Robert Cessna's storiesCESSNA: Aggies can almost taste bowl appearance
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Texas A&M defensive end/linebacker Von Miller had a blast at the Alamo Bowl two years ago and wants to return to the postseason. Mike Sherman coached 14 years ago in the Alamo Bowl, one of six bowls he went to as A&M's offensive line coach. H ...full story
CESSNA: A&M-ISU suddenly a big gameTuesday, October 27, 2009
It's fitting that Texas A&M and Iowa State are playing on Halloween. No one thought this would be one of the Big 12's football treats before the season. Heck, the league's television partners just a week ago passed on the game for Missouri at Col ...full story
CESSNA: Victory the perfect medicineMonday, October 26, 2009
A week ago, Lubbock looked like the worst possible place the Texas A&M football team could be headed. Turns out, the Aggies couldn't have picked a better spot to play a solid game.A&M's 52-30 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday gave a boost t ...full story
CESSNA: Tech week always interestingTuesday, October 20, 2009
Reading the responses of Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach from his Monday weekly press conference, you'd think Kansas State was lucky to beat Texas A&M by 48 points."There's nobody that isn't good enough to beat you and A&M is a team ...full story
CESSNA: Aggies' response is keyMonday, October 19, 2009
Texas A&M got kicked about as badly as a football team can by Kansas State on Saturday night. How the Aggies respond will go a long way toward determining if the program takes a significant step forward this year.All the goodwill the Aggies built ...full story
CESSNA: First road test ahead for young AgsTuesday, October 13, 2009
Texas A&M's freshmen survived the wow factor of Cowboys Stadium, but playing their first true road game at Kansas State on Saturday will be a challenge.Manhattan, Kan., isn't the easiest place to reach, nor is it one of the Big 12's glamour desti ...full story
CESSNA: 'Moral victory' not enoughMonday, October 12, 2009
A&M head football coach Mike Sherman said Saturday's 36-31 loss to 15th-ranked Oklahoma State wasn't a moral victory. He's right. Moral victories went out with bell-bottoms. You have to find a way to win close games, especially when you're playin ...full story
CESSNA: Don't blame JohnsonTuesday, October 06, 2009
Saturday night's game against Arkansas at Cowboys Stadium was supposed to be Jerrod Johnson's chance to show the nation he's the best quarterback it knew nothing about.Early in the game the Texas A&M junior made one of those plays bartenders love ...full story
CESSNA: Ags can use loss to growMonday, October 05, 2009
The youthful Texas A&M football team didn't handle adversity well Saturday, but if it grew up a little bit, the night wasn't a total loss.The Aggies couldn't handle prosperity, then wilted under pressure as the Arkansas Razorbacks rolled to a 47- ...full story
CESSNA: Kines ready to see A&M-Arkansas from other sideTuesday, September 29, 2009
Several people connected with the Texas A&M football program have been part of the rivalry with former Southwest Conference foe Arkansas that will be renewed Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium, but defensive coordinator Joe Kines has seen it from ...full story
CESSNA: Fuller injury toughTuesday, September 22, 2009
Ryan Tannehill's role won't change because of the injury to wide receiver Jeff Fuller. Tannehill will remain Texas A&M's backup quarterback and will see limited time at wide receiver, with the key word being limited.That's what head football coac ...full story
CESSNA: Aggies making progressMonday, September 21, 2009
We were reminded several times Saturday night the Texas A&M football team is a work in progress.There were too many penalties, too many missed tackles, and Utah State had too much yardage, often picking it up in big chunks. That helped turn what ...full story
CESSNA: Sherman borrows from prep coachesTuesday, September 15, 2009
It took almost two decades, but Lake Travis head football coach Chad Morris went from cheering the Aggies to victory at Kyle Field to helping them win the season opener against New Mexico.Morris was among those Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman s ...full story
CESSNA: Young Aggies show they're readyTuesday, September 08, 2009
Texas A&M's newcomers did some impressive talking with their actions Saturday night in a 41-6 victory over New Mexico, and we're discovering they're witty as well.True freshman running back Christine Michael and redshirt linebacker Kyle Mangan we ...full story
Prog Panel pickers hoping to build championship runFriday, September 04, 2009
There are more than 170 builders in the Bryan-College Station Home Builders Association, but the community's most important one isn't even a member. That's Texas A&M head football coach Mike Sherman, who is trying to build the Aggie program into ...full story
