Texas A&M hoping to learn from defeat.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

SHREVEPORT, La. _ Texas A&M's Brian Gamble offered his vow for public consumption Sunday night.

"It's definitely disappointing when you lose your final game, not to mention your last three games," the Aggies inside linebacker said. "But we're going to learn from this and not let it happen again."

The bizarre conclusion to Texas A&M's 43-41 overtime loss to Mississippi State in Sunday's snow-filled Independence Bowl stung the Aggies, especially 14 seniors who played their final game as collegians and never experienced a postseason victory, despite four consecutive bowl berths.

Gamble, though, attempted to draw a parallel between the Aggies and top-ranked Oklahoma, which will play Florida State in the Orange Bowl Wednesday night for the national championship.

"Oklahoma was in this same boat last year at this time, and they were able to build on it," the junior-to-be said. "We're going to use it for motivation and be ready for 2001."

The `00 Aggies and `99 Sooners share common ground. Both had 7-5 records and lost a two-point game to a Mississippi university in the Independence Bowl. But it likely would be a stretch to consider the Aggies contenders for the 2001 national championship.

Yes, the Aggies' offense should be improved _ especially if receiver Robert Ferguson and fullback Ja'Mar Toombs choose to return for their senior seasons and forgo the NFL ...