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Wednesday, October 21, 1998
McCown's leadership jump-starts Aggies offense
By MICHAEL A. LUTZ AP Sports Writer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - When Randy McCown stepped into
the Texas A&M huddle as the starting quarterback against Kansas,
the Aggies' offense took off.
In three starts this season, McCown has transformed an offense
that once lived on its running game into a versatile pass-and-run
attack spiced with an unpredictable array of reverses and halfback
passes.
McCown has done it as much with his flare for aggressive leadership
as with his skills. He reminds some fans of former Aggie quarterback
Bucky Richardson.
"He's a wild man out there. He feels no pain," guard
Semisi Heimuli said. "We knew how he was because he's the
same way in practice. It doesn't matter if it's fourth and 40,
he says we're going to get a first down. That's what we needed."
McCown made the first start of his career last year against
Texas Tech, Saturday's opponent at Kyle Field. The Red Raiders
roughed him up then. It might be tougher this time.
"When he steps in the huddle all the guys get quiet. There's
no doubt it's his team," receiver Chris Taylor said. "It's
a different attitude he brings plus he can scramble and cause
a lot of problems for defenses."
McCown got a chance to start against the Red Raiders last season
in place of Branndon Stewart. McCown completed two of 2 of 8 passes
for 7 yards in the first half before Stewart returned to reclaim
his starting position.
When Stewart struggled again earlier this season, McCown made
good on his second chance. He started with a victory over Kansas
on Oct. 3 and followed up with victories over Nebraska and Baylor.
"We smell blood at the same time he smells blood,"
tight end Dan Campbell said. "He really gets us going."
The passing game really got going in last week's 35-14 victory
over Baylor. McCown completed 9 of 14 passes for a career-high
195 yards.
"This year is totally different. I am more relaxed,"
McCown said. "I put way too much pressure on myself in that
game (against Tech). The preparation will be the same this time
but I won't put pressure on myself."
McCown is soft-spoken off the field, revealing none of his
fiery nature.
"There are intangibles that a person brings to the team
and he's brought some of that," coach R.C. Slocum said. "It's
kind of an upbeat tempo that you sense.
"In terms of production, he's made some excellent throws
and some big time scrambles. He's turned some negative plays into
positive plays where if he doesn't make them, he gets sacked."
Slocum recalled such a play against Baylor.
"The other night, he had a play where he should have been
sacked," Slocum said. "But he scrambled, almost went
down but he gets a hand on the ground and comes back and finds
a receiver for a first down. So he's doing the things physically
but he's done the chemistry thing too."
The Aggies still run more than pass, but the possibility of
a passing attack is getting opponents' attention.
"Baylor tried to stop our run and we felt that we took
advantage of that situation," McCown said. "In the second
half, they backed up to stop the pass and that opened the running
game."
Campbell is glad to see the offense pass more.
"The exciting thing for me is we are making big passing
plays instead of big runs," he said. "I can't ever remember
seeing that at A&M before."
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