Football Writers Association of America Sept. 2, 2014
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ted Gangi
214-909-9314
Aggies stun South Carolina to open the season
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TEXAS A&M IS FWAA
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) – The Texas A&M Aggies rolled to a 52-28 win at then-No. 9 South Carolina to earn the season's first Football Writers Association of America National Team of the Week honor. The announcement came exclusively on SiriusXM Radio's "College Sports Today," hosted by Mark Packer and Eddie George.

Sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill had a record-setting debut at the helm of the Texas A&M offense. In his first career start, Hill broke Johnny Manziel's school record with 511 passing yards to go with three touchdown passes.

Texas A&M (1-0) snapped South Carolina's 18-game home winning streak, which was the nation's longest, and won its first conference opener since 2007 and first as an SEC member. Hill torched South Carolina early as A&M bolted to a 31-14 lead at the half. Hill finished with the most passing yards allowed in Steve Spurrier's 10 seasons as the head coach of Gamecocks. Tra Carson ran for three touchdowns, and Malcome Kennedy had 14 catches for 137 yards as the Aggies racked up 680 total yards.

"That (A&M) team was so much better than us, it wasn't funny," Spurrier said after the game.

Other FWAA National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Aug. 30 included:

Temple (1-0): The Owls defense stole the show, coming up with seven takeaways to pull away from Vanderbilt, 37-7, and record their first win over an SEC team since 1938. Temple picked off three passes, matching its season total from last year, and did not allow a touchdown.

UTSA (1-0): The Roadrunners broke out to a 27-0 lead and ruined the debut of Houston's TDECU Stadium with a decisive 27-7 win. UTSA forced a school-record six turnovers in front of the standing-room-only crowd, and held Houston to 208 total yards.

The Football Writers Association of America has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. Members of the FWAA All-America Committee decide the weekly honor. Each remaining Monday during the 2014 college football regular season, the FWAA will name a National Team of the Week.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,400 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com or 214-870-6516.

2014 Big Game National Teams of the Week
Weekend of Aug. 30: Texas A&M Aggies
Weekend of Sept. 6: Virginia Tech Hokies
Weekend of Sept. 13: Boston College Eagles
Weekend of Sept. 20: Mississippi State Bulldogs
Weekend of Sept. 27: Yale Bulldogs
Weekend of Oct. 4: Ole Miss Rebels
Weekend of Oct. 11: Baylor Bears
Weekend of Oct. 18: West Virginia Mountaineers
Weekend of Oct. 25: LSU Tigers
Weekend of Nov. 1: Florida Gators
Weekend of Nov. 8: Ohio State Buckeyes
Weekend of Nov. 15: Oregon State Beavers
Weekend of Nov. 22: Minnesota Golden Gophers
Weekend of Nov. 29: UAB Blazers

2014 FWAA ALL-AMERICA COMMITTEE
Mark Anderson Las Vegas Review-Journal Mountain West
Lee Barfknecht Omaha World-Herald National
Zach Barnett Football Scoop Conference USA
Kirk Bohls Austin American-Statesman Big 12
Aaron Brenner Charleston Post & Courier ACC
Lee Feinswog Sports225.com SEC
Tommy Hicks Mobile Press Register Sun Belt
Joey Johnston Tampa Tribune American
Marc Morehouse Cedar Rapids Gazette Big Ten
Phil Steele Phil Steele Publications National
John Wagner Toledo Blade Mid-American
Jon Wilner San Jose Mercury News Pac-12