McGee elated he's a Cowboy
Published Saturday, May 16, 2009 12:37 AM
By DAVID JIMENEZ
Associated Press
Associated Press
IRVING -- When the third round of the NFL draft came to an end, so did Stephen McGee's patience.
Already stung by a disappointing career at Texas A&M, the quarterback stormed out of his house, convinced a senior season lost to a shoulder injury had ruined his future.
Then Jerry Jones called.
Now a member of the Dallas Cowboys, McGee is still a long shot as a fourth-round pick who won't be any higher than third on the depth chart behind Tony Romo and Jon Kitna. But at least the former Texas high school star from Burnet is where he wants to be.
"It's very special to me," said McGee, the first pick of the fourth round. "When I put this star on my helmet and strap it up for practice, there's definitely a lot of pride because I've been following this team my whole life."
Jones makes it sound as if the team is ready to give McGee a look. On draft day, the team owner said he liked McGee's "nine-ish" qualities, a reference to Romo.
"I like the way, when plays broke down, the way he improvised," Jones said. "I like the way he was able to clearly buy time with his mobility to throw the ball, not to run the ball."
McGee was known more for his running than his throwing at A&M, where he finished with 4,889 yards passing and 1,800 yards rushing. When the Aggies started throwing less and losing more, he remained a loyal soldier for embattled coach Dennis Franchione.
In 2007, Texas A&M was coming off a pair of decent seasons soured by bad bowl losses when Franchione was caught in a midseason scandal over a newsletter sold to elite boosters that included information not available to the public.
McGee probably knew Franchione wouldn't survive that season, particularly after the Aggies reached six losses for the third time in the coach's five years. McGee didn't have to wait long for the bright side, though, because the Aggies hired Mike Sherman, one of Brett Favre's former coaches and a believer in the pass-oriented West Coast offense.
Sherman threw open the quarterback competition and McGee beat out Jerrod Johnson. McGee injured his shoulder in the second game, and Johnson did the same a week later. The season became something of a weekly soap opera on who would start.
By the end of the year, all McGee had left was a chance to beat Texas a third consecutive time when he replaced Johnson on the third series. The Longhorns won 49-9, finishing off Texas A&M's 4-8 season.
"I would have liked to have won more games and thrown for a lot more yards," McGee said. "The trials and adversity I faced motivate me as a person and even more so as a quarterback."
"What I like is that it hasn't gone just right for him in any way and he's been able to work through that and keep his chin up," Jones said. "That's a big plus for this game and what these guys are facing as rookies."
McGee's senior season surfaced again after the draft when Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, who watched star quarterback Graham Harrell go undrafted, said the Cowboys liked McGee "more than his coaches at Texas A&M."
"I'm not worried about it," McGee said. "I tell people how important coach Sherman and coach Franchione have been in my career. If not for those guys, I wouldn't be sitting here today."
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37 comment(s) found!
Posted by: On: 5/22/2009
Comment Title: ANYBODY WANTS TO BUY MY SEASON TICKETS?
SOUNDS LIKE THIS SEASON IS GONNA BE THE SAME AS THE LAST.
Posted by: On: 5/22/2009
Comment Title: re:Pablo
Pablo is a flaming faggie...chirp on this...hahah
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/21/2009
Comment Title: RE; Objective Homer
My personal opinions: Homer, don't you know Pablo never has posted anything that is correct on this forum?_____Hell even on the post below, it's supposed to be, "Chirp, Chirp, Chirp", not just "Chirp, Chirp"?_____He just never gets anything right!_____miller58
Posted by: Objective_Homer On: 5/21/2009
Comment Title: Pablo
Do you even care Pablo??? Must be nice to not be effected from the poor position we are in. If the existing state of the program along with the past and upcoming L's dont get under your skin then you really dont enjoy the W's as much as myself. My emotions live and die with w's and L's.
Posted by: Pablo On: 5/20/2009
Comment Title: chirp.. chirp...
___ crickets ____
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/20/2009
Comment Title: A&M HAS LOST MORE THAN 4 FOOTBALL GAMES OUT OF EVERY 10 PLAYED AGAINST BIG 12 OPPONENTS!
