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Published Sunday, January 11, 2009 6:05 AM

By ROBERT CESSNA
robert.cessna@theeagle.com

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Posted by: On: 1/30/2009

Comment Title: re; jimbob 78
I am tired of the same old crap too! That's why I am not looking forward to next football season.

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Posted by: On: 1/30/2009

Comment Title:
Hey Jim Bob---I know several great kids from good families with great character who desreve the best life has to offer but they will never play in the nfl. Good luck to stephen wherever he goes.

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Posted by: JimBob78 On: 1/30/2009

Comment Title: What A Waste of Time
I can't believe I just wasted 2 minutes of my life scanning this comments. Same old crap. ----- Good Luck to Stephen McGee. I hope he has success in the NFL.

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 1/28/2009

Comment Title: DO WHAT ???
This is an NFL Combine where the ANONYMOUS selection committe invivites draftable talent. The committee is made up of scouting service reps and NFL reps who remain ANONYMOUS to prevent actions such as those suggested in paragraph three of this article. No player may attend this combine without invitation and spaces are limited to about 330. Players invited are those receiving the most votes from the committee by position. While coach influence may in fact occur, I would be surprised if sherman would appreciate his name being associated with such shenanigans. Let's just say McGee made it on his own talent along with the other 300+ invites. Besides, the main purpose of this combine is to conduct physicals and to interview potential draftees. Your college on-the-field accomplishments got you the invite, now the team reps will scrutinize physical, mental, and psychological aspects of individual players they are interested in. You will run times, perform skills,and do some lifting on the last day to confirm any questions a rep may have but the other 3 days are taken up with the above testing. (See 22BLAST post under "chilly draft" article).

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/16/2009

Comment Title: 2010 recruits to be at A&M for big recruiting junior day tomorrow?
My personal opinions:_____With A&M having had about 30 offers out there for a long time now, it will be interesting to see how many, "if any", difference makers are really going to commit to Sherman this weekend?_____ Last year most seemed to be turned off by Sherman, didn't enjoy the visit, didn't commit and were just waiting to see if tu, ou or lsu offered?_____I hope we don't start off taking leftovers from the start again?_____Be interesting to see if even one off the National or even the Texas 100 list commits this weekend?_____Based on our seven recruiting drawfs still being here to greet them, that didnt commit a single 4*/5* difference maker to the current class or 5 years prior to Shermans comming, I expect we'll get zip 4*/5* difference makers this weekend?_____Of course Mac, stoops and miles will have almost all the Texas top 30 tied up after their first junior recruiting days in early March?_____It's just hell to have an inexperienced unqualified college head coach at A&M?_____miller58.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/16/2009

Comment Title: Who Do We Bring in to replace Sherman Now?
My personal opinions:_____There is a list of coaches that have committed from 10 to 22 4*/5* difference makers this year, and the 7 previous years for A&M to choose from: it's called the "TeAm Rankings"._____ There are about 10 coaches already on it including first year coaches just this year, and there will be more by this February. There are 8 to 19 coaches for each year the last 7 years on this list so that's a bunch for us to get the best one._____ My own personal experience is that 75% of the peole who wene not even available, later accepted my job offer, so this can be easily overcome._____Care must be taken that a full, open and proper search is accomplished by competent people this time!_____Just the increase in attendance each year, will more than pay for the change now vs attendance at a very bottom A&M team in coaching and recruiting that A&M can now expect for the next 10 years._____miller58.

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 1/16/2009

Comment Title: TIME
Sherman does not need time........WE need time. Time to get his contract down to where a buy-out is possible. Right now, due to our offer of a seven year contract with no performance clauses, it is not a financial possibility. Right now you have no choice. So because we need time, he gets time. How he spends it will be his undoing and that is the sad part to me because he appears to be a man of good character and intention. He is just not qualified for the job at hand and our administration needs to take responsibility for convincing him he was because he did not apply, we recruited.

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Posted by: Pablo On: 1/16/2009

Comment Title: Agree to disagree
Top tier programs change it would seem every 10 years or so. You might be misunderstanding me when I say we are not a top-tier program.. UNTIL we win more. I said we have the money, the fans and the facilities.. no doubt we need the recruits and coaching, but if cut Sherman now, who do you bring in? It is a ridiculous argument that everyone knows you will not win.. Sherman is here for the next couple of season.. AT A MINIMUM, unless he rapes a player or something. I am not his apologist, but he need time, get over it.

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Posted by: Objective_Homer On: 1/16/2009

Comment Title: Pablo
Miller and stars are saying it best. recruiting is essential. Other than that A&M has EVERYTHING else that UT and OU Have. As far as your argument over shermans age vs JoPa and Bowden. Those two are ICONS. They have created huge programs. Thats the diefference! What has sherman done? If you read my previous posts more thouroughly you would see my point. As a new hire you have to have upside in one form or another. If its not age it better be history, if its not history it better be age. Sherman has none of this. How old were those coaches when they started??? Lots of upside back when they started. Just wait and see. You'll figure it out soon enough.

