I do not think the Aggies are near where they need to be, yet. Personally, I don’t care if they ever get there. But, in the scheme of things and to improve the caliber o play inthe Big-12, I hope they do continue to improve—-a little bit. Next year, amybe in two, the Aggies will be a serious threat to unseat someone. It just remains to be seen what direction the rest of the conference goes. But, right now, all they can hope to do iss win all of their non-cinference matchups and at least a couple from the north. It will be another tough, though closer year for the Ags.

about these guys. Tech has dominated them for so long and our team just keeps getting better as theirs gets worse. At best I would say A&M could serve as a possible trap game moving forward. The team is so far behind in developing players and coaching. I don’t see these guys as a threat in ‘09 or ’10. Lastly, if Tech’s recruiting continues to climb I can honestly see A&M staying in cellar and losing the recruiting battle in the next couple of years. Captain Mike has their number!

is the only thing that can make this game a concern. If we go to Nebraska and struggle a lot and even lose then bouncing back the next week could be tough. Even in that worst case scenario I don’t see the team dropping this one at home… but that is about the only cause for worry in my opinion.

Texas A & M is caught on the point of their own doing. And I’m tired of hearing how D. Franchione was such a terrible person. Where Is the rant form beergut when you need one? The Aggies are knee deep in getting foundation in place to define the team. What are they a Pro set offense, a defensive smothering blanket or ut look alike snapping up talent so it doesn’t matter who gets on the field they jus t have the better athletes. Who knows? What happened is – IMO – they forgot to set up the routine, the scheme. In their defense they are setting a system in place. Previously I thought they had a "system" when J train was beating people down, ball control, we are bigger so look out. Greta talents all star high school Qb’s, running backs, linemen and tight ends. But they started tinkering. So yeah here we go the machine is being redone to get the "who" we are set. By new coach M. Sherman. I would expect them to play hard and lose several close ones in 09. And continue to refine the type of team they are going to be. Eventually we will probably see a pro set drop back pass attack, with a couple of slashing 800 – 1000 yard rushers. Can’t help but wonder if they will try to copy OU. Which they can do- but there is this recruiting thing. It wouldn’t surprise me if A&M just can’t over take the Raiders in instate recruiting and end up poaching around Louisiana, Kansas and Florida. This situation is of course fluid but if the Raiders exceed expectations i.e. climb out of 4th in the South, win 9 plus games, get another Bowl win. There is no reason not to expect that they can’t. Then the recruiting machine gets another banner year. Which it is shaping up to be right now with what 11- or 12 key Raider commits already for the 20 10 class? So win shock the big boys. Lap the competition again.Result the Aggies are in a real stern chase. They in effect have to double the energy and effect of their recruiting to overtake the Raiders. This is dependent on success of the TTU 2009 team. Win and good stuff keeps happening. Send guys to the pros more good stuff happens. So to a degree ( and you can’t substitute or discount talent from coaches, administrators, facilities ,etc) the future depends on the presents’ results. As many have stated before it’s all about keeping your edge.

on the practice video from yesterday or the day before who is the player in red shorts wearing #1. he’s about the third group to go 30 seconds into it the video. He looks large and had pretty good form….

…that the Aggies’ particular brand of condecension is the most incidious of all.

I am SO sick of their declarations, prognostications, and proselytizing about what it would take for us (Texas Tech) to be an elite program. Like they would know. And they attempt to keep Tech, in their view, as a forever inferior program because we lack their traditions, etc, etc, etc. A win this year sets us up to TIE the all time series. From there? I say, stomp on the gas and dont look back.

What the Aggies DO know is how to fall and fall a long ways from the higher ranks of the nation’s football programs. They act like it hasnt or couldnt possibly happen to them. They can just ask Notre Dame if and how it could be possible

I’m just sayin’, if you’re gonna employ the 3 yards and a cloud of dust, ball control offense in THIS conference, you’d damn well better have a defensive backfield of 1st and 2nd round draft picks. You’ll get outscored by Tech, O, OS, T, M, C, K, C? B?Can Jarrod connect to Tannehill and company to stretch the field? He better or it will be another 4-8 campaign if all us B12 teams don’t have to be kept honest and off the line(5-7 in the box).

A big part of our problem last season was on both of our lines. As I outlined here, our problems on offensive line were caused mainly by Fran’s ludicrous decision to continually ignore the OL in recruiting. Our defense line was senior-laden, but the tackles underachieved, so we ended up giving two true freshmen (Eddie Brown, Tony Jerod-Eddie) a lot of palying time. Those two are talented, but they were undersized last season. After a year in the S&C program, both are now bigger and stronger, with Brown at 288 and Jerod-Eddie at 300 lbs.

Our issues on DL meant we weren’t able to keep the opposing OL off our LBs, so we were often flattened in the running game. Brown, Jerod-Eddie, and VHT RSF Rod Davis makes me optimistic we’ll be able to avoid that this season. If we play well up front, that will make everyone else’s job easier.

Our skill position players on offense (Johnson, Tannehill, Fuller, Gray, Michael, Bradley Stephens, McCoy) are all good players, we just need help on the line. We have a transfer from LSU in Matt Allen who will be taking over one guard spot, and we’ve moved DT Lucas Patterson to the LT spot, so I’m thinking we’ll be more athletic there. More importantly, we have a class of redshirt freshmen OL to provide some actual depth this season, something we didn’t have last year, when we entered the season with only 6 scholarship OL.

Y’all ever notice that “Caught 5 TDs” and “Caught STDs” looks like the same thing on an iPhone before you tap twice and zoom in? I thought Seth was really taking a personal shot at that poor little aggie there for a second…..

I think they’re moving along, but this year will be tough for TAMU. I’m not sold on Sherman being able to battle the Big 12 systems that are prevalent right now, but that’s what assistant coaches are for. He is a good recruiter, and TAMU has always had talented guys come in. I think 2010 will be more indicative of what Sherman has accomplished/will accomplish. We shall see.

Perception is the only thing that counts. Yes, A&M has been getting good recruits DESPITE the recent downturn of results on the field. Beergut believes A&M has a better program than Tech (totally unexpected?). And, for now, recruits still believe that A&M has something to offer them. But, if the cellar-dwelling by the teams continues, one might project that, at some point, the tradition, facilities, etc might lose their luster. Will recruits overlook all that after a prolonged downturn? I think what Beergut is saying is that A&M is relying on its “emergency fund” (metaphor from the finance world) to get it through the tough times. Eventually, without an upturn in results, maybe that will run out too. But, that’s all just hypotheticals. Like I said in my post above, I think Sherman’s path to success or failure will reveal itself in 2010, after he’s had time to develop his recruits and fill the holes that Fran left.

Brandon Williams – (1st team All Conference) – 2 star recruit
Darcel McBath – (1st team all conference) – 2 star recruit
Louis Vasquez – (2nd team All Conference) – 3 star recruit
Shannon Woods- (2nd team All Conference) – 2 star recruit
Daniel Charbonnet (2nd team All Conference) – 2 star recruit
Brandon Carter (All American) – 3 star recruit
Dwayne Slay (All American) – 2 star recruit

Just a snippet, but my point is that a low star ranking does not point to obscurity at the college level. Conversely, a high star ranking does not point to success at the college level. While Leach’s classes haven’t been rated highly, the production he’s able to get on the field from these lowly rated players says otherwise.

The superior Agsy program/recruits/traditions completely dominating the the lowly Texas Tech players for the past decade or so…Enjoy.

My comp is screwed up and wouldnt let me post links