My personal opinions:_____Since the Big 12 started, RC's players lost 23 of 58 games against Big 12 opponents, for a .603 ?_____Our current coach's players have lost 6 of 8, and are expected to lose more than they win, this year as well._____By comparison, Mac Brown's players have lost only 2 out of every 10 games against Big 12 opponents._____Bob stoops' players are even better, losing less than 2 games out of every 10 ?_____If our Regents and administration won't at least, pay the same as ou and tu to get a good coach at mac's and stoops level, We'll still be losing more than 4 of every 10 games for the next 15 years too, just like the last 15!_____miller58
Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 5/19/2009
Comment Title: Old Coaches
I'm sure that you have read or heard this more than once this last year. The media does not hesitate to point out that once you turn that magic age of 50+ you need not apply for those head coaching vacancies much less expect to be recruited for them (at least in most places). Names like Jim Donnan, Glen Mason, Gary Barnett, Larry Coker, and Dennis Franchione are offered up to prove the point. Leave the game at 50+ and you will find the road back difficult. It is a young man's game. "These days, presidents and athletic directors all want what's hip and hot. They want young RECRUITERS who can procure talent and learn the job as coaches" (Matt Hayes, SPORTING NEWS). Think about last winters major jobs: Washington (Steve Sarkisian), Auburn (Gene Chizik), Miss St (Dan Mullen), Tenn (Lane Kiffen), Clemson (Dabo Swinney).....everybody in their 30's except Chizik at 47. Now for our problem. Forget trying to improve the level of play until you get your "thinking" to the level of most successful programs with regard to coaching hires.
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/19/2009
Comment Title: RE: JON GRUDEN
My personal opinions:_____Look, it's easy to answer that Jon Gruden question fast!_____No head coach has won either the Big 12 South, or the mnc this decade, without first having a squad with from 66 to 78 four and five star difference makers?_____Any future potential A&M head coach can be quickly evaluated, by checking rivals for the last 9 years for their actual recruiting record?(it's free and takes 5 minutes?)_____If they have an actual recruiting record indicating they have recently recruited at the 14 difference maker level per year, to get the 66 to 78 required to win the Big 12 South and the mnc, then they are a candidate!_____Nothing else matters!_____They should sign 10 to 22 difference makers the first full recruitingseason or be gone?_____If at the end of 3 or 4 years, the guy recuits well, but but proves he can't coach, we've still got an almost full cupboard for another proven recruiter and coach; and havent lost any time toward that mnc goal!_____miller58
Posted by: On: 5/19/2009
Comment Title:
Anybody out there like JON GRUDEN as next coach?
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/18/2009
Comment Title: WORSE PART OF SHERMAN'S APRIL-MAY LOSS OF 9 OFFERS, IS THE MAJORITY COMMITTED TO BIG 12 SOUTH OPPONENTS?
My personal opinions:_____Of the 9 recruits that turned down Sherman offers recently, a DB, OG and WR all 3 committed to ou; a DE committed to tech, a LB committed to okie lite and a 4 star corner committed to nebraska; also a RB committed to michigan, an OG to 'bama and a LB to lsu?_____These commits, especially those to other Big 12 South teams, will help keep us in last place for the next 5+ years._____miller58
Posted by: Objective_Homer On: 5/18/2009
Comment Title: McGee
I have been a huge cowboy fan all my life. Now that im older and wiser im very frustrated as to the way JJ has handled things. I wish McGee all the best but i think dallas picking him was more of a short term business decision than anything else. Lots of aggies up in DFW. I would imagine that means lots of back sctratching and favors could be handled by having an aggie QB for the most popular team in the world. Even if for a couple of pre season games. The new stadium combined with McGee's presence would help alot in revenue. I think McGee has just as much chance at long term sucess no matter what team he is with. But this whole thing is a bit unsettling to me. Romo is good but he got a champs salary before he is a champ. same with most of the other players on the roster. JJ uses too much emotion when making expensive decisions. I hope Mcgee can get in there and put some pressure on romo. It will be interesting to watch him with a decent o line in dallas. from what i can see Mcgee is great human. I wish him all the best....Im undecided on Romo. He seems way too NONCHALANT and making too many inmature decisions both on the field and off the field. As the QB to the dallas cowboys you are no loner a simpleton. EVERYONE is watching. Im just dont sure if his mental toughness is what it needs to be.
