A&M 35, Citadel 3

I was thrilled to be at Kyle Field on opening day, but overall, the game was boring. Especially after the blocked punt early in the 2nd quarter. With the Aggies up 21-0, Fran really started rotating a lot of different players in, and I never felt like there was any rhythm at all. It looked like they were just trying different things with different players. They even burned redshirts on 5 freshmen: Michael Goodson, Jordan Pugh, EJ Shankle, Matt Symanski, and Cody Beyer. Goodson looked electrifying, with 44 yards on 5 carries. Unfortunately, he lost the ball on two of those carries.

With the game so uneventful, I made an effort to "soak in" some of the changes at Kyle Field, namely, the new video board in the South end zone, and the "ribbon board", which stretches all the way around the 2nd deck.

The video board is incredible. Blake has already pointed out to me that it is smaller than the new video board at DKR Memorial, but it was great, nevertheless. From what I have read, Kyle's video board is about the same height as at UT, but UT's is much longer. I have to assume they are compensating for something.

The jury is out, however, on the "ribbon board". Maybe it will just take some getting used to, but I found it to be too busy. Every time I looked up to read game stats or other game scores, it would flash to a Coca Cola ad or to a very busy graphic of fans waving 12th Man towels (when Ags were on D). The damn thing is so long, I had a hard time finding the information I wanted, even when it stayed up long enough for me to read it. The Kyle Field announcer also apologized for a "blue hue" to the ribbon board, which I hadn't noticed, but he said was going to be fixed.

Overall, we had a great time. It was hot as hell (fortunately, our seats were under the overhang), and Madi and Shannon got worn out early, but Madi said she loved it, and wouldn't leave her seats, even when I offered to take her to get a Lemon Chill. She especially loved the band, and sang along to every Aggie song (evidence of indoctrination since birth). On the way to the car, she was talking about where she would live at A&M and asking if it was okay with her mom for her to go to A&M instead of UT. Looks like we may have shifted her a little, at least until she visits Austin again.

Predictions from the voice of reason, BRAD.

Well, it's that time of year again. As the weather gets cooler, the Roosterboard heats up. That time of year when Joe's productivity at work comes to a grinding halt, and his hours logged on roosterbowl preparations reach epic proportions.

(I am just hoping I don't receive the same call I got last year from Shannon asking me to participate in an intervention to discuss Joe's addiction to Aggie Football.)

For those of you that care (and I know there aren't many), here are my game by game predictions for the ags.

The aggies steamroll though the first 3 pathetic opponents by an average margin of 40 something points, and aggie faithful lose sight of the pathetic opponents they have beaten. Joe actually starts looking into hotel rates in Arizona "just in case"

Optimism is overcome by terror as the Aggies get outplayed by La Tech and almost lose. It takes a blocked punt for the ags to pull out a lucky victory.
A&M 17 - La Tech 16.

Privately, the aggies are scared to death of another demoralizing loss to Tech, but in a strangely non-competitive game, the ags blow em out. Franchione runs up the score on a play action pass in the closing minutes to pay leach back for trying the same thing in 2003.
A&M 41 - Tech 17

Overzealous aggie fans are again on top of the world until they hit the road against Kansas and the ags show up flat.
Kansas 23- Aggies 16

The sting of their first loss is short lived as the aggies take care of business the next 2 weeks against Missouri and Oki state in convincing wins. Freshman phenom Mike Goodson is now firmly implanted as the starting tailback and the best player on the team.
Aggies 27 Mizzou 13
Aggies 31 Oki state 19

Coach Fran warns his players about overlooking Baylor towards Oklahoma and his guys respond in with their most convincing conference win of the year. With 5 TDs on the day for Goodson, the aggies start a short lived "Goodson for Heisman" campaign.
Aggies 35 - Baylor 6

As a motivational tool, Coach Fran reinstates the "Wrecking Crew" nickname for his defense 3 days before the game. Coach Stoops uses this as bulletin board material and the ags get schooled.
Sooners 44 - Aggies 21

Coach Fran is criticized in the media for the "wrecking crew" gaffe which sparks his players to respond with a great game against Nebraska.
Aggies 28 - Huskers 13

For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the division title is on the line against UT. Winner goes to the conference championship. The Aggies play like a young team making multiple costly turnovers in the first half. Although they outplay the Longhorns with more yardage and a huge Time of Possession advantage, the fumbles are just too much to overcome.
Longhorns 27 - Aggies 24

In a bizarre episode after too many Jim Beam shooters with Blake, Joe gets thrown out of a Hooter's and makes his way to a tatoo parlor. The slogan "WRECKING CREW" ends up permanently stamped on Joe's Ass.

