So Close...

A fumble by C. Michaels, a missed field goal, a kickoff return for a touchdown, and an interception in the red zone...all things you cannot do when you are trying to beat the number 3 team in the Nation.

Click on the picture. It's an actual commercial for Shake Weight. Also, make sure you check out the Shake Weight Parody.

More to follow...

Aggie Thanksgiving

It's time again for one of the greatest traditions in college football...The TAMU/Texas game gets a prime time spot on Thursday night which is perfect for capping off that food induced coma. You don't have to look back too far to see that this rivalry has little to do with win/loss records (lucky for TAMU) and more to do with emotion and desire. The Aggies are playing for their third win over Texas in the last four years and also to guarantee an overall winning season by defeating their arch rival. Although lately the Aggies have not fared well when they have been put on National TV, this is their chance to rebound after the last tv disaster (I'm not going to mention the specific game but everyone knows which one i'm talking about). Other than the regular benefits to paying well during this game, such as recruiting and exposure, the Aggies get the added bonus of trying to knock off a Texas team destined for the National Championship.

The University of Texas leads the Big 12 in scoring offense with 42.5 points per game, and is second in scoring defense, while A&M is third and last (BIG SURPRISE - our defense sucks), respectively.

I hope everyone enjoys their thanksgiving and remembers to say their Aggie prayers for the game before going to bed.

Coaches worse than Sherman

Things have heated up again in the last two weeks as the Aggies have had less than impressive showings on the football field. Both of the embarrassing losses suffered to Colorado and Oklahoma have brought back plenty of people not only questioning the choice of Sherman as the Head Football Coach but calling for his job.

Being the Aggie I am, I have decided to look at the bright side of things and list 4 coaches that make Mike Sherman look like Urban Meyer. That's right, originally I was going for 5 coaches, but I could only come up with 4.

4. Eric Mangini - Coach of the Cleveland Browns
Most recent bone head move - On the very last play of what could be called the most boring Monday Night Football Game in history Coach Mangini decided to run a trick play. That move alone probably not a big deal; however, it ranks as bone headed when you are down by 16 points. Last time I checked there was not a 16 point touchdown. You don't need to be an expert on the NFL to know you're asking for trouble when you run a desperation play down by 16 points. The result from the play - about 20 yards and a receiver in the hospital.

3. Tyrone Willingham - Former coach of Notre Dame and Washington
Spoiler Alert!!! He's not the only coach from Notre Dame that made the list...
Why he made the list - After 7 successful years and a Rose Bowl appearance with the Stanford Cardinal, Willingham was given the chance of a lifetime to cement his legacy with one of the most historic teams of all time. His first year started off with some promise when the Irish began 8-0. Three years later he was fired from the Irish Head Coaching Position and picked up by Washington. In his final season the huskies, Willingham led his team to a winless 0-12 season.
What he will be remembered for - Being the catalyst to the nightmare that is the current Notre Dame Football program.

2. Dennis Franchione - Former TAMU and TCU coach
Say what you want about Sherman being a bad coach, but I will take him any day of the week over Franchione. I've personally had to watch too many games led, or better yet, destroyed by Fran. It didn't take much for opposing chaches to scheme against this guy's offense because they only had to defend against 3 plays (option to the short side of the field, rollout right and throw out of bounds, or fat kid up the middle). Where is he now - Jobless

1.5 Mark Mangino - Coach (for the moment) at Kansas
Why he made the list - Apparently he eats his players

A quick search on google estimates his weight at around 475 LBS

1. Charlie Weis - Coach of the Notre Dame Mediocre Irish

Current Ranking on coacheshotseat.com - #1

Days until he loses his job - Approximately 1 week

Most recent Award - Named Turkey of the year by Sports Illustrated

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0711/2007.turkey/content.5.html

Upsets happen in college football, but somehow Weis has managed to make losing at Notre Dame a commonality. Weis, who did experience two years of success, has struggled to a 16 - 20 record the last three years with the Irish.

Most impressive feature - His FUPA

Bonfire

I stole this from a great Aggie Website. This is what being a Texas Aggie is about and why we are better than everyone else. God Bless.

Guys,

I wanted to share with you a story that I really haven’t shared publicly of one of the most amazing kids I have ever met. It is in by no ways a story about me, but of the bravery, courage, and loyalty of Tim Kerlee, Jr. I hope that we all pause and remember the 12 that passed away 10 years ago tonight.Jay Sartain ’00As a side note, Tim Sr. and Janice Kerlee are two of the finest people you will ever meet. Here are two people would could have blamed and despised A&M, but not only did they not do that, they moved to College Station to minister to Aggie students and form an endowed scholarship in Tim Jr.’s honor. Tim Sr. is now retired, but Janice has gone on to get ordained as a United Methodist Minister. If you ever see them on campus, please stop and tell them hello…truly inspirational people. I would also recommend the following book that was written by Janice and tells the story of Tim (you can find online); A Chance to Say Goodbye, By Janice Cross Kerlee.

