M legacy is already cemented by how he’s performed in the historic rivalry against Texas.
The Aggies’ senior quarterback played a central role in the last three games against their archrivals – and led them to upsets in the last two.
M (4-7, 2-5 Big 12) plays the fourth-ranked Longhorns (10-1, 6-1) on Thanksgiving Day.
M’s 38-30 victory at Kyle Field.
re at critical junctures for our team,” said McGee. “I felt myself in all those games, there was a point in the game, where you looked at the guys in the huddle, you looked at them in the eyes, you see something in there and you realized all the stuff you’ve gone through together.”
M trailed 7-6 in the fourth quarter and McGee led the Aggies on a grinding, 16-play drive, finishing it with an 8-yard TD run.
“Guys were throwing up, exhausted and laying it on the line for each other,” said McGee. “That’s something that’s going to stick with me forever, the way we played together, the way we fought and stuck together through everything. Those are my buddies that I’ll have for life.”
Senior tackle Travis Schneider said McGee’s debut performance against Texas will actually be the one he never forgets. Then a freshman, McGee rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns, bouncing up from every hard hit to let the Longhorns know he was ready for more.
“He got knocked out, but he was getting up and talking trash to all the defenders on the Texas side,” Schneider said. “That kind of set the tone for him and let everybody know, for all the Aggie fans out there, what kind of player he is for this ballclub.”
Last year’s game at Kyle Field would’ve been the perfect bookend, if McGee didn’t still have one more season to play.
He shouldered criticism early in the season for the Aggies’ anemic offense, then spent the second half defending embattled coach Dennis Franchione. The Aggies limped into the finale after three consecutive losses, while the Longhorns had won five in a row and still had a shot at the Big 12 championship.
McGee finished 25-for-36 and had a bruising touchdown run as the Aggies beat Texas at Kyle Field for the first time since 1999.
Mike Sherman, who replaced Franchione less than a week later, has seen all three games and taken note of what McGee showed in each.
M football team played at another level,” Sherman said. “I think Stephen, certainly being the leader, was a big contributor to the fact that not only did he play well but I think he motivated others to do the same.”
Sherman still made McGee compete with Johnson in preseason and earn his starting job. McGee won it, but then hurt his throwing shoulder early in the Aggies’ Sept. 6 game at New Mexico. He’s played only sparingly since, reduced to sideline cheerleader as Johnson has taken the reins.
few snaps. No matter what happens on Thursday night, he’ll finish his career ranked in the school’s top 10 for yards passing, 300-yard games, touchdown passes and completion percentage.
But when he walks off the field, he hopes he’s remembered for more than just statistics and two remarkable victories.
“Much more important than any trophy, national championship, Heisman award, is how you handle things that are thrown at you, whether they’re good or bad in life,” said McGee. “I’d hope that I’d be the type of person that has shown the character, the resiliency to keep bouncing back and keep putting one foot in front of the other, knowing that no matter what happens outside, things I can’t control, that I’m not going to change.
“Hopefully, I’ll have an impact much greater, that goes much further than just football, wins and losses.”
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