There are some rumors floating around so here is the official word on Gandy Stubblefield and the decision to play baseball elsewhere next spring:

Gandy and Coach Childress sat down last week to talk about Gandy's future. Gandy has had a very strong showing in the Texas Collegiate League the past two summers and wants to pursue a professional baseball career after college.

After the conversation, there was a mutual decision made - very, VERY amicably - that Gandy would have a better shot at a baseball career if he went to a small school that would allow him the chance to either be a weekend starter or a closer.

Coach Childress worked very closely with Gandy and his father, Gandy III, to help Gandy find a good spot for him. That spot is West Alabama University in Livingston, AL.

Did Gandy get "kicked off" the team? No.

Are the Stubblefield's and Coach Childress still in good standing? Yes, absolutely.

Is Tyler Stubblefield - the projected Friday night starter in 2015 - happy? He'll miss Gandy and didn't want him to leave, but he understands that Gandy needs to do what is best for him. Tyler is good to go. And by the way, that kid does everything right and I've heard rave reviews from my sources on how hard he is working and how focused he is on being a true ace for the Aggies as a sophomore.

Gandy is going to stay at A&M for the fall semester and is about three semesters short of receiving his degree from A&M. The plan right now is to wrap up the fall semester in December and then spend the spring at West Alabama. He'll take classes that can transfer back and then he'll wrap up school in the Fall of 2015.

Here's wishing the best for Gandy. He was considered a consensus top 4 overall pro prospect in the TCL this past summer based on Perfect Game and Baseball America rankings. And when he's on, he still has a live arm that can run it up in the mid-to-high 90s. I hope he goes to West Alabama and dominates the competition and finds himself taken in the top 10-15 rounds of the 2015 Draft. That would be quite a success story.

I don't quite understand if he had that good of a summer why he couldn't factor into a spot here...but best of luck

That may be the story A&M is selling the media but if it happened that way then why not have that meeting after the season. Every player has an exit meeting after the season. Why let him spend the entire summer thinking he is coming back, why bring him back for the fall semester? Think his new coaches would want him there for their fall camp.

Tam...we've all been trying to figure out this mystery for the last four years. He's been great in the summer but the summer is not the SEC. But sometimes guys just need a fresh start and pro scouts see that big body, those big legs and that incredible juice in the fastball and overall upside and they all think that they can coach him up and make him great. So he could probably sit around and still get drafted at some point. But if he leaves and has a lot of success, it opens up the door for much better draft positioning.

Kev...I have talked to Gandy's dad twice this week. I have talked to my A&M sources too but this report is very even-handed and not leaning toward A&M. In fact, Gandy is the first to contact me about getting the true story out there. That should tell you how the family feels about the situation.

Thanks for the info Gabe, I'm hoping Gandy can go and dominate at West Alabama.

Yes, thanks for the story, Gabe.

Executive summary: RC feels Gandy doesn't have the potential to be a major-contributor to Aggie baseball and showed him the door, but with a smile. All parties agreed to put a positive spin on the story.

This happens routinely. It is unfortunate if rumors distorted the facts. Best wishes to Gandy pursuing his dream.

Thanks for the honest reply Gabe with the facts. As someone whose Ag son had incorrect internet media reporting in years past (2010 plus), we appreciate accurate reporting and coverage. You are always trust worthy!

Thanks Gabe and good luck to Gandy!!!

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Executive summary: RC feels Gandy doesn't have the potential to be a major-contributor to Aggie baseball and showed him the door, but with a smile. All parties agreed to put a positive spin on the story.

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Or maybe RC didn't show him the door but was up front with him, so while he might have a place on the team, he wouldn't get much, if any, playing time.

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Executive summary: RC feels Gandy doesn't have the potential to be a major-contributor to Aggie baseball and showed him the door, but with a smile. All parties agreed to put a positive spin on the story.

This happens routinely. It is unfortunate if rumors distorted the facts. Best wishes to Gandy pursuing his dream.