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 1/16/2009

Comment Title: TOP TIER
We A R E just as "top tier" as ou, tu, and lsu in EVERYTHING ...........except coaching/recruiting. If we don't understand and believe that, we cannot expect a recruit to believe it either. Name ANYTHING we are second rate in compared to those "top tier" prgrams..........except coaching/recruiting. Don't start with the small town issue either because you can play that to just as many advantages as disadvantages. There is no excuse. Example: Clemson with South Carolina (tu) just down the road. There is no excuse. Look at the number of 4/5* coming out of this state and where they committed. We signed ONE. There is no excuse. This years class worse than last years class by any measure. There is no excuse. A returning failed defense that has lost 9 of 22 players (40%) of its 2-deep roster and a returning defensive coaching staff. There is no excuse. And until there is a way to ID who will succeed and who will fail as 3/4/5* players you better recruit 12-14 difference makers every year (not four 4*'s who border 3* evaluation) and not twenty-two 3* half of which border 2* evaluation). We are not a training ground for college coaches. We do not expect anyone to win the national title or B-12 title their first year but we do expect progress in the right direction. Were we better at the end of the year than the beginning? Have we committed enough players who are difference makers? RECRUIT or COACH or move on. There are no excuses.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/16/2009

Comment Title: SHERMAN IS THE MOCT INCOMPETENT HIRE CHANCELLOR McKINJNEY, THE REGENTS AND BYRNE COULD HAVE MADE!
My Persinal opinions:_____ Just look at the Sherman facts, not what the AGGIE SPIN MACHINE pulls out of their rear:_____(1)To start with Byrne had zero prior experience in hiring a college head football coach ( red flag)._____(2)Then Sherman had absolutely zero prior experience in coaching or in recruiting as a college head football coach (red flag).Did anybody at A&M check Sherman's references? Multile knowledgable Greenbay sources agreed that the two biggest reasons Sherman was fired were "his inability to instill team discipline"(huge red flag) and "his inability to evaluage player personnel"(anoter huge red flag) _____ (3) Then because of his inexperience and incompetence, Sherman hired the most incompetent group of college assistants possible. MNC winning coaches have agreed that up to 90% of your games are won at he time a head coach signs the high school recruit. With up to 100 or more assistants out there that sign 2 to 5 four and five star difference makers almost every year. So A&M simply needs assistants that are experienced and competent in recruiting 4*/5* difference makers, right? it must have been very difficult for Sherman to find 9 assistants so inexperienced and incompetent as to have signed zero five star recruits and only 2 four star recruits in the prior 5 years. (huge red Flag). (4) The AGGIE SPIN MACHINE said "We are emphasing recruiting in hiring our coaches".(red flag). "Just wait til recruits see all that nfl experience". Well the recruits saw and met Sherman, and 4* wide receiver Johnson decommitted to isu and 4* DB Harris decommitted to ou, both in the last week before Feb signing day.(huge red flag)_____(5)Then as expected, tu, ou and lsu rolled an incompetent Sherman in head to head recruiting, and Sherman today has only one top 250 national recruit, and ranks far below the level of tu, ou, and lsu as well as well below multiple other first year coaches that have up to 13 four and five star commits.A&M has only five!(another huge red flag)._____(6)Then A&M with Sherman coaching, looked like the bat dung on Kyle Field in 12 games with 7 blowout losses, Arkansas State and only 4 miserable looking wins.( another huge red flag)._____(7)now with a head coach and staff ranked dead last nationally by some, A&m is ranked 83# nationally goinginto the fall season, behind most of the 67 teams that make up the bcs and many other bottom tier conference teams( red flag). With 27 mostly lower ranked leftovers from tu, ou, lsu, etc, A&M ranking # 83 is too high. A&M is losing more than it gains in recruiting, and compares miserably to other Big 12 incommimg classes especially in lack of speed, size and/or athleticism.(Another huge red flag)._____(8) Of the seven coaches who have not signed a single 4*/5* commit to the current class or 5 years prior to Sherman, 6 of them don't have 7 year contracts; and McKinney. the Regents and Byrne have done absolutely nothing to replace them as of oday, (huge huge red flag for the whole university)____(9) The AGGIE SPIN MACHINE that stupidly wants more time to con us into buying tickets to see a team losing most games in '09 and beyond, did not approve this message _____And if yoy want to know what I really, think , I'll have to tell you privately!_____miller58.

