October 28, 2010
Long’s 7 TD passes didn’t stop R.C. from talking about Reggie
Best of West for Friday, October 29
Bob West
The Port Arthur News
— EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column from the Best of West colllection was originally published in the Port Arthur News on Oct. 9, 2002.
Pencil in last Saturday’s improbable offensive shootout at Kyle Field as the first chapter in Texas A&M’s version of the Major Applewhite-Chris Simms saga.
PN-G ex Dustin Long is cast as Applewhite, the unlikely hero who plays so well he becomes a problem for a coach obligated to a can’t miss, high-profile, blue-chip recruit. Heralded freshman Reggie McNeil, of course, who has been hailed by Aggies far and near as the savior, fits nicely into the Simms role.
Lest there be any doubt how preoccupied A&M head coach R.C. Slocum is with making sure the golden child and his supporters know where he stands, let’s review what Long did and the smoking gun quote from the aftermath of Texas Tech 48, Texas A&M 47.
Long had just delivered the greatest passing performance in school history, a performance that went well beyond a Big 12 record seven touchdown passes. He completed 9-of-12 passes in third-down situations, he converted a clutch 3rd-and-10 and 4th-and-6 in taking the Aggies 75 yards to what should have been the winning TD with 1:08 left. He passed for the go-ahead score in overtime. His QB efficiency rating was a robust 207.9.
In short, Dustin Long, in only his third collegiate start, stepped up with the kind of game few quarterbacks have ever enjoyed. Considering the kind of offense he plays in, his passing accomp lishments were about as stunning as a factory built Edsel winning the Indianapolis 500. Or a 330-pound defensive tackle winning the 100-meter dash in the Olympics.
The only downer was that Texas A&M, due to defensive and special-teams breakdowns, lost the game. But Long had clearly done all a quarterback could ever do. He had resoundingly established himself in a big game.
So, despite the despair of defeat, one expected Slocum to heap praise on a quarterback who clearly had just needed a chance and some decent play calling. Instead, RC measured his praise and made sure
to let the big cigars know he hadn’t forgotten McNeal.
“Dustin Long has made excellent progress as a quarterback. I was really pleased,” said RC, in the most tepid of tributes. “I had planned on playing Reggie all along but it just didn’t work out that way.”
When Dave Rogers, who was covering the game for the Port Arthur News, told me what Slocum said, I thought he was kidding. Sadly, he wasn’t. The quote even went out over the A&M radio network.
What an insult to Long! What a flagrant example of out and out butt kissing!
Interestingly enough, by his Monday press conference, Slocum’s comments were more in line with what Long deserved. Perhaps he needed to see game film to appreciate exactly what he witnessed from the sideline.
Asked to talk about Long’s progress over the last few weeks, Slocum said: “I think he’s made steady progress. If you go back to the opening game and look at clips from then to now, I think he’s made dramatic improvement. I have to say I’m not totally surprised. I felt all along that he had good talent.”
Asked what Long showed on the last drive in regulation, Slocum said: “Just the poise to sit in there. I’m not surprised. All the way through his career this kid has been a competitor, baseball player, football player, played in the state high school playoffs, is a coach’s son. He’s been there. He’s a pretty cool guy.”
“In coaching, you’re always looking for a guy with enthusiasm, but sometimes a guy can be too hyper. Like last Saturday, you don’t need a guy out there getting animated. You need a guy who’s thinking. You need a guy with some poise and I think that’s one of his strong suits.”
Gosh, it only took seven touchdown passes, watching the game tape and probably some prodding for all that to come out.
It is interesting to note, too, that Slocum was so confident in Long that on A&M’s final drive of regulation he had to be talked out of a ludicrous decision. With A&M facing fourth-and-six at the Tech 40, he sent out the field-goal unit for what would have been a 57-yard attempt with 2:02 left.
Fortunately for A&M, Tech took time out and somebody on the Aggies sideline — probably new offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin — sold the idea of putting the offense back in. Long promptly completed an 18-yard pass to Jamar Taylor and two plays later connected for a 9-yard TD that
put A&M ahead, 41-38.
Oh, by the way, A&M’s kicker missed the extra point. But he would have probably been good on that 57-yard field-goal.
Long, meanwhile, has made it much tougher for Slocum to placate the faction that wants McNeal as A&M’s quarterback. Until Saturday, only those of us in Southeast Texas who watched PN-G offensive
coordinator Mike Long’s son in high school understood how good he is. Now 86,000 Aggies have seen it first hand. So have Aggie players.
It is, however, inevitable that McNeal is going to replace him, just as it was inevitable Simms was going to replace Applewhite. Promises, pressure and politics are no different at A&M then they are at
Texas.
As one long-time college football writer stated it last week, Long is basically a “caretaker” quarterback until Slocum feels McNeal is ready.
McNeal may well be everything he’s been built up to be. Or, like Simms, he may turn out to be overrated. One thing is for sure. Now that Long has played his Applewhite card, McNeal better be able to play like a Heisman Trophy winner every week.
Sports editor Bob West can be e-mailed at rdwest@usa.net
