Tech 88 aggy 83

"I have to say, these guys have got two things — they’ve got heart and they’ve got cahones. I think I can say that without getting into trouble. That’s what this team has. I don’t care what the record is, this team has those two things. I’m proud of them. I can’t say anything more than that. To come back like that, against a good team like that just says everything about these guys.” - Pat Knight

Aggies Earn Top Spot in Baseball America Preseason Rankings

For the first time in program history, Texas A&M will open the season as the top-ranked baseball team in the land.

2009 BASEBALL AMERICA PRESEASON RANKINGS

1. Texas A&M
2. LSU
3. North Carolina
4. Texas
5. Cal State Fullerton
6. Ole Miss
7. Rice
8. Baylor
9. UC Irvine
10. Missouri
11. San Diego
12. UCLA
13. Arizona State
14. Georgia
15. Stanford
16. Oklahoma
17. Pepperdine
18. Kent State
19. Clemson
20. Georgia Tech
21. Alabama
22. Arkansas
23. Louisville
24. Florida State
25. Oregon State

A&M QB McGee wins Bowden Award

Annual FCA award goes to exemplary Div. I student-athlete. Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Texas A&M senior quarterback Stephen McGee has won the Bobby Bowden Athlete of the Year award presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Named for the veteran Florida State football coach, the award recognizes the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) player who "conducts himself as a faith model in the community, in the classroom and on the field." Nominees also must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average.

McGee, a product of Burnet High School, earned his undergraduate degree from A&M in slightly more than three years and is close to completing work on his master's degree.

The award will be presented today at the American Football Coaches Association's FCA breakfast in Nashville, Tenn. Other nominees were Marcus Freeman of Ohio State and Ryan McDonald of Illinois.

— Randy Riggs(Austin Soviet Statesman)

San Diego State next BCS Buster?

Look for a big "turnaround" in the coming years at San Diego State, if this rumor pans out. It looks like turnaround specialist Dennis Franchione is considering a return to coaching, to reprise his successful attempts to turn around sagging football programs around the South. Franchione is recognized for having laid the groundwork for the current successful programs at Gary Patterson's TCU and Nick Saban's Alabama, as well as the soon to be resurgent program at Texas A&M under Head Coach Mike Sherman.

Stay or Go?

I think he's staying.

Unlike Fraudchione, he's never been a money-whore. In fact, he just wants to be treated (compen$ated) fairly for his achievements.

Nothing wrong with that.

I think the reason it wasn't done before the season is that Tech just wanted to make sure before it set out to make Leach the highest-paid coach ever to wear scarlet and black. Nothing wrong with that either.

I know Leach is smart enough to know he's got it all set up in the HUB at this point, and that while other schools may very well throw more money at him, the reality is that it just wouldn't necessarily be the best move he could make. My feeling is that Leach puts more value on comfort and routine than the "take what you can/gimme what I deserve" ego trips that steer so many other coaches.

I would also venture to guess that the Fat Cats at other schools are more difficult to please than the ones at Tech. Obviously, with more money always comes more expectations, but he has already been through the ups/downs of "getting to know you" at Tech.

My degree in Rocket Science leads me to conclude that Leach would like to just keep on trucking with as little change as necessary.

(little change = moving up the Big XII pay ladder to #3).

My view in Satan's den

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Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Bennett lays out McCoy

let the t-sip whining begin.......

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year!

I said "one of" my favorites, of course shared with Rooster-week. This is a week when my Aggies can be 4-7, and visiting Austin to play the 10-1, #2 ranked Longhorns, and I can feel comfortable talking smack to my Longhorn friends.

Martellus Bennett feels comfortable talking a little smack as well:

"We always beat Texas," Bennett said. "It wouldn't be an upset. Well, maybe this year it would be. But we expect to beat Texas, the yellowbellies.

"My brother knocked McCoy out a while back, and we call him Cart McCoy now."

As for whether the hit was legal, Martellus said: "Very legal. Colt McCoy, or Cart McCoy, is a pretty good player. But, hopefully, my brother gets some more hits on him."

I love it. It makes me happy to hear confirmation that the Aggies do feel the confidence to beat those longhorns, even on a down year, and even in Austin. We have beaten them two years in a row, and Cart McCoy has NEVER beaten A&M. Michael Bennett is playing his last game as an Aggie, and this is his last chance to chase "Cart" around and terrorize him, unless they somehow meet again in the NFL.