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Posted by: Pablo On: 1/15/2009

Comment Title: Seeing Stars
I know we have hatched this over before, but I want to be clear.. I WANT all the 4/5* we can get! Truth is we are NOT O.U., Texas and those top tier programs that pretty much get the pick of the litter. Crying about not signing a certain number of 4/5* recruits is a waste of time. We (A&M) need to develop the best players we can get and push them to rise above it. Take Acie Law. I don't have his rivals ranking, but safe to say he was not 5*. Gillispie pushed him to play out of his mind and by his senior season, he was playing some of the best basketball in the country. Exception story, I know. But that some programs continue to do this year in and year out (Utah, Bosie State) with half the money we have is a way for us to start laying the foundation for the future when 4/5* players look at A&M differently than maybe some of them do today. What is your solution?

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Posted by: Pablo On: 1/15/2009

Comment Title: Objective_Homer
I don't know if Sherman will be successful fast enough or maybe he will be. Truth is, most of the feeling around here seems to have closed the book on him for various reasons. You say he is past his prime in age, yet JoPa and Bowden make him look like he is wet behind his ears, so I'm not buying that argument, namely that you can be "too old". That he has NFL connections is a plus, but doesn't win you any games. I want to see wins like everyone else.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/15/2009

Comment Title: SHERMAN SUCKS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED DEC !, 2008 !
My personal opinions:_____Four star and five star recruits are all that matter to winners ; Everbody else that gets the two and three star commits wants more time!_____Only the Aggie Spin Machine does not approve this message!_____ Miller58.

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Posted by: pablos mofo On: 1/15/2009

Comment Title:
Don't recollect any of these posters stating that you Pavlov, I mean Pablo, did not post without using your name. We all assume you post with your name but being as you bring it up and are so sensitive maybe..........????

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Posted by: Objective_Homer On: 1/15/2009

Comment Title: Pablo
I'm all ears. PLEASE explain shermans up-side to me. He's past his prime in age, his career is debatable at best. Do you think I enjoy being negative??? I'm just looking at the facts. i'm a realist. Right now the aggies have a decent recruiting ranking. If it stays that after the deadline and next years class is even better or at least the same then im on board with sherman. Right, now the math says we will be 30th or worst once all the other teams catch up in quantity of recruits. Thats going the wrong direction isnt it???

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 1/15/2009

Comment Title: OPINIONS
My opinion on 3*/4*/5* athletes is somewhat like Pablo's in the following sense. Some 5* athletes bring programs down and some 3* athletes bring programs up. Now for the differences and the rest of the story. First, CHARACTER.......character does not take residence with a 5* any more than a 3*. There are just as many 3* players with character flaws as 5*. Actually there are more 3* problems for the simple fact that there are more 3* players. It's just not headline news when the 3* third stringer gets let go or quits like it is with the 5* so you don't hear about it as much. Secondly, PLAYING ABILITY......some 5* players do not pan out. They, for whatever reason, do not reach the performance expectations everyone had when they arrived on campus. Some 3* players rise well above their expected contribution levels and end up going on to lucrative pro careers. BOTH CASES ARE EXCEPTIONS RATHER THAN RULES. So, because you cannot tell the difference going in, you need to play the percentages. Start with 12 4/5* players and have 3 or 4 fail. What are you left with? You have 7 or 8 solid 4/5* difference makers. Now start with 12 3* players and have 3 or 4 rise to 4* levels. What do you have now? Only 3 or 4 difference makers and 7 or 8 squad/scout team players. So the question is, where do I want to start because I cannot predict future attrition or development issues with any accuracy. I do however know what numbers I will be left with at the end and that the majority of 4/5* will remain 4/5* and the majority of 3* will remain 3*.

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Posted by: Pablo On: 1/15/2009

Comment Title: My beef with some of what is being said here...
1. Sherman sucks, fire him now! - I don't know if this is true or not, he needs more time. 2. 4/5* recruits are all that matter, the rest be damned! - While NO ONE will disagree that we all want 4/5* recruits, the reality is that some of those kids will not pan out and character is an important trait. There are plenty of examples of 5* recruits bringing down programs and examples of 3* recruits bringing up programs. So to relate this to the Madden generation, it's more complicated than having a 98 Agility.. I last played Madden in '05, BTW. 3. (Most importantly) Is about this here blog.. I don't know how old some of you are, but determining who is "intelligent" and who isn't is a dead give away about the writer's sense of inferiority (look it up, it's true). If you have to pee on someone to make your point, then your point is not very stable. If you can't handle a difference of opinion, then ignore it and keep your karma.. dude.

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Posted by: Pablo On: 1/15/2009

Comment Title: To 'nameless' cowards... yep calling you out mofos..
First, I always post my name, since I am MAN! (in words of a certain coach from OSU). I think it must be a generational gap that many of you challenge things people say and not post a name. That is certainly hiding behind the blog's anonymity format. oh well.. so be it, children.

