COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS (AP) -- No matter how badly the losses sting, Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman says he can't let his players see his frustration.
The Aggies (2-3, 0-1 Big 12) lost 56-28 to Oklahoma State on Saturday and Sherman is once again turning part-time psychologist as his team prepares for Saturday's game against Kansas State (3-2, 0-1).
"Players play off however I act, however I handle things," Sherman said Monday. "I'm responsible for the attitude. The coach is responsible for how a team handles success and how it handles defeat. You really have to consciously have a plan on how you're going to unfold their attitude during the course of the week and how they're going to bounce back from the disappointment of a loss like that."
The Aggies had one of their best statistical games of the season in Stillwater, but were doomed by five first-half turnovers and a 78-yard punt return by Dez Bryant.
A&M reached 400 yards for the first time this year and set season highs in rushing yards (184) and completed passes (24). It still added up to another loss to match the Aggies' worst start since Dennis Franchione's first team opened 2-3 in 2003.
Sherman preached patience on Monday and said his team remains united.
"I guess what keeps me going is I believe in the process, I believe in the people I'm doing it with, I believe in our plan," he said. "If I didn't, if I thought for one second that one of my coaches wasn't on board and wasn't dealing with things the way I want them done, I'd probably be a little more frustrated. But I feel confident that we're going to get to where we need to get."
It may take a while.
The Aggies rank last in the Big 12 in scoring offense (22.8 points), total offense (318.6 yards), scoring defense (30.8 points), rushing defense (225 yards) and turnover margin (minus-5). They also lead the Big 12 in sacks allowed (13).
Sherman came into the season with only one returning starter on the offensive line and none in the linebacking corps. The depth chart for Saturday's game has a total of 19 freshmen and seven walk-ons have seen action.
Injuries have hamstrung A&M even more.
Senior quarterback Stephen McGee went out in the second game with a sprained shoulder and he's questionable again for Saturday's game. On Saturday, A&M lost linebacker Matt Featherston and defensive lineman Paul Freeney to knee injuries and tight end Jamie McCoy to a shoulder injury.
Ideally, Sherman wishes his players could simply forget about what's already happened this season and move forward.
Easier said than done.
"There are no do-overs," he said. "This isn't playing Atari football and, 'Oh, let's start over and make the score nothing-to-nothing.' It's over. There is probably about 20 percent of your team that really kind of hangs onto it, particularly someone who didn't play well.
"You have to bring them back in and make them get their confidence level back. That's my job to do that."
Senior right tackle Travis Schneider said Sherman avoids harsh criticism of anyone in team settings.
"We try to stay as positive as possible, win or lose," Schneider said. "If you get negative on the players or on the team, I don't think they respond very well. We go in on Sundays and as a team, we'll watch the film together and just get stuff corrected and not try to be too hard on guys."
Sophomore quarterback Jerrod Johnson said Sherman will take much of the blame when things go wrong and he's earned the Aggies' respect because of it.
"One of the main things Coach Sherman preaches is honesty and accountability," said Johnson, who went 24-for-43 for 218 yards on Saturday. "Coach Sherman comes to the locker room and says, 'Look, guys, it's a group effort. We all could've done something better for a win.' He says coaches can coach better, players can play better. It's a team thing.
"It's a joint effort," Johnson said. "We've just got to come together to be successful."
With so many freshmen seeing playing time, better seasons would seem to lie ahead. First-year receiver Jeff Fuller said the Aggies still have goals to accomplish in 2008.
"As far as the future, I definitely see a lot of positives," said Fuller, who leads the team with four TD catches. "But you owe it to the older guys to make this year count, too. That's what we're all trying to do. That's my main concern."
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
