third and fourth [Applause] period venis at the line of scrimmage Hendrick will try to down it inside the 20 if he can that one sailing and it looks like it will reach the End Zone on the Fly best run so far for the yies Demetrius toos finding rides Rodney Thomas out of bounds watch the Bose he comes up to fill inside the block is made he stays with his man watch this he gets back and then enters into the play doesn't make the initial tackle make the tackle because Wesley had Deon McDonald tied up take the reverse Thomas keeps and loses yardage no problem for A&M so far Tom Cliff gross in the back field for Texas A&M on Third and long pulling in trouble and sacked for the second time Deon McDonald was the man that got there first Ricardo just completed his rookie year with the Cincinnati Bengal Davis gets a great roll on the front it wasn't a thing of beauty but it'll wind up being a very effective punt as it rolls down MRE Dame they have the ball on their own 32 SC his first quarter Myers hit three of four that one batted down day was 72 total yards minus two for the aies but still nothing nothing by a rifles one almost intercepted through the hands of Jason ainson they knew what kind of Defense the AES had not D is converted three of three on Third and long this is their fourth attempt of this first quarter Meer forced to scramble now sends it down field and it will be knocked away almost intercepted by Aaron [Applause] Glenn HRI sails taken by Fraser on a fair catch we'll have full details by about 5:00 Eastern time this afternoon Tom Hammond all right Jim here's a familiar sight for Aggie fans thus far as Rodney Thomas run him inside the tackle fake to pass and it is complete he delivered it on the money to Tony Harrison just turned 19 rman out of Deer Park it's third at one and Carter the fullback with his first Carry picks up the initial first down of the game for Texas a&n for the San Francisco 49ers it'sit to the tail back Thomas nice run by Rodney Thomas he has another Aggy first down to the 40 yd line of L the they're on the move at the 40 of the Irish puling has a man wide open again it's Harrison second consecutive catch on this drive by Harrison three for three what I like about it he does not throw the ball up for grabs either I mean he pois up he'll take the sack L to Thomas pulig overshoots Carter who was wide open pulig was heavily recruited by Notre Dame and verbally committed to the Irish before changing his mind Thomas stopped for a loss penetration by the Notre Dame defense led by Pete B into the first quarter at the mobile Cotton Bowl classic Notre Dame in Texas A&M in a scoreless [Applause] time& m to on fourth down Davis trying to down it inside the Irish five can't do it it bounces at about the one and into the end zone he said growing up as the youngest of four brothers that helped him never to get rattled Tom all right Hannah everyone marveling players and coaches tail back Brooks is carried nine times for 26 yd here's beckon beckon trying to pound a hit for the first down apparently has it he asked coach Holtz if he could tape his shoes and Holz said he didn't allow it there Meer keeping taking it to the 35 ydd line fire sacked at the 30 looked like he wanted to run the option and never got going here's where you really have to Blitz not D and they're coming they're coming Meer got rid of it that'll be trapped by Smith incomplete it's dominated the game so far the Irish had a good drive off the open and kick off way beautiful kick by HRI FR take him down in his tracks Aggie's in possession of the football for the fourth time in the game Thomas picking his way forward for about eight yards second and one fullback Carter he played in the John David Crow ERA with the Eds 8400 y for this man Rodney Thomas in high school get a little taste how he did that town revolves around High School sports and he's one of the great Heroes of that Tom Texas town Carter stopped a yard short of the first down well they've got Notre Dame all bunched up inside you've got eight players Inside the Box the time to throw it'll be a hand off to Thomas though with a head of steam he has the first down to Midfield Thomas Bing it alone in this game Hill under suspension Thomas with another carry working his way inside and getting good yardage because he gets all people get out there and he can't make that cut on the slipper field so run him up the middle really fast K carries 33 yd this is the 11th time he's had the football and he's taken down back to Midfield the first seven have been runs Cliff gross is in the game now spbs and they expect him to pass slipping a tackler is pulig he's got some room to run Cory pulig has an Aggy first down HS always looks for that in the quarterback I like what pul said when you asked him how fast he was he said fast enough reverse and a pass on the Flea Flicker Brian Mitchell now has to run with it and he has a first down Thomas stopped at the line of scrimmage slam down hard to the turn wisc play action pass puling almost intercepted by burus it's really come on for the Irish Defense 6 minutes the agies have had the ball this is the 12 Play of their drive it's third and 10 and P misc connects again the pass intended for Carter 16 and 23 overall it's up and it just fell short so like Notre Dame the agies have a long drive that comes up empty Notre Dame averages 372 points per game Reggie Brooks off the block by Bettis and Brooks with a gain of 11 knocked out of bounds Brooks again no this time it's ftis lined up as the tailback to make the