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Posted by: Objective_Homer On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title: CLEMSON
Excellent research on Clemson. I guess "FOOTBALL" is their top priority. I wondered why the designated that coordinator as the permanant head coach and now i know. I saw him on TV last week and he was so humble and truly proud how far he made it. His head coach parking spot just happened to be numbered the same number he wore in highschool. Great story. He is unknown but he is a younger generation with lots of upside. Sherman is past his prime with no track record and no upside due to age. I just dont get it man. You gotta have upside whether its age, previous achievments and so on. Sherman spent his carrer to make it into the nfl now hes coming back at an old age. At least Pete Carrol and Spurior hadnt peaked in age yet when they made the move back to college. Can anyone point out the upside with sherman???? im having trouble finding anything.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title: Frank, Honest and Intelligent Discussions About A&M Football.!
Mypersonal opinions:_____ I appreciate the frank and honest discussions on this forun. ++++The intelligent and knowlegeable insites shared by most posters with varied backgrouhds about A&M football just can't be found anywhere else!_____ Thanks._____ miller58.

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Posted by: On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title: swinney
Swinney is not through yet either. Only 12 commits so far leaves him plenty of room. Seven 4* out of 12 commits with South Carolina right up the road which is his tu he has to deal with.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title: Re: Seeing Stars
My personal opinions:_____ Sherman has been making almost $5OOO per day since November '07 to January '09 for 1 friggin decent recruit in the national top 250; and 7 blowout losses, Arkansas State, and 12 just embarassing games overall?_____That is more than just sad!_____miller58.

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title: HOW'D THEY DO THAT
Clemson- fires Tommy Bowden. Replaces him with who?? The receivers coach/recruiting coordinator--Dabo Swinney. Been there about a month so far. Where was Clemson ranked last year with their 7/6 record??? Got 12 players this year so far and they include TWO top 100 commits (goodma-DE, mcneal-WR,4.45). Also have THREE top 250 commits (jay-OL, thomas-OL, mcdowell-RB,4.40). Also have TWO prep top 50 (mackey-DE, meeks-SAFETY,4.40). THAT ADDS TO SEVEN 4* COMMITS. The total 12 commits they have come from 5 states (ga, sc, nc, minn, va). Oh, but they are tied for #31/32 not #15 like us with our ONE top 250 commit. Quality not quantity. Recruiter not excuser.

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Posted by: Big Brother On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title:
miller58 is right. I'm going to start murdering puppies as well.

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title: UPDATE
Updated today at noon are the Rivals Top 250. The state of texas has 30 total players listed in that top 250 and here is where they are committed: TX=10, LSU=4, OK=4, NEB=2, TCU=2, TT=1, ARK=1, TULSA=1, CAL=1, STANFORD=1, BAYLOR=1, (uncommitted)=1, and A&M=1. That is sad.

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Posted by: Objective_Homer On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title: Preseason Ranking
I would have to agree with Miller on this one. No other data suggests otherwise. I think its going to be interesting this season when folks stop showing up to games. If we lose to another AR ST type sherman is a gonner for sure BUT that still doesnt change anything until current boosters are phazed out. Its gonna be awhile miller.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/14/2009

Comment Title: A&M Preseason National Ranking of #83 Too High?
My personal opinions:_____ With a bottom ranked coaching staff, and with an incomming recruiting class with less 4*/5* difference makers than either of the last two years before RC was fired, A&M ranked #83 just seems way too high!_____Sagarin had us at a national ranking of #89 in the nation last season, and with 7 A&M coaches that still haven't committed a single 4*/5* difference makers, and bringing in a class of mostly low ranked leftovers, a national ranking that high of #83 just doesn't make sense?_____ The recruiting class of incomming fish is slower, smaller and less athletic than almost all of the classes other big 12 teams are bringing in as is worse than the A&M players leaving?_____With some roughly 67 bcs teams out there, and just over 50+ Arkansas State type lower tier teams out there, A&M ranked at #83 would say that we are better than roughly 34 of the lower tier teams in America?_____ With a coaching staff ranked near the bottom in America, and dead last by some, we are just not better than 34 teams out there?___Even an Iowa State writer, as bad as isu has been playing, ranked A&M in last place below isu in the Big 12 this season?_____ Well, bottom tier A&M plays host to four of the other bottom tier type teams in the first four games this year, and if we are coached as badly as expected, our ranking of lower than #83 will come out real fast!_____ Chancellor McKinney, the Regents, Byrne, and the rest of the "good ol' boys" can be very proud of where they have led A&M? _____miller58.

