Man Shot After Argument over Alabama's Upset Loss to Texas A&M, per Police
Oct 11, 2021
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 12: Wilson footballs are seen on the field before the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
A man was fatally shot over an argument about Alabama's college football loss to Texas A&M this weekend, per ESPN.
According to Alabama police, 27-year-old Kealand Amad Pickens was found shot outside a home in the Birmingham suburb of Bessemer. According to Lt. Christian Clemons, Pickens had been involved in an argument with another man at a gathering when the homeowner asked the two men to leave.
Pickens, who was shot several times in his torso, was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead around 3:20 a.m. Sunday.
The shooter fled the scene and is still at large as of Monday. Clemons said the police know his identity, according to AL.com.
"It's another case of resorting to violence to handle differences," Clemons said.
Alabama, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation, suffered a stunning 41-38 loss to unranked Texas A&M on a last-second field goal Saturday. The loss snaps the Crimson Tide's streaks of 19 straight wins and 100 consecutive victories over unranked opponents. The 100-game streak was the longest in the AP Poll era.
"Hopefully we'll learn a lot from this," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said after the loss. "We still can accomplish everything we want to accomplish, but we have to do things better than we did tonight.
"We have to play better," Saban continued. "We have to be more consistent, we have to finish drives, we have to get more turnovers on defense, we have to get more stops on defense. There are a lot of things we need to fix."
Alabama fell to No. 5 in the AP Poll after the loss. The Crimson Tide will be back in action Saturday in a road game against Mississippi State.
Bryce Young, No. 1 Alabama Stunned by Unranked Texas A&M 41-38 in Epic SEC Upset
Oct 10, 2021
COLLEGE STATION, TX - OCTOBER 09: Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Zach Calzada (10) looks to throw downfield during a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on October 9, 2021 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Jimbo Fisher delivered.
Speaking to the Touchdown Club of Houston in May, the Texas A&M head coach said the Aggies would "beat [Nick Saban's] ass. On Saturday, A&M did just that, earning a 41-38 victory over top-ranked Alabama in College Station, Texas.
Seth Small hit a 28-yard field goal as time expired for the win.
Zach Calzada channeled Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly to become the latest quarterback to enjoy a career night against the Crimson Tide. The Aggies quarterback finished 21-of-31 for 285 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Calzada heaved a 25-yard pass to Ainias Smith to tie the game at 38 points apiece.
The sophomore had to be helped off the field after getting rolled up as he made the throw, and it looked like he might not return. But he was back on the field when the Aggies got the ball back with two minutes to play.
Calzada also scrambled 11 yards for a first down to extend the drive and help set up Small's field goal.
A&M led 24-10 at the half, which provided the necessary cushion when Alabama inevitably mounted a second-half comeback.
It looked like the tide was beginning to turn—pun intended—when King Mwikuta recovered a blocked Aggies punt in the end zone for a touchdown to make it a one-score game. But Devon Achane responded by taking the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to the house.
Alabama chipped away at the deficit again with a 29-yard touchdown grab by Jameson Williams and a 26-yard field goal from Will Reichard.
Texas A&M, meanwhile, had to hold the Tide at bay and keep their offense off the field despite a bruised tailbone leaving Isaiah Spiller unavailable for periods down the final stretch.
The Aggie defense held firm to hold 'Bama to a field goal from a 1st-and-goal at the 3-yard line. Having knocked on the door minutes earlier, the Tide kicked it down after Bryce Young found a wide-open Williams in the end zone. They reconnected to complete the two-point conversion as well.
Texas A&M didn't win any style points in the second half, but Calzada delivered when it mattered the most.
The defeat doesn't totally derail Alabama's quest for a second straight national championship. A one-loss Crimson Tide squad will almost certainly qualify for the College Football Playoff.
But the defending champions now have no margin for error with games against Arkansas and Auburn closing out the regular season before a potential date with Georgia in the SEC title game.
Thanks to their losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State, the Aggies have already removed themselves from the playoff conversation. If they can win out, a win over Alabama and a New Year's Six bowl game will be enough for Fisher to get some of his skeptics back on board.
Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) finds running room as Texas A&M defensive back Antonio Johnson (27) and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) give chase in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
No. 16 Arkansas' red-hot start to the season continued Saturday with a 20-10win over No. 7 Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
The Razorbacks have already won more games in 2021 (four) than they did all of last season (3-7). This is the program's first 4-0 start since 2003 when Houston Nutt was head coach.
Second-year head coach Sam Pittman and offensive coordinator Art Briles wasted no time sending a message. Arkansas jumped out to a 17-0 lead with 13:55 remaining in the second quarter.
Quarterback KJ Jefferson finished the game with 212 passing yards and two touchdowns on just seven completions. He did leave the game for a period of time in the second half, but he was able to return late in the fourth quarter.
The scoring ground to a halt after that, but the Razorbacks defense had no problems shutting down Texas A&M.
The Aggies only had two drives in which they ran plays in Arkansas territory. That doesn't include Isaiah Spiller's 67-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to cut the score to 17-10.
Arkansas looked like it was on its way to a blowout win early in the second quarter. The offense had two touchdown drives of a combined 162 yards that took a total of 93 seconds off the clock.
Treylon Burks had the first big play of the game with an 85-yard touchdown catch on a dime from KJ Jefferson on the Razorbacks' second possession.
After the defense forced a punt on Texas A&M's next possession, AJ Green got in on the scoring with a 48-yard touchdown that was aided by poor tackling from Aggies linebacker Aaron Hansford.
At that point in the game, Arkansas' offense had put up 17 points on just 13 plays.
Things did eventually settle down with the Aggies defense tightening up. The Razorbacks did have a chance to increase their lead late in the second quarter, but Trelon Smith's run on 4th-and-1 was stuffed for a turnover on downs.
That 11-play, 65-yard drive was one of only two times afterthey went up 17-0 their offense gained at least 20 yards on a single possession.
Jefferson appeared to injure his leg on a run in the third quarter, causing him to limp off the field.
Despite briefly trying to play through the injury, the sophomore was replaced by Malik Hornsby midway through the third quarter.
Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson obviously limping and replaced by redshirt freshman Malik Hornsby.
The transition at quarterback started smoothly, with Hornsby running for 16 yards on his first snap. It quickly fell apart after that when the same drive ended with a sack as he was trying to scramble out of pressure.
Even with limited offensive production, especially in the second half, Arkansas' defense stepped up in a big way. Isaiah Spiller did get the unit for a 67-yard score in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 17-10, but that was one of only two Aggies drive that gained more than 20yards in the second half.
I’ve been advocating for Arkansas moving into the top 10 with a win today.
Hell, the Razorbacks look like a top 5 team to me so far on Saturday
There will be games later this season when Arkansas has to play more consistent on offense if it wants to win.
For now, though, Pittman has his team moving in the right direction as they attempt to challenge Alabama atop the SEC West division.
Aggies Still Seeking Answers in Passing Game
There have been a lot of positives to take away from Texas A&M early in the season. The defense came into Saturday ranked first in the nation with 5.7 points allowed and seventh with 239.3 yards per game.
After the Razorbacks broke off two big plays against that defense early in the game, the Aggies found their bearings. They only allowed 118 yards over the next seven drives combined.
As has been the case for most of the season, Spiller gave the offense a big boost with 95yards on the ground. His touchdown run was one of two plays for the Aggies that gained at least 20 yards.
The problem that head coach Jimbo Fisher needs to figure out is at quarterback. It's been an ongoing issue to start this season. The injury to Haynes King has obviously played a significant role in the team's overall depth at the position.
Zach Calzada, who threw for 151 yards in Saturday's loss, has averaged fewer than five yards per attempt twice in the past three games. The sophomore out of Georgia threw a crucial interception early in the fourth quarter when Texas A&M was trying to tie the score.
It's certainly difficult for any team to play at a high level when it must rely on its second-string quarterback.
Freshman Blake Bost is the only other quarterback currently listed on the Aggies' depth chart. Eli Stowers was one of the nation's top-ranked dual-threat quarterbacks coming out of high school, but he has switched positions to tight end.