decision in a few days Ray zers is now the pullback and btis the tail back gets the hand off they mentioned in some head coaching speculation from time to time here comes a blitz again Meer flips it complete to Smith for a first down third catch of the game for IR Smith btis will throw a pass wobbly to Dawson he dropped it he PCH out it's it's healing I don't think it's going to be a problem at all he's not having any problem with that anle all right thanks a lot let's get back to watching Le Dame now with a third and eight they've converted four of six on Third and long so far in the game benis Brooks in the back field here they come again Blitz coming from A&M Myers in trouble and taken down Eric [Applause] England ice P hangs it high Frasier Fields it at the 16 and got across the 20 to goris 308 left in the first half a rare pass on first down by A&M and it's complete gross makes the reception short gain on the play G of only two on that pass completion gross so it's second and long Thomas trying to use as blockers spun down after a gain of two or they go to their nickel defense package on Third and five five or six puling behind his intended receiver in fact Carter made a run at it of the show so far Davis has this one wobbling its way down field takes a good bounce Miller will just let it bounce it'll go out of bounds around the 35 yd line trying to get some points on the board playaction short completion gain of four to the 40 second down all timeouts left for the Irish out pattern is complete for an Irish first down to Lake Dawson after trying to get the Irish some points here in the final minute of the first half running play to Brooks Brooks is to the 40 yd line Blitz coming from the agies Meer PPS once and goes down the sideline and incomplete intended to GD Dawson the leading receiver for the Irish to the bottom of your screen fire intended for Bettis on a screen pass Adrien Gerald brings the play from the sideline for the Irish he's in the slot on the right pressure Meyer to Dawson Dawson through the middle of the field Lake Dawson touchdown [Applause] [Music] B Thomas I told you the team that can throw the ball going to be able to score in this game you're not going to do it on the ground and for the extra point penalty marker down offside against Texas ANL the Irish get on the scoreboard with 36 seconds left in the first half pickoff reaches the end zone and it's taken out of there that's tough coming back against that defense of the ARA scoring the only points in the game here in the closing minute and a half go to the Run that's the safe play and that will bring the first half to a close Notre Dame marches down the field in the final minute to score the only points of the game Lou Holtz in the Irish leag leaving Texas A&M 7 nothing now that's his trademark here's the second half kickoff Notre Dame kicking to Texas A&M the ball fumbled at the 10 yd line by Mitchell he picks it up and has a pretty good return up to the 25 yd line that fumble of the kickoff and the coverage breaks down as everybody tries to pursue the football ping opens with a first down pass complete to Greg sh is tight end and SHP has about 12 or 13 yds up to lead the offensive coordinator saying they go to the tight end so often because they often get double covered on their wide receiver Tony Harrison loss in the play there's Devon McDonald again so now a second and [Applause] 14 McDonald bearing down on pulig but the Freshman got the ball away to sh pulig looking over that defense he said in high school he had to read defensive secondary something most high school quarterbacks don't have to do gave him Advantage he going to scrambled here and he's trapped and taken down below his seasonal average in this game so far this is a nice punt hangs High fair catch taken in the 88 cotton ball not Dame scored first then too but a& one 3510 option play and Jesse Cox no gain on the first play TRS defense all over it heelan and Atkinson surrounding Reggie Brooks he has been an electrifying Runner and has made a name for himself amongst the pro Scouts offside and him offside this could be a free play for Notre D Meer tight ropes down the sideline for a first down they Trail seven nothing touchdown pass Meer to Dawson at the close of the half all the way Meer goes deep and it's incomplete Miller the Speedster was streaking down excellent play by Bates Miller actually never had possession and then Bates was able to rake it away before he could clamp down on it here's a draw play to Brooks Reggie Brooks dodging tiers poose to the first down at the Aggy 45 yd line burus in the back field the Full House on Third and one straight ahead to Bettis who has the first down but that was all the defense are going to have to win this football game Meer changing the play perhaps seventh play of the Notre Dame drive it's a hand off to Brooks Edie Brooks he's a safety folks 64 2 25 and he is all of that that is the first man on the Irish option play be stopped before it got started offside defense 5yd penalty to near the 28th of Texas A&M first down Iris over 8 minutes left in the third quarter 7 nothing no to option May peeps not much there Jesse Cox and Steve Solari two tight end formation fake to Brooks Meer robs it for bentis Touchdown boy did Meer take a shot from Eric England [Music] I don't think Meers saw the touchdown to Bennis it was a great throw Bennis got beyond the defense not a very good snap but HRI boots it through the uprights Jerome Bettis is the fourth leading receiver for the Irish this season and he has