Challenge to Texas Tech co-eds

Pretty compelling recruiting video for Ohio State recruiting. However, I have no doubt that Tech can do better than this!

(disclaimer: this video is a little risque...., but no nudity, and nothing you wouldn't expect on Roosterbowl.com)

still more problems for Tech

The eligibility of Texas Tech receivers Jarrett Hicks and Michael Crabtree is in jeopardy for the upcoming season, pending appeals to the NCAA.

Is Tech's season spiraling out of control? I predict an SMU victory on Saturday.

My expectation for the Ags in September

I just secured my tickets to the A&M opener, and I am bringing my daughter to her very first Aggie game (in fact, it's her very first football game). She has been to Kyle Field before, for Spring practice in 2004, but never to a game. Hopefully, this weekend will mark the beginning of her rehabilatation from her seemingly burnt orange leanings, but I'm not counting on it (fifth graders are very prone to band-wagonning).

The opener on Saturday night versus the Citadel kicks off the softest A&M non-conference schedule I can remember, as they will follow with U-La-La, Army, and La-Tech.....all are basically home games (Army at the Alamodome). Now, I was amongst the Aggies who brutalized Tech fans for their pitiful non-conference schedule last year. Even Norm Hitzges piled on, verbally assaulting Tech for their lineup of Florida International (newly D1-A), Sam Houston State (D1-AA), and Indiana State (D1-AA).

The thing is, looking back at that schedule, and Tech's 2005 season, you really can't pick on them much anymore. Tech fans claimed that non-conference schedule was a "warm-up", or a "preseason", and Tech effectively used it as such. The Red Raiders' average margin of victory in those games was 56 points. It wasn't skewed by one big game either. They won by 53, 59, and 56 points respectively, then went on to finish the season with losses only to Oklahoma State, Alabama, and national champion Texas.

So, in my opinion, if A&M is to effectively utilize their weak-ass non-con games as a "warm up", they had better be showing us a dominating performance every week. I don't expect a margin of victory of 56 every week, as part of that was achieved by Mike Leach pouring it on those beaten teams down to the final minute, but I will say that we should win each of these four games by more than 30 points, and should hold each opponent to less than 14 points.

Nothing less than total domination of all four non-con games will leave me feeling confident moving forward into the conference schedule, which begins with the beloved Rooster back on the line on 9/30.

New Home Unis

Not bad, I guess.

Tech will once again be wearing red on red at home, and somewhat surprising to me, will go old school and wear classic white on white this season while on the road.

While I'm still not sold on the red on red look, it could be worse - maroon on maroon, anyone....?

First time in a while Tech has had jerseys with sewn on lettering and numerals.

more problems on Tech football team

In the tradition of Cap't Bake's obsession with reporting on jurisprudence, here is a link to yet another suspension from the Texas Tech football team.

This most recent incident involves sophomore defensive end Jared Williams. An embarrassed Mike Leach would not elaborate, except to say that Williams was suspended for violating team rules.

Here are the others, which were reported right here on Roosterbowl.com:

Tech DB stabbed in Nightclub Brawl Texas Tech football player Anthony Hines was stabbed during a fight at a Lubbock nightclub early Saturday morning. Leach confirmed that other players were involved, including freshman linebacker Dewayne Baziel from Galveston. Has this now been formally swept under the field turf, or will Leach take action against these hoodlums?

Tech Receiver Dismissed From TeamSophomore receiver Catron Houston was dismissed from the football team for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Are these just minor incidents, or a signal of deeper problems with the types of people Leach will accept as recruits?

Roosterbowl in Dallas???

Tech weighs dollars, sense of moving A&M football game to Dallas (requires registration)

Oh, what will we do if they move the Roosterbowl to Dallas? Will it be at the Cotton Bowl? (that's what this article implies) ...or at the new Cowboy's stadium in Arlington? Somehow, setting up an RV and tailgating in Arlington just doesn't have much of a sexy feel to it. Fair park would be a little better, but may make the game a punchline to OU and whorn fans, since they will have likely just dumped the Cotton Bowl to move their game to Arlington. I'm not sure I want to spend the night in Fair Park either.

