M improved to 7-4 overall, and Hargett directed the team to a 20-16 win in the Cotton Bowl over the Alabama Crimson Tide, coached by Bear Bryant and quarterbacked by Ken Stabler. That season would turn out to be the highlight of Hargett's college career, as he led the SWC with 14 touchdown passes. The following season, the Aggies regressed to a 3-7 record, and thus did not qualify to appear in a bowl game. When Hargett finished his college career, he'd passed for 5,379 yards and 41 touchdown passes. Pro career The New Orleans Saints made Hargett their 16th round draft selection. Hargett made the team as a rookie and was the back-up to veteran Billy Kilmer. The Saints, coached by former Rams star Tom Fears, had been an expansion team a few years prior, and had yet to have a winning season. Hargett only saw action as a back-up, coming in for relief for Kilmer as the Saints could only muster 5-9 record. Hargett would finally make the first start of his NFL career during the 1970 season. Hargett drew the start against the St. Louis Cardinals. In the 4th quarter, Hargett hit wide receiver Dave Parks for an 18 yard strike for Hargett's first touchdown pass. Tom Dempsey kicked the extra point to tie the score, 17-17. However, Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart directed a drive that ended with the game winning score to tight end Jackie Smith. The Saints fell 24-17, dropping their record to 1-3. Hargett would start the next three games for the Saints, going 0-2-1 during that stretch. The following season saw several changes for the Saints. Starting quarterback Billy Kilmer was traded away to the Washington Redskins, Tom Fears was out as head coach, replaced by assistant J.D. Roberts. Hargett hoped to be named the starting quarterback, but right behind him was a rookie whom the Saints drafted in the first round out of Mississippi named Archie Manning. Manning won the job out of camp, and Hargett wouldn't see the field until week nine, when he got his first win as a pro quarterback, a 26-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Hargett would start three of the following four games, losing each start. 1972 would be a tough season for Hargett, as Manning started all 14 games and Hargett did not appear in a single game. On March 23, 1973, The Saints