Jump to content

Lobwedgephil

Legacy Members
  • Posts

    1926
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by Lobwedgephil

  1. Spoiler

    Haynes King will be a gamer
    Can't put this one into the 'I know' category until we actually see it on the field in live game action (and eventually in intensely competitive SEC contests) but Haynes King has all the makings of a 'gamer' — the kind of quarterback who just has a knack for completing the pressure pass or finding the sticks via a scramble or by extending a play when it matters most. I think this kid is going to be very fun to watch...as long as you're not an SEC defensive coordinator.

    The offensive line will be solid early and good late
    Arguably the biggest question mark heading into this season considering the fact that Josh Henson's unit was a team strength last year and must replace four senior starters. However, there was reason for optimism entering fall camp and even more so now that Henson and Fisher have had a month to see what they have to work with in the offensive trenches.

    0148923-yltd-240x135.jpg
    Jamie Maury, TexAgs
    Bryce Foster looks SEC-ready and should get to prove it early on.

    Kenyon Green is an All-American now manning the right tackle spot. Jahmir Johnson started parts of three seasons at Tennessee and played well. He's looked good on the left side of the line, where Deuce Fatheree will play early and often as the gifted true freshman is way ahead of where most thought he'd be. Bryce Foster looks like a future star — an All-SEC/All-American type talent — at center and fourth-year man Luke Matthews has used some time off to get healthy. He's returned to practice and the center position suddenly looks like a strength. At guard, both Akinola Ogunbiyi and Layden Robinson look ready for their Saturday turn and are down-the-road NFL talents.

    When it comes to offensive line play, experience and having a cohesive five is incredibly important. The Ags leaned on both to win a lot of games last fall. However, raw talent is a big part of the equation too, and A&M will have plenty of that along the OL. I think this unit starts off solid and ends up being very good throughout the second half of the season.

    I think I'm concerned about the cornerback position and the domino effect
    More specifically, I'm worried about Myles Jones' foot injury. He missed a couple of games to close out the 2020 season because of it and also missed the back half of spring ball. The super senior has been out of action for a couple of weeks leading into the Ags' season-opener, which has to be a concern for Mike Elko. While I'm expecting we'll see No. 0 out there in short order, foot injuries have a tendency to linger, and Myles and Jaylon Jones are the Ags' only two proven commodities at the position. Brian George enjoyed a solid camp and Tyreek Chappell seems ahead of the true freshman curve, but a healthy Myles Jones makes a very big difference at a vitally important position. On a related note, I think the ability to occasionally move Antonio Johnson to his natural deep safety spot is something Elko would love to have. Jaylon Jones might be the best bet at nickel on those downs, but the DC may not have the ability to play that particular chess piece without proper (experienced) depth at corner.

    I think Devon Achane is Texas A&M's best shot to win a Heisman Trophy currently on campus. Yes, that damned good.

    I know Devon Achane is going to be a breakout star in 2021
    The sophomore speedster is a known commodity following his Orange Bowl MVP performance, but based on what he flashed as a true freshman last season and the buzz he's generated throughout fall camp, Devon Achane is poised to emerge as one of college football's most exciting and explosive offensive weapons. What Devon is doing as a running back and pass-catcher (out of the backfield or motioned out to receiver) and what he is likely to do as the Ags' primary kick returner is going to have the college football world abuzz in short order. I think he's Texas A&M's best shot to win a Heisman Trophy currently on campus. Yes, that damned good.

    I know folks are still sleeping on Ainias Smith and Isaiah Spiller
    Spiller has earned plenty of pre-season accolades, but I still get the feeling folks aren't giving the First-Team All-SEC back his just due. He's run for roughly 2,000 yards in two seasons, and that includes playing just ten games last fall. Isaiah left a couple of games early during his All-Conference sophomore campaign when he looked poised to threaten 200 yards and also didn't get the chance to carve up Ole Miss' swiss cheese run defense in November. He entered camp in supreme shape (around 210 very lean pounds), picked up a step during the off-season and was terrific throughout fall camp. Need to start seeing #28's name on the back end of some of these Heisman top-10 lists because Spiller is set to run wild as a junior. As for Ainias Smith, he's an All-American playmaker who is going to show up on highlight reels all season, be it as a receiver, running back or punt returner. Dude just might be the most valuable player on the preseason No. 6 team in the country.

    I think Alabama at Texas A&M on October 9 will be one of the three biggest games of the college football season
    ...and the most anticipated game in the Southeastern Conference in 2021. You'll see why I say 'I think’ in my next note, but the Ags will be heavily favored to be 5-0 and likely ranked somewhere around 4th or 5th when an Alabama squad that should arrive in College Station unbeaten, battle-tested (Miami, Florida and Ole Miss prior to the Ags) and ranked No. 1 in the country. A top-five showdown at Kyle Field at night against Nick Saban and the defending national champs? We'd be talking about the most high-profile game ever played at Kyle Field...complete with countless recruits spanning the entire country and three classes in attendance.

    I know the path to set up the Alabama showdown is more dangerous than most reading this article believe
    The path to 5-0 for the Aggies isn't going to be easy for Jimbo Fisher and Co. Even if the Ags end up being one of the top four (playoff), five or even ten teams in the country in 2021, they may not be quite that good early in the season. A tricky road trip to play an improved Colorado team in the Rocky Mountains next weekend, the always dangerous tilt with Arkansas at Jerryworld (this time against a Razorback squad returning 19 starters) and a Mike Leach-led Mississippi State team looking for redemption at Kyle Field stand in the way of an epic A&M-Bama showdown. Last year, the Ags beat both the Razorbacks and Bulldogs handily, and the last time we saw the Buffs, Tom Herman looked like a competent coach in his last game in Burnt Orange as the Longhorns rolled in the Alamo Bowl. All three programs are entering year two of a new regime and are expected to take a significant step forward. It shouldn't be enough to score a win over a top-10 foe but, frankly, I'd be pleasantly surprised if the Aggies didn't find themselves in a four-quarter fight or two along the way considering their inexperience on offense and navigating early-season rust.

    0137167-kqhn-240x135.jpg
    Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
    Stars like Spiller and Smith seem finely tuned and ready to meet or exceed high expectations this season.

    I know the Aggie stars have performed like stars during fall camp, which is a very good sign
    When names like Leal, Green, Wydermyer, Spiller, Smith, Achane and Richardson keep popping up during my daily fall camp conversations, I start to feel really good about where the Aggies are at in terms of leadership and overall program culture. I also know that the guys Jimbo Fisher and Co. are going to need to lean on in the biggest moments and biggest games have prepared for the SEC gauntlet and are determined to kick the playoff door in. This could be one of those seasons where Texas A&M actually places more SEC names on the post-season All-Conference list than they did during the summer, which would bode very well for an Aggie team loaded with talent at the top.

    Speaking of, I think the Aggies have the best offensive tackle, defensive end and tight end in the Southeastern Conference. They also quite possibly have the best tailback and two of the very best all-purpose threats in Ainias and Achane.

    I know Chase Lane is ready to take the next step
    Program insiders have been raving about Chase Lane throughout August, as he's been one of the Ags' most consistent and dynamic players throughout fall camp. The sophomore is brimming with confidence following a rock-solid 2020 campaign that saw him catch 29 passes for 409 yards and two scores. Included among those grabs were several clutch plays in the second half of big wins over Florida, Auburn and North Carolina. When talking about big-play threats in the A&M offense and potential go-to targets for Haynes King, don't make the mistake of leaving Lane's name out of the discussion.

    Both Foster and Turner are grown men in the trenches and, even though they're just two months removed from high school, are ready for SEC West football.

    I know true freshmen Shemar Turner and Bryce Foster are bad, bad dudes in the trenches.
    Don't be surprised to see both five-star true freshmen wind up starting by the time SEC play rolls around. This Aggie roster boasts a ton of depth, but both Foster and Turner are grown men in the trenches and, even though they're just two months removed from high school, are ready for SEC West football. Recruiting is an inexact science, but there are a handful of can't-miss and must-have targets each and every cycle. These two will follow in the footsteps of Jaylon Jones, McKinnley Jackson, DeMarvin Leal, Kenyon Green and Bobby Brown in terms of five-star signees under Fisher who made it clear from day one that they were going to live up to and even exceed the hype.

    I know folks (including myself) haven't mentioned enough how strong A&M's special teams could be this season
    Seth Small is a proven senior who has his hands full holding off Caden Davis (who is also a lethal weapon on kickoffs) for the starting job, and Nik Constantinou has an absolute cannon attached to his hip at punter. Throw in Smith and Achane in the return game and a proven deep snapper that Fisher calls the best he's been around, and special teams has the potential to be a team strength...something you'd probably be able to say about most championship-winning teams over the years.

    Finally, I think the Aggies are better than all but one team on the 2021 schedule (Bama) and probably about even with one other (LSU)
    ...
    but my prediction for this team is going to land on an 11-2 final record, with a second consecutive New Year's Six bowl win. Oh yeah, and if the Ags beat the Bayou Bengals and Ed O is 1-3 against Jimbo Fisher and A&M, heads will explode on the Bayou.

     

  2. Spoiler

    Key notes from Billy Liucci interview

    • You read what I said yesterday. I thought that it had to be yesterday at practice when they started to shift those reps. Haynes King has been the guy. Zach Calzada's improvement level has been pretty phenomenal, and he's probably one of the five most-improved players on the team.
       
    • King won the backup job as a true freshman, and Haynes has done nothing but improve and get better. His mastery of the offense is impressive, and how quickly he learned it turned a lot of heads in Bright.
       
    • It was going to take a Herculean effort by Calzada or Haynes to struggle in camp to keep King from being the quarterback. That never happened with Haynes. Over the last couple of weeks, he has gotten better. That culminated in Sunday's scrimmage in which Haynes was really good, and Calzada threw a pick-six to Jaylon Jones. I don't think there is anybody in that locker room that would disagree with this decision. He has done what he needed to do as QB2 since Kellen Mond left.
       
    • When they're wearing those green jerseys, and you see King run 4.5s, there is just another element you can add to the offense. That is a tantalizing aspect of his game that Jimbo Fisher and Darrell Dickey can't wait to see when Kent State and Colorado roll around.
       
    • I think it was close but obvious who the guy was at the same time. Day-to-day, King performs. I don't think just because King can run better — and that's such a threat — was the differentiating factor. I thought it would be difficult for Zach to overcome that if they were dead even. I don't think this decision got to the point where they were dead even. What I'm trying to say is that King has played really well over the last couple of weeks.
       
    • Think about why Jimbo Fisher is saying this today. There are three practices before “game week.” It only hurts you to not let the starting quarterback get those extra reps with the first team. If you weren't going to make the announcement this week, then it wasn't going to happen.
       
    • The bottom line is that Haynes played like the #1 quarterback. The questions that are being asked are valid, but it's not as big of a deal as what happens next. He's the guy now. Jimbo says that the players and the team pick the quarterback. They'll let you know. That has always been Haynes, and that's one of his strengths. I think people are going to see his leadership this year. I've compared him to Colt McCoy from that standpoint, but he's way faster. The guys love him. He has that thing about him that you want a quarterback to have.
       
    • Calzada's reaction is important because he's the only other scholarship quarterback on campus. Eli Stowers has moved to tight end, and I'm sure he could be an emergency quarterback if need be. It's important for Calzada to handle this well. I don't think he's sitting there thinking he got robbed. I think Haynes won the job fair and square. Zach was given every shot and knows the situation.
       
    • Calzada still has three years of eligibility after this season. I don't think the word "transfer" is in his vocabulary, and he's one play away from being the starting quarterback in the SEC West for a top-ten football team. I think he understands that he can worry about all of that after this season. Right now, I think he's focused on being the backup quarterback.

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
  3. 11 hours ago, Cheeseweasel said:

    I look at it this way. There are a SHITLOAD of very wealthy and influential people in the markets. I'd rather be on the side that they are on than on the side of the people proclaiming gloom/doom and stuffing money in mason jars.

    How will you know when they go short? 

  4. 3 hours ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

    I’ve always thought that Dollar cost buying or buying the dips is the best strategy. There are too many factors that cause the price to go up or down. I don’t see how someone can be a frequent trader and maximize their profits. 

    Bitcoin and ETH trade very well technically, so a lot of money can be made on the moves with the volatility, but you have to know what you are doing. 

  5. Spoiler
    Liucci
    Staff
    AG
    Brauny did a pretty amazing job of keeping you guys up to speed all weekend and got plenty of in-person and phone interviews following a monster visit weekend for Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies. Here are ten thoughts as we approach a big decision from one of the Ags' longtime targets and (at least) one of the previous weekend visitors:

    1) Best collection of talent I've ever seen in College Station on a given recruiting weekend. Bar none. Go check the thread about other programs crying about the turnout in Aggieland. When you have fans from LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas (what else is new...all the way down to The Motel crying foul as a working member of a national site) and even Alabama getting worked up and envious about the turnout for the A&M pool party, you know you've accomplished something.

    2) Momentum is nice, but the only 'accomplishment' that really matters is picking up commitments and eventually signing an outstanding class. The Ags are well on their way to reaching that goal but who will be the next to jump on board? At this point in time, the two to keep the closest eye on would be a pair of defensive backs.  Bryce Andersonwill announce between A&M and Texas on Friday and Deyon Bouie (Smoke) is someone I feel could make his A&M/UGA pick prior to his senior season. They won't be the only two prime-time Aggie targets to wrap things up before the season starts (recent LSU de-commit and Ponchatoula (LA) safety Jordan Matthews is someone I'll be watching closely) but beyond those two, you're talking about a mild surprise. For what it's worth, if the Aggies are fortunate enough to add Bryce and Smoke to the fold, the current class ranking of 12 moves all the way up to 6, right behind LSU and just ahead of Georgia.

    3) Everyone is counting the hours until tomorrow when Beaumont West Brook defensive back Bryce Anderson will announce between A&M and Texas. The five-star playmaker's choice would be a big one in any cycle, but it's particularly high-profile in this instance for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, Bryce has been one of the Ags' top-level priorities from day one, dating back to very early in his high school career. Anderson is good enough to be an instant-impact guy in the A&M secondary and is gifted enough that he could do so anywhere on the back end.  

    Second, this is an old-school, rather a new-school, Aggie-Longhorn battle for one of the elite prospects in the Lone Star State. The battles between Texas and A&M suddenly feel like they mean a whole heck of a lot more on the recruiting front, and if Jimbo Fisher, Mike Elko and the Ags win out for the Golden Triangle defender, it's going to feel like one of the more significant head-to-heads this cycle.

    Finally, Anderson would not only address one of the more significant need areas for the Ags, but the five-star defensive back is also the type of recruit whose commit would boost class momentum in a big way. He's wildly popular in the Houston area and around the state and is also close with more than a couple of the Aggies' primary out-of-state targets, as well. Putting it simply, Bryce would immediately join forces with guys like Bobby Taylor and Donovan Green as ace recruiters for the Ags.

    4) Coming out of this weekend and entering the start of fall camp, which players do I feel best about when it comes to Texas A&M eventually winning out? Let's try this by category (and, no, I'm not saying the Ags are getting all of these guys, just the level of confidence on my end):
     
    5) If you're wondering why I didn't include a pair of targets at corner on that list, it's because I'm convinced the Ags could land either Florida commit and Clear Lake standout Julian Humphrey or PA Memorial's Jaylon Guilbeau with an all-in push. If the Ags do end up landing Anderson on Friday and feel good about Bouie, the options look kind of like this:  

    Push for one of those two pure CBs and feel great about a five-man haul and consider adding a true safety like Jordan Mathews or Kamari Wilson the five-star icing on the cake if you can pull it off. Or...take a couple of games in the fall to evaluate the in-state corners, better gauge your chances with Mathews and then decide what the final move is.

    One thing worth noting: The Ags signed four DBs last year after losing Kendal Daniels after NSD and only three HS cover men the cycle before that, with one already tearing an ACL (Josh Moten) and another looking like a guy who will head to the NFL after next season (Jaylon Jones). A pretty significant need for the Ags to sign five really good ones this year, no doubt about it.

    6) The Ags' big commitment from the Class of 2023 - Colton Thomasson - has a great story. The 6-7 tackle from Smithson Valley played much heavier than he'd like last fall but also impressed plenty of big-time programs on tape. However, the junior-to-be at one point was north of 400 pounds. The young man fully committed himself to getting into real shape and shedding pounds and did a pretty remarkable job, losing 91 pounds along his journey. Fast forward to earlier this summer, and the 320-pound tackle made the camp rounds and blew away the competition and college coaches alike, picking up offers at nearly every camp he attended, including A&M, Texas, OU, Baylor and TCU.  

    A feel-good story for Thomasson, without question, but this is also a great ending for Josh Henson and the Aggies, who offered Colton following his camp showing in College Station and immediately considered the towering, flexible and athletic tackle an absolute must in the 2023 class. He joins Louisiana QB and possible five-star Eli Holstein and gifted DE Anthony James of Wylie East on the early commit list. The Ags are in a very nice early position for a couple of five-stars from the junior ranks in Allen DE David Hicks and El Campo RB Rueben Owens (TexAgs' current No. 1 and No. 2-ranked players in the state).

    The 2023 train has already left The Station and is picking up quite a bit of steam behind the scenes.

    7) So far, all but one (Washington kicker Ethan Moczulski) of the Ags' 12 commitments hail from Texas. That will soon change, as there are several five-star and national top-100 targets the Aggies are pursuing. Most of those left standing reside within the SEC footprint, plus a couple of big-time targets out of Pac-12 country. Let's take a quick look at where the Ags stand with the prime-time targets:

    Smoke Bouie
    Love the Ags' chances here and have for a while. Smoke's return trip to College Station was even better than his visit earlier this summer and it almost feels like he's already a member of the class in terms of how he's meshed with the others. While pulling a five-star that Kirby Smart desperately wants out of the Peach State is about as tall a task as there is in recruiting, the Aggies are getting closer and closer to getting it done.

    Gabe Brownlow-Dindy
    This has sounded like an A&M/OU battle for quite some time. The national top-10 prospect is the type of young man whose recruitment is very relationship-driven, and the Ags have scored big in that department. There's also the fact that Brownlow-Dindy's family will be moving to College Station soon (I believe following his senior season in Florida). Because he grew up in an OU house, the Sooners are still very formidable here, but Fisher, Elijah Robinson and the Aggies are positioned to pull off what could end up being the biggest upset of the 2022 cycle.

    Anthony Lucas
    Arizona's No. 1 prospect recently released a top-7 featuring A&M, Bama, Miami, USC, Oregon, Notre Dame and LSU. Led by Terry Price and Elijah Robinson, the Ags are right there in this thing but he's still fairly open.

