With Christine Michael injured last season, Cyrus Gray birthed a handful of classic moments. None were greater than the group he collected in last year's game against Texas.
An 84-yard touchdown run tied the game early before a 48-yard score helped push momentum and the game onto A&M's side for good, eliminating Texas from bowl contention in the process. His 223 yards that night are still a career high.
Michael's down again -- a torn ACL this time -- but the Aggies might be without Gray, too. He watched the second half of Saturday's 61-7 win over Kansas in street clothes as a precautionary measure with what Texas A&M thought was a bruised shoulder.
Coach Mike Sherman announced on Monday that further tests actually revealed a stress fracture. Gray is "day-to-day" but Sherman said if Gray's health doesn't improve, he'll be held out. For now, his arm is in a sling.
Losing Gray and Michael would obviously be huge loss. Gray's already topped 1,000 yards for the second season, and Michael would have done the same if he hadn't suffered a broken leg and torn ACL in consecutive seasons.
The duty would likely fall on the shoulders of unproven sophomore Ben Malena and freshman Will Randolph, who tossed his redshirt aside in his first game action on Saturday, the 11th game of Texas A&M's season. Malena has 19 carries for 99 yards this season.
Sherman didn't seem concerned on Saturday. Is leaving Gray's status in doubt a bit of gamesmanship from College Station?
Could be.
Sherman described his status as "doubtful" before upgrading him to "questionable" and then "probable" in a matter of seconds at the Aggies' weekly press gathering.
Don't expect much more injury news out of Aggieland before Thursday night's rivalry finale in what should be a heated game that's had its intensity livened with the Aggies' impending exit to the SEC and Texas' refusal to continue to the rivalry.
When they take the field, though, we'll find out for sure. The taste in Texas A&M's mouth when it leaves the Big 12 may depend on it.