The Night I Met Tim Kerlee Jr.It had been a long day for me and I had just fallen asleep in my rack in Dorm 9. All of the sudden, I hear a broken voice come over my TAMU EMS radio saying that stack had collapsed. I had first thought I was dreaming, but shortly after the first communication had come in the “tone outs” had begun and the reality of what I was about to see started to stir in my mind. I was officially off duty that night, but as any medic/police/fire personnel will tell you, one is never off duty when a major event occurs in your district. I jumped out of my rack, quickly told my old lady that stack had collapsed - check on our outfit, and ran for my car in the Southside garage. On the drive over to bonfire site I began to think maybe no one is seriously injured and maybe we just have a few injuries; some broken legs, bruises, and scrapes. Not until I arrived on location did I truly realize the seriousness of the situation. It would later be reported by many that they had heard screaming from the stack and they saw chaos, but for me it was an eerie silence I was experiencing in the darkness. I made my first pass around the stack, where I encountered my fellow medics who had already began to triage patients. It was then when I realized that there were some kids that didn’t make it.Recognizing I should move on and begin to help elsewhere, I found myself on the back side of stack where I came upon a young man who wasn’t concerned about himself. I didn’t know his name, but recognized his distinct Charlie Brown outfit that one of the Squadron outfits had their fish wear.

Here was a kid, by all my training would tell me, shouldn’t be talking to me due to the seriousness of his injuries. Unconcerned about himself, he demanded I help his buddies in the fallen stack below before I helped him. It was truly a quick moment in time, but it is something I have carried with me since that early morning. Everything else to me seems like a blur in time. In fact, my next memory is talking to my Dad from the site on a borrowed cell phone to tell him I was ok. The sun had already come up and the news helicopters were already circling. In the days that would follow, I got to learn about who really was the kid I talked to on the stack. It was Tim Kerlee, Jr. and he had lived long enough to let his parents make it in from Tennessee and tell him it was ok to leave and meet God. Tim and I had allot in common, he was an Eagle Scout, member of the Corps of Cadets, and a United Methodist. Word had gotten out in the media that Tim was directing emergency workers to help his buddies before helping himself (I would later learn that Tim told this to at least one other fellow medic).

Somehow my name was brought to the attention in the A&M administration and I was asked to write a letter in support of Tim receiving the Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor ? the Medal of Merit. It was probably the fastest and hardest thing I have written in my life, but the words flowed out with ease as I didn’t even have to think what to say. I only had to pause to wipe away tears that were staining the paper. I had submitted the letter to the National office of the Boy Scout’s with one simple request ? please let me know the decision on the award. It was just a week later I received word that my letter caused the Boy Scout’s to approve Tim for the Medal of Merit the fastest in its history. In my mind, there was no question that Tim deserved it.In March 2000, I was contacted by the Boy Scout’s and asked to come to Tennessee to help present the award to Tim’s parents (Janice and Tim Sr.). Dr. Southerland’s office (VP for Student Affairs) was gracious enough to arrange all the travel for myself and several of my fellow medics to go up for the ceremony. It was in Memphis, I had the first opportunity to meet Tim’s parents and tell them how great a son they raised. It was that night I realized how truly precious life is.In closing, what I want people to gain from this story is that you must live everyday like it’s your last; devote yourself to help others in your community…live life like Tim would have.Gig'em and God Bless

10 Years to The day, Bonfire Collapsed

For 90 years it was tradition for Aggies from all over to gather every year in College Station around thanksgiving and have a bonfire for the reason, as stated by the 1947 Texas A&M freshman handbook, of symbolizing two things: “A burning desire to beat the team from the University of Texas, and the undying flame of love that every loyal Aggie carries in his heart for the school.”

What started out as a wood and trash pile in 1909 grew into a stack that in 1969 set a world record for the height of a bonfire at 109 ft, 10 in. Due to safety concerns the school regulated it back to around 55 ft tall and is what it stayed at for many years.

On November 18, 1999 at 2:42 a.m. the Aggie Bonfire collapsed, killing 12.

