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Texas A&M upsets Alabama: Kevin Sumlin gives Aggies second upset of a No. 1

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin has been involved in both of the Aggies' victories over No.1 opponents.

Mike Zarrilli

The Texas A&M Aggies' first-year coach Kevin Sumlin has helped guide his team to an 8-2 record in its first season in the SEC. Texas A&M only had six wins last season, but already have five in conference play, including Saturday's 29-24 victory over the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide.

Saturday's victory gave the Aggies their second win over a No. 1 team in 12 tries. The Aggies only other victory over a No.1 team was 10 years ago Friday, a 30-26 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. Sumlin would know something about that game as well; he served as the team's offensive coordinator in 2002.

Outsiders expected Alabama to win easily, as the Aggies came into the game as 13½-point underdogs. A&M proved to be unfazed, jumping out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter and sealing the victory with a Deshazor Everett interception on fourth-and-goal with 1:36 remaining.

Sumlin expected his team to compete, telling reporters (via the Houston Chronicle):

"As a coach, you always think you are going to be able to win. We said that from the beginning, and everybody kind of laughed.''

Following Saturday's stunning upset, nobody should be laughing now.

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