I myself have confidence in the Aggies' chances to upset those whorns in Austin. They are ranked 108th vs the pass, and we have a budding air assault with Jerrod Johnson throwing the ball to Fuller, Tannehill and the McCoy brothers. We should also have a healthy Goodson running the ball again.

Sure, we could get blown out. Sure, Johnson has completed quite a few passes to the other team. We can still catch lightning in a bottle on this one Thanksgiving night, and come away with yet another "upset" for the ages.

Ouch......

Who Could Forget.....

Would love to see a book written about the Switzer years.

Remember

OU -6.5

I'm on track to make my first ever visit to the only state Arkansas can make fun of this weekend. I'm confident that I'll witness a little bit of history as well, seeing how a win virtually wins the South for the Red Raiders.

If Tech continues to play at the same level its played at for the last few games, I believe that I will witness a rare win in Norman. That's the key though - keeping the same pace and putting out the same effort.

Norman has proven to be tough for Tech - only one win, and that was during the pathetic John Blake's tumultuous tenure in 1996. This is the perfect environment for Tech's biggest game ever - at least the biggest game as of yet.

No one picks Tech in this one. I love it. I have absolutely no doubt that the team loves it as well. This team doesn't want to be coddled and told how good it is. This team carries a chip on its shoulder and wants to prove it on the field by being quicker, hitting harder, playing smarter, and outright finishing.

I don't think it will be easy. OU has been playing well, no doubt. The Sooners have great players and a great staff as well, and the luxury of playing at home, which is nice seeing how everyone can just walk over from the trailer parks.

I just believe that, right now, Tech is the better team. Obviously, the better team doesn't always win, but I think OU is walking into a potential buzz saw in this one. There is no team playing better right now than the Red Raiders - in fact, take away a few mistakes in the 2nd half of the UT game, and there has not been a more dominant team in football.

It's time to step it up another notch. Nothing has been won yet, and most certainly this one is no gimme. It will have to be earned.

It's time to prove the critics wrong yet again.

It's Official: Aggy '08 = Kaput

How did Sherman's Germans fall so flat?

Ruff Ruff

Gotta love a coach who wears a sweatband...

Quickly Becoming a Permanent Fixture

Cock Under Glass, 1998
Oil and beer on balsa wood
12.2" x 3.5"
The Hub City South Collection

Goooooo Raiders!!!

Reality Check - The Next Biggest Game in History

Yeah, Tech has now beaten a #1 team for the first time - and it was win #500. It was also the 5th highest rated football game to ever be watched.

The list goes on, but the reality of this whole thing is that absolutely NOTHING has been won. There have been accomplishments, obviously, but this team would rather be patted on the back in January; not November.

I am glad of one thing, however, and that is the simple fact that nobody thinks this will continue. The experts (and a whole bunch of very bitter Horns here in Austin) are gleefully pointing out Tech still has 2 tough games left to play. (actually, I think there are 3 - especially if Tech sweeps the state of Oklahoma)

OSU is highly capable of beating Tech's ass if the ghost of Same ol' Tech rears it's ugly head. And although I don't think it will happen, it's possible.

In years past, I was always concerned about the fallout that seemed to always happen after a big win, but this year seems to be different. The whole program has that whole 'been there, done that' attitude - and that attitude is confidence. This team knows what its capable of, and that separates it from other Tech teams.

The Cowboys will show up to play. Tech has a lot to lose, but even more to gain. The leadership on this team will prove to be key during this one, and hopefully the last 2 games as well.

It's time to take that next step, Red Raiders.

Dear President-elect Obama,

As a fan of the "less-fortunate" football program at Texas A&M University, I am very excited about the prospects of your administration. You see, our rival, the Red Raiders from Texas Tech, are very fortunate, and have more than their fair share of victories this year, while the Aggies continue to struggle. To enact fairness in this situation, I am expecting your immediate action to transfer some of Tech's wins to A&M. It is not fair that Tech continues to collect victories while A&M is mired in mediocrity, and government action to restore fairness is required.

Your prompt attention to this matter is appreciated.

Your comrade,

Magnum