    Jacoby Mathews
    Mathews visited officially in June and seemed locked in on LSU. That's changed of late, as the five-star safety decommitted and opened things up prior to returning to Aggieland over the weekend. Suddenly, even the folks in Bayou Country are openly calling A&M the team to top. This one will be worth watching between now and the start of football season, as Jacoby is coming off of a tremendous College Station visit and has really bonded with several current and future members of the '22 class.

    Le'Veon MossLe
    The Alabama commit was back in town last weekend and the Ags are still a very real threat here. While flipping a Tide pledge sounds unlikely if not impossible, Tommie Robinson has done an amazing job here and the Aggies are in the midst of a full-summer push and don't intend on going anywhere. Moss continues to consider the Ags a very real option despite his commitment to Saban and Bama.

    Mark Nabou
    Love the Aggies' chances with the 6-5, 350-pound tackle from the Pacific Northwest. A&M, Michigan and Oregon stand out and Nabou will be in town for the Alabama game in early October. After that, I'd keep a close eye on the big OL who has been a prime-time target since his camp showing in June.

    Walter Nolen
    This one is quite the longshot, but the No. 2 prospect in the country absolutely loved his three-day visit to Aggieland and so did his father. The five-star defensive tackle from Tennessee plans to return for an official this fall, and Elijah Robinson and Nick Williams are the leads in this one. So, yes, I'm telling you there's a chance.

    Shemar Stewart
    While the Ags have been recruiting the five-star defensive end and national top-10 prospect for quite a while, this one has kind of come out nowhere in terms of A&M surging up his list of favorites. Stewart spent the entire weekend in College Station and loved everything about the school, the program, the coaching staff and the visit. The Aggies are riding some real momentum here, but Shemar is in no rush to decide and is going to be under a lot of pressure to stay in state (Miami, in particular). Still, A&M, LSU, UGA, Ohio State...all of the big dogs are calling, and the Ags have as good a shot as any. He plans to return for an official during Bama weekend.

    Kamari Wilson
    Wilson has already officially visited but plans to return to a game this fall. This one will be pretty tough, with Georgia, LSU, Florida, FSU and Miami rounding out his final six. A lot of folks feel UGA is going to be tough to beat here and the pull to remain in Florida will be strong.

    😎 A position that is beginning to remind me of running back two classes ago is wide receiver. A ton of hand-wringing when a high-profile target or two fall off the board, fans questioning the direction at the position, only to see the finished product ended up looking pretty damn good after all. Think Zach Evans, EJ Smith and Devon Achane (followed immediately thereafter by LJ Johnson, of course).  

    The Ags lost a tough battle for Georgia five-star Kojo Antwi and the nation's No. 1 at the position, Frisco game-breaker Evan Stewart, has only given the Ags cursory interest. After picking up 6-5 specimen Noah Thomas in the early going (one of the more underrated prospects in Texas), Dameyune Craig and the Ags suddenly appear well-positioned with two of the state's best at wideout. A&M was in great shape with Fort Bend Marshall's Chris Marshall and in a solid position with Spearman speedster Brenen Thompson prior to last weekend's BBQ, and now I'd say the Ags are in as good a spot as they've been with Marshall (he's also being recruited actively by Buzz Williams, as well) and may also be emerging as the team to beat for Thompson, as well.

    Neither player appears close to deciding and Thompson is planning to visit again this fall, but the Ags are trending with two big-play pass-catchers who could round out a pretty darn exciting three-man haul that would feature incredible size (Thomas), rare speed (Thompson) and an athletic freak who reminds me a lot of former A&M star Robert Ferguson (Marshall).

    9) We're a long way off from this happening, but the possibility that the Ags' defensive class in 2022 ends up being considered arguably the best in program history (on Signing Day, at least) isn't all that far-fetched.

    The Ags' current commit haul includes several truly gifted athletes. Bobby Taylor and Jarred Kerr in the secondary, Ish Harris and Martrell Harris at linebacker and Jadon Scarlett and Malick Sylla along the defensive front.  

    Sylla - the nation's No. 55 recruit per the composite - is a borderline five-star talent. He could soon be joined by several defenders carrying a similarly lofty ranking. The Ags are very close with both Bryce Anderson (No. 48 overall) and Smoke Bouie (No. 50) and are in a very good spot when it comes to guys like Bear Alexander (a five-star and the No. 30-ranked player in the country), Harold Perkins (five-stars and No. 12 overall) and Jacoby Mathews (five-star, No. 26 overall) and are no worse than tied at the top for Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, the nation's No. 7 overall prospect.

    A&M is also very much in the hunt for weekend visitors Shemar Stewart (Composite No. 8 overall) and Walter Nolen (the No. 2 overall prospect in America). Five-star safety Kamari Wilson (No. 16 overall) and Anthony Lucas (No. 84 overall) recently included the Ags among his seven finalists.  

    In state, Ernest Cooper comes in at No. 150 nationally, Jaylon Guilbeau is one spot behind that in the composite and Julian Humphrey checks in at 95th overall.  

    When you look at the aforementioned names and factor in the Ags' chances with each individually, it quickly becomes clear that Fisher and Elko could lead the way on a defensive class featuring a half dozen or more signees ranked among the nation's top 60 recruits, possibly as many as seven or eight.

    Absolutely insane.

    10) Look, the Aggies were working on getting a star-studded group to the end of summer BBQ/pool bash long before news broke about OU and Texas joining the SEC. They're also trying to recruit at a level that Alabama and Georgia do annually as part of the ongoing quest to knock the Tide off of the Southeastern Conference mountaintop. Fact of the matter is, Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies are accustomed to fighting recruiting battles with the Bulldogs and Tide, with Florida for players from the Sunshine State, with Ohio State and Oklahoma and everyone in the SEC in the Deep South and B1G powers for blue-chip prospects from the Northeast.  

    The Sooners and Longhorns joining the league doesn't change what's already true: Fisher and A&M are regularly fighting - and oftentimes winning - recruiting battles from coast to coast and within the home state border for the best of the best. None of that changes with last week's news.

    That said, if you know anything about Jimbo, it's that he's as competitive a coach as there is in the sport. He'd probably never admit as much, but don't think for a second there's not a little extra motivation to show not only folks in the Lone Star State but across the college football world that the Ags aren't going to be phased by SEC expansion (and certainly not the Longhorns) and will continue to recruit at an elite level.

    Somewhere, Stewart Mandel is working on an article to point out that, while a great recruiter, Jimbo Fisher has been unable to produce a national championship or beat Alabama during his whole three years in College Station. Seriously, what is with some of these guys??? 
     

     

     

  6. Spoiler

    You can view Part 1 of Ask Liucci, the video edition, HERE.

    Get me fired up for this season again and pour me a glass of maroon koolaid! What's the latest from inside the locker room and what/who are you most intrigued about heading into fall camp?

    The real buzz out of Bright has a whole hell of a lot to do with the buy-in from the seniors and star players on down. Even the true freshmen have already 'figured things out' in terms of what's expected. A couple of younger (first and second-year) guys were lagging a little early but were quickly told how things are done during Jerry Schmidt's off-season. Whether it's in the weight room, during conditioning or voluntary 7-on-7 and skill work, this is a team that is all in and has been ever since the Orange Bowl win. Ask anyone on the inside and they'll tell you things just feel, look and sound different around the football facility. That and the fact that this freshman class looks just like the two before it: Absolutely loaded and with an eye-catching amount of top-end talent. And when you're hearing names like Yulkeith Brown, Albert Regis, Tyreek Chappell, Zion Taylor, Matthew Wykoff and Dreyden Norwood as guys who are turning heads, it's an excellent indicator that the class is absolutely loaded, considering those are some of the lower-ranked guys in the class (at least when it comes to 'star rankings').

    What does college football look like 10 years from now?

    Your guess is as good as mine. I think the SEC will be sitting at 20 teams, to be honest. Twelve-team playoff. B1G will have expanded (USC and another?), ACC will be fighting to fend off SEC expansion. Big 12 won't exist. Trending towards two mega-conferences? Tough to say. Whatever it is, we'll hate the sound of it today but the changes will be gradual enough that we'll all still be on board (most of us, anyway).

    Elko gets most of the attention about potentially moving on, but what other assistants aspire to move up the ranks? I assume most would, but occasionally you find guys that love what they do and where they're at (Terry Price and Bud Foster as examples)

    I think several are upwardly mobile but it will take the perfect situation for them to move. Guys like Elko, Robinson, Henson jump out and Coley has been an OC at big-time programs in the past. Again, A&M is paying their assistants big money and they're working for an SEC program that is rapidly ascending the national ladder. They're also working under a national championship head coach, so every assistant in Aggieland can afford to be very picky. It's why the Ags were one of the few programs in the country that didn't lose a single assistant following last season.

    If you could time travel back 10 years, what would you tell this man to give him hope?

    "This is your last game in the Big 12, you'll dress better and lose some weight and you won't have to see these *#$%*@ for a full decade." Oh, that and, "Don't worry, the gif will no longer be funny by 2043."

    Do you think LSU football gets any punishment as a result of recent investigations? Curious if SEC considers that during pod assignment (if they go that route).

    Yes. And I think they find out in Baton Rouge prior to the season. Not sure how long that would take to become public but it could be during the fall. No, the league wouldn't consider anything like that in assigning pods if that's the route they go.

    Okay, Looch, gotta get your take on the pod system vs the 8-team divisions. To me, it's a no-brainer to go pods, 9 game conference schedule: 3 annual games from your pod, 2 bi-annual rotating games from the other 3 pods, that way you play everybody within a 2-year cycle, along with getting a home game from everybody every 4 years. ...

    I think the only thing I don't like about the pod system is that we've never seen it. I also think I don't like the possibility of a 'Big 12' pod with OU, Texas and Missouri. A&M fans would hate that setup. I'm all for playing the Horns every year but would love if the Ags were in a different pod just to keep it more traditional 'SEC' feel.

    Your idea would make sense, only in order to play the Horns every year, you'd have to keep things within the same pod. I just don't like the idea of reverting back to playing three teams from the Big 12 every single year... especially Mizzou. But you know they'll pair up A&M and Texas so you're kind of stuck with OU and either Mizzou or Arkansas in your system. I'd like to see something similar but perhaps somehow working in a permanent opponent from another pod. Not going to take the time right now to sort through how that would work but you get what I mean.

    ...since we're trending towards 'Super Conference' mode, it just makes more sense to play more different teams within your conference each and every year.

    I keep thinking this question is over but keep realizing it's just more your commentary on the hypothetical scheduling (which was interesting by the way).

    ...I'll hang up and listen...

    Are you sure we're hanging up? Positive? Okay, hang up in 3, 2, 1... And by the way, my favorite idea is the simple, three teams every year and then rotate six teams one year, the other six the next format. Play everyone twice in four years (a college career), get everyone at home every four years and have three legitimate rivals.

    Where do TCU and BU end up?

    I think they are in a bad, bad way right now, even more so than Tech and Iowa State. The biggest losers here could be TCU, Baylor and K-State. I think TCU and BU could be gobbled up by the AAC. Really a tough situation for a place like TCU, who wandered around in the desert for so long after the SWC, and found some early success in the Big 12 (and continued success in baseball and were making great hires across the big three sports). Now what? And how do the fans stay hopeful that big-time college athletics will continue to be played in Fort Worth at this point?

    Does the fact that they are private and (supposed to be) religious schools help or harm them in their search?

    Not really. At all.

    Billy, you mentioned in a recent post that there may be more SEC expansion on the horizon. Who are the possible schools for that expansion? It doesn't seem like there are any available teams that would move the needle, except for maybe USC and UCLA (Ohio State seems like a pipe dream, and the ACC schools are supposedly locked up until 2036).

    USC is always fascinating because of the brand and because of the LA/West Coast market but it's just such a terrible fit for travel and just doesn't seem to work. That said, I could one day see the Trojans in the B1G. As for the SEC, I think it's the ACC for them. Eventually. Like you said, those programs are locked in for a while. The ACC was probably actually the driving force behind Sankey and the SEC grabbing the Longhorns and Sooners last week, as well. Had they added OU and Texas, their footprint would have extended all the way into Texas and the league would have added something like 6 million more TV sets (from 30 to 36 million). The SEC expanded by only around 800k but it kept the ACC from grabbing a pair of powers who were absolutely on the market. Imagine an ACC adding the Texas footprint and the Longhorn and Sooner brands and then eventually using that flex to finally absorb Notre Dame? Sankey and the SEC did and didn't like what they saw. Instead, they've locked down the SEC as the dominant force in college football for the foreseeable future.

    Yes or No question Sark is basically tu's version of Sumlin but without Johnny, a way less experienced OL and a much worse overall HC record?

    I would say no. I see where you're going and the end result could look a lot like Sumlin's year two or three-six run in the SEC but at least Sumlin was coming directly off of a successful stint as a head coach and there was an unknown ceiling at this level. On the one hand, Sark having been the boss at USC and UW makes him much more experienced when it comes to coaching at power programs but he had also struggled at get it done at both spots and hasn't been a head coach in several years. I think he's Sumlin (results-wise) minus the breakout first season and he's there a couple of years less than Summy was in CS. 

    Wildcard that could change that narrative? He has a breakout year THIS year in a far inferior league, led by his own offensive star in Bijan and that gets everyone on Austin on board and fools recruits in the short-term. Very important season in Austin or he could be another 3-4 year guy.

    Second Yes or No question Had TexAgs staff been OC at Bama last year, end result would have been same as Sark's (but probably recruited slightly better)?

    Sark did a hell of a job with that offense. But so did Kiffin and Locksley. He's not a unicorn and was absolutely made to look better because of the overwhelming talent at WR, RB and along the offensive line. Anyone who doesn't recognize both facts (that Sark is an outstanding offensive mind and that he was working with an NFL offense in terms of talent) simply refuses to acknowledge the obvious.

    What are the real limits on transfers, and nil money, and why wont every team simply buy a roster now, up to and including spending tens or hundreds of millions annually on paying players through nil arrangements?

    Most power programs will be doing exactly that. Not tens or hundreds of millions, however. Even for programs like A&M and Texas, that well will run dry... especially as they're also being asked for money for facilities upgrades, coaches salary increases, etc. But you're going to be talking about a lot of money being pushed to the athletes via the NIL. It's just going to escalate every time you hear about a new deal.

    How big will the new superconference really be?

    I think eventually the potential is there for a 48-team, NFL type of league and that's it. But that's way down the road. To me now, I could see three 18- or 20-team super-leagues form within the next five-seven years.

    What surprises are left in tu/espn/sankey's deal that we haven't heard about yet?

    There's really no telling. I think the mistrust of Sankey may be being a bit overblown outside of never underestimating what a savvy businessman will do but there's no telling where Texas and ESPN are involved. One thing I'm fairly certain of, however, is that they're not going to carry any more power than the other 'haves' in the conference. And contrary to what the past week made it look like, if you know anyone around the league, they consider A&M one of the haves and it's not really up for debate. You're only as strong as your leadership, however, so the Aggies need to regroup after getting plenty of egg on the face in the wake of this PR failure.

    What other dirty tricks do you expect from tu and ou to attempt to unlevel the playing field?

    I'm not expecting them to have the ability to pull nearly as much as folks seem to think. This is about A&M staying up and continuing the trajectory in football. If they do that and Fisher knows he's getting everything he needs to succeed (which he will), then it really doesn't matter who is in the league. The conference was already brutally tough enough and now the Ags probably don't have to face Bama annually, so there might even be a slight reprieve in one way.

    NCAA division 1 revenue currently equals the NFL. If free transfers and no nil caps are the new rule, will the NFL have to step in to protect its turf from the new superconference?

    I don't know what the NFL could do other than to create a D-League type of option of their own. I just don't think they NEED to do that, regardless of what direction college 'superconferences' go on Saturdays.

    Why is the A&M admin likely voting yay? Why wouldn't we abstain?

    I know folks were split on this one on the boards and throughout the fan base but the way I see it is that A&M protested (and should have done so behind the scenes and much earlier in the process) and the deal was going through regardless. I know how it looks to some through a Maroon lens but even though everyone following and covering this stuff knows that the Aggies weren't happy with the decision, at some point, you really do need to get on board and not be petty about the whole thing. You're a part of a conference (still) and you're not going anywhere. The other 13 members voted in favor and you weren't kept in the dark quite as much as was being originally floated out there. This was Sankey-driven, but I don't think the Commissioner is quite the villain in this that he's been portrayed as. He's a businessman who is far more worried about the bottom line and the future of the league than he is any one team.

    If tu went behind our back to join the SEC, do you expect them to get "behind the back" treatment as an SEC member i.e. getting an easy pod, or forcing us to play them and ou plus Missouri, instead of us going against LSU and the Mississippi schools?

    I don't expect that but they'll certainly try to when it comes to Texas A&M. We've seen it all too often over the years. Then again, there are going to be many instances where the Aggies and Longhorns are going to actually be ALIGNED in their desire to get something pushed through or blocked so, as wild as it may sound to some of you, that's where the addition would actually benefit A&M.

    By the way, 'forcing' A&M to play Missouri, Texas and OU every year isn't THAT much different than LSU, State and Ole Miss. And adding Texas and OU as annual foes while dropping Bama and Auburn would be a plus. If I'm A&M, I'd use this to get a first-year break from Bama if you could (after facing them ten or eleven years straight).

    How much of a negative impact will A&M have from a recruiting standpoint (short and long term), now that tu will be an SEC Conference member?

    I don't think they will at all. Look at this past weekend as proof. If anything, it will give Texas a nice boost and negate the built-in affiliation advantage A&M got to work with for a decade. Texas also still has to win and win under Sark almost immediately or that bump they're poised to get goes right out the window. Everyone realizes that but it's not as entertaining or dramatic for the media to mention just yet. If Jimbo and the Ags continue to win and are an established top-10 program, they're going to continue to recruit lights out regardless of who is in the league.

    Man, you had me worried there for a moment when I saw the pic… am I glad this was not the version I always see posted on OB when I go tear harvesting... Those ***holes over there suck!!!

    Some of them are awful for a lot of reasons but plenty are perfectly fine. And then, some are just flat-out obsessed with me and making up whatever type of bull**** they can about me. I watch it and just shake my head, laugh and am happy there's no one out there who I don't know or have never met who gets into my head so much that I have to resort to the lowest level to make myself feel better about myself. As for that gif, what anyone who knows me gets is that I find it absolutely hilarious. Look, it's funny. Funny as hell and it's certainly held up over a full decade so you know it was good! Hell, I've got friends who have it pop up on their phone when I call. We all laugh about it. It's timeless.

    If we go to pods, do you think the SEC will adopt a semi-finals for the championship? That along with a12 team playoff might be over the top for number of games.

