I really like what Gene Wojciechowski has to say over at ESPN.com!
Where’s Aug. 30th when you really need it? Because after one of the most news-filled, often depressing offseasons in the history of college football, I’m ready to watch anything that doesn’t involve a Freeh report, a police report or a hospital report.
South Carolina at Vandy? Never been happier to see the Head Ball Coach throw his visor.
UTSA at South Alabama? At this point I’d watch the USDA play football.
Eastern Washington at Idaho? I couldn’t name you one player on either roster — and that’s OK.
What matters is that actual football is actually going to be played. And that means a welcome respite, however brief, from the mind-numbing news of the day.
For me, the wait for college football is two-fold. First, my Texas Aggies have joined the SEC and I’m excited about the prospects of the Aggies playing in the best conference in the nation. I know it’s going to be tough on the Aggies. It’s meant to be.
What the move has done has eliminated my argument that I made for years that A&M played too many candy-apple teams in non-conference play. You remember those games in which I lamented the fact that they were playing Arkansas State for the first game of the season? It’s a no win situation when you play such teams because if you win, it adds nothing to the prestige of your team, and if you lose, you suffer embarrassment for years.
O how could I have brought that up! It was the very first game for Mike Sherman as head coach, and quite a foreshadow of what would come for him as the head coach.
Our season this year starts on August 30th, just like it does for most other teams. The time, 6:30 p.m. central. The team: Louisiana Tech University. The place: Shreveport, LA.
Now, in seasons past I would complain about playing a team like Louisiana Tech. But not this year. Given that A&M is in the best conference in the nation, have I said that already???, they have one of the toughest schedules in the nation. They can afford to play weaker teams now in non-conference play because in conference play includes games against Florida, LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi State, Ole’ Miss and Auburn. That is what happens when you play in the BEST conference in the nation.
The second reason I’m really excited about the season is that I bought two tickets to the South Carolina State game on September 22, and I’m taking Andy down to College Station to see the game. I wanted to get tickets to the Arkansas game, but did not for three reasons. The first, the tickets were twice the price as they were for the South Carolina State game. The second was that my father, who lives in Brenhan, TX (see the banner of this blog), was not going to be in town that weekend. I want to see him as well as go to the Aggies game. The third reason was that A&M should beat South Carolina State and it will be a lot more fun to see them win, than it will to risk a lost for Andy’s first game.
I can’t wait to go see the game. The last time I saw an A&M game was when they played Clemson back in the 2004 season. Andy was still in his mother’s womb at the time, but that didn’t keep us from going to the game. Every time A&M scored and the canon fired off in celebration, Andy kicked inside Elisa’s womb. It was a lot of fun. I’m hoping he is a natural Aggie.
How many days??? 17 days until football season starts. Gig ‘Em Aggies!
I’ve never been an Aggie fan and a few months ago, I would have given you a very hard time for your Aggies doing anything, especially moving to the SEC. I would have said something like “it used to be the best conference until A&M moved in”, but I wouldn’t dream of saying that now since my son is being recruited by a couple of SEC teams. He might end up playing in that conference on Saturdays in a couple of years, so I wouldn’t want to bad mouth the SEC. I will point out, however, that he’s right in the Aggies own back yard and they don’t even act like they know he exists. This is exactly why the Aggies had trouble competing in the Big 12 and why it may be a while before they see any positive results. They STILL don’t know how to recruit consistently in their own state & until they solve that problem, it’s going to be a tough go in the SEC. But hey, let’s hear it for the doctrines of grace!
Hi Five,
Yes, I remember you asking me about recruiting, and I really had no idea where to turn on that. I don’t know anyone who is anyone when it comes to A&M. You could say I’m extremely unconnected when it comes to the university. I’ve learned that if you want to be connected or thought of as those who are important at A&M, it costs quite a bit of money. That’s why the South Carolina State game is the one I’m going to.
I hope your son does get recruited in the SEC. He will get to play some of the best teams in the country. Let me know if he does.
Timinator,
You should check the schedule. The Aggies don’t open conference play until the 2nd week of the season.
OK, my bad. L. Tech, not state. I was up till 3 a.m. last night and should not be blogging!