On a positive note, a neutral site would certainly elevate the status of this contest, and bring more of a national spotlight to the Rooster. I know He would like that, and it would serve His interests well. The Cotton Bowl is a familiar place for Aggie fans, which might lend advantage to the Ags. Tech has only played there twice, but we could send them a map.

Roosterbowl at the Cotton Bowl would move us to a downtown hotel...maybe the Magnolia, which wouldn't be too bad. We could set up a tailgate party just for gameday, and wouldn't lose too much of the "feel" of Rooster weekend.

I have always thought this was just a pipe dream for Tech, to have this game moved to Dallas, and give them much needed $ for the athletic department. It seems more real with comments like this from Gerald Meyers: "The earliest this could happen would be the fall of '07, next year," Myers said. "As I sit here today, it's not a done deal. We don't have anything signed. Once we agree to move the game or not move the game, that's when we'll start making those decisions."

As for me, I am very torn over this issue. Ultimately, I want what is best for Texas A&M, and for The Rooster.

Teddy K getting handsy with the waitress

Teddy K getting handsy with the waitress
Originally uploaded by JoeAggie91.

TK loves the Twin Peaks girls!

Leach's pirate obsession lands magazine cover

Aggie predictions

Well, it's 25 days until kickoff of the 2006 Aggie football season, and I guess it's time to make my predictions for the season. I will start off by acknowledging the incredibly weak-ass non-con lineup for A&M. I gave Tech fans hell last year about their pitiful schedule last year, and pitiful is pitiful.....A&M's non-conference schedule is completely embarrassing.

Many of you will be surprised by the incredible objectivity in my picks this year. Don't think I have removed my maroon colored glasses...I haven't. I just see a lot of debris in the road ahead, and in the end, it may be littered with the body parts of our former Longhorn DC, and the man I will henceforth refer to as "Maroon Mackovick", or MM for short. I hope I am dreadfully wrong.

The offense will be fantastic. Under the leadership of Stephen McGee, the return of Riley, Taylor, and Schroeder at receiver, Bennett at TE, a great power running game, and experienced O-line, the Aggie offense will be one of the best in the country.

The defense is still highly suspect. The first red flag is the orange DC who constructed a pitiful longhorn defense in the '90s. What in the hell is a 4-2-5? They say it will be a great style to run against the aerial offenses like Tech, but isn't that pretty much what we ran against Tech last year in Lubbock? I would guess we had 5 DB's on every play in that debacle on the South Plains. Regardless, I think Adrian Peterson, along with lesser tailbacks in the Big 12, will have a heyday with a 4-2-5 defense. Once again, I hope I am wrong.

Hopefully, personnel will play a big role in improving the Aggie defense. We still have Red Bryant, Jason Jack, Chris Harrington, and Michael Bennett up front. Those guys will all be better this year. Unfortunately, we lost a top RS lineman, Will Morrissey, to "personal issues". With a name like Morrissey, you would expect some personal issues I guess.

Should be strong at LB with Justin Warren and the juco tx Mark Dodge (seems really weird to have only 2 linebackers at what was once "linebacker U"). DB's will be Devin Gregg, Kay Carpenter, Danny Gorrer, Melvin Bullitt, among a host of other spares. For those of you that don't remember, Melvin Bullitt was the guy who performed a huge, on-field celebration, taunting the OU offense after stopping them from scoring their TWELVTH touchdown of the day in 2003. Hopefully, he will have some more "legit" celebrations in 2006 (like he did on this INT of Vince Young last year).

My actual, game by game predictions are coming. I need to go make a pitcher of maroon kool-aid and Stoli first.

TexAgs had this story in January

the OU/Bomar scandal was broken on TexAgs in January!

SI.com story
Actual TexAgs post

and now, Bud Light salutes the man who broke the story:

Bud Light presents, Real Men of Genius

Real men of Geniiuus

Today we salute you, Mr. OU Football Car Dealership Scandal Internet Whistleblower Guy

Mr. OU Football Car Dealership Scandal Internet Whistleblower Guy

Other internet posters make outrageous claims with absolutely no evidence. But you? You make outrageous claims with absolutely no evidence that are really true.