    Yeah, that's a tough one. I think it's a stretch when combined with a 12-team playoff. That's why the 3-6, no division idea might work best. There's also that part of let's say Alabama went 12-0 and Auburn went 11-1 with a loss to Bama. How does that feel if Auburn was the only other 1-loss team in the conference and let's say a 9-3 co-pod champion got in elsewhere. It's kind of like a scaled-down version of what I think is wrong with guaranteeing conference champs get into the new playoff format.

    How much added money will each current member of the SEC get when OU/sip are added?

    Good question. I think everything at this point is just speculation but it's a fairly good bump. Maybe not what many would assume, however. I think this was as much a defensive move as it was an offensive move by the conference.

    Who exactly is responsible for A&M's PR? The same people that have been at it for the past 25 years? Whoever it is needs to be shown the door. Time to hire a competent firm or group of people so this university quits looking dumb on a semi-regular basis. Though recent news might have technically been a surprise, it was never out of the realm of possibility and the leaders should have already had talking points drafted beforehand no matter how small the possibility is thought to be. May as well start planning responses for the idiotic plans these jokers will likely try to pull once they're actually members.

    I don' think this was a PR thing as much as it was an unacceptable communication chain breakdown. That's what led to so much of the disjointed messaging coming out in the wake of the news and, after all information was gathered, subsequent backpedaling. 

    Some schools were very active in the transfer portal (OU, Bama) whereas A&M was not. Is that a philosophy thing with Jimbo or should we expect more transfer activity in the future?

    I think you can expect more activity from the Ags in the portal moving forward. It's something they're factoring in to their recruiting moves at this time and will moving forward. The most interesting piece will be if the NCAA adjusts in terms of the initial counter rule to allow for more leeway with so many kids being on the move.

    Given realignment, how important is it for A&M to break through this year (or at least to live up to last year's performance)? It seems to me that this season just got a lot more important in terms of being able to maintain our recruiting level after our in-state conference edge disappears.

    Completely agree. You answered your own question there. Ags don't have to go to a playoff or win a natty this year but sustaining program momentum and continuing to trend towards SEC and national title contention is as important as ever.

    Do you think the state of Texas still owns the highest level of football talent over any other state in the union?

    Highest numbers, yes. As far as top-end, elite talent goes, there are several states that would give Texas a run for its money (and then some). The Lone Star State still (and always will) dominate in terms of the quality/quantity combination, however.

    How important is it that we just accept what is happening with tu and OU joining our conf. and start looking forward to whatever silver lining there is?

    I think saying 'just accept it' is really the wrong way to go about it. You would have preferred to remain the only SEC team from Texas forever but it didn't work out that way. Times change, the college football/tv/money/conference landscape is changing daily as is college football in general. Like most of you, I was loving the way things were and, to be perfectly blunt, not being in the same league or having to deal with our friends from Texas. I'm not talking about on the field but rather off the field and in terms of being conference 'partners.' The track record has not been good. But here we are. I'm not sure of the silver lining other than you'll get the chance to beat both of them on the field but I do think it's time to start to get fired up about the matchups and what a new-look SEC could look like with Texas A&M remaining near the top and as one of the most upwardly-mobile programs in the country... and continuing to excel and take it to the next level in every other sport, as well. OU and Texas are in. All they're doing is putting even more distance between the league and every other in just about everything.

    Thanks for bringing Nuno to the Texags Family. He's been a flawless transition from Gabe and I look forward to the new content that is going to be coming our way. Any hints as to what we may be seeing as I'm guessing more video content or live broadcasts?

    Not to give too much away, but we have plans for a couple of new pieces of content in the fall, including a video feature early Sunday to get things started. He also has some fun plans for Saturday nights following the game. David has been every bit as incredible an addition as I had hoped and the overwhelming majority of you guys have made his very tough transition (new job, new city, moving the family) so much easier. He's one of the all-time good guys and unbelievably hard-working and talented, which is why he's always been on my 'list' of folks I'd love to bring on board if that opportunity ever presented itself.

    Do you think Buzbee knew beforehand that tu was going to make the move to the SEC? Is this why Buzbee has been so vocal in pulling out his support?

    No. I don't think that had anything to do with why he was so vocal last summer. And it seems that not everyone realizes this so I'll add that he's no longer on the board and hasn't been for a while. Has instead focused on his law practice and, as all of you know, running for the mayor's seat in Houston.

    Who is responsible for getting the donor NIL money together to pay players? Let's face it, with no rules it's now a bidding war.

    Things are happening rapidly behind the scenes. The Aggies are going to be big winners on the NIL front and I'll leave it at that.

    Lots of schools have taken on analyst positions to help with the coaching end. Have you seen any schools move toward hiring an NIL-focused position to help the athletes specifically?

    I think I'd read where a couple have and I could certainly see where it would help but only to a point. It would be more about educating the athletes, since college programs and athletic departments really can't have any say in the NIL deals players strike.

    It almost seems like you could essentially hire someone as the equivalent of an agent, but working for the University instead, specifically to help find NIL opportunities for players. Even having something like that seems like it'd be useful to recruiting.

    The crazy thing is that while the schools can't do that, folks working for actual agents can. Heck, TexAgs could even create an arm that does exactly what you're talking about, but we don't intend to take on that type of workload.

    A second more general version of that question would be, what is the most creative use of the NIL that you've seen implemented in the early wild west of NIL?

    Probably the Miami thing where every player gets a little bit (a 'little' as in 6K). Would love to see a baseline where every athlete at A&M (and maybe you start with the Big 3) gets something.

    Who knew and why was it kept from top A&M brass and the athletic department?

    I don't know specifically who knew but I know everyone at A&M should have known in early June at the latest. As I said last week, getting to the bottom of where the chain of communication broke down sure feels like an absolute must for the folks in charge.

    Any thoughts on how the college football landscape will look like over the next decade, in the light of NIL and the conference consolidation? What is the future for the NCAA?

    Good question but such a long answer that I think I've answered on air and perhaps even in this thread.

    What, if any, kind of recruiting advantage should we see over tu and ou if they have 4 more seasons in a lame-duck conference?

    They won't have four more years in there. I'd say they're playing in the SEC next fall or, at the latest to start 2023. If they do sit in there for too long, it will quickly become a recruiting disadvantage. There's a fine line. At first, they'd benefit from claiming 'SEC' without having to take the Ls that come with it on the field on Saturdays. But once it became clear it's going to be another couple of years, they'd lose the recruiting bump they'll both receive in the short term.

    Being a second-generation Aggie I have long thought that the State Fair of Texas game should have been between sip and the Aggies instead of Sooner. Sooner and sip can play on Thanksgiving weekend, (home and home), and we get LSU to end the regular season. I figure Sooner would fight like hell to keep the State Fair of Texas game but I believe the Aggies playing the State Fair of Texas game would improve our recruiting and offset any damage to our recruiting from the SEC accepting the B12 refugees. Your thoughts?
     

    That would never happen. On several levels. And you WANT to play the Horns at Kyle Field every other year if they're in your conference. Zero chance that game is ever anything but a home-and-home, which is the way it should stay, IMO.

    The guys on The Ticket in Dallas were hinting that the SEC would help tu and OU pay their buyout to the b12. Surely that's not the case

    I don't think the SEC will do it. But I do think there's some legitimate smoke to the idea of ESPN doing it with the money they owe Texas for the remainder of the Longhorn Network deal. That's far from a sure thing, however.

    In recruiting How much of an advantage is Austin over College Station? CS is a completely different place than it was when we were in the big 12

    Just depends entirely on the kid and the family of the young man/woman you're recruiting. It's truly a matter of preference in a lot of instances. At times, however, the young athlete is looking more at things like the coaches, playing time, where the program is currently at and trending, academics and even facilities/game day atmosphere even more so than the city. It's not the be-all, end-all by any stretch and recruits tend to come to College Station and have a hell of a time, contrary to what the folks in Austin would like to believe.

    If the SEC continues to expand to 20 or more teams at what point does the quality of play begin to suffer due to the finite number of truly elite recruits being spread thin?
    Do you think that will only affect the already weaker schools and the strong schools will just continue to get stronger?

    Not worried about the first part of your question being a thing but I do think NIL, the portal and conference expansion is going to expand the chasm between the haves and have nots.

    NIL Question - how does this setup change the roster management of baseball? With partial scholarships being the norm, it seems to me college baseball would be set to benefit a ton from NIL. Am I off base?

    College baseball could be the biggest beneficiary at a place like Texas A&M, no doubt about it. Do that right and it can serve as a lethal weapon when it comes to recruiting out of high school (simply by the prospects knowing what the guys on the roster are making) and in terms of being able to keep kids from entering the draft.

    Last week at media days Sankey said that 6 of the 14 teams had reached the 80-85% vaccinated level. Do you know if we are one of those 6 teams?

    The Aggies were not one of those teams at the time, per my sources. However, they're getting closer and closer to that point.

    So are we playing the horns every year on thanksgiving?

    No idea yet but don't you fully expect that will be the case? Again, if we're in the league together, I personally don't have a problem with it and it would mean the Ags are not only in the premier conference in all of college football but also once again be a part of one of the best rivalry games, as well.

    Will the Texas coach that is not allowed to coach in the SEC be able to coach when they enter the league?

    Bo Davis? I think his whole deal (a previous Show Cause) will be in the rearview mirror by the time Texas enters the conference.

    What's Jimbo going to do with all the extra budget from the new TV contracts?

    Who knows but I wouldn't bet against it allowing him to add more analysts and football support staff. You can never have enough.

    What capital campaigns are under way or in the future for Jimbo's vision for the program?

    Not to give too much away, but Jimbo has mentioned it before so you're talking about a new indoor setup (something pretty epic), a stand-alone academic center and I think even a new outdoor practice field or two.

    Do you have any worries that tu will eventually get some power within the SEC? Who expected they would get huge NCAA protection and power with one plant for the enforcement branch in the 60's or so moving forward for decades? My gut tells me that the SEC will not relinquish any power from the "originals". We have some history of that...

    Never say never but I think they're walking into a 14-team group that isn't going to allow them to take any sort of power or control in the league. Nothing like what they were able to do in the Big 12.

    Do you think think the rest of the SEC has really thought out the long-term ramifications of having the 2 flagship Texas universities that dwarf in size and resources all other member institutions? While we Aggies are not thrilled at the moment with tu entering the conference, once they are in, we more than likely will have a common interest and common voice on things like championship games sites, tournament locations, media week and conference offices location. When the Texas schools merged with the Big 8, they absolutely dominated the conference administration issues ranging from office location to admission requirements.

    This is something I touched on a little earlier. Agree completely that, despite how most feel today, there are some real benefits to A&M and Texas being in the league together.

    Any word on summer workouts and how players are doing? Any really standing out?

    I mentioned this one more than a few times in recent weeks and believe I did so either earlier in this write-up or in the audio portion.

    Can you provide some details about the internal Communication breakdown within the A&M chain of command? Will we learn who dropped the ball or will this be protected info?

    I'd expect that would be internal and not for public consumption.

    Have you thought of setting up an option for subscribers to donate to a TexAgs NIL fund?

    I've been thinking of a lot of different ways that TexAgs can expand in the NIL game, some of which we fully intend to implement. 

    Could you please become at least a semi-regular call in guest on The Ticket in DFW, either in the afternoon with Bob Sturm and Corby on the Hardline or call in to the Musers in the morning so they'd have some accurate information regarding our program? Do you have to be contacted by them to do that or is that something you can set up?

    Love The Ticket. That reminds me, the Longhorn slug who runs the coaching scoop site? Barnett maybe? He's as biased as anyone running a 'fan site' anywhere yet runs his mouth a little reckless (including to the guys at The Ticket, which is why this reminded me of his sorry ass)... especially for a dude trying to cover colleges and coaches/coaching searches from coast to coast. Guy must not like me because he gets his Burnt Orange ass handed to him on most hires around here but that's not the way to handle losing.

    Thanks for doing these and always being the voice of reason!

    Haha anything I can do to help counsel when the moods are bad and get you guys fired up when they're good, right?!?!?

    Does the SEC stop at 16, or continue to expand to 20, 24?

    I think they keep going but don't think it'll be anything in the immediate future. Maybe not another ten years but I don't expect anything in the next three.

    What sec related message are t-sips giving at the pool party?

    Despite what a kid or two has said, they're pushing it very hard. You know the message. They've gone from telling kids in this class that conference affiliation doesn't matter and that the SEC is overrated and a 'one-team' league to making the move a major part of the pitch overnight. It's what anyone in their position would do but I do believe the Ags need to hammer that point home to recruits.

    Can you talk about the true narrative of tu's move to the SEC and that being the complete lack of vision of their leadership and that they will forever (or at least until they wreck the SEC) be following in our footsteps?

    They're absolutely following in A&M's footsteps here. Let's be thankful they gave the Ags a reason to leave and watched stubbornly as A&M got a ten-year head start. As I've said many times over, this isn't the same Texas A&M that left the Big 12 a decade ago. Not even close.

    What is our reputation among the other SEC schools both administration and fanbase?

    I've said this before and will again: Texas A&M is viewed by the league media, the coaches around the conference and ADs as one of the league's 'haves' and a premier player on the conference landscape. Prior to the news breaking last Wednesday, there was more buzz surrounding Aggie football than during any of the media days I've been to save the one prior to the 2013 season, but that was way more about Johnny and the Manning Academy than anything else. This year, it was about A&M and what Jimbo Fisher has built and continues to build in College Station, both for this year and moving forward. Stewart Mandel and The Athletic be damned, most of the folks - league-wide and nationally - recognize what Fisher has going in Aggieland. They're viewed right there with UGA, LSU and Florida as the programs jockeying for position behind Bama and as playoff/title contenders.

    Will we have any say on which pod we are in, assuming there will be pods?

    I think assuming there will be pods is still a stretch. And I'm sure the Ags will have the same input everyone else will. There COULD be some leverage there in terms of where you end up but I think it would be unwise to EXPECT the Ags are going to be able to walk into that room and say "Alright fellas, you owe us one." Could work out that way but probably in more subtle ways like early scheduling during the first couple of seasons at 16, possibly in terms of pod alignment, getting the first A&M-Texas game at Kyle Field, etc but there are certainly no guarantees that any of that will happen.

    A decade ago, Texas A&M made it clear that not being in a conference with t.u. was a priority for Texas A&M. Achieving that goal was a hard-fought victory. Now, Texas A&M will affirmatively vote to admit t.u. to a conference which has Texas A&M as a member. Will Texas A&M leadership directly explain that jaw-dropping reversal to constituents?

    I absolutely expect that to happen. First behind the scenes to some of the real power brokers. That's already happening to some degree. Explaining the why is the easy part (it was really out of A&M's hands and the reasons, while most don't like them AT ALL, are fairly obvious). The how things went down with A&M appearing so caught off guard is what I think needs to be explained more so than the league expanding in the manner they did.

    When does Fall Camp start?

    Friday.

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
  7. Spoiler
    "My task is to make sure this conference is in the best possible position for whatever is going to happen in the future. We've seen Name, Image and Likeness, congressional interest and state legislative activity. The pace of change is at the highest level in the history of college sports and we're all going to be adaptable, that's our reality."

    When Nuño and I asked SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey our single, two-part question today on Radio Row in Hoover, my initial thought was that he danced around the question like a seasoned politician. A classic non-answer answer. When I listened to the brief interview a second time, however, I realized that his three-sentence answer spoke volumes as it pertained to the topic that everyone in Hoover and around the country was buzzing about on Wednesday and Thursday. Go back and re-read or give it a listen. Sankey said nothing but at the same time provided a pretty significant tell, in my opinion.

    Texas and Oklahoma are very likely to eventually (and that's a keyword here) wind up in the SEC, and the commissioner is laying the groundwork for the reasoning behind a decision that will end up sending shockwaves across college football.

    First things first: Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC is not the done deal you'd think it was if you watched Longhorn and Sooner fans celebrate on social media last night (more on that in a moment).

    Second: It's not happening nearly as quickly as folks have tried to make it seem in recent headline grabs.

    Nevertheless, I've talked to plenty of folks on all sides of this thing - A&M, the Big 12 and from every imaginable angle in the SEC.

    One thing appears certain: There has been extensive communication between the league (most likely Greg Sankey himself) and the two would-be Big 12 defectors dating back months and perhaps even as far back as more than a year. This thing is much further down the road than I think anyone in Aggieland or even at other places around the conference imagined, but it's still far from the finish line.

    Now that things have been leaked (and I had at least one A&M source reach out yesterday with the news who wanted to see it get out there,), a bright light is shining on what Texas and OU intend to do. As you guys know, this isn't the first time the Longhorns have set up a great escape from the Big 12 Conference. The last time they tried, Texas A&M blew up their 'Pac-16' model and tried to leave for the SEC. Texas, Baylor, Tech and a couple of other programs kept it from happening and held the Big 12 together by a string the first time around. Ihe Aggies eventually got their way and left the Longhorns, Sooners and everyone else behind.

    Fast forward to today, and it's the Longhorns in search of greener pastures and the Aggies who have every intention of keeping Texas from following their bold lead a full decade later.

    Let's cut to the chase here and lay some facts on the table and hear a few thoughts from yours truly, shall we? I'm just going spitball for the sake of time so I can get these thoughts posted before crashing following a very long and busy three days in Alabama.

    - Make no mistake about it, Wednesday afternoon marked the death of the Big 12 Conference. There's no coming back from this. Nebraska, Colorado, the LHN, Missouri, A&M, the Pac-16 idea and now this. At what point do Sankey and leadership from programs like Alabama, LSU and Florida take a step back and realize what they're close to getting into? 

    The answer is that Texas' history as a horrible conference partner will be overlooked because of what adding Texas and Oklahoma would mean to the league. Not necessarily in terms of televisions in Oklahoma or even the Lone Star State, but more specifically when it comes to the SEC stepping into the future of college football. Sankey knows change is afoot and that the game is likely staring things like Super Conferences and a clean break from the NCAA in the face. If that's indeed the case, and Sankey and the league decision-makers know it, grabbing two of college football's most storied programs now - while they are attainable and actively looking for a home - would understandably seem like a win for the conference to most, at least in the immediate future.

    That's not me trying to get anyone to 'accept what's coming' or spin it as some sort of positive. That's just me keeping the discussion real. If - and again, realize what a big if this is - we're on the verge of four sixteen-team Super Conferences or perhaps even a 24-team league (or two) that essentially becomes 'the NFL on Saturdays,' there are three prizes out there: Notre Dame, OU and Texas. If you know what's coming, you simply cannot risk letting anyone out of that group go elsewhere.