Posted by: On: 5/18/2009
Comment Title:
This article is about mcgee and not miller. Ignore those who talk about miller and just skip over their rants. They have nothing to do with the article and they just use the space to rant on miller instead of talking about mcgee or the article. They are no different than miller himself.
Posted by: ralph On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: McGee---this article!!
McGee Elated he is a Cowboy! I am happy for Stephen to make the NFL....the way JJ has run his franchise, however, leaves some to wonder what he is thinking and I hope Stephen does not wish he was with another team soon. Why have there been so few comments on the article.....ignore that SOB miller 58, and skip over his rants.....they have nothing, absolutely to do with 99% of the articles he is writing about..... McGee is a very fine person, confident in who he is, sticks to his convictions. No matter how many thugs JJ hires to work around him, I believe Stephen will stay as he is in his beliefs. Here is hoping for some real good things to come Stephen's way....soon!
Posted by: hobo On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: Opinions are like a-holes
Miller has two of them.
Posted by: EZ On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: Miller 58
You always start with "your personal opinion" Please for the love of anyone besides yourself keep it personal and don't share it again.....EVER! Say it with me....Personal is just for me....
Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: To All
Go to the GORRER SIGNS FREE AGENT DEAL WITH NEW ORLEANS article and look at the 5/7/09 post by UNKNOWN RODENT for an exact quote of the same post someone made using my name below on 5/16/09.
Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: RE: CinterL (again)
To somewhat contadict "my" supposed post below, I think more of the reasons for the DEFENSIVE performance downturn was due to trying to learn a new system and then dealing with the frustrations as the system proved arguably inadequate for the Big-12 offenses faced each saturday. I do not think the players dislike any coach on the staff. I do however believe they have lost some confidence in them especially on the defensive side of the ball. You must realize the stress that goes with trying to pick up your third defensive scheme in three years. I really don't think the '07 and '08 season can be compared in too many areas other than coaching philosophy. The players will "like" their coach. That's why they are here in the first place. They "like" sherman, they "liked" franchione, and they "liked" slocum. Whether or not they respect their abilities on saturdays is something we will never know and they will never publicly state and it doesn't matter anyway. Some of the best coaches in the world were both hated and loved by some of their players at one point or another during their career. It is not, and never will be, an issue.
Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: RE: CenterL and others
That is NOT my post below. It is 4:15 PM Sunday, 5/17/09 and for several reasons I have not had access to this site since 8:00 PM Thursday, 5/14/09.
Posted by: Ryan On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: Miller58
Miller is a t.u. fan that posts here to aggravate us. Ignore him.
Posted by: hobo On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: Miller please find another team
Miller, when the current administration does not give in to your demands, will you please become a fan of one of the teams who sign's all of these magical recruits? Your obviously not a fan of the aggies in their current form and they will not be changing any time soon regardless of your rants and unsubstantiated quotes and numbers. It is obvious that you will not be happy as an aggie fan and you will probably save yourself a lot of headaches and heart attacks as a fan of one of the numerous greater teams with greater coachs. Change may happen, but it will not happen at your request or on your time table.
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: RE: "MILLER IS UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT SITUATION"?
