Headed for Independence

It looks like the Aggies have accepted the bid to play in the Independence Bowl on December 28th. Here, the Aggies will be matched up against a very talented underachieving Georgia Bulldog team. The match up with the Georgia Bulldogs is probably the toughest opponent the Aggies could have drawn (others being Auburn and Navy). Again, I personally would have rather taken the Missouri spot to play in the Texas Bowl at home in Houston against an easier opponent in Navy; however, if the Aggies are going to return to the success of the past, they need to start winning these types of match ups. It's not enough just to make a bowl game, at some point you need to climb over the hump and start winning. Nevertheless, it will be good for some of our young players to go up against the size and speed of an SEC defense.

For this game it has been reported some of the UGA staff will not be participating due to conflicts with other job opportunities. I for one do not completely understand why the coaches would need to skip the game; however, I support anything that could potentially give the Aggies some extra help.

UGA D statistics from 2009:
Allow 328 yds/game
Give up 200.6 passing and 127.8 rushing

ATM D statistics from 2009
Probably worse

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.

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

Tailgate Time Again

Finally another home game in Aggieland and finally another excuse to make it through the work week. This Saturday at 2:30pm the Fighting Texas Aggies will take on the Iowa State Cyclones in hopes of building on their impressive victory against tech the previous week.

Tailgate will resume this week at the same location near Reed with a limited menu . More details to follow...

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.

Quick Thoughts: Why I'm Glad I'm not a Raider

I had a couple of free minutes yesterday so I decided to read through some of the old posts/comments left on this blog. One that immediately caught my attention was posted by cosaggie titled "Why do I love being an Aggie." I could immediately relate since some of the reasons mentioned in this post were some feelings I still currently have as an Aggie. To supplement this list I've decided to add my personal top 4 reasons why I'm glad I'm not a Raider. We may not have the best team on Saturday; however, we're definitely better overall.

4. Lubbock Stinks. I believe the expression, "the wind blows almost as hard as the city" sums everything up pretty nicely. Also, the whole town smells.
3. If you don't like going to bars everynight there is nothing to do. Plus, they have the bell ringer guy (Please feel free to click on the picture to witness the greatness that is the bell ringer).
2. The women at tech are beautiful, there's no denying that. However, they are not exactly the type of women you would want to introduce to your parents. Plus, they should all come with a coupon and a map to the closest clinic.
1. Community Colleges are great for some people, but I figured it was in my best interest to go to a four year school as prestigious as TAMU. The education and connections available at TAMU are unparallel to any other school.

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