There’s a text later in today’s edition that says in essence the score was closer than the game, and it’s hard to dismiss that. I spent some time looking for an area where West Virginia was better than Texas A&M, or where the Aggies weren’t as good as the Mountaineers. In an eight-point game, you’d expect some sort of a split. There was no such split here, and that’s got to be troubling for a WVU team that allegedly nailed its pre-bowl practices that were better than any of the ones to precede them this season. (I think this is precisely why the media is locked out of bowl practices, never mind any other practices.)

Texas A&M ran and blocked better and its front seven played better. It’s defensive backs played passes and guarded receivers better. WVU’s offensive line struggled and the defensive line was “terrible,” according to Dana Holgorsen. Receivers and defensive backs dropped passes and turnovers. Tackling wasn’t close. The quarterback play wasn’t close. The Aggies’ punter struggled less. I squinted really hard and saw WVU won 7-0 in points off turnovers and WVU being slightly better in kickoff returns, and neither mattered. I guess Josh Lambert was the better kicker, but his productivity came at a cost.

That was about it.

Overall, Texas A&M was the superior team. Better prepared, better in the red zone, better on the ground, better coached, more aggressive, more assertive, more obnoxious. Back away and it doesn’t feel that close, does it? Yet those were 7-5 teams that had similar offenses and similar seasons. Now, in the end, the score was fairly even, but WVU’s greatest sin was losing so many of the areas that create and define the differences between close teams and in close games.

The Mountaineers looked like they had a handle on things, and then let them all get away.

“You play a game you have to score 46 points to win and you can’t settle for field goals,” WVU coach Dana Holgorsen said. “I think we did a good job driving the football. The turnover battle wasn’t an issue, and it has been an issue, but the biggest thing is we didn’t score enough points. We moved the ball well, but didn’t score enough points.”

The Aggies (8-5) of the mighty SEC West answered the 17-7 deficit by outscoring WVU 38-13 over the next two-plus quarters and dominating the third quarter in particular to take firm control. Texas A&M has won a bowl in four consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. The Mountaineers have lost their past two and four out of five after winning bowls in the 2006-09 seasons.

The loss capped another weighty collapse for the Mountaineers (7-6) late in the season. In 2012, WVU lost six of its final eight games. Last season, it was six of seven. This season, it was four of five, that after a 6-2 start, a No. 20 ranking and a win against then-No. 4 Baylor.

“I guess that’s how the punches roll,” WVU junior nose guard Kyle Rose said. “I’m not sure how it happens. Maybe it’s our mentality and somehow toward the beginning the season we start off strong and maybe toward the end of the season we lack confidence and lose a game here and there, but we need to be able to keep a balanced emotional state.”

And at the end, all the flag waving you could do about Lambert’s excellent season seemed to rightly stand to say WVU kicked way more field goals than a really good team needs to be kicking. Texas A&M was 5 for 5 in the red zone with four touchdowns. WVU was 3 for 4 with two field goals. That’s your ball game. And where’s the champagne? We need champagne. Now look as hard as you can with this text in your hand. And now hold up your chain, slow-motion through the flames. Now cue the smoke machines and the simulated rain. My edits are in [brackets].

2:06:
For the record, I have zero good feelings about this competition. We’ve not done well with physical mismatches, especially up front.

2:08:
Playing the #HuggsDrinkingGame and last rule about punt returns….I’m naked already…

2:08:
Hmm I see Operation Pass to TAMU Gut failed on third down. Simply inspired play calling on that first drive.

2:11:
Followed by shoddy defense. I may set a record in turning off a game at this rate

2:14:
Give Gibbie another [fat] raise!!!

2:16:
So are we allowed to blame that blown coverage on Karl Joseph or ?

2:18:
DOES KARL KNOW?

2:18:
Karl NFL ready, so long as the Redskins draft him.

2:20:
Okay…my nerves are already shot!

2:21:
What’s with the Texas A&M nastyass attitude? #NoSouthernHospitality

2:22:
Squirt probably squirted from his butt a little

2:23:
I’m starting a Rex Ryan to WVU rumor right now because this replay review is boring

2:24:
That [Aggie’s] parents must be happy to see him acting like such a [dingbat].

2:25:
WVU needs more admitted foot fetishists

2:25:
Becht blamed Shorts for inertia on that play

2:26:
Bye-bye 31

2:27:
The great ones over come the laws of physics, really. Randy Moss had anti gravity boots.

2:27:
No one went to bat for Squirt there? Blatant targeting and then the guy celebrates his ejection and were just watching?

2:28:
Made a FG? Time to give DeFo a six-figure raise!

2:30:
The Shaq attack is back

2:34:
Stuck at work…can’t stream the game…more importantly can’t actively participate in TFGD. [gadzooks]! This must be what hell is like.