scored three touchdowns via the pass this is the third it covered 26 yds from Rick Meyer to put Notre Dame up by 14 [Music] and the Irish have scored the last two times they've had the football HRI with the kick it's a short kick fielded by one of the up men and a pretty good return Von Smith with a good return as com always does better in coaches polls and media polls and I think that'll get recognition all right thanks Mr Murr enjoy the rest of the game Dead Ball B start offense 5yd penalty repat first down look what Notre Dame has done they've held Texas A&M to only 87 yds total offense the Irish starting to get that high power to attack crank up they pick up the Blitzer pul running for his life and Ducks out of bounds after he gained four five and then is smacked on the sideline and the first Irish penalty of the day that's an a& in first down ball at the 48 yd line is the most thatn has trailed this season their biggest deficit previously was 10 nothing to Missouri Ping's pass over shoots his intended receiver sh with Mitchell in the slot puling looks like he wants to run the option he'll keep it and get to the line of scrimmage and no more and McDonald helps out it be a blitz coming now the Irish back out of it puling has it batted down at the line of scrimmage pavis to punt on fourth down eight of the win Miller calls a fair catch at the 8 yd line dedicates every game to him and is having a tremendous C goal here to open 1993 Reggie Brooks with that spin move is to the 17 yd line 16 carries 79 ydd for Brooks who got nine on that last one Bettis lowers his head like a battering ram and drives agies backwards for another Irish first down first down Irish 452 left in the third quarter 14 nothing here's Brooks Brooks almost burst free tackled at the 35 by Patrick Bates safety when they see the hole they have to fill it right now and they're not doing that this is the ball control now for the Notre Dame offense that powerful ground attack leing up some time as well Meer Dives toward the first down he'll be a little short Cy Drive began on the Notre Dame 9yd line they're all the way out close to Midfield Brooks big hole just tripped up at the last minute theb goes down F start offense 5yd friendley repeat first [Applause] down draw play that's Beck Lee beckon twisting forward williard in the game split wide to the right and he's the blitz instead with a hand off to beckon who nearly broke it beckon tripped up at the 30 by Jesse Cox SL and fell on the ice as heed up to the nearly went to Michigan Bennis who is from Detroit Michigan rips off about five or six yards we're having to here we go foul on the defense 15 y I don't right there I don't know what's what's will be B Brooks takes it Brooks is still on his feet bomos the football they lose it you cannot condemn a guy like Brooks for doing what he does he just he just trying to make things happen the one thing that happens when when you agies recover the fumble but they're still backed up to their own four yd line not D had gone from the nine all the way down to the four before the fumble they can get him into the secondary he'll get 30 yd for you puling has to scramble everyone was covered and he fumbles the the ball Duos has it for another D at the 12 of Texas A&M Full House Back Field buris is in there me runs the option just short of the goal line the Irish have rushed for 125 yds in this quarter first and goal inside the one pnis for the touchdown you think B hit Bennis and look at Bennis wants a piece of baits this was started before there's a 15yd penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on bats before and bat look at this come on out here in the middle of the field I had the extra point perfect in three attempts now all right so number Dame taking control of the game now you want to know what makes ptis up upset it's bait 29 on number six and I'm going to tell you what there is a collision at the goal line here they come here's bis in watch this hello head to head that is a great lick P he's going after the ball he push hey wa I got touchdown now I want to talk to you son come here a minute head to head that's six I told you had the last [Applause] word here's the return by Mitchell and it's a good one it'll be on NBC this [Applause] weekend pulling hands to Thomas blockers in front he tries to cut up and can't the end of the third quarter Notre Dame 21 Texas A&M nothing we'll be back to the cotton bow after these messages from your local station six times they've come from behind to win but they're down 21 to an Irish defense that is playing tremendous football Helix pass on target complete to Harrison Tony Harrison with ro down the sideline Harrison taken out of Bounds at the 25 yd line by Tom Carter first down A&M at the 24 of the Irish play action P it for the End Zone man wide open the overshot Ryan Matthews with split backs they usually throw from this formation we expect them two here second and 10 pressure on pullet CS under and throws it incomplete at the feet of Greg sh stage of the game in this part of the field I'm sure it's four down territory they need a big play here on third you [Applause] better coming with time shoots it ending through the end zone intended for Brian Mitchell but I don't know this one from 41 yds vetulus missed earlier from 44 some second guessing of this decision on fourth down they go for the field goal and aulus has it up and through so A&M finally breaks the shutout 1427 left in the mobile cotton bow classic not nam's lead now is 213 Over Texas a&n [Music] bounces