Texas A&M Football: Why Kyle Allen Needs to Have a Big Liberty Bowl

The Texas A&M football team will play the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Liberty Bowl on December 29. Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen needs to have a good game for a number of reasons. 

The Aggies are 7-5 and going through a transition year. They are a very young team, and that youth extends to the quarterback position, where Allen is starting as a true freshman.

Allen has displayed the ability to win big games in the Aggies' 41-38 road victory over Auburn. He can write his place in Aggie football history if he were to lead the Aggies to a bowl win in his first year.

This is a look at why Kyle Allen needs to have a big game in the Liberty Bowl against West Virginia.  

Establish Himself as Leader

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The quarterback position lends itself to being a leader of the team by the nature of the game. No other player touches the ball as much as the quarterback does. 

In order to be a leader you must have the respect of your teammates. Kyle Allen has shown that he can go on the road and win big games by throwing four touchdown passes in the Aggies' 41-38 victory over the No. 3-ranked Auburn Tigers.

Allen can add to that trust by coming up big in a nationally televised bowl game. One of the biggest issues on the 2014 team was a lack of leadership.

Allen can claim a position as a leader on this team at a young age by leading the Aggies to victory against the Mountaineers. 

Claim the Starting Job

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Kyle Allen is the starting quarterback for the Texas A&M football team right now. That might not be the case to start the 2015 season if he struggles against West Virginia. 

Allen lost a battle for the starting position to Kenny Hill before the season began. When Hill was suspended for two games, Allen took over and did not relinquish the starting spot. 

Hill is ready to battle it out with Allen in the spring again. If Allen has a strong bowl game, then it would reassure coaches, players and fans that the right man is starting. 

A bowl victory would solidify Allen's grasp on the starting spot. 

Create Momentum for New Year

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

A bowl win ends the year on a positive note. Consecutive losses to Missouri and LSU to end the season have left a bad taste in the mouths of the players and fans. 

The Aggies need to get an eighth win to their season. A win would put a smile on everyone's face and give the program momentum as the Aggies head into national signing day and offseason workouts. 

Winning cures a lot of ills, and a bowl win starts the offseason on the right foot. If the Aggies beat West Virginia, then that would make them a perfect 3-0 in bowl games under Kevin Sumlin. 

It would also be their fourth bowl victory in a row, which would be a school record. Creating some momentum for the team and sending the seniors off with a win would be a nice way to finish this roller-coaster season for the Aggies. 

Make a Name for Himself

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Bowl games attract a lot of attention from the media. If Allen has any designs on being an All-American or a Heisman Trophy candidate one day, it starts here on the national stage. 

A big game in a bowl game sets him up well for media awards in 2015. The mainstream media has a very short attention span. If you put on a big show in the last game of the season that memory will linger during the offseason. 

Allen had solid games against Missouri and LSU but nothing that really stood out. If he has a big game against WVU, then it will shape his national perception as a player. 

It is not really fair, but bowl games matter to the media more because more of the media has a chance to watch each bowl game than a typical college football game on a Saturday afternoon.