    This is about television contracts and power and adding the two programs would push the SEC to even greater heights in both departments. It's also why Texas and Oklahoma desperately want out. This entire thing began when the Horns and Sooners began to see what the league's future TV contract with FOX was going to look like. It was disturbingly light and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby's expansion options didn't move the needle in the slightest.

    But here's where things get pretty interesting.  

    Word around SEC circles is that Sankey and Texas have been in communication for more than a year. What's unclear is which university presidents or ADs were aware of the cloak-and-dagger courtship. That also happens to be roughly the same time the SEC's television contract came up and ESPN won out over longtime conference partner CBS. Would it shock anyone reading this if I told you that some I've talked to since yesterday, including a couple with no ties to TAMU, believe that ESPN sweetened the pot (and helped themselves out tremendously in the process) by telling Sankey that if they won the SEC TV bid that they could get the Longhorns and Sooners to join the party? As one non-A&M source in the national media told me tonight, "This has ESPN's fingerprints all over it."

    The benefits here are obvious. Land the coveted SEC deal. Add OU and Texas and have the television rights for the first-ever 'Super Conference.' Destroy the Big 12 and rip away a chunk of FOX's college football coverage in the process.

    - "If Texas and OU truly want in, this deal probably won't get killed at the SEC level. It'll die at the state level, in both Texas and Oklahoma."

    That's from what I'll call a source who is pretty damn plugged into how things work both in the Southeastern Conference and at the capital. It's also why you're seeing legislators from Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU rally today to file legislation blocking any state school from switching conferences without legislative approval (and yes, a bill was being drafted as I boarded the plane from Birmingham Thursday afternoon).

    Apparently, there are quite a few Longhorns and Sooners on Twitter who moonlight as political experts, and they'll tell you that there's zero chance this thing gets blocked because Governor Abbott is a Longhorn. They'll also point to Rick Perry being an Aggie as the reason A&M was able to leave the first time around. Thing is, even with Perry in charge, it took the Aggies two tries and many months to get out and break free of the legal wrangling in order to finally make the move. An example of such pressure could be found on Twitter today when a pair of powerful House Chairs were actively railing against the Longhorns and Abbott both.

    Ultimately, A&M was able to make it out, but part of what made it so damn difficult and drawn out was the fact that state politicians from not only Texas but the schools who would be hit hardest pushed the narrative that not only the universities but also the entire state economy would be crippled if A&M left the Big 12. Well, it's an absolute certainty that the conference will be reduced to nothing without its two power programs, so imagine how visceral the reaction was today by politicians statewide and how tense things must have been when Big 12 leadership met in an emergency session. Not surprisingly, neither Texas nor OU took part in the meeting, a giant middle finger to the remaining eight teams and par for the course from the folks in Austin.

    Again, this was never going to be a clean escape for the Longhorns or the Sooners, who would be leaving the other big state program Oklahoma State (the Governor of Oklahoma is an OSU Cowboy, in case you were wondering) in a pile of red dirt if the SEC dream were to become a reality.

    - Another meeting took place today in Birmingham, where an already-scheduled convergence of SEC presidents was held. I stated earlier today that I imagined things would be pretty intense during that particular sit down, and I've been told that new Texas A&M University President Dr. Kathy Banks made sure that Texas A&M's stance was crystal clear.

    Per a source, Dr. Banks only spoke to Sankey himself and not the other university presidents, and sources in Hoover tell me that the commissioner wasn't neutral at all when dealing with the presidents but instead being very out in the open about the Red River rivals' inclusion moving forward.

    Sankey reportedly also made it clear that there was no intention of honoring former commissioner Mike Slive's 'gentleman's agreement' - the same one the conference has held up for Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky in the East for many years now. The Aggies fully intend on fighting this particular battle, by the way.

    All of this to say that adding OU and Texas absolutely feels like a move the commissioner is planning to make happen and has planned to make happen for quite some time.

    - Let's say a final green light is delayed by a political roadblock here or there. Okay, fine. I sat on the other side of this thing a decade ago (when Texas was trying to block the Ags' move with help from Baylor and Tech) and told you guys time and time again that it didn't matter because A&M to the SEC was happening, and it was simply a matter of when.

    I feel like we're in that same place today, only there's a pretty substantial television deal that runs until 2025 between FOX and the Big 12. Earlier this evening, I was told by a trusted source that a likely scenario could involve Sankey telling the Sooners and Longhorns to simply ride out the current TV contract if the Big 12 refuses to cut a deal. That deal ends in 2025, but I have a hard time believing we'd see three seasons of Texas and OU playing as lame Big 12 ducks. Still, it wouldn't come as a major shock to see them stuck in the dying league against their will for at least this season and next.

    If you can, file away that idea...that the Horns and Sooners are likely to eventually join the conference barring things falling apart at the finish line but that they may not start playing football in the SEC until 2023 or so. We'll revisit it momentarily.

    - Now let's assume this isn't about college football actually being on the doorstep of the 'Super Conference Era' and it simply about Texas and OU trying to run out of a burning building and pushing every and anyone in their path out of the way en route to the exit a la Michael Scott in The Office.

    If that's the case, this isn't about Texas A&M being scared of Texas joining the SEC as so many delusional Longhorns clearly believe and won't stop howling about on social media. The Aggies don't want Texas in the conference for several reasons.

    First and foremost: Decision-makers at TAMU know better than anyone that the Longhorns are as bad as it gets when it comes to working together as partners. It's a big part of why A&M left in the first place, and there's little to no desire to resume that partnership a decade later.

    Second, it goes without saying that the Aggies would prefer to be the only Texas program in the SEC, something Ross Bjork was pretty vocal about on Wednesday. That was a big part of the draw during realignment, and it was also something that Commissioner Slive verbally assured several members of A&M's decision-making arm would always remain the case during the courtship a decade ago. The advantages are obvious, the biggest of which is the tangible recruiting edge A&M has enjoyed since making the move. That applies to OU on a lesser scale since the Sooners have done such a good job of recruiting nationally under Bob Stoops and now Lincoln Riley, but it's incredibly significant when it comes to the Aggies being able to offer something that the Longhorns simply cannot - the chance to stay home and play in the League of Champions.  

    If Texas doesn't get past the velvet rope this time around, the gap will never be wider, as both the Horns and Sooners have essentially announced to the world what I've been stating as fact for ten years: The Big 12 is an absolute dumpster fire with a very short life expectancy. You know it, I know it and everyone in Austin knows it, which only adds to the desire in College Station to keep the move from happening.

    - That said, I'd caution readers and even A&M's power brokers to take a page from Jimbo Fisher's book here. Don't worry about the Longhorns or Sooners when it comes to the challenge they'll present on the field. On Wednesday, Fisher laughed and let fly with an "I bet they do" when told the Ags former Big 12 rivals wanted an invite to the party. He's not at all concerned with the Longhorns, certainly not Steve Sarkisian or even OU and Dri-Fit Lincoln Riley. We're talking about a head coach who built a national titlist and top-five program at Florida State, one who has won two national titles and already has a New Year's Six bowl win under his belt in Aggieland. Fisher has also led his team into battle against the very best college football has to offer during his first three seasons in College Station, so forgive him if a now very pedestrian Texas program and OU don't keep him up nights.

    Rather, Jimbo is focused on his current team, signing another top-six class and the continued development and evolution of his program. The Ags just finished the 2020 season ranked No. 4 and will enter 2021 as a top-10 squad. Fisher could have his team in the playoff conversation for a second straight season and could put a legitimate SEC title contender on the field this fall. Things only look up from there considering the incredible amount of talent the Aggies are stockpiling in the lower classes.

    Long story short, Texas A&M is a top-10 program at this point in time, and Texas is nowhere close to that. If in two years the Ags are a top 5-7 program with a couple of NY6 wins an SEC title or better and led by a national championship-winning head coach and absolutely incredible alumni support, then it really doesn't matter what Sarkisian and the Horns bring to the league.

    The Aggies will likely have a 10- or 11-year head start in the SEC, and what the Horns and Sooners will quickly learn (actually, OU learned it the hard way when they were humiliated by Johnny Manziel and the Ags in the Cotton Bowl) is that this isn't the same Texas A&M that left the Big 12 eleven years ago.

    If you had the pleasure of being in Hoover this week, you'd realize how much respect Jimbo Fisher's club and what he's building in Aggieland is currently garnering league-wide. The Aggies have rebranded themselves on a much bigger stage and, frankly, are a better program than Texas. They don't need to worry about anyone else right now and won't need to in a couple of years when the Horns and Sooners are likely to saunter in.

    Now, I'm not saying the Ags shouldn't fight this thing and make it very clear to Sankey and the conference that they're absolutely livid about the way things have gone down up until this point. A&M has been 'new guy'd' by SEC leadership up until this point, and the fact the Aggies have essentially been left in the dark for quite some time when it comes to something as significant as expansion and adding a second team from the Lone Star State is pretty disgusting. So yeah, make some folks as uncomfortable as you can until this thing essentially reaches the fait accompli stage, but be ready to man the hell up and embrace the idea of kicking the crap out of the overmatched Texas Longhorns team that you would have probably beaten in six or seven of the last eight seasons as it is and get ready to play Jimbo Fisher bully ball and do to Oklahoma what everyone else in the SEC not missing 1/3 of their starting lineup does to the Sooners in the post-season.  

    - And one final note to any lurking Sooners: You may own the Longhorns on the field, but don't ever forget your role when it comes to the Red River Relationship. You've been led around on a leash by Bevo since the formation of the Big 12, which is why your chances of joining the league a decade ago were crushed about as swiftly a Lincoln Riley team in the CFP (or against Kansas State, for that matter). Lucky for the folks in Norman, Texas has finally wised up, and the Horns are knock, knock, knocking on Sankey's door (he likes his Dylan references) with OU standing beside them.

     

    • Haha 2
  8. Spoiler

    Billy Liucci: So we're going to do this, take as many questions as we can get here before we head out. Jamie is working on the computer — (I’ll be) trying to get a little writing done on the plane, be a nice hour and a half, be able to spit something out. But everything's been pretty crazy, obviously the last few hours here, last almost 24 hours now. But things are happening all over the two states right now, between here and Birmingham, the SEC's presidents are meeting today that was already scheduled. But now obviously we know what the topic is. It wouldn't surprise me if there is a knock-down, drag-out fight or two in there before that thing's done. And then in Texas, you see in legislation being drawn up today, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU lawmakers, Texas A&M obviously is going to be helping out that. There's this thing, guys, of everyone being... the Longhorns and Sooners think A&M is worried about the move.

    They're not worried about it. Texas A&M has been better than Texas on the football field seven out of the last 10 years. Those other three, they're probably coin flip games. This is a different A&M than it was when they joined the conference, and it's also a very different Texas. The fan base in Austin is unaware of that. For Oklahoma, I find it fascinating because they're going to be fine, they'll be fine in any league, but they probably have the most cakewalk path to the College Football Playoff of anybody. And now that this thing's going to 12 teams, then I feel like Texas and OU should be going virtually every year coming out of the Big 12. But it's not about that for them. It's not about on the football field. This is entirely money-driven. It is a financially driven situation, and they saw what the money looked like and that next deal with FOX, and they immediately started calling around. The ACC reached out to them.

    Look, if Texas and OU are going somewhere, then Greg Sankey is going to say, "Wait a second." He's going to pursue going to 16 and adding, in my opinion, rather than having them go to the Big Ten, rather than having them go to the ACC and have to compete with stronger conferences or more money. So, I know Aggies get worked up about it and rightfully so, but this isn't entirely an A&M decision. This is an SEC decision. And when A&M joined the league, it was, I wouldn't say a wink, wink, nod, nod. Commissioner Slive verbally told several people that I've talked to all the time, board of regents, Bowen Loftin I believe can vouch for this, that Commissioner Slive, there was a verbal agreement that they were not going to add another team from the state. Times change, commissioners change. Again, none of that was in writing.

    And if they're going to go to four 16-team superconferences one day, and if Sankey and company believe that's what's happening, then you do have to act accordingly. So understand that, but also know at the same time that A&M's going to vehemently oppose this, both behind closed doors and publicly, and it has nothing to do with what goes on on the field. It has everything to do with protecting the brand and protecting the sovereignty of being that Texas team in the (conference). Because you would lose an advantage that you currently have, without question. It was a big part of making the move. And A&M, you guys looking at it can clearly see that they benefited.

    Nuño, hit me with some questions, and we'll tackle whatever everybody's got.

    David Nuño: All right, this first one is coming from Agthatbuilds. This is happening, isn't it? And how long have you known?

    Billy Liucci: I haven't known since about an hour before it all came out yesterday. It was the absolute very first I heard of it. It was presented to me as kind of already out there. I think SEC Rag, maybe they were talking about it. That was the site that I was told it was on. We were about to interview Sankey. I went downstairs and kinda showed the message to someone that would have been actively involved in that. And they kind of told me, "Yeah, this has been going on. They're trying to. Of course they are. And we've known about it, but it's not going to happen." So from that standpoint, I think A&M was, is, has been a little blindsided by how far maybe down the road this thing has gotten. If you made me bet money, I would say, "Yeah, it's going to happen," if I had to bet one way or the other, but far from a guarantee, far from a guarantee.

    You have to understand what would go in. Remember the resistance A&M met to leave, and that was just one team leaving. And the whole pitch was that it was going to crumble the state of Texas. And there was the Perryman Report and what it was going to do to the economy and how it's going to crush these universities. Well, imagine now that A&M is gone and 10 years later, Texas and OU want to leave. It's going to be really difficult. There's a lot of power in Austin, in Oklahoma. They're going to try to keep this thing from happening ... because those teams (left behind) are done. Those teams are basketball schools, they’re Group of Fives, with only a couple of exceptions, if this thing happens. It will be a devastating blow to a lot of universities in Texas and Oklahoma.

    David Nuño: All right. So this one is coming from KlinkerAg11. With Texas and OU in the SEC, how does the schedule look in your opinion?

    Billy Liucci: Oh, I don't think they'd go eight and eight. I think they go pods that you're seeing and everybody had fun with today. And actually, if you take away the whole concept of letting these fools in that spent 10 years talking about how the SEC was overrated and top-heavy and A&M wasn't benefiting from being in it and yada, yada, yada, while playing in a much lesser league...if you take that out of it, there is some intrigue to it when you look at the way these pods have been drawn up and where the dividing lines are, and there's so many options, even just in the West. No, no, I think it would be a pod format and you'd play your entire pod every year, and probably two teams out of another pod and one team out of all the others. I don't know how they'd work it, but we'll dig into that a little more between now and, let's say, Monday when we come back on after the weekend.

    David Nuño: All right, this one's coming in from TheDoctor. Scale of 1-10, confidence the addition or the declination of OU and Texas will be announced before the season starts? Do you think those will be known before the season starts?

    Billy Liucci: Yes, I do think it will be known before the season starts. Well, let me put it this way. I think if it's going to be shot down, it will be before the season starts. I don't think this is like a few years ago where it's announced before the season, and then these two teams are playing in the SEC in 2022. I was getting into a discussion with Andy Staples this morning. He's actually going to be on tomorrow with us. If Andy was right, what we were talking about is he doesn't think there could be that much of a dead man walking, lame duck status multiple years in the Big 12 with that two, three years. But I do think there could certainly be a year, but not counting this year because I don't think it's going to start quick enough. I think this year is the struggle is going on and then next year will be the lame duck year. And I think if they come in, I think 2023 is the first season they're in the conference.

    David Nuño: All right. This one's coming from Chef Demas2020. Is Texas and OU a package deal? Could one of the two join without the other?

    Billy Liucci: I don't think so. I think they're a package deal at this point. I think this is, again, far enough down the road where this is a package deal. And I think that if everything falls through, I was sitting there thinking they could be a package deal to the Big 10 as well. I don't think that's the worst fit. I don't think it's as good a fit as the SEC. I know Aggies hate to hear that, but that would be a natural fit for the Southeastern Conference. If they were going to expand and just add those two teams, the division splits are pretty easy.

    If they can't go to the SEC, I think they're stuck there in the Big 12 and they're going to have to make the most of it, and they're going to have to aggressively look to expand and not add a bunch of teams that aren't going to bring much to the table. That was part of what was going on, from what I heard, is Bowlsby was presenting teams that OU and Texas felt like were doing nothing to enhance the brand, nothing to establish an identity or culture, and nothing to bring real money to the table. And again, the feedback they were getting from FOX was really, incredibly discouraging, and that's what's led to all this happening.

    David Nuño: Alright. Our next one is from boulderaggie. Is there any unwritten unanimous agreement when it comes to SEC expansion to preserve the conference unity?

    Billy Liucci: No, there's not. And the whole idea that South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Florida are all going to be having A&M's back because they didn't want those teams to come in from that side. A&M, there is a real chance that the Aggies could get “new guy’d” in this deal, for lack of a better word. And if that happens, it might be where those schools say, "Yeah, if they add OU and Texas, then we're at 16 and we can be done worrying about the Clemsons and the Florida States and Georgia Techs of the world coming into this league." So that's a possibility as well. So no, you're not protected in any way. There's not a block that's going to always stand by you and vote for you in this deal. It's not going to go that way.

    David Nuño: Alright. This one comes from FightinAggie07. If this comes to a vote and it's not unanimous, who are the nos and who are the abstentions?

    Billy Liucci: I think A&M would end up being the only no, I believe. Now, if you think, in theory, who's going to really disagree with it behind the scenes? I think A&M, I think Arkansas. I've actually heard the Mississippi schools, which surprised me. I heard that last night from someone who would know. That surprised me. But these programs are going to voice their displeasure and their disagreements... Missouri obviously would. Their disagreement behind the scenes. But these things have a funny way of working out when you're sitting there and explaining to them what it means 5, 10, 20 years down the road, and in terms of money and also to present like, "Look, this is where college football is heading." Again, it goes beyond Texas A&M not wanting Texas in the conference.

    David Nuño: All right, this one is from Landry Clarke. It says, is the goal of the SEC 16 teams or blank teams?

    Billy Liucci: I think the goal of the SEC is... I don't think there's a specific set goal. I think it is to expand when necessary, to the point that they think it is optimal. And a few years ago, that was expanding to 14. I think right now, it would be to expand to 16 with an eye on the future. And I don't think they would necessarily stop there. Hell, it might be a 24... We might be where there's two 24 team leagues one day and that's it, and everybody else goes to a different status. And that is like your miniature NFL and they play on Saturdays and the NFL is on Sundays, and college football maybe signs one of those bajillion dollar contracts like the NFL does.

    David Nuño: From gtb66, do you have a message for subscribers failing to embrace the change? 

    Billy Liucci: I don't think I have a message for anyone failing to embrace the change. It's been 24 hours. You're not supposed to just sit back and be excited about... Look what Aggie fans have had to deal with from Texas fans.