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Posted by: Big Brother On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title:
Posting as someone else ranks right in there with impersonating a coach. Cut it out.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title: I just strangled a puppy
My personal opinion: ____I just strangled a cute, defenseless puppy with my own hands and will continue to destroy an innocent life every day until Sherman is fired and Fran is brought in to replace him!!! Maybe then A&M will bring in some difference makers, like Fran did while he was here! ________miller58

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Posted by: On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title:
We have one recruit in the top 250 and a number 15 ranking because of volume. If we can convince the Bryan JV to sign we will be ranked number one. What you think will happen when everyone else has 27 commits. Gimme a break.

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Posted by: Objective_Homer On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title:
Until we have "In your face" COACHES that are also good at recruiting we will never be where we all want to be. Hey, we are all on the same page here. Some of us just have on the blinders and some of us are realists. I will give sherman credit IF and this is a big IF this years recruting class is a top 20 or better class but here comes the hard part- Follow up next year and the year after with even better classes. Things will be ok IF he can do this. With that being said, he better win a real game every once in a while as he builds the recruits or they will go elsewhere.

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title:
Agree, with minor blips, we have been at best a big fish in a little pond (SWC glory). Qestion is, what do we want to be. While some of you are ready to accept that we will forever be about mediocrity we are at the same time building a rather "in your face" football facility. One does not support the other. Which way are we going?

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Posted by: ATL Aggie On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title:
I'm not quite sure actually. But those sports get less exposure. Its not like you see USC, the SEC, OU, and Texas on tv every weekend in track, women's softball and golf. So people are on more of a level playing field. I don't know why people get so bent about it. I support the school regardless. But I know something is wrong in the big sports if Billy Gillespie left everything he built in hoops when you have Texas, OU, and KU in our conference. We have very good basketball in the Big 12. Why couldn't we keep him? So what big name coach do we go hire to replace him? Mark Turgeon. Regarding football, you have to keep in mind that we thought we were really good in the 90's. But was there more to it? Like maybe the SWC wasn't so strong, UT was down, Cotton Bowl performance wasn't so great. We were ranked #3 when we went and got beat at Colorado to chants of "overrated." If you thought we were that good then maybe you were drinking the maroon kool-aid. I'm just a realist.

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Posted by: On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title: to atl aggie
So tell me atl, how in the world did you ever find players and a coach to come to this place after being so bad for all those years before? i cant imagine anyone wanting to play softball here with all those west coast and florida teams dominating the years before. So how did you do it ?

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Posted by: Objective_Homer On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title: ATL Aggie
yep, you can talk recruiting or coaching til your blue in the face. I guilty of it. One thing im not guilty of is believing in the political spin garbage the university expects us to bow down to. Reality is reality for a reason. I will always watch or attend every game no matter what. I just wont drink the kool aid til its worth a sip (pun IS intended)

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Posted by: ATL Aggie On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title:
Objective, I agree. I don't think its the town of CS specifically that people are talking about. Yes, a lot of college towns are small and less desirable. But some college put a higher priority on winning. We prefer to say stupid things like "we didn't lose, we just ran out of time," "we've never lost a half time," etc. Its gay. And I agree, it just ain't gonna happen. A lot of these other folks will say we are just giving up. Not really, just accepting reality. We kill it in chick softball.

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Posted by: On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title: RE: Objective Homer
It is evident you have never played/coached competitive athletics at this level. At this level you welcome competition. You want the challenge of winning against a more talented or more advantaged team or person. You get no satisfaction from pounding less talented foes. A truly great coach is not afraid of competition on the field or on the recruiting trail. If he faces hurdles he cannot control (facilities, money, fan base, meddling boosters, lack of administrative support, etc) then that is another story. We have no reason not to be an attractive destination for a truly great coach who is available unless one of those hurdles exists. Those of you who believe we cannot land a great coach exhibit the mindset fed to you by the kool-aid drinking spin machine to justify their good-ol-boy choices who are not qualified to lift this program beyond the "bottom tier" level you are so willing to accept. If you truly believe the current failures are the best you can do then that is exactly what they are and what they will remain forever.

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Posted by: Objective_Homer On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title: Bottom Tier
Maybe we all just need to come to grips with the fact we are and allways will be a bottom tier team. Just because we may catch lighting in a bottle here an there doesnt qualify us to be a top tier team. Teams like Baylor, WA, UCLA, OR ST are not heard of these days and they could and would ALL kick our tails. My point is the names above (and many others) are not even on the radar of the national spot ligt yet i sense that the overall attidude ag fans have is the we are above and beyond them in football. Its crazy! I think that just becasue the university may surpass many others as universitys go doesnt mean the football program goes with it. Lets face it we had a few flashes in the pan years back and we will have a few more but we will NEVER be a top tier team. OU and UT are not going anywhere and there is only so much room. Alot of you talk about certain big name coaches that would never come to cs. Its not the town as much as it is the competition. Who wants to come in cold and compete with TX and OU in recruiting win the A&M name alone isnt enough to get the attention of recriuts. The current coach at FL came there from UT and the SEC is loaded with competion BUT the difference is the name- FL is a "FOOTBALL" shcool "A&M" is a university known for many other things before football. Norman OK is way worse than being in CS, Ok City is very close to norman but it is one boring place to be compared to central tx. Somehow A&M needs to be good for several years in a row before they can attract a great coach. We need recruits to do this but that cant be done without a great coach/recruiter. Bottom tier forever!

