BATON ROUGE, La. —Ahead of the #23 Texas A&M Aggies’ showdown with #10 LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium, “The Thing About Sports” hosts Brian Fitzgerald and Chad Hastings spoke with Andrew Monaco, the play-by-play voice of the Fightin' Texas A&M Aggies, to recap the recent loss to Kentucky and preview the team's path forward in SEC play.
Reflecting on the Kentucky game, Monaco emphasized that early turnover problems and missed opportunities set a difficult tone for the Aggies, specifically noting how critical red zone mistakes cost the team momentum.
"You've got to convert a fourth-and-1 at the 10, you can't turn the ball over," Monaco said referring to an Aggies 1st quarter attempt in the red-zone. "That's a possible 14 points right there. And if you go up 14-nothing on that team, I'm not saying it's guaranteed, but now you're playing from ahead."
Monaco also discussed how head coach Mike Elko evaluates those costly mistakes, pointing out that Texas A&M internalizes red zone failures heavily during film breakdown.
"Red zone turnovers, Mike said this, they actually as a squad count that as two turnovers," Monaco said.
The loss also highlighted execution issues for quarterback Marcel Reed, particularly regarding his decision-making under pressure and ball placement. Monaco noted that Reed has to focus on extending possessions and avoiding severe mistakes.
Injury concerns further complicate Texas A&M’s offensive picture. Wide receiver Terry Bussey’s season ended on the first play of the game, forcing the Aggies to look down their depth chart for primary playmakers alongside Mario Craver. Monaco addressed the growing expectations for fresh talent like Aaron Gregory to step into larger roles.
"Yes, this is why you came to Texas A&M," Monaco said regarding Gregory. "You came out of high school and you love the talent. Guess what? Now you're called on. This is it."
In addition to offensive adjustments, Monaco stressed the necessity of reclaiming physical dominance at the line of scrimmage following a tough performance against Kentucky.
"You've got to be way more physical on Saturday," Monaco said.
Beyond the game analysis, the broadcast touched on a somber note for Louisiana sports media, paying tribute to long-time radio host and analyst Mike Detillier, who recently passed away at age 65. Monaco noted the impact Detillier had across the state's sports landscape, remembering him as a master storyteller whose distinct presence resonated with listeners across college and professional football.
Aggies pregame starts at 4:30pm with kickoff just after 6:30pm on your Austin home of the Fightin’ Texas A&M Aggies and The Thing About Sports can be heard every Saturday at 9am on Talk 1370
