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

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.

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.

Quick Recap: Aggies Lay One On ISU

Quick Recap from Saturday:

Never really in doubt, the Fighting Texas Aggies picked up a solid and convincing win against Iowa State this Saturday in Aggieland. Iowa State, who rolled onto an impressive win the week before against Nebraska, looked like they left most of their starters in Lincoln. The Aggies jumped out to an early 21-0 lead in the first half and never looked back. Johnson added 234 passing yards and accounted for 4 total touchdowns as the Aggies gained a total of 501 yards of offense on the way to their second straight win. Although this victory came against a beaten and battered ISU team, this win answered the question of how the Aggies would respond after an emotional win the week before against tech.

Thoughts and Stats from the Game:

ATM - Over 500 yards Offense

CBs - 2 picks

ISU - Sucks at Offense. Needs to join another conference

ATM DTs - Need some work. They were getting blown off the ball

Offensive Line - Controlled ISU's Defense. Looked good for the most part

Which Offensive Line Will Show Up Against the Cyclones?

This Saturday brings the opportunity for the Texas Aggies to have a statement game. Unfortunately, it also gives the opportunity for the Aggies to fall into the same old familiar trap. The major question: Which offensive line will show up?

In one week we went from -13 yards rushing and 6 sacks given up to 321 yards rushing and 1 sack given up. The offensive line, who against Kansas State looked like they had cement around their feet, looked like the old SWC power football line of year's past. I know there were some changes and shifts in the guard position, but was this the main factor? Did the running backs run harder/smarter? Did moving some personnel around really account for an increase of 330 yards in the rushing game and 5 less sacks? Or, is this the natural progression of young linemen stepping up and essentially growing up?

I know M. Sherman probably had some choice words for his lineman after the K-State beating, and I'm not ready to anoint the line as better because of one game; however, it is nice knowing what they are capable of. Now, Iowa State is the perfect opponent for Texas A&M to prove last week was not a fluke performance. ISU is ranked around 60th as far as rush defense which gives ATM a good opportunity to put up some good numbers against a Big 12 opponent. With that being said, ISU will not be a rollover victory as they are on a little bit of a roll after beating Baylor and Nebraska in the past two weeks.

Cooks Kitchen - Jalapeno Poppers

In light of the potential Ass Beating Round 2 in Lubbock this weekend I'd like to offer up a delicious gameday appetizer. Because it's not inconceivable for Tech to drop 100 Saturday, you'll need something to keep your mind busy, if only for a little while. Below should be what you need to Gameday off right with some Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers.

You'll need:
24 whole jalapenos
1 1/2 cups shredded Jack Cheese
8oz Cream Cheese
24 Bacon Strips
toothpicks
Some sort of Meat

Step 1 - Start the grill
Step 2 - Prepare the jalapenos by cutting off the stems and the tops of the peppers
Step 3 - Remove the seeds from the peppers and cut the peppers in half
Step 4 - Cut the meat into slices the lenght of the peppers
Step 5 - Combine the 8 oz of cream cheese, the 1 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, and the salt and pepper to taste in a large mixing bowl
Step 6 - Fill the halves with the mixture
Step 7 - Combine the jalapenos with the sliced meat, securing them together with the bacon and a toothpick
Step 8 - Place on the grill

Aggies Lose Another Close One - Sherman on Hot Seat

The Aggies found themselves playing for pride (AGAIN) on Saturday when they faced off against the Kansas State Wildcats. However, even pride was in short supply as the Aggies found themselves on the wrong side of a 62 - 14 Ass Kicking. Luckily I was not able to watch this disastrous game, but it did get me thinking about the direction the Aggies are heading. Sure, the 3-0 start seemed promising on paper, but the undefeated record left out the fact those wins came against three of the worst ranked teams in College Football. The second loss, like the first loss, came against a formidable opponent in OSU, but to lose this bad against a K-State team is at the very best embarrassing.

.

All of this brings me to my question: How Long Should We Stick With Mike Sherman?

.

I understand when a new coach comes to town the need to give them some time to do recruiting and rebuilding; however, I personally feel Sherman has had adequate time to try and erase the piss poor performances of Coach Fran. There needs to come a time where the blame starts to fall on the new coach, and I believe the time is now. I'd be more than happy to stick with Sherm if we were in the MAC or WAC (or Big 10) conferences, but we're in one of the most competitive conferences in the the NCAA (second only to the SEC) . Hell, I'm pretty sure I could be brought into the coaching position if piss poor results would suffice. Clearly the students and the Aggie Nation should have higher expectations from a school so rich with football history. At this point I think it's pretty hard to build a case for Sherm.