Until King recovers from a fractured leg, it appears as if Calzada is going to be the quarterback for the Aggies. He is going to have to take significant steps forward quickly to keep the team going now that SEC play has started.
What's Next?
Texas A&M will return home to host Mississippi State at Kyle Field on Oct. 2. Arkansas will play its first true road game of the season next Saturday against No. 2 Georgia at 12 p.m. ET.
Report: Texas A&M QB Haynes King Had Surgery on Ankle Injury; Out Until Mid-October
Sep 13, 2021
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 11: Haynes King #13 of the Texas A&M Aggies walks off the field on crutches after the second quarter after he was injured in the first quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Empower Field At Mile High on September 11, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)
Texas A&M quarterback Haynes King reportedly suffered a fractured right ankle in the team's 10-7 win over Colorado on Saturday and had surgery Sunday, per On3's Matt Zenitz and Gerry Hamilton.
He is "expected to be out until at least mid-October," per that report.
Redshirt sophomore Zach Calzada, who finished 18-of-38 for 183 yards with a game-winning touchdown throw late in the fourth quarter and a lost fumble in relief of King, will take over as the starter.
"The one thing you can say he made the plays on those drives that mattered, right there at the end," Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher told reporters after the game about Calzada's performance.
Jimbo Fisher said the defensive players were coming over to Zach Calzada and telling him "we'll hold (Colorado). You just give us one (scoring) drive."
Fisher said he was pleased with how his players interacted during the struggles of Saturday's win.
Through October, No. 7 Texas A&M has New Mexico (Sept. 18), No. 20 Arkansas (Sept. 25), Mississippi State (Oct. 2), No. 1 Alabama (Oct. 9), Missouri (Oct. 16) and South Carolina (Oct. 23) on its schedule. That means the Aggies may be without King for crucial games against ranked teams like Arkansas and Alabama in their quest to win the SEC and a national championship.
King, a redshirt freshman, won the quarterback battle over the summer vs. Calzada. The latter previously served as Kellen Mond's backup.
King threw for 300 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions this season before his injury, completing 62.9 percent of his passes.
The Aggies will now turn to a talented defense and star running back Isaiah Spiller to carry them through this period if Calzada struggles like he did early in his appearance vs. Colorado.
"He just needs time in the seat," Fisher told reporters regarding the redshirt sophomore. "And we need to play better around him."
Texas A&M QB Haynes King Won't Return vs. Colorado After Apparent Leg Injury
Sep 11, 2021
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 11: Haynes King #13 of the Texas A&M Aggies warms up before playing the Colorado Buffaloes at Empower Field At Mile High on September 11, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)
No. 5 Texas A&M's starting quarterback, Haynes King, has been ruled out for the remainder of Saturday's contest at Colorado, according to the Fox Sports broadcast.
Per Fox, Texas A&M has said starting QB Haynes King is out for the game with a “lower body injury." https://t.co/YZK8ssTm7E
King was injured early in the first half when he was thrown to the turf on a delayed run. He had completed one of two passes for eight yards at the time of the injury. Backup Zach Calzada entered in relief.
King, meanwhile, was spotted wearing a boot on his right leg and using crutches on the sideline.
In Week 1, King passed for 292 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions as the Aggies won 41-10 over Kent State. That helped lift Texas A&M's title odds to +3000 (bet $100 to win $3000) at DraftKings Sportsbook heading into Week 2—though the program still found itself behind Alabama (+210), Georgia (+400), Clemson (+700), Ohio State (+700), Oklahoma (+800) and Oregon (+2000).
Those lines were already slated to move with No. 12 Oregon's road victory at No. 3 Ohio State earlier on Saturday. It may not move as much as the Aggies would like if King remains unavailable longterm.
Shortly after the injury, Colorado took a 7-3 halftime lead over its former Big 12 rival.
TAMU's schedule doesn't do the team any favors, either. The Aggies face New Mexico, Arkansas, Mississippi State and No. 1 Alabama over the next four weeks.
Without King healthy, Calzada, a sophomore from Sugar Hill, Georgia, is going to have to prove he can keep the offense afloat.
