Texas A&M dominates Oklahoma, 41-13, in 2013 Cotton Bowl
By Joe Buettner
Jan 4, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas A
It’s been a magical season for Texas A&M. It was only fitting they capped it off with a dominating victory over an old conference foe. The Aggies just could not be stopped in the second half, and for the third time this season, Oklahoma was outplayed by a better team.
The Sooners dropped the 2013 AT&T Cotton Bowl, 41-13, to the ninth-ranked Aggies. Oklahoma came in to this game as underdogs, and rightfully so, Texas A&M was nothing less than spectacular.
Their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Johnny Manziel gashed the Sooner defense for 229 rushing yards and 287 passing yards. “Johnny Football” was responsible for four of A&M’s six touchdowns, living up to much of the hype surrounding the redshirt freshman.
Oklahoma received some favorable calls in the first half, which allowed them to stay within one point of Texas A&M at halftime. The Aggies wasted no time widening the gap, completely torching the Sooner defense in the second half.
Unable to finish his Oklahoma career 4-0 in bowl games, Landry Jones would have preferred his last game in a Sooner jersey to go differently. His career has been a roller coaster of ups and downs, and his hot streak at the end of the regular season fizzled with a humbling loss inside the stadium where his OU career started.
He did not get much help from his defense, which has struggled to contain the run this season. They were no match for Manziel and the Aggies high-powered offense.
The loss left a bad taste in the mouth of Sooner fans who have seen OU at their best and worst in 2012. Their two home losses to the top-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Big 12 Co-Champions Kansas State Wildcats certainly were unexpected. However, the way they finished against West Virginia and Oklahoma State were nothing short of Sooner Magic. The Sooners destroyed the Longhorns in Dallas, however, their luck in the DFW area ran out January 4.
Johnny Manziel was an absolute terror, and the Sooners now must face a long off-season. Some big changes are necessary to avoid defensive meltdowns like OU endured tonight. Also, don’t be surprised when a few players are swayed to leave for the NFL and get out of Norman while they can.
The college football season has come and gone once again, and now the long wait for August 31 begins.
Boomer Sooner and see you next season.