Texas A&M Football: Ryan Tannehill and the Senior Quarterback Curse

Over the past decade, the Aggies have been pretty much on the average. Their record since 2002 (includes this year's current record) is 62-57 (.521), winning just above half of their games. For most teams, that's a pretty solid scorecard and something to be proud of. 

Texas A&M, however, knows it could have been a lot more W's in the win column if even just a few of its senior starting quarterbacks had lived up to the hype. Every few years, A&M's starting QB would rise to his senior year, only to let every Aggie down once again, making way for another underclassman who would eventually go on to fail us once again a few years later.

We take a look at Texas A&M's past five senior starting quarterbacks who have occupied the last decade of A&M football under center and how they have failed to impress.  

Mark Farris

Mark Farris first started as a sophomore at QB in 2000, prolifically leading the Aggies to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, LA. His junior year was just as good, ending the year with a victory over TCU in the Galleryfurniture.com Bowl.

However, as his senior year rolled around in 2002, something changed. Farris played unstable and shaky in the first two games of the year against Louisiana-Lafayette and Pitt. Coach R.C. Slocum decided to pull the third-year starter in favor of back-ups Dustin Long and Reggie McNeal.

Farris finished out the year with only 251 yards passing and zero touchdowns, completing his Aggie career with a starting record of 17-9. His failed senior year was forgotten as the Aggies instead moved on to another QB in Reggie McNeal.

Texas A&M's senior QB curse's first victim fell into A&M's history, going out with just a whisper.  

Reggie McNeal

Replacing Farris in 2002, McNeal immediately became popular with Aggies after he defeated No. 1 Oklahoma in a brilliant performance. The Lufkin High School product was a prodigy in Aggieland that was going to be cherished for three more years.

Successful seasons in 2003 and 2004 allowed McNeal to secure his position as one of the best quarterbacks in the country, heralded by ESPN as the "most complete dual-threat QB in the nation." He won multiple awards and was a semifinalist for Big 12 QB of the year in 2004.

As 2005 rolled around, every Aggie had high hopes for their third-year starter. He was on the cover of Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine with Vince Young before the season started, but instead failed to deliver as the Aggies fell to 5-6 and weren't eligible for a bowl game. 

The senior QB curse strikes again for one of the best players to ever grace Kyle Field. 

Stephen McGee

In 2005 after McNeal became injured, Stephen McGee replaced the third-year starter for the final two games. McGee showed a lot of promise in the finale against Texas at Kyle Field, out-rushing future Heisman runner-up Vince Young.

In 2006 and 2007, McGee led the Aggies to a 16-10 record and two consecutive victories over the Longhorns. He was heralded as one of the best A&M had ever had, destined to play in the NFL. He alone accounted for over 60 percent of the offense his junior year, breaking the school record for completion percentage in a season. 

As Mike Sherman took over in 2008, McGee was finally in his prime moment as a senior. He won the starting job over Jerrod Johnson and proceeded to disappoint the Aggies once again. A&M fell to non-AQ foe Arkansas State in their season opener for an embarrassing loss that was ridiculed the rest of the year.

Remaining vigilant in his starter, Sherman played McGee in the next game against New Mexico. The QB injured his shoulder and instead was replaced by Johnson. Healed and ready for the game against Army, McGee again injured his shoulder in a close win over the Black Knights. By the next game, Johnson had taken over the job.

The Aggies' senior QB curse envelops its third victim in this NFL back-up.

Jerrod Johnson

After a strong performance in taking over the McGee in the 2008 season, Johnson earned the starting job over Tannehill. The 2009 season was a success, ending in a crushing loss to Georgia in the Independence Bowl. Johnson played admirable all year though, showing his offensive prowess and power in a huge passing season, accumulating over 3,200 yards and leading the Big 12 in touchdown passes.

The 2010 season was supposed to be Johnson's breakout year as A&M had high hopes for their big time offensive powerhouse. He was heralded as a dark horse Heisman candidate but instead threw nine interceptions in his first five games, losing close matchups against Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Missouri.

Sherman fired up the QB competition again, allowing Tannehill to share time with Johnson against Kansas. The junior out-performed the senior and took the starting job, leaving Johnson in the dust. Seen now as one of the best quarterbacks ever to play in Aggieland, Jerrod still holds school records in total offense and passing yards for a career.

The senior QB curse remains unbroken as we move on to the present season with Ryan Tannehill.

Ryan Tannehill

Ryan Tannehill took over the starting job after Jerrod Johnson failed to perform in the Kansas game last season. He prolifically led the Aggies to a six-game winning streak, beating highly ranked teams Oklahoma and Nebraska at home. His crushing of Texas was magical for A&M fans that needed to see something happen in a season that seemed to be lost. 

As he entered the 2011 season as the starter at QB, the Aggies were ranked No. 8 in the country and were diagnosed as a possible dark horse national title contender. Tannehill started out the year strong with two easy wins over Idaho and SMU, but lost a nail-biter to a powerful Oklahoma State team by a point, only scoring one touchdown in the second half versus his two in the first. 

His offensive prowess was held in question a second time when he failed to lead the offense again in the second half against Arkansas as Tannehill was unable to score more than three points following halftime, disappointing Aggies who had been hopeful after seeing him put up 35 points in the first two quarters.

He improved with a strong win over Texas Tech and Iowa State, seemingly prepared to make another run at a BCS bowl till he was out played by the young Mizzou QB and lost in overtime.

The senior QB curse prepares to strike again on one of the most recognized and respected A&M starters this campus has ever had. Will Tannehill allow his senior season to slip down the drain his previous four predecessors have, or will he finally be the one to break the curse and come out on top?