My personal opinions:_____First, the current situation appears to be that a 7 year $1.8 per year or $12.6 milliom mistake was made!_____The canidates for their heads to roll for this mistake appear to lie within Chancellor McKinney, President Murano, and the regents for this mistake?_____Then the current situation appears that the current coach can be paid his monthly almost $5000 salary as part of his settlement, not requiring a lump sum of cash?_____Third the good new top coach that can that can sign 10 to 22 4*/5* difference makers in his first full year, and have us competing for the Big 12 in his second full season, will cost us in the range of 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 $million plus a bonus of 15 to 20 $million incentive based after 10 years!_____An additional 5 to 10 $million may be required for a new coaches buyout!_____An additional 1 $million per year total will be required over and above the normal assistants salary for 5 years to get assistants with a proven record of signing 2 to 5 top 4*/5* recruits per year._____The excitement generated by this move will pay for itself in additional ticket, concession, parking revenue and major donations several fold!_____We are talking a total complete package, old coach gone, new coach and assistants on board of around 10 $million per year for 10 years._____'bama reportedly experienced a jump in just major donations to their football program that far exceeded this total projected cost in multiples!_____What did I miss regarding the current situation?_____We can do it today!_____miller58
Posted by: Pablo On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: Umm.. Can we talk about McGee?
Real happy as both an avid Cowboys and Aggie fan to have Stephen our #3. I have tickets to the Titans preseason game and will cheer him on.. Someone mentioned that Romo isn't all that.. he actually has some really good numbers compared to the top QBs in the NFL over the past 2.5 season (all he has started). He has struggled in December and will need to fix that if he hopes to reverse that perception. He doesn't have 6 seasons like Peyton to win a playoff game.. I think 3 or 4 at most. Go Cowboys!
Posted by: On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: Miller is unable to realize the current situation
Miller, how can you not understand that there is no way for the current coaching situation to change right now or in the near future. There is no way for the current administration to change. There are too many economic factors that keep the AD from making a change even if Byrne wanted too. Economically, the school doesn't have the cash to buy one of these top notch coaches that you seem to think are ready to jump at an offer from aTm. The school would have to eat Sherm's $2 mil/year and try to find some way to afford a new coach. All the one's you mention are in the $4+ mil/year range. Where do you think this money will come from. Also,
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/17/2009
Comment Title: A&M's BIG 12 RECORD?
My personal opinions:_____RC's players lost 4 games and won 6 games out of almost every ten Big 12 games ever played! We went 35-23 for a .603 record, and never played in an mnc?_____By comparison, Bob stoops players went 73-14 for a .830._____Mac Brown's players went 73-18 for a .801._____They both won roughly 8 out of every 10 Big 12 games played, and both won mnc's?_____Mike Sherman's Big 12 record is 2 games won and 6 games lost?_____miller58
Posted by: agjosh On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: Morons
I have collegiate experience and experience with members of this coaching staff in years past.....Miller's comments are ridiculous, uninformed, unsubstantiated, and he never answers any direct challenges to his lies and blithering.
Posted by: On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: you are all morons
First of all, has any of you ever played at the college level and do you have any personal experience with either coaching staff. If not, how would you ever have a clue what goes on in those locker rooms. Secondly, why is everyone convinced that the only way to be sucessfull in college football is to have 4 and 5 star players. I do not believe that tech, baylor, okie st and most other college football teams are lined with 4 to 5 star athletes. I would take the opinion of a guy who has been in the NFL and has seen that type of tallent up close as upposed to listening to a bunch of paper pushing nerds, quoting stats all day. In my opinion, no one is going to touch any recruits that tu wants right now and Sherm has done a good job evaluating the rest and picking up the few stars that tu has left behind. ou isnt exactly competing with tu either.
Posted by: SiValleyAg68 On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: WHINNY?
miller58, You're hearing nothing but whiny false unsubstantiated Aggie Spin Machine excuses??? HA!!! That is YOU - you're just hearing yourself babble. You WHINE & WHINE unceasingly about 4 stars and 5 stars and unsubstantiated claims about Sherman. And you spin your WHINY theories into comments about anything on this web site. Nobody but tsips and techers want to hear your comments. Even they are probably getting tired of your whining, especially when it has nothing whatsoever to do with the article - like this one.
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: RE: CinterL
My personal opinions:_____I'm hearing nothing but whinny false unsubstantiated Aggie Spin Machine excuses!_____miller58
Posted by: CinterL On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: Calm down Miller.