On this day I think it would be fitting for a post in remembrance of the 12 that died. They are:

Miranda Adams, Christopher Breen, Michael Ebanks, Jeremy Frampton, Jamie Lynn Hand, Christopher Lee Heard, Lucas Kimmel, Bryan McClain, Chad Powell, Jerry Don Self and Nathan Scott West and Timothy Kerlee Jr., who a day later would pass in the hospital.

I was never part of bonfire due to the school stopping all on campus bonfire activities after 1999 and me being in school there from 2003 to 2007. It is one thing I wish I could have taken part of. Some others have at least got to see it burn due to going up with their families but I never even saw that. I am the first of my family to have gone to A&M but I am the first in what will be a long line of family tradition.

So on this day I ask that you read the names of the fallen that I posted and take the time out of your day to give them and their families a quick thought.

Fire Bill Byrne

He looks like a fat troll and is the reason A&M sucks in football. He is a all that is wrong with the world and I hope he runs his new BMW into a light poll. I do not hate Mike Sherman, he and everyone else knew he was not qualified for the job. He seems like a decent person.

Here are my issues with the POS i call BB.

This information is public domain under the Freedom of Information Act and can also obtained via Channel 3 and the B/CS Eagle. Some thoughts regarding the implications will follow. I would like to hear what you think.1) Back in March, the Texas A&M Athletic Department projected a 2009 fiscal year deficit of $3 million. The Division of Finance and an external consultant hired by the 12th Man Foundation have identified potential budget savings. These efforts have resulted in a reduction of the deficit to $1 million. [Fiscal 2009 ends 08-31-09]

2) Per Interim Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin, the 12th Man Foundation has agreed to provide one-time funding to offset any 2009 fiscal year deficit. Loftin says the Division of Finance will continue to provide direct oversight for the financial operations of the Athletic Department. "During the past three years, very few, if any, measures have been implemented by athletics to significantly reduce operating costs," Terry Pankratz, CFO, wrote to then-president Elsa Murano in February. "Had cost-saving measures been implemented during the past three years, athletics may have some reserve balances to address the renovation costs or there may be some funding available through the line of credit Dr. Gates authorized."

3) Bill Byrne, Director of Athletics, and Dr. Gates arranged an interest-free line of credit in the fiscal 2005-06, when the football team had been struggling and energy prices were skyrocketing. Byrne informed Dr. Gates of predicted $4 million deficits in each of the next four years. The Athletic Department [with obvious “help”] has proposed a 2010 budget which includes $1.6 million in loan repayment ($1.6 million/year X 10 years) and an operating surplus of ~ $34,000. Bill Byrne was charged by the University to reduce the department's budget by $4.5 million. On 07-02-09, Byrne announced that the Athletic Department was eliminating 17 positions to balance the budget. "If we had been selling out Kyle Field, you would not be asking me these questions," Byrne told The Eagle last week. "We would be operating in the black." [No kidding?]

4) Actual Athletic Department budget for 2008 was:Revenues $73,231,625Expenses $73,340,421Operating Income less Debt ($108,796)

5) Projected budget for 2009 was:Revenues $71,910,221Expenses $66,344,308Income $5,565,913Operating Income less Debt ($1,002,151) [To be paid by the 12th Man Foundation]

6) Projected budget for 2010 is: [Prepared before the 2009 football season]Revenues $66,839,400 [Obviously scrubbed and revised downward by the CFO’s office]Expenses $60,337,063Income $6,502.337Operating Income less Debt $33,890

7) The LoC didn't need BoR approval, and several Regents didn't know about it until an April memo from Elsa Murano. "In retrospect, it is inconceivable to me how this situation was allowed to fester for so many years without proper action being taken," Elsa Murano wrote in an April memo to Regents. Financial officers cited poor revenue projections, a lack of interest in oversight or controls, and an inability to control rising expenses. After discovering that no contract had been signed when the LoC was given, Murano had one drafted and signed on April 4, 2008.

8) A 2007 Athletic Department five-year plan projected an increase in football ticket revenues of 10 percent each year, reaching $25.9 million by 2008. Ticket revenue for 2008 actually dropped to $19 million [The Sherman hire obviously did not energize the fan base]. 2009 sales dropped another 12 percent [~$2.3M]. The men's basketball team was projected to bring in about $3.7 million in ticket sales by 2008, but earned only $2.4 million. 2010 projections by the Athletic Department predicted that overall revenues would remain about flat, which University financiers questioned. "I think that is pretty aggressive after a 4-8 football season, men's basketball not enjoying the same level of success in prior years, potentially lower donations with individual market losses in a Texas and national economy that we have not seen in many years," Grant Trexler, Finance Department, wrote in a February e-mail to Pankratz. Byrne has requested University funding to help pay for non-revenue-generating women's athletics. All sports currently are paid for with athletic revenue, most of which comes from football and men's basketball. "This is something that I have asked for since my arrival here," Byrne said in an e-mail. University officials rejected his funding idea, saying they wanted the department to be financially self-sufficient. The Department spends $20 million on women's sports for every $1 million those teams bring in.