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You're trying too hard.

Childress is probably thinking he knows who 2 of his 3 weekend starters are, and that Gandy isn't likely to figure in for the 3rd spot or at least have a lot of competition to the point that there's no guarantee he gets a starting spot.

Gandy is probably thinking he had a great summer, and his best chance to keep playing baseball is to get weekend starts somewhere and spend the most time showing off his stuff.

This isn't that hard to follow. It could be "I see you as a bullpen guy". "I think I'd stand a better chance of getting drafted if I start somewhere". "I agree, let's find somewhere where that's more of a sure thing".

Agree with Lance. Unfortunately there are some guys that have great arms and great stuff but they are unpolished and need a lot of game innings. With 56 games and everyone of them counting, it's hard to let someone "work thru" issues. I played with a guy that threw very few innings because he just couldn't throw strikes, but got a tryout and ended up pitching a little bit in the big leagues. That was after hundreds of innings in the minor leagues.

Mid to high 90s fastball?

Those guys grow on trees.

Makes room for another bunt specialist on the roster.

Great move!

Obviously more to the story than posted above Rocco. I'm hearing other teams are hitting lots of the new balls out of the park in fall practice. Some saying 40-50 a practice. Hope we are there with them.

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Mid to high 90s fastball?

Those guys grow on trees.

Makes room for another bunt specialist on the roster.

Great move!

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Its always good timing to complain about cutting a pitcher and making a bunt joke after a season when we

a) Hit 7 more home runs than our opponents (25 for A&M, 18 for opponents); and,

b) Dropped 21 fewer sac bunts than our opponents (39 for A&M, 60 for opponents).

Oy vey.

Facts won't stop Rocco. Or common sense.

I have heard conflicting information from current and former players..

Nothing damming for either side, just not the "all smiles" version that is currently out there.

Just want to add it would obviously make sense for Mr. stubblefield to want to portray both his older son and Texas A&M in a positive manner considering Tyler is still here.

Moral of the story, don't believe everything you read on the internet.

I wouldn't consider my version "all smiles", but it certainly seems likely. Being told the coach doesn't think you have a shot at something he never gave you a chance on and you performed well on during the summer isn't exactly best friends forever material.

Sorry Lance, didn't happen that way but I am glad everything was able to be smoothed over and Gandy will be able to pitch somewhere this year.

So is Gabe's story not true?

Also, Tyler will be 21 in October.

Showing up extremely late to paint-a-thon with a full beard (players aren't allowed to have facial hair) probably didn't start the year off on the right note. May have prompted the sit down...

Gabe's Story is true, but even with a story there are different interpretations of how it was handled and when people are anti-RC then they do not want to see anything that might reflect positively on him so they tend to take the negative view on something like this.

I'll call BS on this. Good luck to Gandy

I wasn't there so obviously don't know story.. However I have heard conflicting stories (than what Gabe posted) from 2 current players.
And both stories from the players, were received at different times ( when the other was not present) and were identical.
Just saying .. Draw your own conclusion.

Aggie baseball is dead to me....
Rob needs to go.

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Gabe's Story is true, but even with a story there are different interpretations of how it was handled and when people are anti-RC then they do not want to see anything that might reflect positively on him so they tend to take the negative view on something like this.

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But people who are pro-RC aren't going to sugar coat it?

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Dropped 21 fewer sac bunts than our opponents (39 for A&M, 60 for opponents).

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That figure would be closer if we were any good at sac bunting

Rocco - Not Pro-RC. So no sugar coating necessary. But I am very Pro-Lufkin and Lufkin information runs directly into my house on a daily basis whether I am looking for it or not.

Gabe's story was very one sided, I don't think any of the coaches were quoted? So Moose, what happened at the paint-a-thon?

Dirk let me say this plainly, I have never spoken with a coach at A&M about Gandy. My information only comes through Family. This is a bigger issue with certain posters than anyone else. People are trying to turn this issue into something it is not.