Yes miller i realize we had a bad year, and that has to do with learning a new system. all the problems usually came from that, not moral. Also besides trying to convice me to believe players were in a bad mood, site something. Like i said all i have heard is that the players believed in Sherman, and still do. Please try and answer that instead of insulting me!!!
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: RE: CinterL
My personal opinions:_____CinterL, don't be silly?_____A&M players are smart enough to know that anything that they might want to say about Sherman, could get back to him, and directly affect both their scholarship, and their playing time at A&M!_____Just think about all the playing time nfl signees lost this past season, just relagated to sitting on the bench, while Sherman's fish recruits got extra time and were on the field losing games for us, and getting blown out 7 times by about 40+ points?_____I still haven't figured out how in a team sport, you do Arkansas state and 7 blow out losses, and commit just about football sin in the books, multiple penalities, turnovers, fumbles, dropped passes right in your hands , poor execution, missed assignments, multiple missed arm tackles on the same play, blown coverages, etc;and then you say you played well?_____It just don't compute?____CinterL, please just get a clue before you post something else silly again?_____miller58
Posted by: CinterL On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: really now?
Just a few things,Stars plesase tell me one player who said he is fed up with Sherman, plz. stats have nothing to do with how players react to a coach, in that context. Everything i have heard from current and past players, under Sherman have liked him. so your point is wrong, because you do not know what the players think. and once again the article is about McGee, talk about him, for he is a great man, and has nothing but praise for Sherman.
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: RE: Seeing Stars - THE WHOLE TEAM JUST QUITING ON SHERMAN?
My personal opinions:_____Stars, these numbers seem to indicate that the team just gave up on Sherman after the tech game; and the whole team just quit on him?____This would certainly explain how teams with much less talent simply blew us off the field; ie baylor, etc by 40+ points?_____We can't just go into another season like that!_____CAN WE?_____miller58
Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: Mike Sherman's coaching and recruiting
The two things that coaches like Pete Carroll, Urban Meyer, Saban,and Mack Brown have in common is that they are master motivators and keep a "buzz" around the program. This is the key thing that A&M doesn't have. If you look at the difference in statistics (first downs, 20yd+ runs, sacks, qb pressures, interceptions, pass break-ups, ect) between the '07 (Fran) and '08 (Sherman) seasons and do a little math you will see that there was a 30% lack in overall team effort in the '08 season when compared to the '07 season. This number balloons up to 83% when you look at the '07 and '08 tu games. The only improvement in effort came against tech. Isn't a head coach's job to inspire and motivate the team on gameday every week?
Posted by: CinterL On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: Walt76 I agree with you.
Stephen McGee is a great human being, and I believe a great football player too. I wish him the best of luck and can't wait to see that star on his helmet.
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: RE; Walt76
My personal opinions:_____Walt76,_____NO!_____miller58
Posted by: Walt76 On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: Unbelievable
Miller, I have decided you are just mean. You once bragged about having posted on every single football article. 99% of your posts had nothing to do with the article, only your rants. It must be sad to just sit there and repeat the same old stuff. You may be right on some, but definitely not all of it. Give yourself and us a break, please. Try and get happy about something. Don't try and find joy in bringing others down. Stephen McGee is probably as fine a human being as has ever come out of A&M. Not because of his football per se, but because of how he has represented himself, his Faith in Christ, and his University. Please, Miller, post all you want on articles related to your narrow points of view. But when something is written that has nothing to do with your narrow topics, leave it alone. The same please from everyone. I hope someday we are saying How bout that McGee and them Cowboys. I believe it could happen sooner than anyone thinks. I don't think Romo is all he is cracked up to be and given a few years and the right Situation McGee could be the man. I hope so. Gig 'em Stephen.
Posted by: miller58 On: 5/16/2009
Comment Title: tu LEADS BIG 12 RECRUITING,THEN ou, nebraska, okie lite FOLLOW?
My personal opinions: Big 12 difference maker recruiting for the 2010 football class ranking is:_____tu has 17 four and five star difference makers outof 21 commits;_____ou has 5 of 9;_____nebraska has 3 of 4;_____okie lite has 2 of 7; A&M has 3 difference makers out of 16 commits!_____miller58