Mourning Saturday's Loss and the 7 Stages of Grief

Well, at least we have women's soccer...




Saturday started like any typical gameday morning with a pounding headache and a frantic search for keys, phones, and wallets at a house in dire need of a 5 person cleaning crew. I think the attached picture best visualizes the types of nonsense from the night before. Now, this is not me in the picture, but you get the idea. After everyone pulled themselves together, we climbed into the car and headed to the tailgate festivities. We arrived at the tailgate filled with enthusiasm and ready to cheer the Fighting Texas Aggies on to victory. We figured the disappointing loss to the Red Neck Razorbacks would almost certainly motivate the team enough to solidify a key win at the start of Big 12 play because, at the very least, if U of H can do it, we can do it. I mean, Okie lite didn't even have their best receiver so how could they compete? I later found out it was setting these types of expectations that brought on the 7 stages of grief every Aggie who follows ATM sports has come to know.

Stage 1: Shock and Denial
I believe this stage started shortly after the 3rd quarter. It's the inevitable "Here we go again" feeling. The one thing the Aggies are good at is giving some false hope. Exhibit A - the Arkansas game.

Stage 2: Pain and Guilt
This stage occured immediately as all of the die hard Aggie fans witnessed the clock strike zero as our chances to be tied for first in the Big 12 came crashing down.

Stage 3: Anger and Bargaining
I'm not sure about bargaining but there was definitely some anger

Stage 4: Depression, Reflection, and Loneliness
Depression was evident throughout the tailgate; however, the main effects were curbed by 12oz cans of inspiration

Stage 5: The Upward Turn
With the Depression lifting, Aggie fans everywhere began taking the necessary steps to achieve acceptance

Stage 6: Reconstruction and Working Through
The spirit of the aggie hopeful began to lift, there was a realization that we would always be winners at the truely important sports - Golf and Womens Soccer.

Stage 7: Acceptance and Hope
Acceptance and hope came when all of the aggie fans realized one simple but important fact - This isn't our year. Everyone knows we are in the process of building an unstoppable juggernaut for the 2010 season

Countdown to Gameday - T minus 24 hours

As gameday rapidly approaches I find myself unable to sit still knowing the events soon to transpire. In 24 short hours our the Fighting Texas Aggie Football Team will take the field with hopes of securing a win this Saturday against "the other Oklahoma Football Team." This may come as a surprise but apparently the Sooners are not the only football team in the state of Oklahoma.

Just as a 1,000 mile journey starts with a single step, tomorrow's win will be the first necessary step on the Aggies road to the all but inevitable Big 12 Conference Championship.

Details from Aggieland to follow...

What our fellow Aggies can look forward to

In light of the blog gaining momentum and the proverbial "cherry being popped," I'd like to take a couple of minutes to discuss some of the things followers can expect when keeping up with the blog.

This blog is intended to document the trials and tribulations of die hard Aggie fans as they follow the "chosen team" toward the path of greatness and potentially a run at a 2nd national championship.

Followers can expect to read about different Aggie aspects from different Aggie contributors. The following list will document the areas of the blog and who is responsible for facilitating their area to the highest Aggie standards.

• All things tailgate - this will be an Aggie joint contribution since no one Aggie could handle all the greatness entailed during tailgate
• A&M Sports - Cypress011, Mark, Coscaggie
• Northgate - AggieKt2010
• Texas NFL football woes - Derek, but this will most likely be a weekly recap of the USA Cowboys and their all but certain road to the Superbowl
• Live from the Left Coast - Cypress011 to delegate
• Married man's corner - Mark, Coscaggie, Texas AMC
• Women of the Week - this will become a weekly poll; however, nominations for the poll will be ongoing
• Help, i'm married to a tailgater - Women, you know who you are. I don't feel bad you got yourself into this, but this can be your time to vent.
• Bar of the Month - Cypress011

Please feel free to take the initiative on another topic.

thanks and Gig'em

Mimosas in the Morning

Due to the early start of the FIGHTING Texas Aggie game, Mimosas will start promptly at 9:30 am. It is extremely important, even doctor recommended, for Aggie fans to get their vitamin C before cheering on the Aggies to victory against "the other oklahoma football team." Do not miss out! Supplies for Mimosas are limited; however, the fun at the tailgate is not.

Stay tuned as the menu for the tailgate will follow shortly...

Inaugral Post

Back from Arlington...I realize we lost, but at least i don't have to go back to Arkansas. I now know where the circus finds their carnie workers. Stay tuned...