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/13/2009

Comment Title: First year coaches recruiting, the good and the bad?
My personal opinions:_____First year coach Rich Rodriguiz added another differenc maker and has now thirteen 4*/5* difference makers out of 20, or 65%, with room to add more!_____First year coach Rick Neuheisal added another to bring him up to 8 difference makers out of 20, or 40%; Rick has plenty of room to add more._____First year coach Mike Sherman lost another difference maker, Loston, to lsu, and remains at 5 difference makers of 27 or 19%._____Re: Cassidy, the history? In Feb 2002 with Cassidy doing his recruiting thing, A&M signed just 7 differenc makers, and thus let ut sign three times as many at 21, a huge class; ut went on to win the mnc with this huge class. ou signed 16 the same year, another huge class. _____Then in Feb 2003, with Cassidy at the recruiting helm, A&M signed only 6 difference makers, and thus let ou signed almost three times as many at 16, another huge class; ou went on to parlay this huge class to play in two mnc games. tu signed 12 difference makers this same year._____Now currently A&M has 5 difference makers with Cassidy doing his recruiting thing; but this lousy recruiting has let ut commit three times as many at 15 this year, another huge class; and put them in position to win the mnc again. ou has 9 difference maker committed so far this year._____I have not been happy with the number of high school coaches and athletes complaints about good athletes not even getting letters or being contacted in a timely manner, often up to 6 months after ut, ou or lsu?_____A&M is just acting like a very bottom tier university, with a bottom tier team, bottom tier coaching staff and bottom tier incomming fish class, but then that describes exactly what we have become under the current Chancellor, Regents, and AD and the rest of the "good ol' boys"?_____miller58.

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Posted by: Not_A_Homer On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: Recruiting
Yeah, Cassidy mentioning that "recruiting rankings are for fun" is the most absurd thing I have ever heard! Just look at the last 7 years. ALL but one national champ had a top 5 class or better. The one that didnt- TX had a 20th ranking. Of course the recruiting class are a few years behind the year the champ game is played but the top schools consistantly have top classes. Anyone that says "recruiting rankings are for fun" is an idiot! I have always respected cassidy but that was an ignorant thing to say. I guess its a big coincidence that we are chasing the same players that just happen to be highly ranked. Actually for A&M recruiting rankings are for fun cause our coaching is so bad no amount of talent can drag us away from the old generations pulling the strings.

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: RECRUITING GAMBLES
There are 398, 4/5* players in this class with 327 of them already committed to recruiting, top 50 teams. There are only 27, 4/5* players committed to every other team in the country not ranked in the D-1 top 50. There are 42, 4/5* players still not committed and they are NOT waiting for North Dakota to make an offer so you might as well commit them to the top 50 teams as well. That gives the top 50 teams 371 players with the best odds of being difference makers (4/5*). That's who we compete with. The rest of the country gets 27. There are also 829, 3* players committed at this point with who knows how many more holding their breath. Those players do not (OVERALL) have the same odds of becoming difference makers. We won't get into the 2*'s. Within the 371, 4/5* commits a total of 44 are from the state of texas. WE HAVE 2 FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, TWO FROM LA, AND ONE JC TRANSFER. OF THE 371 WE HAVE ONLY ONE IN THE TOP 250. We did sign us up a bunch of 3*'s (more than a lot of teams have in total)so our point total is high, but they are ranked in the lower end of the above mentioned 829, 3* commits so far. A whole bunch of marginal recruits are just that, a whole bunch of marginal recruits. One or two good ones in the bunch is NOT a model class. The top teams in the country, the ones hauling home hardware, also haul home 11-16, 4/5* recruits, go see for youself. But because of RECRUITING GAMBLES on ANY player, one will go home for grades, one will go home for attitude, one will go home for robbing the local 'Get-N-Go', and one will go home for possession of a controlled substance. And the other 10 will line up with 30 other soph, jr, and sr's on the team for the championship trophy presentation. If there are going to be odds, at least make them in your favor.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: 4 and 5 star recruits are ALL that matter!
My personal opinions:_____ You are an idiot if you think that these 2/3 star players can ever perform better than read 4 and 5 star difference makers. It is a fact that Rivals stars are the only predictor of success in college football. _______Sherman has never even brought in a 4/5 star difference maker EVER! That Michael kid doesn't count because he's not a real difference maker. fire Sherman the Sham today and rehire FRAN THE ITALIAN STALLION!_____miller58

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: RE: Florida Mike
Good article. Remembering this is the TEXAS top 100 being referred to and with nothing but high school performance to use as a measuring device, it remains prudent to base your recruiting solidly behind rivals and scout rankings. They don't have a crystal ball either. It is understood some players will not pan out. It is further understood that some will rise far above expectation. At the high school level nobody can predict who will flunk out, not adapt (transfer), take illegal payment, break a leg, get arrested, or even die. And because the list of 4/5* players performing like 2/3* players will always be smaller than the 2/3* players rising to 4/5* playing level, it remains wise to load up with 4/5 rather than 2/3. I don't think the entire system should just be ignored.

