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Texas A&M Football

Missing the Mark: The truth about Texas A&M 'ducking' Texas Tech

December 9, 2015
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Our relationship was serviceable at best. Actually, it was dysfunctional. At times it even seemed toxic.

She became unreliable. She became psychotic. She was too difficult to deal with.

It was best to move on. She was fine with that. Well, that is until a more desirable partner took her place. Then, her psychosis went into overdrive.

First, she’d taunt me from afar. Eventually, though, she sought to arrange a couple of trysts. You know, just for old time’s sake.

When rejected, she got angry. She screamed loudly. Finally, she just accused me of being too scared to face her.

It’s amazing how much the psycho bi … er, young lady, is similar to the Big 12 Conference.

Perhaps you’ve seen the Texas Monthly article that suggests Texas A&M isn’t appearing in the Texas Bowl because the Aggies are ducking the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Instead, Texas Tech will face LSU.

The article also pointed out that last year A&M did not play in the Texas Bowl, presumably, for fear of facing the Texas Longhorns.

That’s like saying Rosie O’Donnell won’t go to a restaurant for fear of getting fed.

TexAgs At the time of Texas A&M's departure from the Big 12, average Aggie teams were routinely routing Texas Tech — and on paper, the same would happen in 2015.
Why would any football team fear Texas Tech or Texas?

The article did give A&M at least a small benefit of the doubt. It suggested sending the Aggies to the Music City Bowl in Nashville was the Southeastern Conference trying to manipulate the bowl schedule to give its teams more favorable matchups.

But then, the SEC can’t decide the strength of the opponents.

The article ignored three key facts:

  • LSU wanted to be in the Texas Bowl.
  • Nashville is a more desirable destination for Aggies.
  • Louisville may be better than Texas Tech.

If any team was petitioning the SEC for a more advantageous bowl site, it may have been LSU.

Media members I know in Baton Rouge told me two weeks ago that LSU officials desired the Texas Bowl. Houston, the site of the Texas Bowl, is a prime recruiting area for LSU. It’s also an easy trip to a great stadium for LSU fans. Furthermore, LSU played in the Music City Bowl last year.

Everyone that follows college football knows that bowl games try to avoid having the same teams in consecutive years. Therefore, LSU wasn’t a candidate for the Music City Bowl and wanted to play in Houston.

Meanwhile, A&M opened its season against Arizona State at NRG Stadium. The Aggies weren’t thrilled about ending the season there.

True, A&M did play at Vanderbilt last month, so another trip there might not seem prudent. But remember, due to the SEC’s scheduling policy the Aggies won’t return to Vanderbilt for another decade. Meanwhile, Aggies can go to Houston any time.

Besides, A&M ducking Texas Tech would be like a lion ducking a zebra. The Aggies won their last three games against the Red Raiders by an average of 15 points.

Furthermore, A&M’s biggest issue this season has been scoring points. Texas Tech allows an average of 42.6 points per game to rank 125th in the nation in scoring defense. Louisville allows 24.3 points to rank 48th in the nation.

If you’re struggling to score points, which team would you rather face?

Suggesting A&M would duck Tech is as ludicrous as suggesting A&M ducked Texas last year. Remember, the Longhorns managed just 59 yards of total offense in a 31-7 loss to Arkansas, a team that A&M beat.

The psychotic ex was perplexed by facts. The Big 12 apparently is, too.

The reality is that since A&M joined the SEC the Aggies have twice faced Big 12 teams in bowl games. They’ve won both. They destroyed Oklahoma in the 2012 Cotton Bowl and handled West Virginia in last year’s Liberty Bowl. {"Module":"quote","Alignment":"left","Quote":"The reality is that since A\u0026M joined the SEC the Aggies have twice faced Big 12 teams in bowl games. They’ve won both. They destroyed Oklahoma in the 2012 Cotton Bowl and handled West Virginia in last year’s Liberty Bowl.","Author":""}
The fact is both Louisville and Texas Tech are 7-5. However, three of Louisville’s losses are to No. 1 Clemson and No. 18 Houston by three points apiece and to No. 9 Florida State.

Texas Tech lost three of its last five, was blown out in most of its losses and beat just one team with a winning record. That was 7-5 Arkansas, which A&M also beat.

Now, explain again the theory that A&M is ducking Texas Tech.

The reality is that since A&M joined the SEC the Aggies have twice faced Big 12 teams in bowl games. They’ve won both. They destroyed Oklahoma in the 2012 Cotton Bowl and handled West Virginia in last year’s Liberty Bowl.

When I started a new relationship all the previous dysfunction was discarded like garbage and left in the past.

Instead of looking back, I wanted to focus on the new, exciting and different experiences my new relationship offered.

Screaming, whining and delusional accusations from a psycho ex was not going to change that for me.

It won’t change that for Aggies, either.
Discussion from...

