1990 HOLIDAY BOWL

12.29.90 San Diego, Calif. (61,441)

Led by quarterback Bucky Richardson and All-America running back Darren Lewis, underdog Texas A&M was out to show it belonged among the nation’s elite. The Cougars entered the game beat up. Defensive backs Tony Crutchfield and Norm Dixon weren’t able to suit up and Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer was playing with a slight separation in his non-throwing shoulder. The second largest Holiday Bowl crowd ever (61,441) watched the Aggies march 80 yards in 13 plays to take a 7-0 lead. The Cougars tied the score on an eight-yard Detmer-to-Chris Smith touchdown pass, but after that, the game was all Texas A&M. The Aggies went on to score 23 points in the second quarter en route to a 37-7 halftime lead. With the game out of hand, the big story was William Thomas’ crunching sack that separated Detmer’s throwing shoulder and put him out of the game early in the third quarter. The Aggies continued to dominate by racking up nearly 200 yards rushing in the second half. Texas A&M’s Richardson would go on to be named Offensive Player of the Game by piling up 344 yards in total offense. Thomas was named the top defensive player. BYU finished the season ranked 17th by UPI, 20th by CNN/USA Today and 22nd by AP. BYU had been as high as fourth prior to its first loss.