    But I would say this, I've said this. I mean this: Texas A&M is a better football program in Texas right now. Texas A&M is a top... I don't know if I want to tag that top 10 program, because to me, that's over time, but they're really close if they're not there yet. They were a top-five team last year. They've been in the final top five twice in nine years since joining the SEC. They're going to start off in the top 10 this year. They've been stacking top six recruiting classes.

    Joining this conference, as frustrated as maybe people are today, has been the best thing that's ever happened for Texas A&M football. The best thing. There's nothing close to it. Yeah. There's nothing close. It's been the best thing that's happened to A&M football. And they're in such a better place.

    I think Aggie fans, I wish could realize, not to mention Longhorn and Sooner fans, is when we're up here in Birmingham, just how much the league's embraced A&M and the fit culturally and on the field of play in all sports, and the respect that A&M has in this league. They're not thought of as the heavyweight, and they're going now getting mentioned as a team that could be a threat down the road to Alabama, not to become what Alabama is, but to break through a year here, a year there, be their singular biggest threat in the West. So really, I guess, they're in a position now where it's A&M and LSU really battling for that spot for the first time.

    But the amount of credit and respect that A&M gets from the teams and coaches and media around this league, it's tremendous, and it's much more so than I think people realize. And they're a fair group too, because they always gave credit, but now as the Aggies have improved, and that's been noted. And they were talking about a lot here this week, pretty glowingly, maybe even in some instances, in my opinion, a little more so for a team that loses virtually their entire offensive line and brings in a new starting quarterback. And they're getting a ton of love, a ton of credit. And the reason why is Jimbo Fisher, the commitment to facilities, what they've done on the field lately, all of that stuff has added up to, again, I think they're right there at establishing themselves as a top 10 program.

    So I ask you this: What top 10 program in college football would be overly concerned with a program that's probably, if you take away what the image is and the prestige, what they've actually accomplished in the last decade, a top 20 programs, why do you worry about them coming in? Texas A&M's in a great spot. Texas and OU might arrive in this league when A&M is a top-five team with top-five talent with a national championship head coach. So again, be careful what you wish for if you're the Longhorns.

    David Nuño: Alright. We move now to agdoc84. We have been told for years that Texas would never be accepted into the SEC by three-fourths of the voting members. What changed? I know money, but that was known before. Is our new president involved in these discussions? I know in the past, Young and Loftin and we're leading the charge representing A&M. Is our president working behind the scenes, or is she even involved?

    Billy Liucci: She's involved. She's here today. She's actually very athletics friendly. I would say more so than President Young, who just left. I think she's going to be a strength for A&M Athletics. She's actually here in Alabama today. And yeah, you can bet your ass she's going to be fighting for A&M in this situation. So is leadership from the top on down. But you got to be careful too, though. You fight this thing to a certain point and you let it be known you’re displeasured and you let it be known that you disagree with the move, but there's a certain limit to push it to when you realize, "Well, it's going to happen."

    Here's the deal. And we're going to run to catch this flight soon, but this thing's going to die at the state legislation level. If it doesn't happen, it's going to die at that level. I don't think it dies at the SEC level. I think if Texas and OU are hell-bent and allowed to leave the Big 12, I think they end up in the Southeastern Conference. That's it. But if it dies, it's killed at the state level, political pressure, and there's going to be a hell of a lot of it.

    David Nuño: Alright. Let me try to get another one in. Farmer Keith. Pete Thamel reported that if some of the East schools, Florida and South Carolina particularly, tell A&M they'll vote yes for admitting tu, A&M is prepared to present an 18 team proposal to the SEC, adding Clemson and Florida State. Is there any truth to the organized counteroffensive?

    Billy Liucci: I've heard Thamel. I've heard the reports from Thamel. And not to discredit Pete, because he may be right, I have not heard anything about that. I did hear it suggested to me last night by someone higher up, but not representing Texas A&M, but it was just a suggestion. I don't know if that word got around at all, but I haven't heard anything formal that A&M was going to request adding Clemson or Florida State. I do not see that.

    That sounds nice on paper, political play, a move to make. But Clemson and Florida State are not currently looking to leave. So yeah, maybe down the road, A&M says, "Hey, let's do this," and they're going to be all for it, if they decide to go to 18, or like I said, 24. But right now, this is entirely about Oklahoma and Texas and whether they're going to be here. Couple more...

    David Nuño: Billy? Okay. Well, Billy, I was going to say that is 10 questions. How about you answer this one for me and give people a little background on what the last 24, 36 hours have been for you? Because you have been non-stop working the phones, getting the information right before it was all out there from our interview with Greg Sankey, to everything you've done. Just help set the tone of what you've been doing.

    Billy Liucci: It's been wild. And like I said, we're going to work on writing some stuff on the plane. Between not having internet in the room, and you guys have seen it, it's every fifth step, I feel like... My man, Jordan Rodgers, is over here. We're talking his ear off. He is probably trying to work, but I felt like him at SEC Media Days. As you walked down that radio row, and after that news broke, everybody is trying to grab you. So it was really hard to get any writing done this weekend, more so than even usual, but a great time. I love seeing everybody hanging out with everybody. I had a great dinner last night with our friends from the SEC Network who did a kick-ass job as always for us. I think you guys got to understand how blessed we are to have the friendships we've got with a network like that, to have them come on and take their time all the way to Paul Finebaum this morning, sitting down with you and I, David.

    It's been great, but it's been really busy and hectic. I've done a lot of radio interviews, kind of losing my voice here, but did a lot of, again, phone calls, networking going on for you guys to get all the latest in the last day. So if you've been listening to this segment, to David and I on radio, to our deal after at the end of the day yesterday, all our guests, you've gotten plenty. And I'm going to try my best to consolidate that in a written form. And what I don't get done on the plane, that'll be what we end up doing after dinner when I get back in Houston tonight. So be ready for it.

    David Nuño: Billy, one more?

    Billy Liucci: Yeah, let's do one more.

    David Nuño: All right. Maximus, which pod are we most likely in? Obviously this is all-

    Billy Liucci: Give me another one, because I don't know the answer to that. And there is no answer to that.

    David Nuño: Can we get some updates on targets? I'm tired of hearing about OU and tu. That's from bkdag.

    Billy Liucci: Okay. In closing, I've got a recruiting update written for Zane, and I have one final piece to write on it. So that will actually be coming out later tonight as well. It's going to be interesting to watch Texas do the human gymnastics to try to tell recruits now that they've been saying, "Don't need to play in the SEC," to all of a sudden saying, "Hey, we're going to the SEC." And then you're going to have A&M saying, "No, they're not." The recruiting conversations are going to be really interesting over the next couple of weeks between the two in-state powers.

    David Nuño: Billy, I'll close with this. As a subscriber for many years and your friend for the last 15 years, watching you work today is part of the reason I came to TexAgs. So it was great from my perspective. And I'm not kissing up to the boss. I'm just telling my buddy the truth.

    Billy Liucci: I know you are. And you know how much I appreciate that. And I'm so glad that we had you here doing this. And Olin, he's somewhere around here. He's a veteran of this thing. This is more than his 10th SEC media day, because he did them before TexAgs. Zane and Jamie, guys, for those of you that don't know, the behind-the-scenes crew. Zane has become a little bit of an attention hog lately. He's taken over for Dalton. But Zane and Jamie knocked it out of the park as well. They were incredible.

    David Nuño: Alright, the delay is because I'm taking off my mute. Thanks so much, Billy. We'll talk to you guys later.

    Billy Liucci: Thanks, guys.

     

     

    • Haha 1
  9. Spoiler
    Noon update: Barring a major shock, it's Oregon. He still hasn't communicated with A&M. Ive got more thoughts that you'll find pretty interesting on the final page of the thread. Go give it a quick read.

    Some quick Friday night thoughts here along with the latest we're hearing:

    On the Kojo Antwi front, the reason you're seeing momentum trend towards Ohio State has a lot to do with folks on the Georgia side not feeling very confident about their chances to keep him in state. We had at least one source extremely close to the situation for the Dawgs say they felt it was going to be A&M this afternoon. Unfortunately, I haven't heard much of anything pointing to the Monday decision falling the Ags' way.  

    Ohio State is the team I felt for the past couple of weeks would be A&M's biggest competitor and that wasn't necessarily a good thing. If the two finalists are indeed the Ags and Buckeyes, that meant A&M didn't have the 'out of state' option edge over UGA for guy a lot of those in the Peach State felt was a prime candidate to leave. The other thing that raises red flags galore is the fact that several members of the Ags' Class of '22 have reached out to Antwi throughout the day and there hasn't been much, if any, feedback. Never a good sign, and we know what a tremendous job Brian Hartline and the OSU do recruiting the position.

    This is big boy recruiting here - battling it out with Georgia, Bama and Ohio State for what is essentially a five-star playmaker from out of state - and the fact that the Ags are still in the ring in the final round is why I'm cautioning against throwing in the towel. I believe he left College Station a few weeks ago a decent to solid bet to wind up an Aggie and that was for good reason. Fisher and Co. did a tremendous job in this recruitment from wire to wire so, while it appears that the Ags could fall just short, let's just sit back and put off the exercise of evaluating 'what's next' at wide receiver until Monday afternoon.

    As for Kelvin Banks, well this one is as interesting as they get. Why? Because we're down to roughly 18 hours until the five-star tackle announces a decision and no one really knows where he's heading. There's plenty of reason for confidence if you're on the side of the 12th Man. Oregon folks are flat-out quacking from Eugene and those covering the Longhorns are defiant, bristling at the mere mention that they're currently running a distant third.

    Let's start with UO. Mario Christobal is dangerous on the recruiting front and that's probably going to be the case now more than ever with the full weight of Nike behind his efforts. The Ducks are a couple of days removed from ripping Duncanville's Cam Williams right out from under Sark and the Great Flood's noses. Don't think for a second Oregon isn't capable of doing the same to both the Ags and Horns here. And, yes, if the Ducks waddle into the Lone Star State and pull off the Dallas-Houston two-step, there will be plenty to talk about on these boards come Monday.

    As for the Horns, a couple of sources on the inside in Austin refuse to believe they're out of the running, which, when you compile all of the information we have, means that they're still in some form of communication with Kelvin. I wouldn't rule Texas out of this entirely simply because Banks hasn't informed anyone of where he's headed as of Saturday evening but momentum is trending decidedly in the direction of College Station or Eugene as of this evening.

    So where does that leave the Aggies? What I do know is that Banks' visit a week ago went about as well as it could have gone...to the point that following the trip, momentum seemed to clearly swing in favor of the Maroon & White, something noticed even by the folks inside kf and covering the other contending programs took note of. I also know that communication has been consistent between Kelvin and the Ags, to the point that I'm fairly certain he was in contact with Fisher despite the A&M head coach currently being on safari in Tanzania.  

    Proximity to home, fit, connection with Henson and how long the Ags have been in the thick of this thing with the same head coach and position coach doing the recruiting are all positives working in TAMU's favor here but believe me when I say, this isn't one of those instances where we have a commitment video cut or have seen an edit. It's very much up in the air and none of the coaching staffs had been informed of a decision as of 9 pm Saturday as best I can tell (and we almost always get wind when that happens, good or bad). I still sense cautious optimism from my A&M sources, something to keep in mind because that vibe has historically turned out to be accurate under the current staff.

    Kelvin should have a final decision sometime tonight and I do think this one could swing on a final conversation or two. It's that close. We'll keep digging in over here so stay tuned. 
     

     

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
  10. Spoiler
    Commits - P.J. Williams, Hunter Erb

    Kelvin Banks
    Stock Watch - Steady
    The competition - LSU, Texas, Oklahoma State
    The latest - This had all the makings of an A&M/Texas battle but childhood favorite LSU moved into the picture when they brought in former Arkansas OL coach Brad Davis a couple of days before his visit to Baton Rouge. And do not count Oklahoma State out of this one, either. Kelvin was originally committed to the Pokes and is still very serious about the program that he feels identified his talent first. Banks also visited Oregon but I don't think the Ducks are much of a threat. The Bathwater Bunch down in Austin has had Kelvin penciled in as a Longhorn lock for a couple of months now but that's far from the case. In fact, Fisher, Josh Henson and the Aggies knocked Banks' visit out of the park this weekend and could very well have taken a late lead following the five-star tackle's fifth and final visit. Here's what I'm fairly certain of: A&M will be one of Kelvin's three finalists and he has in no way made up his mind. That said, I'm not expecting Banks to stretch things out much more than another month or so. 

    Kam Dewberry
    Stock Watch - UP
    The competition - Texas, LSU, Ohio State, OU 
    The latest - If it feels like the Aggies have been recruiting Dewberry since shortly after Jimbo Fisher took over at A&M, well, that's because they have. Dewberry has been on the radar for a couple of years now and he's been a priority target for Fisher and the Aggies from day one. Kam's visit last weekend may prove to be a game-changer in favor of the Maroon & White but the borderline five-star is still weighing all options, including Texas, Ohio State, LSU and Oklahoma. He has a September official scheduled for Norman and just returned from the Horseshoe. A lot of competition but I have a feeling that Kam's connection and familiarity with Aggieland (not to mention his bond with former Atascocita linemate Kenyon Green) will ultimately lead to TAMU winning out.

    Jaylen Early
    Stock Watch - UP
    The competition - Florida State, Tech
    The latest - Early's A&M visit measured off the charts and he also visited Ohio State but if he decides prior to his senior season, my guess is that Florida State or Tech would end up being the choice. With a big senior season for Duncanville, Jaylen's stock could soar, which is why I wouldn't expect Henson or the Aggies to disengage at any point in the near future, regardless of whether or not he's committed elsewhere.

    Cole Hutson
    Stock Watch - Steady
    The competition - Texas, OU
    The latest - I've had a Longhorn feel on this one for a while now but A&M was the first big program to offer the D-FW lineman and there was a pretty good stretch where it seemed as if both sides were pretty connected. We haven't talked about this one quite as much, but the Ags will be a real contender here provided they push as hard as the Horns have been of late. However, taking all factors into account, the odds right now probably favor Cole playing ball in the Big 12.

    Mark Nabou
    Stock Watch - UP
    The competition - Michigan, USC, Washington
    The latest - Nabou camped at A&M for two days just two short weeks ago and left as a high-priority target for Jimbo Fisher and Josh Henson. The 6-5, 340-pounder decommitted from Washington shortly after his visit to Aggieland and has since taken an unofficial to Michigan while picking up a USC offer, as well. The Ags made a power move following Mark's camp offer and subsequent official and are sitting in a very strong position here.

    Neto Umeozulu
    Stock Watch - Steady or falling
    The competition - USC, Bama, LSU, Texas Oklahoma
    The latest - Neto's stock hasn't fallen as a prospect at all but this one is tough to get a read on simply because the Allen lineman has taken just one visit, which was last weekend to USC. Neto's plan over the next couple of days is to visit both Alabama and LSU unofficially and also check out A&M and Texas later this summer (presumably the last weekend of July). Let's give this one some time and see if Umeozulu's interest in the Aggies is strong enough to warrant a follow-up official this fall and also see how things go with guys like Dewberry, Banks and Nabou...all prospects who could make their college choice prior to Neto reaching a decision. 

    Other notes - Another weekend OV, Jacob Sexton, has visited Bama, Texas, Oklahoma State and Aggieland but most have had him penciled in to the home state Sooners for quite some time. However, sources tell me that Sexton's visit went so well this weekend that a push could very well result in a pro-A&M decision in the next week or s o, which means Fisher, Henson and the Aggies have to take a hard look at the OL board...The Ags extended an offer to Austin Akins tackle Nikolas Hall a few weeks ago but he fell off of the radar after that and chose Kentucky over the weekend...It would come as a mild surprise to see Shor end up in Maroon & White but, after what was described as a very good mid-week visit I certainly wouldn't call it a shock. This is one of those interesting cases of a three-star recruit flying under the radar of the casual recruiting fan while coaches like Jimbo Fisher Nick Saban and Lincoln Riley would all love to add his name to their OL class. Keep an eye on Bama here but he's also visited OU, Tennessee and Oregon.

    Summary - A lot of how the Ags proceed with anyone outside of guys like Dewberry, Banks and Nabou depends whether or not any member of that trio decides to shut things down relatively early and whether the Aggies decide they're going to sign four or five blockers in this year's class. Things should really begin to clear up sometime in the next month or so, when I believe at least one and perhaps even two members of the aforementioned group will shut things down. Timing is everything here because at least a couple of linemen plenty good enough to play in the SEC trenches for the Ags will be shutting things down from now until the end of the summer so Henson and Fisher's feel for where A&M stands with each of their primary remaining targets will be the single-biggest key to inking another SEC-best type of class. Truth be told, if you said the Ags were landing one of their longest-tenured targets in Banks or Dewberry (I like the Ags' chances to make that happen and they're in a much better position than is being reported with each) and also add Nabou, I'd call it a very, very good haul. Add a fifth name off the list we just discussed and I'd call Henson the happiest assistant in the Bright Complex. 
     

     

    Spoiler
    I'm hearing Tyler Legacy RB Jamarion Miller could commit as soon as today. Right now it's looking like an in-state battle between Texas and Texas A&M and the momentum sounds like it's going the way of the Longhorns. 
     
     
     
    Liucci
    Staff
    AG
    The Ags are going to land one of their primary guys in the backfield. I like Miller at lot but the fact he's still likely to land at Texas despite them all but butchering his recruitment early speaks volumes as to what the Ags were up against. He shouldn't have been (at all, because I think he's better than Blue) but he was certainly treated like a fallback and was one for Stan Drayton. But they've been a longtime favorite of his, which tends to play a big role. 
     


     

     

    • Haha 7
  11. Spoiler

    You can view Part 1 of Ask Liucci, the video edition, HERE.

    Thanks for all the great content Looch. You guys are awesome!

    Appreciate it! And we plan on taking it to the next level this fall and beyond my friend.

    How many football recruits do you think we land between June and July, and who?

    I'll guess four or five by the end of July. Most likely candidates, IMO, include Ish Harris‍, Jarred Kerr‍, Chris Marshall‍, Martrell Harris‍ (done), Kojo Antwi‍ and Bryce Anderson‍. Then, there are the guys who haven't necessarily set a date yet but could very well shut things down prior to the season.

    Wet ribs or dry ribs?

    Wet ribs. I love dry ribs but only if they're done exceptionally well (not by me...it's one of the things I have NOT learned to do over the past year of trying to cook).

    If you had to ballpark it what are the chances we can land (Smoke) Deyon Bouie‍, and who are we competing for his signature with? Thanks for doing these Billy!!