Report: Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M Agree to New Contract Worth $9M Per Year
Sep 1, 2021
FILE - In this July 21, 20121, file photo, Texas A & M head coach Jimbo Fisher speaks to reporters during the NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days in Hoover, Ala. Fisher enters the fourth season of his massive $75 million contract at Texas A&M having elevated the Aggies to among the top programs in the country. Now the challenge for Fisher and the Aggies is to take the next step and contend for their first national title since 1939. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Texas A&M is reportedly taking steps to make sure head football coach Jimbo Fisher stays put for the foreseeable future.
According to Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle, the SEC school will add three years to his contract and pay him approximately $9 million annually. He had seven years remaining and was set to make $7.5 million annually prior to this three-year extension.
Zwerneman noted Texas A&M's regents are expected to approve the new contract "easily," which will put Fisher behind only Alabama's Nick Saban ($10.6 million annually through the 2028 campaign) in yearly pay among college football coaches.
It is not particularly surprising that the Aggies want to keep Fisher in place.
After all, they went 9-1 last season with their lone loss coming to the eventual national champion Crimson Tide. They just missed out on the College Football Playoff, and their No. 4 ranking in the final Associated Press poll was their highest finish since they won the title in 1939.
Fisher is 26-10 in three seasons at the helm and is a perfect 3-0 in bowl games. He led Texas A&M to a 41-27 victory over North Carolina in last season's Orange Bowl.
Success is nothing new for the 55-year-old, who was 83-23 in eight seasons at Florida State prior to joining the Aggies.
He won a national championship with the Seminoles during the 2013 campaign, which was the final year of the BCS system before the current College Football Playoff was put in place. Florida State reached the first CFP under Fisher as well, although it lost in the national semifinals to Oregon.
Texas A&M is well positioned to compete for a playoff spot again this season and starts the year No. 6 in the AP rankings. It also doesn't have to play Florida or Georgia in crossover games with the SEC East, although another showdown with Alabama looms.
Fisher has also found success on the recruiting trail with the No. 8 class in the country in 2021 and the current No. 9 group for 2022, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
If he continues to recruit at such a high level, Texas A&M will likely remain competitive even in the daunting SEC throughout his contract.
Haynes King Named Texas A&M Starting QB vs. Kent State; Takes Over for Kellen Mond
Aug 25, 2021
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Haynes King #13 of the Texas A&M Aggies throws a pass during the first half of the spring game at Kyle Field on April 24, 2021 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Texas A&M has named Haynes King as the team's starting quarterback to open the 2021 college football season.
Head coach Jimbo Fisher told Lance Zierlein and John Granato of The Bench on ESPN 97.5 in Houston on Wednesday that King will be under center Sept. 4 against Kent State.
— Texas A&M Athletics Communications (@12thmanPR) August 25, 2021
King will succeed Kellen Mond, who started 44 games over the past four seasons, as the Aggies' No. 1 quarterback.
Fisher has been coy up to this point about where things stood in the quarterback battle between King and Zach Calzada.
“We’re going back and forth,” Fisher told reporters late last week about the divide among first-team practice reps. “They each get their shots with the 'ones' in practice and scrimmages and as we go.”
Mond is coming off one of the best four-year stretches in Aggies history. He led the program to a 32-12 record as a starter, threw for 9,661 yards, ran for 1,609 yards and accounted for 93 touchdowns.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Mond in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.
King was a 4-star recruit and the fifth-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. The Texas native appeared in two games last season. He ran for 43 yards on five carries and threw an interception in the Aggies' 52-24 loss to Alabama on Oct. 3.
Expectations are incredibly high for Texas A&M coming into this season. The team ranked fourth in the final Associated Press Top 25 after going 9-1 in 2020.
The Aggies are ranked sixth in both the preseason AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll to start this campaign.
No. 1 Recruit Walter Nolen Narrows Recruitment List to Georgia, Texas A&M, Tennessee
Aug 25, 2021
The top-ranked football player in the 2022 recruiting class has narrowed his list of schools to three.