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Posted by: Florida Mike On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: Recruiting class of 2004 hits and misses
San Antonio News has a report card piece everyone might like to look at...link it at www.texags.com or at www.mysanantonio.com.

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Posted by: On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: GENERATION Y
As far as coaching and competetive teams you better get it right because the future says, WE ARE THE DOLLARS, THE DOLLARS ARE WE !!!!

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Posted by: On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title:
No single individual could cause this university more embarrassment than it does itself, by itself. Old school operations don't pass todays young scrutiny. You are too old and too slow to get that stuff past the Y-generation. So quit trying to pass administration and regent stupidity off on someone else. Stand up and take responsibility as quickly as you do credit.

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Posted by: On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title:
No. Fran is waiting to draw his last 1.7 million check from a&m before getting that amount offset by a new job just like you would do.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: I am the voice of this generation of Aggies
You're right. I am the voice of the new generation of Aggies. BRING BACK FRAN! He was getting it all done, exceeding expectations, never embarrassed our university, and was in prime physical condition. What a stallion! Wonder why Fran isn't coaching anywhere and didn't get jobs at KSU or SDSU? He's waiting for mama to call him home. LEARN FROM KSU, AGGIES! BRING BACK THE GREATEST COACH IN SCHOOL HISTORY! BRING BACK FRAN!

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Posted by: On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: re; miller58
glad there are others like you who feel the same way as the rest of us. we should have never got rid of fran. now look what we have. can't recruit and can't coach.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: Fran still my man in Aggieland!
I don't know how much longer I can take it! My heart pines for Fran and the warm touch of his supple body! He was my Big Spoon and I was his Little Spoon, and it's not the same since he left. He brought in such difference makers! He would have landed 25 5-star recruits this year! He would have won the national championship! The reason he is still unemployed is because of jealousy by other schools. I love you Coach. I NEED YOU!!!!

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: National Publication Quote." Division 1 coaches will take a second look the next Time A&M comes calling after the raw deal Coach Fran received!"
My personal opinions: Some Aggies think that Byrne and RC were smiling, while watching Sherman trying to discredit Fran by playing 2*/3* true fish instead of the true starters !_____ Some 15 fish, on defense (Cornerback,safety, defensive end, defensive tackle. special teams, etc.) played, and just punished Fran's commits, starters like Mcgee, Goodson, Lane. Heard, etc.) by just sitting them, and screwing the Aggies who paid good ticket money to see the starters play. _____The Aggie Spin Machine will mention 4-8 only in relation to Fran, but seem to forget to mention that A&M committed fourteen 4*/5* difference makers in Fran's last season, and Fran was bringing up to 20 Difference makers with him this past year; most chose later to not sign with A&M and/or Sherman/Byrne!_____The National Publication quote," Division 1 coaches will take a second look the next time A&M comes calling, after the raw deal Coach Fran received", says to me, everyone knows what really happened at A&M?_____ A bottom tier ranked coach Sherman, and the some 15 mostly 2*/3* bottom tier ranked fish Sherman chose to play, led a bottom tier A&M to 7 blowouts, Arkansas State, and a last place south finish, and not the starters some think were being punished only because they were Fran commits._____ Some word leaked out of discontent on the teamwith Sherman; no kidding?_____Now we have a very large mostly bottom tier ranked fish recruiting class comming in to join last years crappy coaching staff, and last seasons fish that played so badly, that A&M set new records for futility, and a botton finish in the sout; What a loser combination for those Aggies un-informed to buy season tickets to watch this fall? And we still have 7 A&M coaches who didn't sign a single 4*/5* difference maker for 5 years prior to Sherman commig to A&M, and still didn't sign a single one to the current class either? miller58.

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Posted by: On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: CHRONICLE and ZWENEMAN
What credentials does Zweneman have over and above any other poster on this site.

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Posted by: Not_A_Homer On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: HEY PABLO!
If you thing recruiting means nothing then tell me the last national champion that had a modest recruiting class??? Rediculous post man. The top ranked schools year in and year out ALWAYS have a highly ranked recruiting class. There are always individual exceptions in players and in teams but never enough to skew the reality of recruiting. The ONLY that skews reaity is good coaching and we have none. I'm sure Utah comes to mind. Those kids were coached up big time! Put them in the SEC or big 12 all year long and they are middle of the pack at best. One bowl game that Alabama didnt even want to be at doesnt mean squat. Your post was lacking facts!