9) Byrne's personal salary increased 42 percent in August 2008 -- from $486,000 to $690,000. In 2008-09, he also received $178,500 in bonuses for the success in both basketball programs and track and field. "We are working on revising the policy for the next fiscal year, but we have issues with other schools recruiting coaches away from us right now, and coaches not being paid under our current extra-pay-for-extra-work policy is working against us," Byrne told Pankratz in a June e-mail [Huh?]. The bonuses were paid, and it cost the program slightly over $1 million "due to the great success achieved by our teams," Byrne said, referring to teams such as track and golf that compete in the spring.

10) The university denied Byrne's request for help in funding the Athletic Department's move from John Koldus to offices in Reed Arena and elsewhere across campus to facilitate MSC renovation. The move eventually cost $1.77 million -- $370,000 more than estimated. The Athletic Department had sought forgiveness of the $16 million loan forgiven in exchange for Athletics moving out of Koldus. "If it's true ... the request is completely out of the question," wrote Pankratz, referring to the loan forgiveness, in November 2008.

11) "People scoffed at the notion that Texas A&M could compete on a head-to-head basis with that school in the state capital," Byrne said in June. "In the first year of competition in the Lone Star Showdown, we were beaten 14.5 to 4.5. We won the trophy last year and held on to it this year by tying with 9.5 points each." Last season, Texas' athletic department brought ~$120.3 million, according to Streets and Smith's SportsBusiness Journal.

Bitch Slapped in Norman

I believe I'm at a loss for words when trying to explain what happened last Saturday in Norman. The only saving grace was that I didn't have to be there in person. I not surprised at the fact that we lost as much as the way we Laid down and died midway thought the game. What is with our constant need to look so terrible when we are on national TV? How do you go from being in the game at the end of the 1st quarter 14-10 to being down 42-10 a quarter later? It is unexplainable. The Sooners play well at home, everyone knows that, and we are a young team; however, at some point the excuses have to stop. Our defense (or lack of a defense) was atrocious. The Sooners were able to rack up 640 yards of offense against what looked to be our JV defense. The Aggie defense (again, i use the term lightly) has the innate ability to make any player on the offense look like a Heisman Contender. We let a freshman QB pass for nearly 400 yards and 5 touchdowns - it's inexcusable. This OU team, although good, is not like OU teams of the past. This game reeked of the same stink that was shown against K-state and Arkansas. It showed an immature team that let some of the early mishaps effect our play the rest of the game. What happened to handling a little adversity? We have not shown improvement over the past couple of weeks. If anything, I'd say we have even digressed.

Looking back on the season there have been some bright points, but I'd venture to say there have been twice as many moments that leave you scratching your head. There better be a different team show up this week against Baylor otherwise we could be in for some major problems. Both teams are coming off embarrassing losses so it will be interesting to see how both teams respond.

A side note - i didn't see Bob Stoops taking a knee when they were beating us by 40 like we did when we were only up by around 30 against ISU.

Bowl Games in College Football - Are there too many?

Now that the Aggies are entering the last part of the season the stakes are raised as they try to reach the all important 6 win mark on the season to become bowl eligible. The Aggies, standing at 5-4, do technically have 3 shots to get that sixth win; however, anyone close to the Aggies knows the Baylor game is probably our only shot. Baylor, who is playing without their best player at QB, still is playing hard, but they are not nearly the team they were with Griffin in the backfield. Yes, OU is down this year and we do find ways to somehow beat Texas every now and then, but the odds are not in our favor of those two games. If the games play out like everyone expects, the Aggie Football Team will finish 6-6 and be bowl eligible.

This brings me to my question: Are there too many bowl games in College Football?

Ok, so having six wins does not guarantee you will receive a bowl bid, but, come on, does six wins in a season really justify a team making the division IA "post-season?" This is especially true now that most teams are scheduling complete "cup cake" games to start the season. When did we start celebrating mediocrity? I want the Aggies to do good and go to bowl games, but I also want them to deserve it. I don't believe a 500 record shows a team who deserves it. We have had one signature win against tech, who is not playing their best football this year, and I just don't think that alone is enough to make the cut. I understand it all comes down to money in the end; however, it's this type of thinking that gives you some of the ridiculous bowl games we've come accustom to today. Names like the "California Raisin Bowl" or "Meineke Car Care Bowl" (these are actual bowl games) have plagued college football for too long. It's not long before we end up seeing the Preparation H bowl or the Vermont Viagra Bowl, it's too much. Bottom line, receiving a bowl bid should be a privilege and a reward after a successful season. It should not be just another vehicle to make money.

