As the dust settles on Week 9 of the college football season, the Bonham Trophy is back in College Station courtesy of Texas A&M’s (5-3, 3-2 SEC) 30-17 win over South Carolina (2-6, 1-5 SEC). Is it safe to say the Aggies are officially back?
Well, they’re back into the win column at least, thanks to a nice blend of elite defense and a relatively improved offense in Saturday’s win. But after two straight disheartening losses, A&M will gladly take a double-digit win over the Gamecocks. After all, it can serve as a precursor to the season’s much more promising finish.
As head coach Jimbo Fisher noted in his postgame presser, Texas A&M is now officially just one win away from bowl eligibility. But most importantly, a strong finish to the season would mark a paramount achievement in separating themselves from last season’s debacle.
Veteran leaders Ainias Smith and Edgerrin Cooper, as well as emerging defensive star Bryce Anderson, understand that latter goal all too well. They were here for the disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2022, and they are the ones who can ensure history ceases to repeat itself. As Smith aptly noted below, this team can still make the season “real, real special.”
Below are Smith and Cooper’s full postgame press conferences, as well as notable takeaways from their time at the podium.