Defensive lineman Walter Nolen said Tuesday that Texas A&M, Tennessee and Georgia are the three programs he is still considering in the recruiting process, per Hayes Fawcett of On 3. Nolen, who checks in at 6'4" and 325 pounds, is a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 overall player from the class of 2022, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
Fawcett noted the Tennessean's top five choices were previously Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida.
The biggest development is the inclusion of Texas A&M, but Nolen told Fawcett his visit to the school was "awesome" and convinced him to consider the Aggies.
Whichever program lands Nolen will have an immediate difference-maker along the defensive line.
Gabe Brooks of 247Sports projected him as an eventual first-round pick in the NFL and compared him to current New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Brooks highlighted Nolen's quickness with his hands, ability to overpower offensive linemen and tendency to chase down plays while in pursuit.
His "suddenness," especially at his size, figures to help him contribute at the collegiate level as soon as his freshman year.
Khari Thompson of the Memphis Commercial Appeal noted Powell has been on the move during a high school career that started at Olive Branch and included time at IMG Academy in Florida. He never played a game for IMG and enrolled at St. Benedict before moving again to Powell High School.
It is now an SEC race for the highly regarded prospect who will headline the class of either Texas A&M, Georgia or Tennessee.
According to 247Sports' composite rankings, the Bulldogs have the No. 6 overall class for 2022. The Aggies check in at No. 8, while the Volunteers are chasing at No. 29.
4-Star Athlete Prospect Deyon Bouie Flips Commitment from Georgia to Texas A&M
Aug 13, 2021
Class of 2022 4-star athlete prospect Deyon Bouie announced his intention to attend Texas A&M on Friday:
Just want to thank my family and GOD for this decision…… COMMITTED TO TEXAS A&M pic.twitter.com/nCIA8k04uF
Bouie initially announced his intent to attend Georgia before decommitting in June. He then reopened his recruitment.
"I am blessed and appreciative of all the offers and opportunities that Georgia has offered," Bouie said in a social media post in June. "However, I believe I committed too early before I could explore all my other opportunities."
247Sports ranks Bouie as the No. 30 player in the 2022 class, sitting first among athletes.
Listed at 5'11" and 185 pounds, Bouie ascended to stardom at Bainbridge High School with his blazing speed. He's a true athlete, capable of potentially playing both sides of the ball.
It's likely his best chance at true stardom is taking on a Tyreek Hill-esque role, taking advantage of his downfield skills.
Texas A&M AD on Texas, Oklahoma Joining SEC from Big 12: 'The 12th Man Is Ready'
Jul 25, 2021
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 02: Athletic director Ross Bjork of the Texas A&M Aggies looks on prior to the Capital One Orange Bowl against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Hard Rock Stadium on January 02, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork does not appear concerned about the potential addition of Texas and Oklahoma in the SEC.
"Regardless of who joins the SEC, whether it's now [or] in the future, 'the 12th Man' is ready," Bjork told Dave Wilson of ESPN. "Our teams are ready. Our coaches are ready. Our athletic department is ready to compete at the highest level. That's what the SEC is, that's what we are as a university, and we're ready for whatever comes next."
Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle initially reported that Texas and Oklahoma reached out to the SEC about leaving the Big 12. According to David M. Hale of ESPN, this move could be made official in a matter of weeks.
Texas A&M left the Big 12 for the SEC in 2012 along with Missouri and had been rivals with Texas dating back to 1894.
After initial reports about realignment last week, it appeared Texas A&M would be opposed to the conference adding the Longhorns.
"We want to be the only SEC program in the state of Texas," Bjork said at SEC media days on Wednesday. "There's a reason why Texas A&M left the Big 12—to be standalone, to have our own identity."
Bjork added he will be "diligent in our approach to protect Texas A&M."
It appears the perspective has changed in recent days, however, with the athletic director now confident in his program regardless of any changes.
"We're the largest university in Texas," Bjork said. "We're stronger than we've ever been before competitively. We're on the cusp of the College Football Playoff. We've got great momentum right now."
The Aggies were fifth in the final College Football Playoff rankings last year, one spot outside the national semifinals. They ended the year with a win over North Carolina in the Orange Bowl for a 9-1 final record.