2:34:
Nehlen thinks this is too much first down running up the middle

2:36:
Shell game!

2:36:
Where the facemask?

2:37:
Um…Holy Face mask, Batman!

2:40:
MARIO!

2:40:
He went and got his Princess Toadstool!

2:40:
Somewhere Jeff Casteel stands and applauds that soft cushion.

2:40:
Skyler [Filetin’] Football doin the money dance

2:40:
Sorry Mario, your Manziel is in another castle

2:41:
#31 probably would have tackled him. Too bad he’s a jerk and has to sit in the locker room.

2:42:
Alford is all fast

2:42:
Looooots of drink people at work today.

2:43:
DILLON … You son of a [biscuit eater]!

2:44:
Shades of Clemson????

2:45:
K.J. > Kay-Jay

2:49:
Twitter tells me KJ Dillon did a thing. So…woohoo. (God this sucks)

2:50:
Looooots of drunk people

2:52:
That D is looking deadly!

2:54:
Forget the Clemson thought, where was our safety?

2:54:
I think Jake just caught Gibby counting his money.

2:55:
Don’t think wes By God held anyone on that play

2:55:
Confirms what we long suspected: Rose sucks in pass coverage

2:56:
“You’ve got your nose guard floating around on a dingy!”

2:57:
Was A&M afraid to tackle Howard?

2:57:
I can’t believe Squirt caught that!

2:57:
Special teams continue to excel.

2:57:
Worst ST gaff of the season, best QB run of same

2:58:
That was so Raven! Anyone? Anyone?

3:00:
Dear Skyler: WVU is wearing the gold jerseys!

3:01:
Gibbie on pace to yield “only” 56….raise time!

3:12:
That’s just more money in the bank for Gibbie, the Wolf of Walnut Street

3:20:
I’m really gonna miss that Grown Ass Man.

3:21:
Sheebus that used to be so fun. Why did that vanish??

3:24:
Dana realizes it’s the last game and is using all of his timeouts!!!

3:32:
Love it when Sky runs for the FIRST!!!!

3:34:
Did Dana lose a bet that first down always has to be the same play?

3:37:
Uhhhhj. Targeting?

3:38:
Millard just [soiled] himself.

3:38:
Sanders will never make colonel with that attitude

3:38:
To me, A&M seems like a poorly coached, out of control, disrespectful pile of [sourpatch kids] out there. SEC prima donnas.

3:42:
Their sideline is out of control.

3:44:
Special teams strikes again!

3:45:
I hear the sound of an armored truck backing up in Gibbie’s neighborhood… Must have forced a punt

3:45:
Bogus calk.

3:45:
Dumbest Team in America

3:47:
The penalty on the punt there is the same result as what happened to Howard on the series before. Unbelievable.

4:06:

4:07:
Jackasses

4:24:
O’Toole has become oh-oh-oh-O’NO!!!

4:24:
’Scuse me, sir. Where’s the punter’s anonymous meeting? THAT juco stinks

4:36:
Did we forget how to play, D?

4:40:
D backs getting burned!

4:49:
I really don’t like these guys.

4:49:
Roughing “the kicker” is not an apt description.

4:52:
TV crew-“”Lambert is down..and he’s holding an area that is going to remain nameless right now.”

4:55:
Holgerson has taken this West Virginia goes conservative thing way too seriously

4:57:
That “we don’t know if Crest will be healthy or a receiver in the spring” thing has be terrified.

5:04:
These are some dirty ass players and staff.

5:05:
Significantly fewer drunk people at work today.

5:05:
Gibby’s ringtone: Take the Money and Run

5:06:
Wtf is Holgerson doing with this sorry ass offensive play calling. #Turrible (Charles Barkley voice)

5:09:
William Crest…be ready! paging Mr. William Crest!

5:12:
“Best week of practice this season.” What were they practising?

5:29:
Holy [snails]! Shelton Gibson!

5:31:
What are UK fans thinking? I’m serious.

5:50:
Too bad Wellman couldn’t have made that same catch against Bama!

5:51: 
History will remember this as a one possession game. I won’t.

5:53:
Fair to say Spavital had Gibson’s number. Third and fourth quarters were clinical.

5:58:
Cry barf cry

6:46:
Did TCU just kick us while we’re down?! https://twitter.com/tcuvolleyball/status/549712046372446208

(That’s all for me today. I’m traveling home, and @carvelli3 has you covered for the basketball game, which, uh oh, also starts at 2 p.m. on a weekday. I want to leave two things before I go. 1) I’ll get this blog back on track. I feel like it’s been wonky since the Kansas State open week. 2) Surprise tomorrow. )