    The Ags have a very real chance to sign the five-star corner. Smoke is going to end up at A&M or Georgia. Momentum is on the Ags' side right now despite Bouie making his way to Athens at the start of this week. But UGA isn't going away because you can bet your ass that Kirby Smart is taking this one very personally after losing Nick Marshall to A&M and then the commitments of both Bouie and Big Bear Alexander‍. They'll pull out all the stops, but the Ags are pretty damn well-positioned here and have surged over the last couple of weeks, both with the unofficial visit and subsequent de-commit, but behind the scenes as well.

    First, it seems like the entire class of 2022 is really taking notice of A&M. Is this the most momentum you've seen in a while?

    Tough to say. Positive momentum? Hell yeah, absolutely. However, with so many kids riding the momentum literally week-to-week with so many official visits being squeezed into this month, it's tough to tell EXACTLY who the Ags are sitting prettiest with. I do believe, however, that when the dust settles, folks will realize exactly how well-positioned Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies were prior to the June onslaught. That's what happens when you return your entire staff (relationships matter) and are considered an arriving power coming off of a No. 4 finish.

    Second, what's the minimum that A&M needs to do accomplish this year to continue recruiting at the level we're starting to see now?

    I think to continue at this clip, going 10-2 during the regular season would do the trick or even a 10-win season one way or the other. Go 11-2 and I think you'll see the Ags finish with a top-5 haul in both '22 and '23.

    As of today who do you think we sign in this OL class?

    Good question. Tough one. I'm just not sure with Kelvin Banks‍ and Kam Dewberry‍. I like the Ags' chances better with one of them one day, and the next it's the other five-star OL candidate. Getting both is a very real possibility, but losing out on either is, as well. I'll split the difference and say the Ags land one of the two and then one out of Nikolas Hall‍, Jaylen Early‍ or Neto Umeozulu‍ and end up inking four. Five is a possibility but only if the Aggies end up with Dewberry and Banks, IMO.

    Biggest surprise from this weekend, if any.

    From this past weekend, I don't think there were really any surprises. Pleasant surprises to get both Evan Stewart‍ and Denver Harris‍ on campus this week, however. As for this coming weekend, don't be surprised to see the Aggies give Le'Veon Moss a LOT to think about despite his recent commit to Bama. Speaking, I might say TreVonte Citizen‍ having as good a visit as he had and the Ags making as strong a move as they did there was also a real positive.

    Your perspective on the playoffs for the Aggies and changes you would make as they are proposed.

    I would've gone with 8 and not 12. I think 12 is trying to make everyone happy and also to generate more money. I get it, but I think an 8-team playoff would've been just fine.

    Last year we struggled pushing Bama's OL back to provide pressure to the qb. With probably the oldest and strongest/talent group we have had under Fisher. Are we ready to give the Alabama OL the toughest test they've had against A&M?

    Considering that Bama lost some key guys off the OL and exactly what you said about the Aggie d-line, yes. I think the A&M front four will not only give Alabama fits next year but do the same to every other offensive line they face in 2021.

    If the 12 team playoff happens, how often do you feel is reasonable to expect the Ags to make it. Every other year? Every 3 years?

    Well as is, the Ags would have reached the playoff twice in nine years since joining the SEC. Considering the direction the program is trending and how we expect A&M to be an established top-10 program, I think it's reasonable to expect the Ags to make it four or five out of ten years or so.

    Is this the year in which we out-recruit Saban?

    I don't think so, but the Ags could get close if they gain momentum this month and then get it done on Saturdays this fall. I actually think this is the year that A&M gets the Tide on the field, however. Kyle Field, at night, I don't think Bama will be quite as dominant, quite possibly an unbeaten A&M squad on a long winning streak, Jimbo's off-season statements having the guys fired up beyond belief...no better time than now, right?

    How are summer workouts going, which freshman are turning heads!

    A few freshmen whose names I keep hearing are the same guys from the spring off-season like Chappell, Harmon, Adeleye, Wykoff and a couple of others. It's tougher to say guys I've heard lately because the new group has been here for all of about two weeks. First impressions? That OL group is big-time. Foster (325 and running a 5.0-something and putting a show with the weights), Moko (he's turning heads with the weights and with how well he can move for a man his size) and Fatheree (Deuce isn't as tall as advertised, which to me is a good thing...he looks EXACTLY like what you want a young tackle to look like, probably 6-6.5 and really beginning to fill out). Shemar Turner is an absolute beast...not many true fish come in looking the part as much as he does. Jardin Gilbert tested very well when the newcomers arrived, posting something like a 37- or 38-inch vertical, and the surprise of the group may be Dreyden Norwood. He really turned heads during testing and has continued to do so with his all-around athleticism and speed. Yulkeith Brown is another name that has come up more than once. He's very light right now but apparently is a guy that has the QBs buzzing a little thanks to his exceptional ball skills. I'm hearing the dude catches everything and makes some pretty spectacular grabs.

    Who's gonna read you the questions now?

    That would be Gabe. Spoiler alert if you've already watched!

    whats the one conspiracy theory that you kinda believe in

    That the official who called the personal foul on Trent Hunter was a rabid Longhorn fan.

    Weight room update, is the team with Schmidt, everyone participating?

    Yes and yes. I mentioned some of the freshmen earlier. Haynes King has added some much-needed weight during the off-season and is now well over 200 pounds and around 6-3. Certainly not a sure thing but he really could be one of the three fastest dudes on the entire team. Ainias Smith has been wowing everyone with his summer off-season, and one of the things most don't know is that Ainias is incredibly strong. He put on a show on the bench following a recent workout. Saw Antonio Johnson and Demani Richardson standing side by side at camp the other day and let me just tell you, those two plus Leon O'Neal are as good looking a trio of safeties as you're going to find in all of college football. Johnson has a high-round NFL Draft pick look to him, and Demani looks as good physically as any safety I've seen A&M put on the field since Patrick Bates more than 25 years ago. Wydermyer is back out there catching passes, and Chapman is running and on track to make his return in time for fall camp, two things that were expected but are still very good to see. Another guy I keep hearing about is Isaiah Spiller. The junior has really leaned up while keeping the size that makes him so tough to tackle. He's on the shortlist when talking about individual progress during the summer.

    7on7 going on, Who's leading it?

    The QBs are leading it. Outstanding attendance and buy-in. This is a team that gets it and appears highly motivated, but I suspect that's become the norm around here these days under Jimbo so I'd expect it moving forward.

    Favorite BBQ in town

    Fargo's for the rib tips and chicken and Cooper's. 1776 outside of town is outstanding, as well.

    Odds that the '22 class finishes top 5 rather than 6-10?

    I think it's going to be right there and just inside of the top-5 when the dust finally settles.

    Settle a bet for me: Is the Big 12 now what the SWC was once Arkansas left for the SEC? You have one dominant team (A&M in SWC and OU in Big 12) and the lowly Horns playing second fiddle trying to catch up and a bunch of other teams that throw somewhat of a punch but never really knocks down the team at the top. Your thoughts?

    Sounds pretty accurate to me. But that's also why the Texas job is such a damn easy gig when you get right down to it. Once Purdy (and then Campbell) leave ISU, you're going to have Pitts Patterson in the twilight of his career, a fading Gundy, and Dave Aranda failing at Baylor plus the revolving door in Lubbock. OU is the only program that has staying power over the next five years. All Texas has to do is develop into a top-15 program and they'll play 2 games a year against teams at their level or better. If they can just emerge as the clear-cut No. 2, they'll be fine.

    How often do the head coaches of baseball, football and basketball typically interact?

    Those coaches are so involved in their seasons that their personal interaction isn't a ton, but they certainly do interact and oftentimes become friends. As far as consistent interaction, that usually comes in the case of two-sport athletes like Weigman, Achane and Foster and their respective recruitments.

    Will covid testing, contact tracing, etc all be the same this year?

    That will be completely different and players who end up having the vaccine won't even be tested unless they're symptomatic.

    It's an impressive list of potential signees along the D line. Littered with 4 and 5 star recruits and we can't take them all which leaves us in an enviable position. How would you rank our offers in your personal wish list since we'll only be taking about five among the DE/DT group?

    Not counting the one commit (Malick Sylla‍) my big three are Big Bear, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy‍ and Anthony Lucas‍.

    2012 Ags vs the 2020 Ags, who wins?

    I think I tackled this one last week. Fun question, fun answer.

    I think the WR group will be our most improved unit from last year. Which wide receiver are you expecting the biggest jump from last year to this year?

    Either Demond Demas or Chase Lane.

    Name a movie you loved, and could not believe a sequel was never made from it. For me, it was CONTACT with Foster and Mcconaughey. Do you think the actors both male and female were stronger back doing the black and white tv era than today. Jimmy Stewart, Brando, Ossie Davis than the Denzel, Gene Hackman, Deniro etc

    Get back to me on this one. It's bedtime over here and I need to give this one the proper attention.

    What Vernon Jackson up to these days, is he still in school, still associated with the team?

    Not sure. I'll check up on that for you. Ask again in the next Q&A.

    Which recruit do you think the board is too over-confident in us ultimately landing?

    Probably Smoke Bouie and Harold Perkins‍. If you made me pick today, I do believe the Ags will land them both but, damn, we're talking about an incredible amount of top-end competition to sign each of the five-star defenders.

    Is this the best collection of men's coaches, for the three major programs, A&M has had at one time?

    Without question. Not even up for debate. National championship football coach, five CWS berths and two 'final fours' in baseball and three Sweet Sixteens and an Elite Eight in hoops for the three coaches. None of those things have ever been accomplished by any of the previous Aggie head coaches in the modern era in any of the three sports.

    Are we going to land at least 4 consensus five stars, and why is the answer yes?

    My prediction is yes. Several options but the only way it doesn't happen is if the networks start using the funny math they are famous for. It's what I call the "we're absolute slime but you guys are such big fans you'll continue to support us and not hold the individual sites accountable...especially A&M" approach to re-rankings.

    How's the depth behind Wydermyer expected to look to start fall camp? Health-wise

    Cupp is healthy and I expect we're going to see Blake Smith all the way back, as well. He'll probably be eased into action during fall camp if I had to guess.

    Summer pool party, are you:
    1) manning the grill
    2) enjoying a seltzer
    3) in the pool
    4) all of the above while eviscerating sips trolls on Twitter

    Definitely 3 and 4 and enjoying whatever the guy or gal manning the grill is cooking up.

    Hey Billy, do you think we get more commits in the Summer or in the Winter before the early signing period?

    In the (late) summer, but December is going to be pretty hectic, as well, which is interesting because the Ags (and most power programs) are burning through so many official visits this month.

    How do you think a move to a 12-team playoff will affect the prestige of being a "playoff team"? How much would it affect recruiting/program perception to make it in when it's only 4 teams as opposed to post-expansion?

    I do think there's something to be said for the impact being much greater if the Ags are to make it this year or next year...especially after just missing in 2020. Would probably result in, at minimum, two top-five finishes in two or three seasons. After that, it's about getting into the 12-team field and actually advancing to that 'final four.'

    Is recruiting going as you expected, or better? (Tell me better, or that you were already at a 10

    As expected. I had very high expectations from the outset, but you also have to remember the Ags are fighting some absolute WARS on the recruiting trail right now. They're going to win their fair share but won't win them all. I think the end result is a return to the top-5.

    Do you have any doubt Conner Weigman‍ doesn't end up on campus? As opposed to going to the MLB.

    I fully expect Conner to end up in Aggieland playing at Kyle and Olsen, yes.

    Why do you think Jimbo made the comment about whipping bammer?

    He knows his team has reached a point that they're ready and can handle that kind of pressure. I'm not sure the Ags were ready to enter a Bama game truly BELIEVING they could win against the Tide in the past. I believe the head coach thinks they're at the point that they're ready. He's also probably tired of hearing about Saban and Bama. That combination and he's no longer holding back.

    If you could decide the exact time Saban retires, would you choose:
    1. Retire immediately
    2. Retire right after Jimbo gets that first win against him
    3. Let Saban retire whenever he wants to.
    The smart move is to have him retire immediately, but I think Jimbo being the first assistant to beat Saban would be one step below winning a national championship...

    Personally, I'd like to see A&M go THROUGH Alabama en route to winning the West, the SEC and a national title. Auburn did it and LSU did it. Ole Miss should have done it. Jimbo and the Aggies WILL do it.

    Does year 3 of Jimbo start to feel like year 3 of Mack Brown to begin a decade long run of Texas state football domination?

    It certainly feels like it has the potential to be like Year 4 of Jimbo at Florida State. Go look up the similarities between Jimbo's third year in Tallahassee and his third year in College Station. And then see what happened in Year 4 at FSU.

    What stat in 2021 Bama game is most important for Ags to come out on top
    1) Total Yards from Scrimmage by QB
    2) Most Sacks & TFL
    3) Rushing Yards plus TOP
    4) Fewest Game 1 Starters lost to injury

    My answer, in order: 3, 4, 2, 1

    Is Sark's recruiting efforts and the all gas no brakes motto as sad as it appears or is it our Aggie tinted shades?

    There's some A&M tint to it and maybe even more because we've done the whole 'Get a dog' 'WRTS' and 'Yessir' thing. Fans loved it at the time but now they love and embrace the idea that Jimbo is kind of the antithesis of that style. He's not into the social media or hashtag game, and Aggie fans like that. I also think it has more to do with the level of arrogance you can just see oozing out of Sark, CDC, their lower-tier staffers and the Longhorn media and fans. And on top of it, as they do every single damn time, they're overdoing it and it just feels like overkill.

    What did you think of Stephen Smith's rant on ESPN guaranteeing an Alabama massacre of A&M and going on and on about Jimbo "writing checks he can't cash" blah blah. Not that this team needs any more incentive to play hard vs Alabama, but geez.

    I loved it. He's talking wild while not announcing to the world that he's saying what most think but also not about to pass up the chance to hype up Nick Saban and an Alabama program that pays him handsomely every off-season to go speak to their team. Jimbo isn't the 'bulletin board material' type of coach, but I'm sure there are plenty of staffers who will make sure Stephen A's quote is playing throughout Bright in the week leading up to that one.

    For shats and gags..SEC, Big 12, Big 10 and ACC all have to give up one team. That team has to go to one of the other 3 conferences. Who goes where?

    SEC is easy, it's Vandy. We'll let them join the ACC or go to the damned Ivy League. Big 12 it would be Kansas but they can't lose the Jayhawks for basketball purposes. So it's probably West Virginia, who goes ACC or AAC. B1G gives up Rutgers AND Maryland. Rutgers to the AAC and Maryland back to the ACC (the ACC is growing by the second, isn't it?). ACC should let Boston College walk and go to the AAC, as well (another conference that is growing and growing per my plan). Pac 12 seems good where they are. Maybe let Colorado go and rejoin the Big 12/old Big Eight while adding Boise.

    Assuming Matthews can get and stay healthy, what is his realistic upside at center this season? All conference, solid starter or middle of the road SEC lineman?

    His upside? I think he can be the best center the Ags have had at the position in three years (since McCoy left). He's just got more natural girth and size than the last two and has bided his time before stepping into the full-time starter's role in the middle. If he can stay healthy, he can be a quality SEC center, no doubt about it. Certainly better than 'middle of the road,' IMO.

    Billy, can you please explain why the claim is made that the Ags opened up recruiting to SEC schools. I haven't been able to find any numbers that show more Texas kids are going out of state since we joined the SEC.

    It's just a Longhorn talking point. They were deathly afraid of that happening when the Ags were trying to join the SEC the first time and it's part of why they fought like hell to keep the move from happening. The only SEC team to benefit significantly from Texas A&M moving to the Southeastern Conference is Texas A&M. What Bama is doing in Texas is no different than what Ohio State is doing or what USC would be doing if the Trojans were still a college football power. Outside of that and LSU, who has always recruited well across the Sabine, there really aren't any programs doing significant damage in Texas. Look at Florida. The Gators are a top-10 program with multiple national titles, but they're getting Texas prospects that are outside of the elite and not any sort of real factor for top-10 or five-star types. UF could be doing the same thing were A&M in the Big 12, Pac 12 or a damned independent. Texas fans, decision-makers and coaches are still looking for an excuse and someone to blame besides themselves, which they have been doing since before A&M and Nebraska got the hell out of there.

    What is something you would like to be added to the program as far as recruiting or facility-wise?

    New indoor is a must, IMO. The other stuff is nice and an Academic Center would be a huge selling point, as well, but I think that indoor was ridiculously outdated from the day it was built and it's long past time to put that thing to pasture.

    Can you speak any more on the basketball transfer and the big name school you said we were in talks with to put on the schedule?

    Not yet. If the transfer happens (which I was told last week it still should), it will be prior to second summer session so within two weeks or so.

    Moving back to Texas after a jaunt in the service and bought season tickets for the first time. Haven't been to College Station in years. Where should we eat when we are in town for games?

    Wow, pretty awesome timing, brother! Thank you for serving for all of us and it's good to have you back in Texas and Aggieland! There are all the old staples like The Chicken and Koppe Bridge, of course. Newer spots include Napa Flats, Fuego for breakfast tacos (and plenty of other stuff), the local (non-chain) Mexican restaurants in Bryan and some of the really new stuff like 1860 Italia on the south side of town and Cooper's BBQ. Mojo Burger is new and good on University and there are plenty of places to eat in Century Square. If you're looking for a nice sit-down dinner that will exceed any expectations you might have going in, The Republic (steakhouse) is the spot. 

    Does softball follow the same path that baseball did for a coaching change? Feels that way.

    I don't follow it quite as closely but I do know softball has some nice young talent returning. I also know they were pretty bad this year and one of the worst teams in the SEC. Jo will have to turn that around in a big way next year — her third in the new facility — but she'll have a decent chance to do so, those closer to the sport tell me.

    Do you feel as if TexAgs gives the football program a recruiting advantage in any way? I have had the thought that the media coverage of recruits is top of the line and unmatched across the country.

    It's not our job to give A&M a recruiting advantage, but I do think there has to be some benefit to these guys getting the type of coverage they get from the largest (and best...and most forward-thinking) fan site in college sports. Plus, our location makes for a nice setup for us to get kids once their official visit has concluded where we don't have to stalk them outside of Bright. This way, when they're done, if they have time, they can literally cross George Bush and sit down in a studio and do a really cool interview following their visit. I'm sure it helps on some level, but it's really just us doing our job and bringing you the best stuff we can. 

    When will Dave Portnoy make his TexAgs Debut?

    I actually think we'll make that happen someday. Possibly on the podcast. We've got a connection in case you guys forgot ;)

    What's your favorite A&M reference in pop culture?

    My favorite? Hell, it might be my man Rob Trujillo rocking the A&M shorts last week but I guess I'd have to go with Drake repping A&M on multiple occasions. Going way back, maybe one of the dudes in H-Town wearing an Aggie hat or shirt in 'Rockin' the Boots' haha

    Who do you think we finally sign this year's DL class?