What to do with Ryan Tannehill?Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Texas A&M head football coach Mike Sherman doesn't have a quarterback controversy. However, he does have to decide how best to utilize backup quarterback Ryan Tannehill. That's been cause for debate, and it could become a controversy.Is Tannehill ...full story
CESSNA: Stoops a winning machineWednesday, July 29, 2009
IRVING -- The Texas A&M athletics department should have asked Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops to chip in to help ease its financial problems, because there's no doubt the Aggies have figured prominently in Stoops' financial success.Stoops, on ...full story
CESSNA: Time for A&M to control its spendingSunday, June 07, 2009
The Texas A&M athletics department, like most Americans, has lived well beyond its means. Well, those days are over, at least for the time being. A struggling economy has everyone pinching pennies, and A&M will be under even more scrutiny because of ...full story
CESSNA: Trophy nice, but there's still work leftTuesday, May 19, 2009
If you're like me and haven't seen the Lone Star Showdown trophy the Aggies have had for a year, rest easy. You have at least another year to go by the Bright Complex's lobby and behold it.Texas A&M sprinted -- literally and figuratively -- to th ...full story
CESSNA: Night belongs to JohnsonWednesday, May 06, 2009
Mark Johnson's homecoming Tuesday night was as much about the people the former Texas A&M head baseball coach worked with as it was about honoring his legacy.The handshakes and greetings from old friends started at 4:30 p.m. when Johnson's Sam Ho ...full story
Winning is the way to quiet LeachMonday, May 04, 2009
Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach is one of the most innovative offensive minds of his time. He's a master of Xs and Os, but he's just as sharp with his ABCs.Leach drew the wrath of Aggies after A&M quarterback Stephen McGee was drafted by Dal ...full story
CESSNA: Leach off base with shot at A&MTuesday, April 28, 2009
The Texas Tech-A&M football rivalry has spilled over into the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys drafting Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee."I'm happy for Stephen McGee," Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach told The Dallas Morning News. "The Dallas C ...full story
Texas A&M Football NotebookWednesday, April 22, 2009
Spring practice No. 14: The Aggies practiced Tuesday morning inside the McFerrin Center for 70 minutes in helmets and shorts, then practiced 90 minutes in the afternoon outside in full pads. They were the team's first workouts since Saturday's Maroon ...full story
CESSNA: Aggies making progressMonday, April 20, 2009
Jeff Fuller and Von Miller stood out at Saturday's Maroon & White Game like liberals at a Rush Limbaugh tribute dinner.Fuller, who seemingly was always open, had nine catches for 147 yards. If Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson needed a spa ...full story
Texas A&M Football NotebookFriday, April 17, 2009
Spring practice No. 11: In the morning session Thursday, Texas A&M worked out inside the McFerrin Center for 70 minutes in helmets and shorts. In the afternoon session, the Aggies worked out in pads for 90 minutes outside.It might have been the b ...full story
Texas A&M football notebookWednesday, April 08, 2009
The skinny: Practice 8, Tuesday -- In the morning, A&M worked out inside for 70 minutes in helmets and shorts, and in the afternoon the Aggies worked outside for 90 minutes in pads. "I thought we had a great morning, and executed extremely well," ...full story
Texas A&M football notebookWednesday, April 01, 2009
The skinny: Practice 4 -- A&M worked out for 65 minutes in helmets and shorts in the morning inside, then 90 minutes in full pads in the afternoon outside.*Mixed day: Head coach Mike Sherman was pleased with the morning, but the afternoon was at ...full story
CESSNA: Oh, what could have beenTuesday, March 31, 2009
Often it's the games that don't materialize that intrigue us the most.Such is the case for anyone connected with the Texas A&M women's basketball program. They'll never know how the Aggies would have matched up against the Connecticut Huskies, wh ...full story
CESSNA: Gillispie, UK just weren't a fitSaturday, March 28, 2009
Three years ago many Texas A&M fans wanted Greens Prairie Road renamed Billy Gillispie Parkway. College Station officials, though, opted not to get caught up in Billyball mania and renamed it William D. Fitch Parkway.Gillispie wasn't able to get ...full story
CESSNA: Aggie hoops teams flying highMonday, March 09, 2009
The Texas A&M men's basketball team wasn't going to be denied. Unfortunately for the Aggie women, neither were the Baylor Lady Bears.Emotion played a big part in Saturday's two showdowns along the Brazos River.The A&M men, left for dead in re ...full story
A&M's Scarborough still involved with program but skipping redshirt seasonFriday, February 27, 2009
Oh, by the way ... Amanda Scarborough has retired from competitive softball.
