Dear Texas Aggies of all ages,
My introduction to viewing Texas A&M football began on Thanksgiving Day, 1963. I watched t.u. and the refs steal our victory. Even the Aggieland recorded the score as A&M 13, t.u. 9, referees 6. So, my history of watching A&M football goes way back, over 48 years.
I graduated in December 1972, in the Class of '72. I suffered through the 1970 season when A&M was outscored by every SWC team, including Rice. I joined and served in the Corps of Cadets during a time in America when the military, its traditions and honor, were under attack by society. Needless to say, being a student at A&M and in the Corps of Cadets from 1968-1972 was often a challenge.
When Gene stallings was fired, I accompanied several of my senior classmates to his home and personally thanked him for being "our coach," even though we were often outscored during his tenure. We may not have had the best talent or gameplans but the team always, always gave the game their best. I remember seeing bloodied and dirtied players still fighting for the Ags well after there was any hope of overcoming the score.
Fast-forward to today's A&M football program. To put my views bluntly, I am disgusted, absolutely disgusted. The team has plenty of talent (and I mean PLENTY) but obviously lacks discipline and heart. The silly and dumb penalties today reflect that lack. What disciplined player pushes an opponent while out of bounds, right in front of a referee? Who, except an undisciplined player, cannot be onsides on a kickoff? Need I say more? Coach Sherman is not the man.
I spoke with Bill Byrne at an Aggie function last year. He had made a presentation to the group and I wanted to ask about one of his remarks in particular. (Please note that the following is not a personal attack against Mr. Byrne. Rather what I am about to relate is a record of our conversation and perhaps may show an insight to our current problems.)
During his remarks to the group, Mr. Byrne mentioned over and over again how A&M had "lost" this game or that, in this sport or another. Having been taught that A&M is "undefeated" (but occasionally outscored) I took exception to Mr. Byrne's remarks. I gently asked him about using the word "outscored" instead of "loss," especially when addressing a group of older graduates, and he remarked words to the effect that, "I never really bought into that stuff." At that moment I knew we had a problem. I quickly and politely ended my conversation with Mr. Byrne and he moved on to talk with others at the gathering. Bill Byrne is certainly not the man.
President Loftin's 18 month-old plan to move A&M into the SEC reeks of complete and utter insanity. A&M football, its traditions and especially the A&M military traditions, will be the laughing stock of the "party schools" of the SEC. We will be perennially regarded as one of the doormat games of the SEC. We will become the Baylor of the SEC. And for what? The termination of our t.u. game? A few extra dollars? To be able to say we took our ball and went home just because t.u. was smarter and got their own network? That Aggies aren't smart enough to form our own network? For what, then? President Loftin is not the man.
So, what is this old Aggie's point? Texas A&M used to be different, especially on the football field. We played with grit, determination, discipline and courage. The Aggie student body never left the stands early. Why? We knew the team had given the game their all. Today, such is not the case. We have transitioned to a "big time" program with the appearance of our traditions intact when in fact the traditions of A&M football are dead and buried. Money is all that matters and its influence on A&M football and the school itself is blatantly obvious.
I never, never thought I would write words such as these. My father graduated in 1941 and was in the first wave of forces to invade Leyte and Okinawa in WWII. Needless to say, there was never a question in our household where I would go to college. I was proud of my school, my Aggie ring and my diploma. I served 28 years as an Air Force pilot. I have watched Aggie football as long as I can remember. But today, after the showing on the field (and my heart breaks for our players!), I've come to the conclusion that I'll wish the team well and hope they are never outscored again. I hope the team wins it all every year. Call me, though, when the team, the coaches, and the administration come back to the traditions that made A&M great, regardless of won/loss record or money.
flyboy72
My introduction to viewing Texas A&M football began on Thanksgiving Day, 1963. I watched t.u. and the refs steal our victory. Even the Aggieland recorded the score as A&M 13, t.u. 9, referees 6. So, my history of watching A&M football goes way back, over 48 years.
I graduated in December 1972, in the Class of '72. I suffered through the 1970 season when A&M was outscored by every SWC team, including Rice. I joined and served in the Corps of Cadets during a time in America when the military, its traditions and honor, were under attack by society. Needless to say, being a student at A&M and in the Corps of Cadets from 1968-1972 was often a challenge.
When Gene stallings was fired, I accompanied several of my senior classmates to his home and personally thanked him for being "our coach," even though we were often outscored during his tenure. We may not have had the best talent or gameplans but the team always, always gave the game their best. I remember seeing bloodied and dirtied players still fighting for the Ags well after there was any hope of overcoming the score.
Fast-forward to today's A&M football program. To put my views bluntly, I am disgusted, absolutely disgusted. The team has plenty of talent (and I mean PLENTY) but obviously lacks discipline and heart. The silly and dumb penalties today reflect that lack. What disciplined player pushes an opponent while out of bounds, right in front of a referee? Who, except an undisciplined player, cannot be onsides on a kickoff? Need I say more? Coach Sherman is not the man.
I spoke with Bill Byrne at an Aggie function last year. He had made a presentation to the group and I wanted to ask about one of his remarks in particular. (Please note that the following is not a personal attack against Mr. Byrne. Rather what I am about to relate is a record of our conversation and perhaps may show an insight to our current problems.)
During his remarks to the group, Mr. Byrne mentioned over and over again how A&M had "lost" this game or that, in this sport or another. Having been taught that A&M is "undefeated" (but occasionally outscored) I took exception to Mr. Byrne's remarks. I gently asked him about using the word "outscored" instead of "loss," especially when addressing a group of older graduates, and he remarked words to the effect that, "I never really bought into that stuff." At that moment I knew we had a problem. I quickly and politely ended my conversation with Mr. Byrne and he moved on to talk with others at the gathering. Bill Byrne is certainly not the man.
President Loftin's 18 month-old plan to move A&M into the SEC reeks of complete and utter insanity. A&M football, its traditions and especially the A&M military traditions, will be the laughing stock of the "party schools" of the SEC. We will be perennially regarded as one of the doormat games of the SEC. We will become the Baylor of the SEC. And for what? The termination of our t.u. game? A few extra dollars? To be able to say we took our ball and went home just because t.u. was smarter and got their own network? That Aggies aren't smart enough to form our own network? For what, then? President Loftin is not the man.
So, what is this old Aggie's point? Texas A&M used to be different, especially on the football field. We played with grit, determination, discipline and courage. The Aggie student body never left the stands early. Why? We knew the team had given the game their all. Today, such is not the case. We have transitioned to a "big time" program with the appearance of our traditions intact when in fact the traditions of A&M football are dead and buried. Money is all that matters and its influence on A&M football and the school itself is blatantly obvious.
I never, never thought I would write words such as these. My father graduated in 1941 and was in the first wave of forces to invade Leyte and Okinawa in WWII. Needless to say, there was never a question in our household where I would go to college. I was proud of my school, my Aggie ring and my diploma. I served 28 years as an Air Force pilot. I have watched Aggie football as long as I can remember. But today, after the showing on the field (and my heart breaks for our players!), I've come to the conclusion that I'll wish the team well and hope they are never outscored again. I hope the team wins it all every year. Call me, though, when the team, the coaches, and the administration come back to the traditions that made A&M great, regardless of won/loss record or money.
flyboy72
...."and it's Goodbye to A&M........" 
