Sherrill and Texas A&M; May Have Finally Turned Corner

Jackie Sherrill hasn’t exactly been the $1-million football savior free-spending Texas A&M; thought he would be four years ago.

After leading the Pitt Panthers to three consecutive 11-1 seasons, Sherrill was lured south to coach for $250,000 a year plus lucrative perks.

His assignment: win the Southwest Conference title immediately and get the Aggies in the Cotton Bowl for the first time since 1967.

Not only have they failed to come close to the SWC title under Sherrill, the Aggies (5-6, 5-5-1 and 6-5 those three seasons) also haven’t been to any bowl game, Cotton or otherwise.

Last year, it took closing victories over Texas Christian and Texas to prevent a major alumni uprising against Sherrill, who has a five-year contract which is automatically renewable each season.

But salvation may have finally arrived.

A week ago Saturday, against then-No. 20-ranked Southern Methodist, the Aggies shattered two stigmas of losing against ranked teams and fading away in the fourth quarter.

The 19-17 victory over the Mustangs, on Eric Franklin’s 48-yard field goal with less than two minutes left, was the biggest for Sherrill at Texas A&M; (6-2 overall and 4-1 in conference this season). And the victory likely increased the odds for his survival as the Aggies’ 24th coach.

It was first time that Sherrill’s Aggies beat a ranked opponent and only the second time that they had come from behind in the fourth quarter to win.

“This is the kind of victory that gives your whole program confidence, “ Sherrill said. “It was much needed.”