Texas A&M reveals good luck charm following upset win
The Texas A&M Aggies had a good luck charm on hand for their 41-38 upset victory against Alabama on Saturday in former A&M basketball star Khris Middleton. He was one of many on hand to witness the historic win, and he brought another piece of history with him.
Middleton, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA, won the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns this past season. He brought with him the Larry O’Brien trophy that is awarded to the league champions each year.
Khris Middleton played for the Texas A&M hoops team from 2009-2012. The Aggies lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament during his first two seasons, but failed to make the postseason in his final year with the team.
The Detroit Pistons took him in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft, but he played just 27 games with the team before joining the Bucks. Over the next few seasons, he developed into one of the better shooters and scorers in the NBA. He shot 41.4% from 3-point range this past year while averaging 20.4 points per game.
The former Aggie star watched in awe along with the rest of the country as his team refused to quit against the Crimson Tide. When Alabama scored a touchdown to take its first lead since the opening quarter with five minutes remaining, A&M had an answer.
Zach Calzada connected with receiver Ainias Smith on the ensuing drive for a 25-yard touchdown that knotted the score at 38. The defense then forced a three-and-out as the Aggies drove 54 yards down the field to set up the game-winning field goal from Seth Small.
The victory was the first for Texas A&M against Alabama since Johnny Manziel upset the Crimson Tide in 2012, the last year Khris Middleton spent in College Station. It was also the first time in four tries that Jimbo Fisher has beaten Alabama coach Nick Saban, for whom he is a former assistant.
Pandemonium followed as fans rushed the field to celebrate the Aggies’ first conference victory. After entering the season at No. 5 in the AP poll, they fell out following a pair of conference losses. That changed Sunday as A&M re-entered at No. 21, while Alabama dropped to No. 5.
Although Texas A&M isn’t going to have Khris Middleton and the Larry O’Brien trophy with it at every game, it will attempt to use the momentum from Saturday’s upset to turn its season around. The Aggies take on Missouri next Saturday.