Manziel wows crowd in triumphant return to Aggieland

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COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M dubbed Wednesday evening's event "Celebrating the 12th Man," so Aggies defensive lineman Spencer Nealy and sophomore quarterback Matt Joeckel took the title to heart.

They mingled with the fans during speeches by Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and other luminaries on a brisk, clear night outside the Memorial Student Center.

"To hear everyone in the crowd talking about our season, I don't know if it was the cold giving me the chills, or that," said a smiling Nealy, a former San Antonio Reagan standout.

Nealy's chills also might've come from a short but solid speech from Manziel, who didn't visit with the media during the regular season as per coach Kevin Sumlin's rules for first-year players. Manziel, a redshirt freshman, has impressed since the conclusion of the regular season with multiple interviews and speeches, including Saturday night after winning the 78th Heisman in New York.

"He can talk, can't he?" Nealy said, shaking his head. "I'm his friend, and I didn't even know he could talk that well."

Undivided attention

Manziel had a crowd of a few thousand — mostly current A&M students — hanging on every word in his first Aggieland appearance since winning the Heisman over Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein.

"What an honor it is to represent you guys throughout the country this past week," said Manziel, who hoisted the Heisman in triumph following his nearly two-minute speech. "We were in the Big Apple on some of the biggest stages in the entire world, and (we) really let people know what the 12th Man is all about."

Junior offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, who became the first Aggie to win the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation's top interior offensive lineman, also was recognized. And Richard Box, chairman of A&M's board of regents, used the pulpit to address skeptics of the university's move to the Southeastern Conference last summer.

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel poses stands with his Heisman Trophy during a ceremony honoring him and three other Aggie football players Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, in College Station. Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel poses stands with his Heisman Trophy during a ceremony honoring him and three other Aggie football players Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, in College Station. Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Manziel wows crowd in triumphant return to Aggieland 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

"How sweet it is," Box said. "We heard a lot of trash talk around the country saying A&M wasn't going to be able to compete, and it may take three or four years before we get there. Well, we're there. And we don't hear any trash-talking anymore."

The Aggies finished the regular season 10-2 and will face 10-2 Oklahoma, a former Big 12 foe, on Jan. 4 in the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

High praise

"I want to thank Johnny Manziel and the fightin' Texas Aggie football team," A&M chancellor John Sharp said. "Not just what they've done for athletics, but for something bigger. They've opened a window to the world on Texas A&M University ... and (people) see that long, long ago we became the best university in the state of Texas."

Added A&M president R. Bowen Loftin of Manziel's sensational season: "Leadership is a tough thing. The team you lead has to believe in you, and you also have to believe in them. That sums it up for Johnny Manziel. Johnny led this team, but they also respected him and followed him, and that combination did what no one thought we could do."