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Texas A&M Football: 5 takeaways from Aggies’ 2018 season

By Shelbie Warr

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 31: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts after rushing for a 62-yard touchdown on the second play of the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the first half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 31, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 31: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts after rushing for a 62-yard touchdown on the second play of the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the first half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 31, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 31: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts after rushing for a 62-yard touchdown on the second play of the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the first half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 31, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 31: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts after rushing for a 62-yard touchdown on the second play of the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the first half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 31, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

4. This team finally learned how to adjust, finish games

In the past few seasons, Texas A&M has had one glaring issue. OK, maybe more than just one but this may have been the biggest and most important- how to adjust at halftime and finish games. That was just not something in Kevin Sumlin’s MO, so to speak. He didn’t make changes, he didn’t finish games and as a result seasons that started strong quickly went into the toilet.

Jimbo Fisher has changed all of that in a hurry. This has not been an easy change, that much was seen from the Aggies matchup this year with Auburn and in some ways Mississippi State. I’m a firm believer that Nick Fitzgerald and company just outplayed the Aggies that day, though that is up to interpretation.

So what is it that Fisher and company have done that has helped this team so much? He has taught them that the game plan changes based on what you see on the field and what has and hasn’t been working. He taught them that you fight until the clock hits zero, no matter if you are winning or losing.

That is a lesson that championship teams know all too well. Why do you think Clemson put up so much on Louisville despite obviously being set to win the game? Because they didn’t want disaster to somehow happen and they didn’t feel the need to let up. Maybe if the Aggies had done that a few seasons ago against UCLA, things would be different at this moment.