One of the best athletes to wear a Texas A&M uniform opted not to return this season, even though she had a redshirt to use after injuries limited her to 15 games last ...full story
CESSNA: Blair hopes to danceMonday, February 23, 2009
Gary Blair can't watch one of his favorite television shows Monday, because he'll be too busy being part of women's college basketball's version of Dancing With the Stars.Texas A&M's head coach is revved up for the Aggies' showdown against second ...full story
Aggie basketball coaches take different approaches to NCAA Tournament talkThursday, February 19, 2009
Just talking about which teams might make the NCAA Tournament gets as much attention as the games that actually determine the field, maybe more so.Texas A&M women's basketball coach Gary Blair loves it. He reads several newspapers to start the da ...full story
CESSNA: Week of practice important for Ag womenWednesday, February 18, 2009
The Texas A&M women's basketball team doesn't have a midweek game, but what the Aggies do have is some extra practice time. And what they do with it will be crucial to making a run in postseason.A&M is 7-5 since starting the season with a sch ...full story
Cessna: Victory worth savoringTuesday, February 17, 2009
No matter what happens the rest of the way, the Texas A&M men's basketball team always will have Monday night's effort to reflect on.And what an effort it was.The Aggies dominated the Texas Longhorns for an 81-66 victory at Reed Arena. For a chan ...full story
Aggies hope they've added speed, smarts with 2009 classThursday, February 05, 2009
Texas A&M's recruiting class has the speed to help the Aggies close the gap on the rest of the Big 12. They're also smart enough to know it will take time and tremendous dedication.Find speed and smarts is what second-year A&M football coach ...full story
CESSNA: Effort is there for AgsSunday, January 25, 2009
AUSTIN -- The Texas A&M men's basketball team missed too many free throws and gave up too many offensive rebounds to win, yet they still managed to scare 14th-ranked Texas.Let's be clear. A&M didn't gain a moral victory in Saturday night's 67 ...full story
Aggies hit with Cox-McFerrin jinxFriday, January 23, 2009
The person who selected the dedication date for the Cox-McFerrin Center for Aggie Basketball won't be hired by Barack Obama to help stimulate the economy.The Texas A&M basketball teams are 0-4 since formally dedicating the $23 million, 68,000-squ ...full story
Aggie women throw away chance to beat Lady BearsThursday, January 22, 2009
After almost 40 intense minutes of competition, Wednesday night's Top 10 women's basketball matchup between Texas A&M and Baylor came down to one play.A play that Baylor executed to perfection, and one that A&M botched. It was that simple.Dan ...full story
CESSNA: Another big test for Aggie womenWednesday, January 21, 2009
Wednesday is big for a lot of folks connected with the Texas A&M women's basketball program. The ninth-ranked Aggies have their first must-win game of the season against the fifth-ranked Baylor Lady Bears. All of A&M's season goals will stil ...full story
Big victory shows Aggies still strongThursday, January 15, 2009
Seldom are sequels better, unless you're the Texas A&M men's basketball team.A&M beat Baylor for the second straight time since last season's five-overtime loss to the Bears. Both victories were vital to the program's growth.Some thought A&am ...full story
CESSNA: McGee headed to NFL CombineSunday, January 11, 2009
Stephen McGee wanted a chance. Fortunately, he'll get two opportunities to put his injury-plagued senior season behind him.The former Texas A&M quarterback will play in the East-West Shrine Game on Saturday in Houston. But McGee's best chance to ...full story
CESSNA: Ag women feeling confident after hot startTuesday, December 23, 2008
Texas A&M women's basketball coach Gary Blair barely had time to savor Sunday's 64-50 victory over then-No. 24 Texas Christian when he was told senior center La Toya Micheaux was talking about going unbeaten."Ya'll don't need to put that in there ...full story
Leach wrong about Heisman vote: It's not politicalFriday, December 12, 2008
Texas Tech's Mike Leach is a heck of a football coach, but he'd never make it as a political analyst.Leach was miffed when the Red Raiders' Graham Harrell wasn't among the Heisman Trophy invitees that included three other quarterbacks -- Oklahoma's S ...full story
CESSNA: Aggie women's journey should be funWednesday, December 10, 2008
It's too early to make plans for the Final Four, but you should get prepared for the journey that could lead the A&M women's basketball team to St. Louis in early April.The Aggies climbed to a school-record No. 3 ranking Tuesday in the USA Today/ ...full story
CESSNA: A&M-Arizona felt a lot like MarchSaturday, December 06, 2008
March Madness came a little bit early.Texas A&M students rushed the floor at Reed Arena on Friday night after an incredible 67-66 victory over the Arizona Wildcats.Students danced with the players, singing and taking pictures with their cell phon ...full story
The Cessna Top 25 ... or close to itFriday, December 05, 2008
So what constitutes a Top 25 football program? Or a Top 10 one? That's what Texas A&M aspires to be, but which programs are already there?Texas and Oklahoma are no-brainers for the Top 10. In the past decade, they've combined for 11 Top 10 finish ...full story
Aggie fans have to hang on to hopeThursday, December 04, 2008
It was hard to find anything positive in Texas A&M's 4-8 football season -- other than it ended.The 2009 season opener against New Mexico on Sept. 5 can't get here fast enough. But that won't be enough time to fix all that ails the program.The de ...full story
CESSNA: Sherman's first UT mission a tough oneMonday, November 24, 2008
Mike Sherman knows firsthand what it takes to beat the University of Texas. The Aggies had a 4-3 record against the Longhorns during Sherman's two stints as A&M's offensive line coach.Unfortunately, Sherman won't have the players who helped A& ...full story
Don't sleep on Texas A&M basketballThursday, November 20, 2008
Texas A&M needs its basketball programs to continue their success to help bury a losing football season in the immediate past. March Madness can't get here fast enough, but it's important for fans not to suffer from football apathy while awaiting ...full story
CU fans not excited about A&M; Remember that bad CU team in 2000? McFerrin thoughts