November Bar- Bourbon and Branch

Bourbon and Branch is truly a bourbon connoisseur's paradise. The bar is also known as The Anti-Saloon League of San Francisco. To enter the bar you must posses a password to enter the locked door. Quick note...Nanci Pelosi is not the best answer to give. With that said few places posses as skilled bartenders as this little setup. The library themed bar has multiple rooms linked via secret doors.

Thanks to A&M sucking and losing to Dan "intramural" Hawkins, we were able to sample the robust bourbon menu. This place was mentioned by several prominent Aggie's as a the go-to place in the bay area. I must agree as few bars have the classic feel of this joint. Another plus is this place tends to attract the more normal crowd in a city full of nutjobs. When in San Fran you should stop by this bar before dinner at either Scoma's or Harris'.

Ouch...Colorado, Really???

Well, it looks like the roller coaster continues... Some weeks they play great and others they are pretty awful. I do take some fault for the earlier bold prediction

Once again someone must have given the Texas Aggie Defense the wrong directions on Saturday because they definitely did not show up at the game. 35 points to arguably the worst offense in the Big 12, Really? The performance was flat out embarrassing to say the least. I can see if we were playing a power house offense and the game was expected to be a shootout, but that was clearly not the case. No, we were outscored by the 98th ranked offense. Forgetting about the points we left on the field, 34 points should have been enough to win the game against Colorado's sub-par offense. Nevertheless, this does not excuse the Aggie Offense. On 4th and goal early in the game man up and put the damn ball in the end zone. It's missed opportunities like these that end up killing you in the end.

Positives from the game:

Jerrod ties the single season TD record

Von Miller gets 2 sacks

-Who are we kidding, it's a real stretch to find positives when you lose to Colorado.

After suffering this loss the Aggies face a must win coming up against Baylor in 2 weeks to gain bowl eligibility. Yes, OU did also lose last week but come on, what are the chances. I'm not completely counting the Aggies out, but the odds are not looking good (OU opened up as a 16 point favorite). OU has a recent history of success against the Aggies (especially in Norman). Plus, I'm pretty sure they will be pissed off looking to rebound after their own poor performance last Saturday.

Predictions for Saturday

The game this Saturday will showcase two storied programs on opposite tracks. For Texas A&M things seem to be looking up. As I've said all along, we are not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination, but we have made noticeable improvements. We have young talent at key positions on the offense, but naturally struggle with consistency. For the second game in a row the OL was opening huge holes for our running backs who, if given the chance, can do some serious damage. Jerrod is only 2 touchdown passes away from breaking his single season passing TD record. Our defense misses A LOT of tackles and can sometimes look like last year's unit where the first guy never makes the tackle. Nevertheless, they do have their moments where they look tolerable. On the other hand, Colorado looks to be just trying to play out the rest of the season. They have some serious problems and frequently stink up the stadium. Their coach is on the hottest of hot seats and will probably lose his job after the season. Colorado fans are even threatening to boycott and protest the garbage they call their football team.

The Aggies have always struggled at Boulder, but this season seems to be the season to break losing streaks. I haven't felt this way in a long time, but the biggest worry the Aggies should have should be to not beat themselves or play down to the level of their competition.

Saturday's Predicted Outcome: Aggies 38 - Buffalos 24

******UNRELATED NOTE: Be sure to check out this video of New Mexico's Womens Soccer. This chick does not take losing lightly. She's a beast.

Sportsmanship

At the tail end of the game against ISU the Aggies decided to take a knee on 4th down late in the 4th quarter in the name of sportsmanship. Most of the announcers commended them on the gesture; however, I was not totally convinced a knee was the best move.

First off, it's the defense's job to stop the offense. I would understand taking a knee if the Aggies were playing against a division II team or they were up by 60 points (Oklahoma comes to mind) but that was not the case. It almost seemed taking a knee showed up the opponents more than going ahead and punching in one last touchdown. I'm not saying we should of had the starters in and unleashed an all out aerial assault, but that was the perfect opportunity for Sherman to put in the backups for some quality game experience. Besides, some of the backups might not ever have the chance to score another touchdown. If we were to put in our third string, move the ball with basic run plays, and still be in a position to score, I feel the opposition deserves to be scored on. It's not about class, it's about the opposition having enough pride to stop the backups.