robert.cessna@theeagle.com
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Texas A&M’s football season opener with New Mexico won’t be moved to Sunday night to be televised nationally, at least that’s what I’m hearing.
The game will remain on Saturday apparently because New Mexico wants too much compensation. The network’s focus has switched to getting the Colorado-Colorado State game.
Last month, A&M athletics director Bill Byrne said he’d been approached by a television network about the school making the move of the New Mexico game from Sept. 5 to Sept. 6 for a nationally televised game. That is Labor Day Weekend and the NFL regular season starts the following week.
“We will discuss with New Mexico, the Mountain West and Big 12 Conferences and consider the feasibility of such a move before making a decision,” Byrne said at the time. “Usually, the announcements come about at the Big 12 Conference meetings in May.”
The Big 12 meetings in Colorado Springs, Colo., ended Thursday with no announcement about A&M-New Mexico or for that matter, Colorado-Colorado State.
I wonder how much New Mexico was asking? Why not take the money — any money? The Lobos recently cut their budget by 10 percent in every sport.
I can understand the Lobos wanting to get compensated for having the game moved. The Lobos’ home opener is Sept. 12 against a Tulsa team coming off an 11-3 record. The Aggies don’t play again until Sept. 19 — at home against Utah State. Losing that day for the following week' preparation is worth a lot more to New Mexico, but the Lobos also could use the national exposure which would be the first game for first-year head coach Mike Locksley. Then again, if New Mexico figures the Aggies already have a decided edge and likely will win, why not make them pay a little extra?
It’s been an interesting two years for this series, to say the least.
Last year, reportedly, the Lobos turned down $1.8 million to move the game to San Antonio.
“We have to develop our fan base,” New Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs said at the time. “Moving the game to San Antonio, I think, would sell out our fans, would be a decision made purely for economic reasons. I think it sends the wrong message to our fans and to our football program.”
It didn’t work out the way the Lobos wanted.
New Mexico charged an all-time high $50 for tickets, which didn’t go over well. The announced crowd was 28,007 in 40,094-seat University Stadium — and A&M won.The only game the Lobos had a smaller home crowd last year was San Diego State (26,695).
The Colorado-Colorado State game is an interesting matchup. The two teams opened the season last year on Sunday night in Denver. This year’s game will be played in Boulder.
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Posted by: Goingolf1 On: 5/25/2009
Comment Title: Miller58
Miller58? I didn't know that you had to use your IQ for your screen name. Once again you amaze and surprise all of us. You have learned how to cut and paste your comments. At least you should change your text every once in a while. Your same old bs gets posted. If you love stars so much, why don't you become a $atan follower. We don't need you. You give Ags a bad name. Oh wait I forgot you think that beause you work at McDonalds in CS makes you an Aggie. Sorry, you have to get a degree like all of us.
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/23/2009
Comment Title: WHAT A DIFFERENCE A GOOD COACH MAKES?
My personal opinions:_____Comparing two coaches on the four and five star difference makers each committed the first two full recruiting seasons:_____Mike Sherman committed only "8"._____Nick Saban committed "40"._____miller58
Posted by: On: 5/23/2009
Comment Title: miller
"what may be the barest cupboard ever" Sounds like the perfect description of what is between your ears.
Posted by: On: 5/23/2009
Comment Title: Get a clue
Miller58, are you that dense? I guess so, your rants are getting worse and you seem to look for any reason to bash our team. This article was about a game time change, not the recruiting abilities of our staff. You are way out line and you need to stop.
Posted by: Sister On: 5/23/2009
Comment Title: Re- miller
Now that's funny. Incredible and true, but still funny !!
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/23/2009
Comment Title: RE: Ags Rule
My personal opinions:_____Ags Rule, your prediction of 24-14, A&M???_____New Mexico has not signed a single four or five star athlete for the past five years, almost as bad as Sherman!_____Baylor would clear their bench, and beat them 120-0?_____Ags Rule, kinda going out on a limb there, aren't you?_____miller58
Posted by: On: 5/23/2009
Comment Title:
Hey Ryansdad. Interesting you include "on the team" and "suspended" as two of your top four concerns for us. Wonder how many of our conference foes have the same question.
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/23/2009
Comment Title: SHERMAN LOSES 10TH APRIL/MAY OFFER AS DIXON COMMITS TO baylor?
My personal opinions:_____Our third signing class by Mike Sherman continues to produce what may be the barest cupboard ever?_____Mike lost his 10th recent offer as four star safety Ahmad Dixon 6-1 194 4.5 chose baylor!_____After decommitting tu, Dixon chose the bears over A&M, 'bama, florida, and ou among others!_____What really hurts is that a majority of the 10 turndowns Sherman scored recently, chose to commit to Big 12 south opponents, and will be pounding us for the next 5 years?_____With multiple offers already out for Mike's next fourth signing class, this 85 man squad may be the barest cupboard ever, that produces a record number of 40+ point blow out losses over the next 5+ years?_____miller58
Posted by: Ryansdad On: 5/22/2009
Comment Title: Hey Agsrule
It's 3+months until kickoff, we have no idea who will be healthy, on the team, suspended, or starting and you are already predicting a score. Where did you get your crystal ball?
Posted by: On: 5/22/2009
Comment Title:
Last year we win 22-28. Thank goodness for Peterson's 48 yard interception return for a touchdown. They have 370 yards total offense to our 236. They adjust at halftime and we dont (as usual) and they outscore us 15-7 in the second half. This year they have better coach and new scheme with the spread. What will the line be? Could be a blessing the rest of the nation doesnt get a look at us.
Posted by: AgsRule! On: 5/22/2009
Comment Title: Shame
Unless Texas A&M football has some serious surprises up their sleeves, and I hope they do, this will not be a blowout by A&M, which means NM passed on another chance to save their athletics. I predict A&M 24 NM 14.
Posted by: On: 5/22/2009
Comment Title: Texas A&M Youtube feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmEAo-nzBgY
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/22/2009
Comment Title: Mike Sheman's player to get exposed on Natl. t.v.?
My personal opinions:____Nationally televised embarrassment?____miller58
Posted by: On: 5/22/2009
Comment Title: Don't understand NM's stance on this
The approach taken by the officials for the University at New Mexico is baffling. They remind me of the old stock market adage: "Bulls may make money and bears may make money, but pigs make nothing at all... in fact, they get slaughtered." Clearly, they didn't learn their lesson last year and failed miserably by not taking the $1.8 mil to play in San Antonio. Now, they're balking at moving the game to Sunday and potentially make a nice chunk of change?... when they had to reduce their athletics budget by 10%?? This reminds me of the definition of stupidity: doing the same thing over again but expecting a different result. Sheesh... when will they learn.
Posted by: On: 5/22/2009
Comment Title: who would watch that game?
Yeah the title says it all.
