After a disappointing season that began with hopes of reaching the Fiesta Bowl, 1995 ended with redemption for Texas A&M.
Kyle Bryant kicked five field goals and Texas A&M's "Wrecking Crew" defense was stifling Thursday night as the No. 19 Aggies defeated No. 14 Michigan 22-20 in the Alamo Bowl."I was totally relieved," Bryant said. "I went through some slumps during the season. This time I had 21/2 weeks to prepare, and I knew I had to redeem myself."
So did the rest of the Aggies.
Texas A&M was ranked as high as No. 3 early in the season, but its national title hopes were dashed by Colorado, star running back Leeland McElroy struggled with injuries and the Aggies lost to archrival Texas to end the regular season.
"We had some disappointments throughout this season," Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said. "But this team never wavered. We ended the season with a 9-3 record, a win over Michigan."
"It was a fun day," Slocum said, smiling.
Michigan (9-4) had its three-game winning streak in bowl games snapped, while Slocum improved his bowl record to 2-4 and ended a three-game losing skid in the postseason.
Playing without McElroy, Texas A&M generated enough offense behind a trio of freshmen runningbacks to set up Bryant, then relied on its blitzing defense to protect its lead.
The Aggies repeatedly sent blitzers crashing into Michigan's backfield, containing running back Tim Biakabutuka and frustrating quarterback Brian Griese, who opened the second half with nine incompletions in 10 attempts, including nine straight.
"That's the best defense I've seen this season," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "We knew coming in that we would have to adjust to their speed. We didn't protect Brian the way we needed to."
The Aggies scored in the first quarter on a 9-yard touchdown run by freshman Eric Bernard. The play was set up by Biakabutuka's fumble on the Michigan 5.
Slocum said his team worked hard at stopping Biakabutuka, who ended the regular season by rushing for 313 yards in a Michigan upset over Ohio State. Biakabutuka led Michigan on Thursday night with 94 yards on 24 carries.
"I thought Texas A&M had a great game plan," Biakabutuka said. "Having to run against nine men at the line of scrimmage is tough when you only have seven blockers."
Bryant's fifth field goal came from 37 yards out with 23 seconds left to give A&M a 22-13 lead.
Michigan answered with a desperate 44-yard pass from Griese to Amani Toomer in the end zone with five seconds left, pulling the Wolverines to 22-20. But an onside kick was recovered by Texas A&M.
Bryant kicked field goals of 27, 49, 47, 31 and 37 yards.
Bernard, who finished with 40 yards on 15 carries, combined with freshmen Sirr Parker (21 carries for 56 yards) and D'Andre Hardeman (six carries for 41 yards) to help power the offense as quarterback Corey Pullig finished 12-for-22 passing for 136 yards without an interception.
"I was pleased and proud of our three true freshmen running backs. Leeland hadn't practiced all week," Slocum said. "I told them that all of them together would have to pull together and take up the slack."
Texas A&M's Andre Williams helped shut out Michigan most of the fourth quarter with an interception that set up Bryant's final field goal.
"I think it was the game sealer. It felt good," Williams said. "They've got a great, great team. . . . To beat them, it means a lot for this team. It puts us back up there in the upper echelon."
Griese finished 9-for-23 for 182 yards with the one interception. He had TD passes of 41 and 44 yards to Toomer, and Remy Hamilton added field goals of 28 and 26 yards.
Pullig, playing his last game for Texas A&M, praised the team's performance in the absence of McElroy, who has an injured ankle.
"It's just a team sport. It's not the quarterback or Leeland McElroy," he said, adding, "It was nice to salvage a win on the last game."