The Texas A&M Aggies have a new coach, a new coaching staff, a new spirit, a new attitude, and only 11 returning starters.
Some services say they have 12 starters. However, that was before junior place kicker Symanski decided to transfer.
First of all, the Aggies have what is the makings of a quarterback controversy brewing. There is a possiblity of a fullback-tailback controversy, too.
QB Steven McGee has started for two years. He is close to setting the rushing record -- for a quarterback! However, first-year head coach Mike Sherman runs the west coast offense. Not much chance to run in Sherman's offense -- unless it's for one's life!
Sherman made it clear last week that the QB position is open and will be decided during summer drills.
Jorvorskie Lane, who ran at tailback the past two years, has been moved to fullback and told to lose some 40 pounds ... or more. No one knows how fat ... er uh ... beefy Lane really is. Sherman confirmed to AP sportswriters, it has been "a few days" since Lane weighed the 265 pounds as the roster annouces. Others speculate that Lane's weight tops 300 pounds.
To top Lane's move to FB, he did not show up for the annual spring Maroon and White game. It would have been his debut at that position. There was no announcement why Lane failed to show. Sherman told the same AP writers that he has had some discussions with Lane to convince him that the move was the best for him. If speculation were to be allowed to run rampant, could it be that Lane is unhappy? Lane was told when he was recruited by the previous coach, that he (Lane) would be a tailback.
The Aggie kicker transferred. The announcement was sudden but not a big surprise. He simply never lived up to his hype. The Aggies could have sorely used some field goals last year. Sherman will have to shore up the kicking game this year.
With all those issues yet to be cleared up, Sherman and the Aggies will be facing a killer schedule. First, they meet a weak Miami team at Kyle Field. Last year, it was glaringly clear that the Hurricanes had a vastly faster team than the Aggies.
Then the Aggies face Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech. These are all teams with BCS potential. Barring a miracle, the Aggies may lose at least five games.
Sherman needs to find some speed especially in the defensive backfield. One news service predicted the Aggies' D-backs will be torched by the Big 12 quarterbacks, some are mentioned as Heisman prospects. Bad time to have a weak defensive back field -- indeed!
It's not expected to be an especially happy debut for Sherman.
If I'd have been Texas born, I'd have been an Ag!
My first days in Texas included a run-in with a blind, t-Sip fool at a restaurant!
The dislike has endured since then.
Unfortunately, too many year, excluding 1988, have been defined as rebuilding years for A&M.
Sherman is not stupid enough not to use Jovorskie Lane at running back for short yardage situations and throughout the game, so Lane shouldn't worry to much. He's better suited at fullback. Either Mcgee, Johnson, or even Ryan Tannehill will be fine at the QB position.
Texas A&M could be a big surprise this season. They get Miami, Oklahoma, Texas Tech at home, which going at least 1-2 against those teams would be a big step forward. And the fact that they've beaten Texas two years in a row, why not three? Sherman definitely has A&M in the right direction already.
Still Lane's absence at the Maroon & White game was neither explained nor expected.
Taken from Lane's perspective, the previous coach promised that he would be a tailback. Actually Lane is a very good pass receiver and a hard tackle in the open field.
It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.
Also did you notice that Coaches Hot Seat.com has the Aggies at 5-7. www.coacheshotseat.com/MikeSherman. htm
Last edited by Franshephony on June 24th at 4:21 AM.
Yeah, I read that prediction from Coaches Hot Seat. They all but panned the hiring of Sherman, which if you read my post of all the 2008 coaching hires, I have him 3rd.
I say that 5-7 is the worst we can do. I've very concerned about the trip to New Mexico. Iowa State will be close, but we should pull it out. And we've surprised the college football world two years in a row by beating Texas, and Texas isn't any better than last year, if not worse. We have to face the fact that the defense will be run on a pretty good secondary and strong mentality for the rest of it. Joe Kines is great at getting players to play better than they really are. We will not be dominant on defense, so we have to score, score, score.
Hopefully, with the west coast offense, Shermie can get something going offensively.
This is a bad conference to be in with a poor secondary.
Hey what do you think about ESPN's prediction that Texas University's 10-game-a-year streak will end this year? Sounds great to me. Hope it comes true.
Im a Longhorn at heart but I have always pulled for A&M accept when they play Texas. However with Mike Sherman as head coach I will be following the Aggies more closely than ever before. I like Sherman alot. He coached my Packers and was part of our own local NFL team's staff. Good luck this season Aggie fans.
Aggie class of 1970.
Photographer, Journalist
TURN ONS: Aggies, Texas (the state), high school football, Nikon cameras, deserts
TURN OFFS: Losing coaches, fumbles, intercepted passes. Star backs benched. Losing in Norman.
TRAVELLED: All western states, England, Mexico, all southern states, Monument Valley, UT
MUSIC: Patsy Cline, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis
FAVORITE PLACES: Dockside London, Old English castles, Guadalupe Mtns, Ruidoso, NM; Kyle Field.
