The 2007 edition of the Fighting Texas Aggies comes in after the most successful year of the Dennis Franchione era. In absolute terms that sounds quite good. However, relative to his other years, the progress of the program has been miniscule compared to expectations when Coach Fran took the reins in 2003 from RC Slocum.
A&M's 2006 9-4 record featured an undefeated road slate that included a 12-7 victory over arch-rival Texas in Austin, but the four losses -- to Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Nebraska and to Cal in the Holiday Bowl -- show how far this program still needs to go to be considered elite. This came off a 5-6 record in 2005, a 7-5 record in 2004 and a sad 4-8 in 2003 (which um, featured a 77-0 drubbing at the hands of OU). To be fair, Coach Fran inherited a program in serious trouble. By 2002, RC Slocum had not only lost the recruiting wars to Mack Brown at Texas, but also ancillary and tertiary battles with Bob Stoops at OU, Nick Saban at LSU and assorted out-of-state raiders for talent (Florida State, Miami, and Big Ten schools like Purdue come to mind).
Despite the university's size and reputation, its athletic program was in fact not organized at a level equal to Texas, OU or LSU. The arrival of athletic director Bill Byrne in 2002 helped put A&M on track to at least compete in the college sports "arms race" -- raising funds and building facilities that would attract students.
On the other hand, A&M sits in the most talent-rich state in college football, a state so deep in talent that it essentially fills the rosters of not only nine Division 1-A in-state schools (TCU, Texas, A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, UTEP, SMU, UofH, and North Texas), but also those of universities in its neighboring states (Oklahoma's four senior captains all hail from the Lone Star State) and also provides key contributors to other major powers. That doesn't even take into account numerous Division 1-AA, II and III schools that load up on Tejanos.
In retrospect, I don't think Aggie fans expected Franchione to land a bevy of 5-star kids to the program, but they also expected him to assemble talent to provide a credible threat to the existing Big XII powers. And in Texas, you can rebuild quickly even if there is a mass influx to other schools or other states.
To date, that has not happened. To his credit, Franchione's 2006 squad brings over some firepower into 2007. Quarterback Stephen McGee leads an offense that includes sophomore tailback Michael Goodson and junior wrecking ball/ life-sized rampaging carnival of death Jorvorskie Lane. Optimism is also high thanks to defensive coordinator Gary Darnell, who in a rougish and outcast sort of way is gradually returning defensive pride to Aggieland.
It is in this environment of high expectations, strained patience and expectations fed by the sweet vapidity of summer that the Aggies open against Div. 1-AA Montana State on Sept. 1. Montana State appears to be a traditional 1-AA cupcake. However, last year, these Bobcats came into Boulder and beat up on Colorado 19-10. I don't think that will happen at Kyle Field down in College Station, but I sure do hope Coach Fran really did explain the dangers of overlooking these guys to the team.
Tomorrow our focus swings back again to the Hilltop, Georgetown University.
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Not to preempt Zo's thunder, but I can't help noting that fans of Hoya football anxiously await the NFL's final roster deadline, this coming Saturday at 4:00, for one of our Hoya brethren is one cut away from playing professional football this season. Alex Buzbee, the defensive star of the 2006 Georgetown Hoyas, signed as a free agent with local favorite, the Washington Redskins and has survived against the odds. As of last weekend, #90 was widely considered to be the 10th or 11th best defensive lineman on a team that could probably only keep ten. However, the breaking news tonight that the Skins have cut veteran DT Joe Salave'a may mean that our hopes are not misplaced.
If Alex succeeds where no Hoya has succeeded in many a decade, it may bode well on another front. Consider all those Hoya hoops devotees who ponder whether the local basketball affiliate, the Washington Wizards, will have the judgment necessary to tank this entire season in order to unceremoniously ditch two of the most profoundly awful centers in all the land, Brendan Haywood and Etan "The Bard of Al Qaeda" Thomas. Freeing themselves of this deadest of deadweight, the Wiz would then likely have the opportunity to use a lottery pick on Hoya Big Man #55 Roy Hibbert in the NBA Draft of 2008.
Will any DC area franchise wise up and realize they have a huge cash cow sitting here unmilked? I mean, the only game I know I'll attend next year is January 6th, when the Son of Jeff Green's Mom returns to the Phonebooth in all his splendor.
Hoya Saxa! Ad majorem Dei gloriam!!
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