Cause you know stuff

You don't need to get your info from your best friend's cousin's sister's, nephew, that cleans the Fish Pond. You go straight to the source and bang the woman on the inside.

Tap that a$$

Sure there are those that thought you were full of crap, and ridiculed you. But now? Now they worship the very ground you walk on.

Eat crow b*tches

So Crack open a nice cold Bud Light, oh purveyor of truth and justice. Because all that whistleblowing must've made you mighty thirsty.

Mr. OU Football Car Dealership Scandal Internet Whistleblower Guy

ready to revise those Big 12 predictions??

OU Dismisses Bomar from team because he allegedly "violated NCAA rules by working at a private business and taking "payment over an extended period of time in excess of time actually worked."

Brings back memories of Greg Hill.

problems at Tech?

Is Tech's football program starting to crumble before the season even starts? What the hell kind of a program is Mike Leach running out there on the Caprock? At least he kicked one guy off the team, although we don't know what he did. Probably a spare that was expendable enough to try to make a statement.

Tech DB stabbed in Nightclub Brawl
Texas Tech football player Anthony Hines was stabbed (by a junior high kid in a Gap T-shirt) during a fight at a Lubbock nightclub early Saturday morning. Leach confirmed that other players were involved, including freshman linebacker Dewayne Baziel from Galveston. (At least they weren't pummelled with a Duracell or a piece of a goalpost.)

Tech Receiver Dismissed From Team
Sophomore receiver Catron Houston has been dismissed from the football team for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Pray for rain

I am on a family vacation this week in Destin, Florida, and yesterday it rained.....all day. The first thing I thought of was, "we need this in Texas".

There may not be a place we need it more than we need it in the Hub City. West Texas cannot survive on oil alone. We have to grow that cotton, and you can't grow cotton without a little water. The Hall family does their best with this, but they can only move the water around, they can't create it.

Therefore, the Lubbock City Council is adopting a resolution asking residents of Lubbock to PRAY for rain. "Nobody is going to tell God what to do and what not to do, but we are in a serious drought in West Texas and since he is the man who controls the rain clouds, we're asking him for his mercy and his help," Mayor David Miller told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

The same tactic was tried in 2004, and it worked. Nothing like going straight to the top. Fortunately, most West Texas folks have a direct line.

I'm just glad Field Turf doesn't need water.

Texas Tech stadium's old turf is for sale

Portions of the AstroTurf that covered Jones STD Stadium since 1995 are being sold to the public in $200 and $500 pieces. For details, call 806-742-3355 (extension 251 or 260).

I am so glad that turf is gone. It has been the source of many nightmares for me. It is the turf of Zach Morris's late INT/TD in '95 and the loss in '97..........the '99 goalpost incident.........the '01 goalpost attack.......and the blowouts of '03 and '05. The Aggies never won a game on that stupid, plastic field.

The demons of Jones STD have finally been exercised! They can sell it, burn it, donate it, memorialize it...whatever.....just make it go away!

I am so ready for football season

Yes, I am living in the past here, but at the same time, I can't wait for the future! I hope this video will help to get you in the same frame of mind:

Time set for Roosterbowl IX kickoff

Texas A&M announced the kickoff time for Roosterbowl IX is scheduled for 6 pm, September 30, 2006. TV schedules could move it, but how great will it be to have a NIGHT game at Kyle Field?

These days, a rare victory for the Aggies

A&M, Seahawks settle 12th Man suit

05:22 PM CDT on Monday, May 8, 2006

By RACHEL COHEN / The Dallas Morning News

Texas A&M and the Seattle Seahawks have reached a settlement of the university’s lawsuit against the NFL franchise, the two sides announced in a joint statement Monday.

Before the Super Bowl, A&M had sued to prevent the Seahawks from selling merchandise featuring the phrase the 12th Man, which the school owns the trademark for.

The Seahawks will use the term only in the seven-state area in the Pacific Northwest that their games are broadcast to and will pay A&M a licensing fee, said Steve Moore, the school’s chief marketing officer.

Roosterbowl veterans to the NFL

In addition to the players taken in the draft, there were several free agent signings this week:

Reggie McNeal drafted by Cincinnati
Johnny Jolly drafted by Green Bay
E.J. Whitely drafted by Dallas

Free agent contracts:

Taurean Henderson and Jason Carter to Minnesota
Jaxson Appel and Cody Hodges to Tennessee