    I think it ends up looking like Sylla, Bear, Jadon Scarlett‍ and either Lucas or Brownlow-Dindy. I could also see Ernest Cooper IV‍ filling that final spot.

    3 years from today.. are you married?

    I would say I hope so but if it's not the right woman, then I'm fine not being married. Not saying you for asking because I know you're just curious, but I've spent my entire adult life having people tell me I don't look the right way, act the right way, should be married with kids, etc, every single day on this board, social media and in real life. It gets pretty damn tiring, but the one thing I'll always be is true to myself. Maybe she's come along and I've missed her while chasing someone else, maybe I dodged a few bullets and would have ended up very unhappy, who knows. Either way, I'm all good over here but certainly in that 'wants to get married' group still.

    Sip vs Louisiana.. they gonna lose that one, aren't they!?

    Nah, I don't think we'd ever be lucky enough to see that happen, though the Horns did get to see A&M lose to a far inferior Arkansas State team in Sherman's first game, so I guess anything is possible. What I definitely could see, however, is the Horns going down to the Hogs and Slick Sammy Pittman in Fayetteville at night a few weeks later.

    When will A&M announce the plan for JFF statue? The Tebow one at The Swamp is pretty cool to see.

    IMO the timing should be sometime during the 10-year anniversary season, which is next year. There certainly seems to be some trepidation on the part of A&M, which I don't understand at all. I mean, are we really just waiting for Johnny to live his life the way TAMU wants him to live it before putting up a statue? I also don't think things like talking about getting paid for signing (sure, prior to his second year, I get it) and openly mocking the NCAA help expedite the process. It is a two-way street, after all. But it's time, and I actually think it's the perfect time. Ten years is the right schedule to be on for something like that, IMO.

    Think Von and Myles will be able to get one too in time? How special is it that they are Aggies?

    What Von has done to represent Texas A&M on the stage he's had over the years has been pretty remarkable. I can't think of an A&M athlete who has repped the Maroon & White more proudly since I've been doing this and, prior to that, the spotlight wasn't nearly what it is today between all of the old media outlets plus today's social. Myles and Mike Evans could easily be Hall of Famers, as well. Not sure what you set the standard for a real statue (not those creepy ass things they built in Austin at DKR) but I think it probably has to be Heisman winners or Hall of Famers, so both of those guys would have a shot by the 'Liucci standard of statues' someday.

     

    • Haha 1
  12. Spoiler

    Some more news and notes and a few thoughts from yours truly:

    • Tremendous nucleus of eager and effective recruiters in this class. I'm talking about the guys in town this weekend, like Donovan Green‍, Bobby Taylor‍, Conner Weigman‍, PJ Williams‍, Malick Sylla‍ and Isaiah Sategna‍. If this class ends up soaring into the top five and perhaps even higher, the work the group of commitments did this weekend (and will continue to do) will be looked back on as a big part of the reason why.

    • The same can be said for the current Aggie players. Leon O'Neal, Haynes King and the rest of the contingent of official hosts (plus plenty of guys who weren't hosting but were still very active on the recruiting side of things) did a pretty remarkable job of making it very clear why Texas A&M is an emerging powerhouse under Jimbo Fisher. They are fully committed to the cause, believe in where things are heading and are taking a more personal interest in the future of the program than any group I believe I've seen since maybe the mid-90s.

    If this class ends up soaring into the top five and perhaps even higher, the work the group of commitments did this weekend (and will continue to do) will be looked back on as a big part of the reason why.

    • The energy is real. Another big part of that is Fisher's coaching staff, which returned intact and includes several new additions. Nick Williams was a monster addition from Georgia and is already making a name for himself as an emerging star in the recruiting ranks. Antonio Cromartie brings the highest level of NFL success and knowledge to the table, and recruits are taking notice. 


    • One more important point as far as the 'new staff' is concerned: Remember, the guy who heads up this entire recruiting effort — former UGA staffer Marshall Malchow — was hired just before the pandemic last year, as were James Coley, Tyler Santucci, TJ Rushing and Tommie Robinson. These guys have been in Aggieland for over a year, but this was basically the first big recruiting weekend any have been a part of while wearing Maroon & White. Malchow and the recruiting team did a pretty incredible job when it came to the layout, presentation, message and overall OV experience for a star-studded group.

    • From top to bottom, these guys are damn good at what they do, and the investment in allowing Fisher to essentially construct a second recruiting team is going to pay monster dividends. It already is, in fact.

    On to some actual recruiting notes...

    • I mentioned on Saturday night that two guys who were having outstanding visits were Beaumont Westbrook cover man Bryce Anderson‍ and Arizona defensive lineman Anthony Lucas‍. These are probably the two guys the Ags made the biggest surge for over the weekend as far as the official visitors are concerned. Lucas will visit Notre Dame next weekend, and it sure feels like this is going to be an Aggie/Irish battle. While we were first to break Lucas' intentions to officially visit College Station, I don't feel like we've mentioned the Scottsdale prospect enough. He's an absolute screaming take for the A&M staff, and the 6-6, 300-pounder blew the Aggies away with his physical attributes and his personality/disposition. 

    • Anderson will visit Texas and a surging Alabama, and the Horns, Tide and Bayou Bengals from Baton Rouge will all be legitimate players in this one. The Ags made a strong push here, but there's still a long way to go in the five-star DB’s recruitment. Still, there's something about this one that has me thinking Anderson ultimately ends up playing in the SEC West while also staying home in Texas.

    • He's going to visit at least USC and probably even take a couple of more trips, but I still feel the best about the Ags' chances of picking up a mid-summer commit from Fort Bend Marshall WR Chris Marshall‍. The game-changing wideout and Pilot Point LB Ish Harris‍ (he'll visit OU and Texas but was in College Station this weekend instead of making a scheduled trip to Miami) are the two prospects off of a star-studded opening-weekend visit list who are most likely to be Aggies, IMO.

    0136402-bdup-240x135.jpg
    Jamie Maury, TexAgs
    Linebacker Harold Perkins is one of Texas A&M’s priority targets, and by all accounts, his visit to College Station went extremely well for the Aggies’ efforts.

     Harold Perkins‍' visit was tremendous, and the Ags continue to sit in an enviable position with the five-star linebacker. However, Perk still plans to take visits, and anytime the likes of LSU and Alabama are involved, nothing is guaranteed. That said, I love A&M's chances here, and Mike Elko, Tyler Santucci, Fisher and Co. are doing a great job. Harold also seems like a 'fit' in Aggieland and always has...and having close friends like Conner Weigman, Donovan Green and LJ Johnson Jr‍ in his ear doesn't hurt either.

    • Tyler Legacy RB Jamarion Miller‍ was a late addition to the OV list and a guest that Jimbo Fisher and Tommie Robinson were particularly excited about getting on campus. Howell is slated to speak with Jamarion this morning, and it's going to be interesting to hear how things went in College Station and what it means to the Ags' chances. Entering the weekend, Miller was thought by some to be leaning Alabama's way but not close to reaching any decision, with the Florida Gators also very much in play. On Sunday, Bama took a commitment from another Aggie RB target and one of the nation's absolute best in Louisiana ball-carrier LeVeon Moss‍. While Bama has been known to push the envelope at particular positions in the past, Moss joining the class this early has a chance to knock the Tide down a peg or potentially lead to Saban and Co. tapping the brakes a little when it comes to their pursuit of the East Texas runner. And you guys know how I feel about a head-to-head against Dan Mullen's Gators for a Texas product.

    • I'll keep this very important piece of info very short and very sweet: It would be a colossal understatement to simply say the Ags are making up ground on Georgia for current Bulldog commits Bear Alexander‍ and Deyon Bouie‍. The two borderline five-star defenders had incredible unofficial experiences (Big Bear actually worked out, as well), and both intend to return in an official capacity at a later date. 

    • Imagine the A&M defensive class if the nucleus were to involve a half dozen or so visitors from this weekend alone? Malick Sylla, Anthony Lucas, Bobby Taylor, Harold Perkins, Bryce Anderson and both Bear and Smoke. That's a pretty unbelievable amount of Wrecking Crew talent on hand for one weekend.

    • Class of 2023 defensive end Anthony James‍ went through a private workout this week for the Aggie coaches. It was the longtime A&M commit's first time to get to visit with the staff in person, and he's more locked in with the Maroon & White than ever as a result. James, who canceled a visit to Texas that was scheduled for this weekend, was extremely impressive during his private workout. He's a gifted athlete at end and proved that and then some with a head-turning session.

    • The Ags worked out several prospects last week and into the weekend. A couple definitely worth mentioning are Richmond (VA) WR Andre Greene Jr.‍ and Leesburg (GA) DT Omar White. Greene is a nationally-recruited pass-catcher who is drawing heavy interest from the likes of OU, ND, Oregon, LSU, Clemson and North Carolina, among others. After a strong workout, it's going to be interesting to see how much of a player the Ags are moving forward and how hard Dameyune Craig and Co. decide to push with guys like Marshall, Antwi and Brenen Thompson‍ firmly in play. Greene is a perfect example of why you never assume you know how things could shake out at a given position when trying to handicap A&M recruiting under Jimbo Fisher.

    • Leesburg (GA) DT Omar White worked out on the same day that Big Bear did, and the youngster was pretty damn impressive. He's a class of 2024 target, but the 6-4, 330-pounder already holds offers from Arkansas, Florida, Penn State and others. Thanks to Nick Marshall and the other Georgia connections on staff (which seem to be growing in numbers by the day), the Ags are already a serious player and will be for the next couple of years.

    • As Howell noted, the Ags were happy to host Hawaii LB Tausili Akana‍ for a day and promptly offered the national top-50 prospect from the Class of 2023. Akana is basically touring most of the power programs in the south right now so getting him on campus was probably a must if the Ags intend on being any kind of player down the road.

    0137303-airn-240x135.jpg
    TexAgs
    Duncanville OL Jaylen Early is now planning on taking an official visit to Texas A&M.

    • Duncanville OL Jaylen Early‍ has remained squarely on Josh Henson's radar for a while now and told Howell yesterday that he plans to officially visit Aggieland in a couple of weeks. While most of the OL conversation has centered around Kelvin Banks‍ and Kam Dewberry‍, Early, Allen's Neto Umeozulu‍ , and Austin Akins tackle Nikolas Hall‍ are all still very much in play for the Maroon Goons. Don't sleep on Hall, by the way. He left a very strong impression on both Henson and Fisher last week, checking in at 6-6 and just north of 300 pounds while moving exceptionally well. Outstanding bend, flexibility and length, and he's a guy who compares pretty favorably to a recent Fisher favorite in Dan Moore.

     Denver Harris‍ was scheduled for an official, canceled, then posted on his IG account that he was coming to A&M for an unofficial over the weekend. He never made his way to College Station, and I'm not sure he will. Texas fans will love reading my previous sentence, but they won't like the next one. That's because the Aggies, Horns and everyone else will have a very hard time keeping the five-star corner from choosing Alabama.

    • Couple of interesting notes out of Baton Rouge: Allen DE David Hicks‍ — a prime-time A&M target from the '23 ranks and an unofficial visitor at TAMU a week ago — was reportedly a camp star in Death Valley. He'll be here at the end of the week looking to do the same in College Station. Additionally, prime-time Aggie OL targets and Texans Kelvin Banks and Kam Dewberry were both in Baton Rouge, meeting with newly-hired position coach Brad Davis and a familiar face in new LSU analyst Lee Grimes. An interesting combination, to say the least, as Grimes is now recruiting directly against A&M for a pair of targets he was probably recruiting TO Aggieland in the very early stages of their recruitments. Consider LSU a real player for both, particularly Dewberry, but the Ags still have a better shot with both than I feel like they're getting from the Bathwater Bunch in Austin and even some of the national recruiting guys. The Banks recruitment feels a little like the Ags' pursuit of Deuce Fatheree a year ago.

    • I've mentioned Bama a few times, and Nick Saban seems to be infiltrating Texas this year more than perhaps ever before, which makes sense when you consider that this is the deepest Lone Star talent pool in recent memory. Another reason might have a little to do with Saban wanting to absolutely pants Steve Sarkisian on the recruiting front. Either way, Dirty Nick and the Boys are going all out for Anderson, Denver Harris, Texas commit BJ Allen and Aggie legacy Terrance Brooks‍ in the secondary. Former Longhorn assistant Jay Valai — a Texas native — is leading the Tide charge here. The combination of Valai and former Bama standout and Pope John Paul II head coach George Teague are a big part of the reason why the Tide seem to be rising with Brooks. The Ags are still working tirelessly to get Terrance on campus for an official, and the next week or two will be pretty telling as far as this head-scratcher or recruitment is concerned.

    • As far as upcoming visitors go, the list of campers combined with another round of weekend officials is going to be absolutely insane. The scheduled list of weekend visitors includes a couple of Aggie commits plus borderline five-star WR Kojo Antwi out of Georgia, Lake Charles RB TreVonte Citizen‍, Coram Deo DT Jadon Scarlett‍, Pilot Point LB Ish Harris‍, Lexington S/ATH Jarred Kerr‍, and five-star safety Xavier Nwankpa‍ out of Iowa. You can also expect a surprise or two, including a couple of high-profile prospects committed elsewhere in the SEC. Another monster weekend on tap for the Ags.

     

     

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
  13. Spoiler

    You can view Part 1, the video edition, HERE.

    Gun to your head, who's coaching baseball at A&M in 2022?

    If I had to pick one today, yesterday, a week ago or a month ago, I'd have said Schloss. I know Tadlock was a very real possibility and I know Vitello and even Godwin are legitimate possibilities, as well. I've just thought the interest is mutual and this has been brewing for a while now. He's also gone to five CWS (and counting?) at TCU and is still only 50 years old. His resume is as strong as just about anyone's in the game, he's recruited the state forever and I just have always felt like it was something that was doable.

    With that said, Ross Bjork and the Ags have conducted a couple of in-person interviews and will conduct a couple of more in very short order before zeroing in on a single target. That could happen in a matter of days, but don't expect anything to officially happen until whoever the next coach ends up being has completed the 2021 season. I love the direction things are heading, FWIW. The Aggies are going to come out of this with a big-time hire one way or the other.

    What constitutes a successful season for us in 2021? 10 wins? NY6 Bowl? Playoffs or bust?

    I think 10 wins would be a pretty rousing success. Is that the ceiling? No. But with rebuilt OL and a first-time starter at QB, if the Ags went 10-2 and then went to a NY6 for a second-straight year, you're talking about going 19-3 over the last 22 games heading into a second-straight NY6 bowl with (possibly two of the three losses coming to Bama). It would establish A&M as a top-10 PROGRAM (probably more like a top 5 to 😎 under Fisher and clearly trending up.

    Odds that Chapman or Demas will earn Hez's spot in starting rotation?

    Not sure the odds, but what I am sure of is that Hez is going to continue to play a key role for the Ags, regardless, and that he'll be tough to unseat. If Chapman is healthy (which is the expectation), he's going to be very tough to keep off the field because of how he was playing before he was hurt and how big a role he played in the Florida win and how much it convinced Fisher that the Aggies had found their desperately-needed deep ball threat.

    During mop-up time in Sept, who is first RB off the bench - Crownover, Jackson or LJ?

    In September? That's a tough one. I'll go with LJ because it's going to happen sooner rather than later, IMO.

    Enjoy your long weekend!

    Thank you! I hope you and everyone reading this is doing the same. Happy Memorial Day! And now I'm realizing what you did there...but still hope you enjoyed your weekend, as well.

    What are the chances Antonio Doyle ends up redshirting?

    I don't expect him to redshirt at all. He's going to factor into the mix in fall camp and is a guy who I could see kind of emerging overnight because for him it's all about turning the corner. He's as physical as anyone the Ags have at the position and he plays with the right, SEC West mentality you're looking for. The size is prototypical, as well. Once he reaches that point where he's simply playing football freely and knows exactly what he's doing in the system, it'll be pretty impressive to watch. With all of that said, it probably sounds like a redshirt season wouldn't hurt but he's close enough to playing that it's not the way to go, IMO. He could end up playing a key role this fall before all is said and done.

    Which outcome is more likely: Arkansas beats texas, or A&M gets the win in Death Valley?

    I actually will go with A&M beating LSU in Death Valley. That's a game I could see as a toss-up right now or maybe LSU as a very slight favorite. It's the other way for me with Texas and Arkansas. I think I'd lean slightly towards Texas there, but it's close enough that I could certainly see Sam Pittman's bunch pulling off the mild upset. And what a glorious damn upset it would be, right??? Talk about a momentum-killer in week two for Sark and the Horns. And they'd still have a trip to Fort Worth before taking on OU and then square off against Oklahoma State the following Saturday. 

    As for A&M/LSU, you all know what's at stake there. Win and the Ags are 3-1 in the last four against the Bayou Bengals and also three wins in four tries for Jimbo over Ed O. Not what Orgeron wants considering Fisher is still 'the one that got away' in the minds of many a Tiger fan.

    If A&M wins against LSU, are we finishing the season undefeated on the road?

    Interesting question. I picked the Ags to go 10-2 (for now), which probably means they drop one road game or stun Bama and lose two other contests. Let's say Bama holds off the Aggies at Kyle Field in a pretty memorable game, I'd still have A&M losing in either Oxford or Baton Rouge.

    Looch what do you think LSU baseball does in terms of Mainieri?

    I know this is now after the fact but I'd said more than once that Manieri was going to step down at LSU following the season. I think the smoke around O'Sullivan is real. He's kind of in a situation similar to what Jimbo was in at FSU. Most would wonder who anyone would ever leave Gainesville and UF baseball, but there are some things going on that have led to his name being mentioned for a couple of years now as someone who would leave for the right job. Guess who's doing the hiring for LSU? Yep, same guy who got Jimbo to A&M when no one thought he could. Beyond that, I know Scott liked Schloss, and Vitello's name has come up there, as well. I still think O'Sullivan and Louisville's Dan McDonnell will sit atop the list. Not likely to see much overlap in the searches but it's possible if things were to fall a certain way, probably if both teams ultimately landed on Vitello. I'm not expecting it.

    Call your shot......natty this year? If you don't want to answer that do we break into the playoffs?

    I'm on the verge of the playoffs. I could see the Ags pushing to 11-1 and getting in, but as of today, I'm going with 10-2 and a NY6 bowl win.

    Who do you like (dislike) more, Bryson Dechambeau or Brooks Koeptka?

    I think I have to give Dechambeau credit for his next-level troll work. I can appreciate how much he's in Brooks' head right now. Are you familiar with the folks in Burnt Orange whose heads I've taken residence in for years now?

