If you are joining the SEC as a wanna be football power, the competition is going to be fierce. But, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. After Texas A&M upset Alabama last week, I realized that they just brought more attention to their program than they would have brought by going undefeated in another conference. The Aggies just made their case to every recruit they are targeting over the next few years - we can compete with the best. They just made the case to every assistant coach in the country that you can build a name for yourself there by beating Les Miles or God forbid it happen again, Nick Saban. And SEC fans are going to fill the stadiums of their newest members and increase the value of their TV games (getting them on network TV more often).
I saw the energy and jubilation of the A&M fans last week in Tuscaloosa. That is why schools join the SEC. Now, they have to live with the high expectations that come with the first taste of success. Success for schools in the SEC is to win a National Championship, not to beat each other. Of course, beating other SEC schools is required - that is why Tennessee and Auburn will be looking for new coaches.
And one more thing about the SEC - your rivals will hire your coach if they think he is going to win - you better take care of him. Of course, Texas A&M already did this to Alabama years ago when they hired Dennis Franchione away from the Tide. That worked out very well - for Alabama. We ended up with Nick Saban and the Aggies ended up firing Fran. So, oh the irony if Tennessee went after A&M's coach! So, while the Aggies are riding high, I just wanted to bring them back to earth by putting them on rumor alert during the coach hiring season. Aggies, you are welcome - it is the least an Alabama fan can do. Welcome to the SEC.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
My favorite NASCAR past time - hating Jeff Gordon
I was on the verge of writing about my boredom with NASCAR and being forced to watch Jimmie Johnson win another championship when I heard about the race Sunday. Police guarding Jeff Gordon, fight in the pits, Danica spun out and blew fluid from her car on the track wrecking everybody on the last lap, Gordon wrecking everybody in a punk move to get Clint Boyer. Now, I have to reconsider. Does this mean that NASCAR is going back in time to the golden era of hating Jeff Gordon? I think I am down for that. I watched the race on DVR and he was such a punk that I was even pulling for Clint Boyer. I could have only liked this better if Jimmie Johnson had reacted the same way to the race Brad Keslowski did. Brad, God Bless Him, is winning me over. He verbalized my sentiments on Kyle Bush and Jeff Gordon both pretty accurately and he is tough as nails. I didn't anticipate being a blue deuce fan, but why not!! Jeff Gordon is too big of a punk to act mean when he is out of the car and if he is going to dish it out, he needs to take it. He is not Tony Stewart and it may take a butt whuppin' for him to figure that out. I am all in for hating the #24 and seeing him whipped, I am just undecided on who I want to see whip him. Tony Stewart (don't know why, just like the thought of it), Clint Boyer, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keslowski, Denny Hamlin, or even Kyle Bush. Maybe the Bush brothers could double team him and all three get suspended. I would LOVE THAT! I know it makes me a bit petty to dislike some of these drivers so much, but some of you need to realize that is what it takes to keep me from throwing my racing helmet at you when you do something dumb on the highway I share with you. Anyway, just when I thought NASCAR was getting boring, next week's race is all I can think about! Let's go Blue Deuce!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
I Never Like Losing, but...
Texas A&M made its first visit to Bryant-Denny Stadium and the so-called experts thought they were a double digit underdog. Alabama fans thought it would be worse than that for the Aggies and I was one of those. I knew they had a hotshot freshman quarterback, but I figured a few hits would cool him down and Alabama would dominate the game. So much for experts.
The first indication that this game was different was the honoring of A&M's former players, including ten Junction Boys, before the game - remember this was in Tuscaloosa, not College Station. These players were former A&M students, but part of the Alabama family because they played for Coach Bryant. Coach Stallings, who won the 1992 National Championship at Alabama was among the honored players. So was John David Crow, Coach Bryant's only and Texas A&M's only Heisman Trophy winner.