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Posted by: On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: PABLO and other koolaid drinkers
That class was ranked number 8 due to the quality 4 star and 5 star players it signed (9 total). How much of that did sherman put on the bench and how much on the field. It's true- this guy has trouble with player evaluation and you will see it again this year in the recruiting and on the field.

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Posted by: On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: TO Mr Pablo
Please name for us the players out of that number 8 class that sherman started on offense or defense that qualify the statement "plenty of those guys.....". Remember, offense and defense adds to 22 players. After you name the starters, name the ones who were sent to the bench by sherman.

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Posted by: Pablo On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: McGee & McCoy
Don't get your panties in a wad.. my personal opinions of course, but I think McCoy WILL be an NFL draft pick and I think McGee WILL sign as an undrafted free agent. They both had some success in college (obviously McCoy more so than McGee) and they are athletic enough, smart enough and in McGee's case, strong willed enough that an NFL team will roll the dice. No one here can predict with any certainty what kind of careers they will have beyond that. Someone said it was a "krap shoot".. sort of, but with these guys, they'll need some development before being fed to the wolves as Parcells was fond of saying. If they land in the right kind of situation.. who knows?

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Posted by: Pablo On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: Tidbit from the Chronical...
"Considering the Aggies haven’t finished in the Top 25 in a decade, that’s not bad. Consider this, however: four years ago Franchione roped in a No. 8 class, and plenty of those guys helped contribute to the Aggies’ 4-8 finish. That’s why Cassidy, like anyone else, realizes recruiting rankings are for fun. Final scores aren’t." Then the kicker... “The only way you can really tell the success of a recruiting class is to look at it four or five years after the guys signed,” he said. “The true success is what happens on the field.” I agree.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/12/2009

Comment Title: "Most Ridiculous Post of the Day?"
My personal opinions:_____ The most ridiculous post of the day is,"Good Class As it Stands"?_____miller58

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Posted by: Not_A_Homer On: 1/11/2009

Comment Title: McGee
food for thought- I too will be surprised if he is sucessful at the next level HOWEVER A&M's coaching, depth and overall talent level is sooo bad that it makes it very difficult to get an accurate feel for how well he will do at the next level. Great overal tallent, coaching and dept also makes it tough. QB is the one position that perplexes the most experianced NFL scouts in who they think will be sucussful at the next level. Something either "Clicks" or it doesnt with guys no matter what their previous stats suggest. Lets use McCoy for example. He almost won the heisman. I really cant see him as an NFL starting QB. The amount of talent that TX has on offense form the line to the recievers to the RB's makes Macoy look good. In the NFL talent from team to team is pretty much a wash. Mccoy playing week in and week out on an even playing field will weaken his results. I guess what im trying to say is that you could almost flip a coin between McGee and McCoy. I will be surprised if either makes it. I know this sounds crazy but QB is such a phsycological postion that your throwing stats just dont transition. There seem to be alot more examples that prove this theory such as Ryan Leaf, Carr, Leinart, V. Young and on and on and on. Opposite examples of players with very little experiance and or stats seem to thrive such as Tom Brady, Kurt Warnner, Tony Romo and many others. I'm not jealous of anyone who has to determine what QB to pick. It's a krap shoot no matter how you look at it.

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Posted by: On: 1/11/2009

Comment Title:
Mcgee made his mark with rushing and leadership skills not so much his passing skills where the nfl is concentrated. His throwing shoulder may be suspect and even if healthy thre are plenty of guys around who can complete 55 percent of their attempts and plenty with good leadership qualities. NFL doesn't want the quarterback to run except in case of emergency where your rushing skills may prevent the sack and potential injury. Run only to preserve yourself for the next passing attempt. I would not look for Kansas City or any other team to take him with their first or second round pick which stands in contrast to the KC team official's statement. McGee will be very successful in life but it will not be on the football field.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 1/11/2009

Comment Title: The nfl has had McGee on their radar for years!
My personal opinions:_____ The NFl has been watching Stephen for years; this interest is no sudden thing._____I still remember the quote of the Kansas City nfl team official after watching Stephen last year in Spring training," McGee would be our starting quarerback today if he were on our team"!_____miller58.

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Posted by: On: 1/11/2009

Comment Title:
Based on heart, soul, character, and integrity you can punch his ticket to life's Hall of Fame. Based on NFL football skills you can punch his ticket back to Burnet. Even though he may lack in "next level" football skills, he is one of the truly fine young men we don't seem to have enough of today. He has earned this chance on life skills alone. Good luck Stephen no matter where life takes you and thanks for what you gave us.

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