Missing the Mark: The truth about Texas A&M 'ducking' Texas Tech

69,737 Views | 64 Replies | Last: 8 yr ago by TBrooster87
Olin Buchanan
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S
Missing the Mark: The truth about Texas A&M 'ducking' Texas Tech
Bluecat_Aggie94
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AG
Nicely done.
Sharpshooter
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AG
Logic prevails again. Take note TM.
WGann3
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ksAG04
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WGann3
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AG
quote:

Is that Guile from Street Fighter as a kid?
coupland boy
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AG
quote:
quote:

Is that Guile from Street Fighter as a kid?


No. This kid grew up to be the Sherminator in the American Pie movies.
P.C. Principal
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mooney69
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AG
Good analysis. BTW, did anyone else seethst Sonny Cumbie passed on job as tu OC? Seems there's at least an opportunity there to be explored.
BTHO Louisville.
Amazing Moves
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Olin just did some Rippin and a Tearin!!
coupland boy
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AG
I saw this posted on facebook. By doing that are we providing more credence to this non-story than even existed. Who reads Texas Monthly anyway? I'm very serious about that.
bbb78
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quote:
Good analysis. BTW, did anyone else seethst Sonny Cumbie passed on job as tu OC? Seems there's at least an opportunity there to be explored.
BTHO Louisville.
His exact quote was "I wouldn't take that job for a million bucks."
headshrinker
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I'd like to agree that we weren't dodging TT but I think most fans would have preferred a bowl game in Houston over Nashville. Positives: All Texas matchup played in Texas, better venue weather wise, and certainly more fan friendly than Nashville as far as travel. Payout is 250K higher with fewer expenses plus a reunion of coaches. Negatives: can't think of any. Maybe there is something to the dodging claim after all??
coupland boy
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quote:
I'd like to agree that we weren't dodging TT but I think most fans would have preferred a bowl game in Houston over Nashville. Positives: All Texas matchup played in Texas, better venue weather wise, and certainly more fan friendly than Nashville as far as travel. Payout is 250K higher with fewer expenses plus a reunion of coaches. Negatives: can't think of any. Maybe there is something to the dodging claim after all??


How much time on the town and sights do you think the team got to see in Nashville a few weeks ago?

A school funded "reunion" of sorts for millionaire coaches is a benefit? Are you ****ting me?
permabull
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permabull
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sharpdressedman
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Much of the media will take every opportunity to take shots at A&M. Some have shown a pre-disposition to doing so (TM is an excellent example). They can all EAD. Olin's rebuttal was powerful, but I usually prefer to ignore them.
cs69ag
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Great article and explanation by OB...the problem is that only TexAgs readers will see it, whereas TM
is read by a lot of people.
Timberwolf
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Make it a free article! Nicely done Olin, that was beautiful!
Texags is garbage
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Houston isn't too bad of a vacation destination either. We have a giant lot right next to the stadium where an AstroWorld used to be.
jim 78
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Why play the bevo little 10
Mr. Black
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Solid article, Olin!
W
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the Ags will get to the Texas Bowl soon enough -- like maybe next year with an 8-4 or 7-5 record.

I would assume the Liberty Bowl and Music City Bowl won't be options next season
unmade bed
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unmade bed
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Lonestar1
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AG
Good Bull
milner79
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Rule #1, Olin !!!!!
10andBOUNCE
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AG
I think the only part I don't quite understand is why Nashville is a more favorable destination. Houston is down the road and would be easy to fill with Ags. Is it really that bad to play there again in the same season? I don't see how Nashville in the winter is going to be super appealing to our fan base after a disappointing season.
Joe Exotic
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quote:
I think the only part I don't quite understand is why Nashville is a more favorable destination. Houston is down the road and would be easy to fill with Ags. Is it really that bad to play there again in the same season? I don't see how Nashville in the winter is going to be super appealing to our fan base after a disappointing season.


Bowl games are meant for traveling, especially for the players. They don't want to do that in there hometown.
Leap Day William
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quote:
Maybe there is something to the dodging claim after all??


Maybe there is something to the idea that you are self-loathing, big12 sympathizing, dolt.

The article perfectly dispels that claim with plenty of valid facts, coupled with the fact that we left the big12. We do not need to keep playing them and we do not need to keep playing bowl games in Texas to keep playing them.

Let it go, elsa.
10andBOUNCE
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AG
I get that, but they just made that exact trip. I could venture to guess some players would rather stay close to home around the holidays.
coupland boy
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quote:
I get that, but they just made that exact trip. I could venture to guess some players would rather stay close to home around the holidays.


Again, do you think their last trip to Nashville allowed them to see anything outside of the airport, hotel, and stadium before they came home?

The SEC bowl tie-in's provide some diversity and that too is a recruiting tool that allows for some flexibility. Let's enjoy the full benefit of that.
gibberish
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TX scallywAG
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---
Class of '10 - A&M Undergrad & Master's Alum
CDiem05
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Olin speaking truth
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