    Basketball question — will Jordan Hall actually make it to campus?

    That's still expected, yes. I know some folks are worried about him making the NBA jump, but I don't think that'll be the case. I think it's a free opportunity to get a feel for where he's at and what he needs to improve on. He wouldn't be drafted right now, which doesn't necessarily stop kids from leaving these days, but it's certainly a deterrent. They're expecting him to be an Aggie.

    Does Wydermyer win the Mackey this year?

    It's very possible. I'm going to say yes because he's going to come in with the hype and he's made a habit these past two years of really playing well and coming up with big plays against SEC opposition. Having a second threat at tight end should also help free up Wydermyer some, as well.

    Why don't we hear more from Elko? I would argue that A&M fans value the DC position as much or more than any other fanbase and it just doesn't seem like we hear much of his viewpoint compared to previous DC's.

    That's just Jimbo's policy. The assistants don't do interviews save for when they're rotating assistants during camp or spring and in bowl game pressers. He's old school in that way and has always handled it that way.

    What is your latest take on our stability at the center position? Thanks

    Nothing new. Luke Matthews and his ability to remain healthy are key here. He looked pretty damn good during the first half of spring ball, so that was something the staff was pretty encouraged about. After Matthews, you have a true freshman in Wykoff and Bryce Foster could also get a look if need be. Smart Chibuzo is there, as well.

    If you could change any decision made by an Aggie football player (related to college football) what would it be? I'm talking everything from staying another year to in-game decision making.

    That in-game part opens up so many options that I'd be sitting here all night. Let's stick to the first part. In hindsight, I feel like one of those guys I would have loved to see return another year was Ja'mar Toombs. More recently, Johnny Manziel coming back for one more season is the most obvious one. The earth was a little scored behind him, but he and I have talked 'what if' on that front more times than I can count. Another one that stands out a little is Christian Kirk. Too much to ask sometimes for someone to return to a new staff but, who knows, maybe Kirk is the difference in games like Clemson, Mississippi State and Auburn in year one and the Ags enjoy an incredible year one under Jimbo instead of just a very good one. Oh yeah, and then there's that Kyler Murray dude. Him changing his decision would've been super sick.

    It has been mentioned on here that we may take another TE in the '22 recruiting class. Do you think we will really do this, and if so, who do you think is most likely to grab an offer?

    I'm not completely sold on that happening. It's just something to monitor through the fall as the Ags get an idea for the health of the young trio on campus. As far as who, I know Brauny will be keeping a close eye close to home, as College Station High's Houston Thomas‍ is an intriguing guy. Again, I'm a long way from believing it will happen (the Ags taking two) but it's a possibility worth mentioning, especially if the Ags don't see a ton from the guys not named Wydermyer this season. I expect Cupp and perhaps even Blake Smith could show us a lot this fall.

    Is there any concern that the baseball coaching search plays out similar to last time when we got numerous big time coaches hefty raises and ultimately hired an assistant?

    I don't think it will end up anywhere close to that. They knew Tech was going to offer Tadlock a lifetime contract but decided to make a run at him anyway and got very close. I think the guy they officially target next is the hire. Right now, Schloss, Vitello and Godwin are the three to watch, but I hear there is a fourth candidate as well.

    Everyone seems to think that Haynes is the odds on favorite to be the starting QB in the fall. But, Jimbo said at the Dallas Coach's Night that he was really impressed with Calzada's improvement and commitment. What are the chances that we see a platoon situation or situation substitution scheme at QB?

    I seriously doubt Jimbo would go with a platoon. I think he names a starter late in fall camp and sticks with him as long as things are going well at the position. As far as what Jimbo said about Zach, he's been raving about Calzada's improvement, focus and commitment since the team returned in January, and we've maintained as much here anytime we're talking about the position. He's legitimately challenging for the job, which is a big part of why Fisher and the A&M staff think they currently have two guys capable of starting in the SEC West.

    Considering our investment into football, how can we continue to improve our stadium atmosphere? I remember a conversation about Georgia and how cool their night games are. Do you expect Bjork to make some changes to lighting, music etc? With the Bama game potentially being a prime time night game with the whole world watching, how can we step up our game in this regard?

    They're always tinkering with things and I can assure you there is an ongoing commitment to make the atmosphere and fan experience better, but I'm not sure what can be done and will leave that to the experts...both in the athletic dept and here on the TexAgs message boards!

    TexAgs site is hands down the best site in College fandom but what other sites provide content as good as y'all? Do you have relationships with the “Billy's” at those sites and do y'all ever share info to cross reference stories?

    We have plenty of relationships and friendships across sites and even with the 'network' guys. The recruiting guys certainly cross-reference and share intel back and forth when they're comfortable doing so.

    What's your preferred and/or predicted finish at RB in the class of 22?

    I really wouldn't pick the Ags to land any of the four guys I like most right now — Jamarion Miller‍ of Tyler Lee and the three Louisiana guys —  but would love to see A&M end up with any one of Miller or TreVonte Citizen‍ or Le'Veon Moss out of Louisiana. Somehow, someway, I have a feeling Tommie Robinson is going to get it done for the second year in a row.

    First offensive play of the year, will it be a Run with Spiller or a Play Action deep ball for Chapman or Demas?

    I'll go with a play-action roll-out to Wydermyer for a first down. Or Ainias somehow taking something to the house on the first play from scrimmage! How does that sound?

    What is it going to take to get Vitello here and are we willing to do it? He's the best candidate (after Tadlock who is no longer available). And how serious were the Tadlock talks because the AD threw the kitchen sink at him?

    The Tadlock talks were serious, but I think the reports of an offer being made were a little premature. And you clearly think Vitello is the best candidate (and plenty would agree) but that's not the decision the Aggies have made yet. As I reported, they haven't settled in on one candidate yet.

    Outside of Bama, who is the biggest threat to the Ags in 21-23?

    During that window, I'd say it's still LSU but also that Ole Miss will be a team worth watching during that window, as well. If the Ags were to go 3-0 against Lane Kiffin during that span — and two will be in Oxford — then it's probably because A&M is a legitimate playoff contender or rock-solidly entrenched inside the top-10 during that time. And what about Miami? They're not going to be The U of old, but the Ags face the Canes twice in what could be a pair of challenging games based on how Manny Diaz is recruiting in South Florida. With all that said, it's still LSU and there isn't a close second, IMO.

    What is your opinion on the WR position:
    - Why does the group under-perform based on expectations
    - Why so many transfers out and none in at this position
    - Your opinion on whether it might be time for a new WR coach
    - Your thoughts on WRs we turned away this year given so many departures (basically, any regrets)

    This looks like four questions tucked away under one question. It's like the Russian babushka doll of questions. You've several nesting inside of one big question. Normally, I'd throw this one out but instead will give short answers.

    -Chase Lane and Hez Jones underperformed last year? Caleb Chapman? How about Ainias Smith or do we not count him? I get it, some of the big-name recruits haven't panned out. I also wish the three guys who would have been seniors would have been committed to returning and putting forth their best seasons during their final year of eligibility. But several receivers actually probably EXCEEDED expectations last fall. Need someone on the outside to emerge as a big-time downfield playmaker and it needs to happen quickly (as in this year) and the Ags also need to do a nice job on the recruiting front this year. Those two things go without saying. 

    -I don't think there was necessarily the need for a transfer IN, per se. 

    -Jimbo doesn't think it's time for a new WR coach, which is all the matters. Me? I think Craig is going to do this year what Josh Henson did last year, both with the WR play and on the recruiting front. We'll see how things play out.

    -Which ones did the Ags turn away? I've always been pretty adamant about how I felt about John Paul Richardson but outside of him, I'm not sure who I would've wanted to see them push for. Maybe JJ Henry? This board would've been pretty split over that. Where you were really hurt was coming so close but losing out on Aledo's JoJo Earle to Bama and Brian Thomas to LSU, both in the days before they signed. All the more reason why the Aggies and Craig definitely need to clean up at the position this time around.

    Tampering. I've asked about this before. My understanding is that Riley made a hard run at Demas last year. It's going to bite us sooner or later. Chances coaches put enough pressure on the NCAA to get off their butts and do something? I noticed Shaw at Stanford and Brown at NC have finally spoken out. Still nothing from Fisher on the subject.

    Coaches crying about isn't going to do a damn thing because we've seen that the NCAA moves at a glacial pace. The real solution? Do some tampering yourself. The system all but forces you to do so.

    Have you started looking for houses in Austin?

    You know what the funniest part about all of that was? The fact that at least one poster believed it was true and I got two or three texts about it, as well. Pretty funny to think anyone would believe that.

    Hi Billy! Thanks so much for the website...I live for it!! What do you think of Ross Bjork so far and do you have any concerns? Do you have concerns that he is too nice of a guy? Woodward did not tolerate losing. Thoughts...?

    Thanks for being such a fan of the site. The whole "Ross is too nice" thing is a new phenomenon that I don't subscribe to. He made the change in baseball and they made a pretty sudden change at women's golf. I don't have any concerns. Wait until after this baseball hire — his first big one — and let me know how you feel about the job he did. The next couple will likely come next spring. You can grade him accordingly, but when it comes to some of the non-rev sports, an AD at a place like this can kind of be handcuffed to a certain degree in terms of the timing of firings and beginning a coaching search.

    Both are tall orders, but which scenario is more likely:
    Our quarterback play is equal to or better than 2020?
    Our offensive line is equal to or better than 2020?

    Damn, both are VERY tall orders. I know a lot of folks like to downplay Kellen but the dude was 19-3 TD-to-INT and led the Ags to nine wins in ten games with the only loss to Alabama. I don't see either being better, but I could see the OL being much better than expected with four starters leaving. and I could see a first-year starter at QB being much better than anyone outside of Jimbo expects and, if it's King, his ability to run and make plays on the move could prove to be an added dimension that could cause real problems for SEC defenses.

    Do you ever see a coach "tattling" on another coach for tampering or is there some unwritten rule that will allow Riley and Mullen to act in impunity?

    Oh they'll speak up — particularly behind the scenes — but I don't think anything will come of it unless someone gets VERY sloppy and screws up in writing and a kid shows his current coaches and sticks around in the program.

    When do you see a full scale renovation again for Blue Bell?

    Not long after a new coach is here in College Station. I'll double-check and get back with a better answer.

    Have you spoken to Shane Lechler lately? Curious as to what he's been up to since he retired.

    Talked to him last week, as a matter of fact. We stay in touch pretty regularly. He's doing a ton of softball coaching and watching with his two daughters and, as soon as that's done, he'll do plenty of fishing down in Rockport.

    Going to Cancun this summer. Recommendations if we decide to leave the resort and venture into town?

    Believe it or not, I've actually never been to the Cancun area.

    Pretty sure I know the answer to the first question since we both were around in the 90's, but who is the best overall athlete (talent wise) you have ever seen in person at A&M? Since it is most likely not a football player, most talented football player you have seen in person at A&M?

    Stacy Sykora was incredible back then. Now, Athing Mu and Devon Achane stand out. Most talented football player I've seen in person as far as being just an incredible overall athlete? Johnny Manziel and Myles Garrett. Robert Ferguson was pretty special, as well.

    What should the fans expect this season from Aggie Football?
    Early W/L prediction?

    10-2 but I reserve the right to change that one.

    What's your OL big board for '22? Kelvin Banks‍, Neto Umeozulu‍, Kam Dewberry‍, Jaylen Early‍ in that order? Or would you order them differently?

    I think my personal board would look like Banks, Dewberry, Neto and Early. I've maintained for a while that if the Ags were to add two of those first three to their current commit list, they could grab a fifth guy that Henson and Fisher love as a 'down the road' type of guy and it would be an absolutely elite haul for the second straight cycle.

    Who will benefit from the transfer portal in the long run ? (The Alabamas of college football, mid-level teams like Purdue, Georgia Tech, tu, or someone else) ?

    The biggest programs are still going to benefit the most. Fortunately, A&M is one of the 'haves' so they'll be a big time draw for premier players for teams not enjoying the on-field success that the Ags are and they'll be able to cherry-pick each year to supplement a couple of the few weak spots on the roster.

    What are the top 7 jobs in college baseball?

    Top 7? Let's say, in whatever order, A&M, LSU, Texas, Florida, Mississippi State, Arkansas and maybe someone out of the ACC like North Carolina. Maybe UCLA or USC out west, but I just don't think any of those West Coast programs would qualify among the 'best jobs' anymore because of an overall lack of commitment, facilities and atmosphere/fan support. It's also very hard to get guys in school at a few places like Stanford. The benefit out there is the fact that there are so many players out west. 

     

  14. 9 minutes ago, Archer said:

    Just read the whole thread after a buddy asked me what I knew about options yesterday (nothing). 
     

    Every time I thought I started to get a base understanding you guys would say something else and I’d be lost again. I’ll have to start a paper account and play to try and learn a little. 
     

    Selling covered call options: If I own a position I’m looking to exit at $X is there any reason (other than the upside risk if it pops hard) not to sell covered calls at the target exit price? 

    You can open a td Ameritrade account and paper trade options using ThinkorSwim, great way to learn options, you don't even need to fund it.  As for your covered calls, select a price you would be happy selling at, if it hits you are out plus your premium, if it doesn't, you collect the premium. It is nice being the house, but also sucks if you miss a big run, so need to be happy with the exit. 

  15. 15 minutes ago, Machinator said:

    Childress out at A&M.

    Spoiler
    Liucci
    Staff
    AG
    Watching Hunter Coleman stand there before the media and explain what Rob Childress has meant to him and what he thinks of his head coach following A&M's 2021 season coming to an end with a series loss to LSU on Saturday got me to thinking.  

    Of all the coaches to come through Aggieland and enjoy a long tenure at my university, I'm not sure there was one I knew less than Childress. Over the years, I've been able to farm out the baseball coverage to a more-than-capable bunch here at TexAgs but those of you who know me best understand that I'm a baseball fan at heart and grew up with it as my favorite sport. Some of my best sports memories - both as a student and covering this stuff - have involved Aggie baseball, most notably the '99 team, the 2011 bunch and those teams in 2015 and 2016. Special groups, all-around great dudes and some good friends from all three of those eras to this day. But because I've been able to simply be a 'fan' when it comes to A&M baseball, I didn't develop the type of relationship with Childress that I have with so many other coaches over my quarter century of doing this.

    I wish I had, because I've always been a fan. I say that not knowing if Childress likes me, couldn't care less or hates the mere existence of TexAgs (I know folks think we have it easy around here, but he wouldn't be the first A&M head coach or sports administrator or social media head who felt that way). I say that because by all accounts - players, other folks across the department and the team here at TexAgs that handles the coverage for us - Childress is as good as gold. He's the type of coach you'd want your son to play for the kind of man you want representing the Maroon & White. Texas A&M baseball was fortunate enough to have had Childress call College Station home for more than 15 years, dating back to when I was barely 30 years old ,the Aggies were happy members of the Big 12 and TexAgs was still in what I'd consider the infancy stages of it's growth.

    That's coming to an end today, as the Aggie season is done and Rob just wrapped up the final year of his contract. Bjork is meeting with the A&M coaches as I type this and will sit down with the players at 10 am, which means Childress coached his final game in Maroon & White in front of the home fans last night. I'll leave the debate about how his tenure should best be graded to the 'TA baseball bunch' and all of you on the boards. It's a very interesting conversation...and you can really look back at those '15 and '16 near-misses as a moment in that 16-year window where Childress and the Ags were on the cusp of stepping into the big-time and possibly emerging as a top-5-8 type of program but couldn't quite get past TCU. Anyway, I'm letting myself get drawn in here and that wasn't the point (I'll opine a little on radio tomorrow just for fun). What I will say is that Rob and his staff did a good job and will be missed by many, including this not-so-casual observer and Childress fan.

    It's not fun going through what he went through this year (or last year, for that matter, when the Ags probably would have fared much better had the season not been cancelled midstream) but this process probably hasn't been a very fun one for Ross Bjork, either. Like Childress, the Aggie AD has a job to do. A change is being made across the tracks at Olsen and we'll have all the reaction and the like throughout the day and tomorrow on the boards and on TexAgs Radio. For now, however, just know this: Bjork and the Aggies are absolutely in search of big game when it comes to the hunt for Childress' replacement.
    As anyone who follows college athletics knows, decisions like these aren't made overnight and though the 'official' search begins today, the groundwork for an eventual hire has already been laid. You guys know the names, as it's very obvious that any such search will begin close to home, where a couple of guys have led their teams to a combined nine College World Series trips. Tim Tadlock at Texas Tech and TCU's Jim Schlossnagle are no-brainer targets, as is Tennessee's Tony Vitello, who has strong Texas ties and has the Vol program soaring in the SEC. Another name that I expect to be in the mix is East Carolina's Cliff Godwin. Pretty stout field, and one that could certainly grow as the post-season goes on, as I've heard interest has been overwhelming for what most in the game believe is a top-5 job in college baseball. Ross and the A&M decision-makers are going to treat the coaching search exactly as if, as the goal here is to bring in a head man who will not only turn TAMU into a bona fide SEC powerhouse but also get the Aggies to Omaha consistently and, at some point, bring the big trophy home to College STation for the first time.
    One thing to keep in mind here as you guys go out daily in search of information on the coaching search front, remember that the best way this thing could possibly go for the Aggies is for the spotlight to never fall on one particular candidate until a deal is all but done. The last thing Bjork and Co. need to do is tip their hand. There's an art form to this thing, and - despite the fact that things are going well in Austin right now on the diamond (for the just-crowned Big 12 champs) the last thing you want is for a coaching search to go like their last one did. As in, the Horns missed on several targets and slid down way down their list before settling on the eventual hire (who was, believe it or not, on a bit of a hot seat in Austin entering this season but has turned things around in a big way). One final note: LSU is expected to be in the market, as well, While I believe the TIgers' No. 1 target resides in Louisville, Kentucky, if Scott Woodward misses there, you could see some overlap in the two searches, namely with Vitello or perhaps even Schlossnagle.

     

  16. 3 hours ago, henrygandorf said:

    back on the riot train when it dipped under $46.  it actually got under $44 for a min.  mid-may calls, so hoping it does what it usually does.

    the shit was at $61 yesterday morning.  the volatility is bonkers.

    They love to gap up this name and fade it all day. But you just need that one big gap up. 

  17. 17 hours ago, Neonmoon said:

    How much money do you need in 9 years to pay for kids college? 

    UT is 10,824 per year for tuition. That’s 43,296 total. In 9 years, that money will be 73,147 in 9 years. 
     

     

    UT estimate is currently needing about 30k a year. In 9 years it will either be ridiculously expensive, or free. 

     

     

     

    Screen Shot 2021-04-11 at 4.16.23 PM.png

×
×
  • Create New...