When the game started, Alabama looked flat and Johnny Football looked like a video game. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there were people returning their X-boxes and PS3's because they can't replicate all of Johnny Manziel's moves. I had only seen highlights of this freshman and had no idea how good he really is. He is better than Tebow or (S)Cam Newton and has the same toughness about him Tebow and Greg McElroy both showed in college during their championship runs. He is the kind of player Coach Bryant would have loved - small, fast, tough, and indomitable in tough situations. Dare I say, he has some John David Crow about him and maybe as early as this year will be TAMU's second Heisman winner. He is listed as 6'1" and 190lbs, but I am suspicious of both those numbers because even the media guides are bigger in Texas. The one thing that is not bigger in Texas is Johnny Football's game. He is as big as the moment. Throwing for over 250 and rushing for over 90 against Alabama is good for an entire team - it is unbelievable for one freshman.
As an Alabama fan, I think Alabama should have won the game. They had opportunities and champions usually make the most of those. The future champion on the other side of the ball did make the most of those opportunities. I know Alabama had a close game with LSU the week prior and A&M blew out Mississippi State, but that is how the ball bounces. Alabama was out-coached on Saturday and because that doesn't happen often, I am impressed with the Aggies. Alabama can still win the SEC and the National Championship - I expect them to do both, but this was a speed bump none of us saw coming.
If Coach Bryant can raise Coach Stallings in the air after A&M defeats Alabama in a bowl game, I guess the least I can do is tip my hat to this A&M team who won their first game in Tuscaloosa in front of Coach Bryant's former A&M players. It was a special moment for both schools, but don't be fooled - beating A&M in future years has just moved up on the Alabama priority list. Johnny Football has to beat Alabama every year to ever win those championships he dreams of and Alabama will be tougher next time around. See you in College Station next year!
The first indication that this game was different was the honoring of A&M's former players, including ten Junction Boys, before the game - remember this was in Tuscaloosa, not College Station. These players were former A&M students, but part of the Alabama family because they played for Coach Bryant. Coach Stallings, who won the 1992 National Championship at Alabama was among the honored players. So was John David Crow, Coach Bryant's only and Texas A&M's only Heisman Trophy winner.
When the game started, Alabama looked flat and Johnny Football looked like a video game. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there were people returning their X-boxes and PS3's because they can't replicate all of Johnny Manziel's moves. I had only seen highlights of this freshman and had no idea how good he really is. He is better than Tebow or (S)Cam Newton and has the same toughness about him Tebow and Greg McElroy both showed in college during their championship runs. He is the kind of player Coach Bryant would have loved - small, fast, tough, and indomitable in tough situations. Dare I say, he has some John David Crow about him and maybe as early as this year will be TAMU's second Heisman winner. He is listed as 6'1" and 190lbs, but I am suspicious of both those numbers because even the media guides are bigger in Texas. The one thing that is not bigger in Texas is Johnny Football's game. He is as big as the moment. Throwing for over 250 and rushing for over 90 against Alabama is good for an entire team - it is unbelievable for one freshman.
As an Alabama fan, I think Alabama should have won the game. They had opportunities and champions usually make the most of those. The future champion on the other side of the ball did make the most of those opportunities. I know Alabama had a close game with LSU the week prior and A&M blew out Mississippi State, but that is how the ball bounces. Alabama was out-coached on Saturday and because that doesn't happen often, I am impressed with the Aggies. Alabama can still win the SEC and the National Championship - I expect them to do both, but this was a speed bump none of us saw coming.
If Coach Bryant can raise Coach Stallings in the air after A&M defeats Alabama in a bowl game, I guess the least I can do is tip my hat to this A&M team who won their first game in Tuscaloosa in front of Coach Bryant's former A&M players. It was a special moment for both schools, but don't be fooled - beating A&M in future years has just moved up on the Alabama priority list. Johnny Football has to beat Alabama every year to ever win those championships he dreams of and Alabama will be tougher next time around. See you in College Station next year!
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