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Updated 6:32 AM on Monday, October 8, 2007

Cessna: Victory could be big for A&M
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By ROBERT CESSNA
Eagle Columnist

Maybe A&M's 24-23 victory over Oklahoma State will be the start of something special. Or eventually it might be remembered as nothing more than a statistical anomaly.

It's significance wasn't important late Saturday night. Head coach Dennis Franchione and his players just needed to savor what they'd accomplished. Nor was it time to ask them about this week's game at Texas Tech, where the Aggies haven't won since 1993.

"It always is tough to go there," Franchione said. "And they always are revved up for us. But you know what? I've got a few hours tonight I want to enjoy this one before I have to think too much about that one."

Who could blame him?

Franchione had to beat Oklahoma State. He has to win more games, but something good had to happen Saturday night. A loss would have been devastating after the players came to Tuesday's press conference and stood up for Franchione, who has been under fire since it was reported that he e-mailed a secret newsletter to 12 to 15 boosters for $1,200 a year.

The players' vocal support had fallen on deaf ears after their actions -Êor lack thereof - led to a 17-0 halftime lead for the Cowboys.

Halftime conversations at Kyle Field's restrooms, the concession stands, and especially in the Zone were spicy. A&M fans watching on television were venting via chat rooms, some saying the Franchione era was officially over.

It turned out to be nothing more than idle talk when the Aggies put some action behind their words.

If A&M plays 12 more halves like the second half it played against Oklahoma State, the off-the-field issues will fade away.

The players at least saved the weekend for the season's largest crowd with the second-best second-half comeback in school history.

You have admire the Aggies' grit, but also question why they trailed by 17 points. Good teams shouldn't get that far behind at home against a program that's now lost 11 of its last 12 true road games.

Yet A&M was only one play away from losing for much of the second half, which was also the case in the 47-45 triple overtime victory over Fresno State earlier this season.

This is more than luck. This is knowing how to win. Seven of A&M's last 12 victories have been by six points or less.

That tenacity will be needed in the next five weeks as the Aggies play four road games and a home game against surprising 20th-ranked Kansas.

A&M is 5-1 for the third time under Franchione. The Aggies finished 2-4 (2004) and 4-3 (2006) the previous two occasions. And this year's second-half schedule is much tougher.

But this is Franchione's best team.

"I've been saying for a long time I like this team," he said. "I like them for a lot of reasons. And I hope they continue to win a lot of games. But in and coaching and playing, the experiences are really what's most meaningful. This team really savors those so much with each other, and hopefully with me. At least I feel it.

"For me to see them 2-0 on top of the Big 12 South -Êand heaven knows we may not win another one, but at least we're there right now and we're in control of our destiny."

That's getting harder and harder to do because of college football's parity. Last week, seven of AP's top 13 lost. This week five more lost.

A&M, which fell out of the Top 25 after the loss at Miami, is just outside the rankings. The Aggies haven't finished in the AP Top 25 since 1999, which is another reason fans are restless.

For A&M to do that this year, it probably needs to win nine games. That won't be easy.

It will be interesting to see what the OSU game will mean when we look back at we look back at this team at year's end.

"We got seven more games just like this one tonight," A&M quarterback Stephen McGee said after the Aggies beat the Cowboys. "All are going to get better and better. Going on the road is going to be a huge challenge for us."

One Franchione expects this team to answer.

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NOTES - It was initially thought A&M's comeback was the best in school history in the second half. But the Aggies rallied from a 27-7 third-quarter deficit at Baylor on Oct. 24, 1958, for a 33-27 victory. OSU showed a different defensive front than in previous games, which caused an adjustment, Franchione said. ... It appeared that Cowboys quarterback Zac Robinson was short of a first down on a third-down play in front of the A&M bench, but Franchione didn't challenge. OSU went with a quick snap during a touchdown drive for a 14-0 lead. Franchione said he wasn't looking right at the play, but was keying on coverage. He didn't see the replay, so he didn't want to waste a timeout. He also thought if the spot was bad, the replay official would ask for a replay, which happened four other times.