at the 10 taken on the hop by Miller Co reers SLE gild to come down he changed into his football uniform under the stands came to the sideline stood there the whole game though he didn't play but the do keep alive the tradition with the on the kickoff and also by standing throughout the entire game they don't want you to do that& defense they're wrecking through they need a big stop they need to get the ball back time running out Brooks spun down after a gain of two or I think the running game is really taken over you know offense the line is so big and now they're just wearing down the guys and we're just running well with the ball thanks a lot Tim okay Hannah there's the pitch to Brooks oh no flag down another free Notre play apparently players here's the Full House back field on Third and one vtis Dives the Irish really hitting the stride late beating USC Penn State Boston College to wind up the season all rank teams vtis nearly broke loose he's to Midfield with another Irish first down the Irish really hitting the stride late beating USC Penn State Boston College to wind up the season all right btis nearly broke loose he's to Midfield with another Irish first down spot was just short just inches short of the first down it's second down for the Irish and this time Bettis makes sure as he Dives ahead for a yard I forgot to throw in that small tight end at 64 246 that's Smith plays again for the Irish and they've held A&M to only 54 23 [Applause] did you say before the uh before the start of the game that the team that passes most effectively would win well if you take a look at Notre Dame's first two touchdowns and now the Irish with a productive rushing attack trying to put A&M away and end their perfect season there's the Full House again third and two this time it's burus that gets the carry yes every I play I made a the rules the rules were were such they weren't they when you played at the Citadel then you have less than 8 minutes now in the game second and seven Irish at the agu 23 yd line me again got only a couple of yards that time said all I want to do is when the SE just get away from everything get on my own little bit already picked up his degree in seven minutes defense 5yd Penal buris Burrows and is thrown back after he got to the 11 yd line first down now they did that in the first half of the ball game they stopped run I'll get you it in a second mettis inside the 10 speaking of the diversity of weapons Texas not as Diversified on offense especially tough for them to come from behind Myers to the five that quarterback to know where he's going 16th play of this drive which has already consumed 9 minutes ball control football and it's finest mettis that's his third touchdown of the Game Jerome Bettis and what might be his final game in an Irish uniform making a bid for offensive MVP two rushing and one times for 75 yds he has one reception for a touchdown h boots through the extra point and Notre Dame some said they didn't belong in this bow facing undefeated Texas A&M Jerome vtis has scored his third touchdown and the Irish are in [Music] control Houston it was- 6° in the cotton ball when Montana pulled the Irish from behind to beat Houston here's the kick to the 30 yd line Montana still doing the same thing yeah he nothing's changed much goe and of course that comeback engineered by another number three Rick Meyer against Penn State in the last home game of his senior campaign 12 and0 with a team as young as they are with a freshman quarterback for good the S and if you look up and down their lineup nothing but you you would expect them to be back in this Cott the Southwest Conference Champion next [Applause] year P's pass incomplete broken up knocked away from Brian [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Mitchell they show it on the big screen here at the Cotton bow blit comes H loses the [Applause] football and the Irish have recovered mcel is the guy number 89 that knocks the ball away he's replaced by Kevin McDougall as Irish quarterback there's McDougall a junior from Pomo Beach fla Def and tail back on the pits that's seven or eight yards only a handful have gone 12 and0 they were bidding for 13 and0 and perhaps a second place National finish Notre Dame with a strong second half Texas A&M will not be calling timeouts and the pitch is to Travis Davis get some and Pa will be returning at the signal caller [Applause] spot pass crowd 71600 starting to thin out of it at the Cotton b as mcle runs the option and with a penalty marker down 15yd touchdown run against Purdue it's third and 12 with just a minute 20 seconds [Applause] left baor rolls One Way throws back the other and completes the pass Miller fumbles the ball and A&M recovers 439 yards total offense for the game to only 152 for A&M that's off to the Irish defense a much malign unit last season and early this season you go to a game with really only one running back that's Rodney Thomas and you're behind you've got to throw the football doesn't help much and you got a freshman quarterback that is inexperienced though highly talented and whoa there's the ice cold shower for Lou Holtz and the 1993 mobile Cotton Bowl classic belongs to Holtz and the Fighting Irish that's good that's good that's good oh that's good that's good I [Music] love one thing about this game Tommy Mr Paul learned a great lesson and I tell you something you you build off of this he all right 28-3 Notre Dame wins the mobile cotton bow classic ending Texas A&M's unbeaten season the aies close at 12 and one Tom Hamond