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Posted
On 8/9/2025 at 11:51 AM, BurntEyes said:

Well @closetojumping perhaps Tarp has found LDS and is of the position that Reed will find his long game in a magic hat. 

As for Steele and over rating, he's not alone in the media and it just boggles my mind. This year aggie along with PSU and the other love fest media frequently for no good reason Miami are all the WTFs. At least PSU has a track record, granted its choking all big games where talent is equal or greater, but the same can't be said for Miami and certainly not aggie.

I'm late to this thread. Skimming some great stuff. Compliments to @closetojumping

I wonder if A&M making themselves largely unignorable despite nobody much caring about their football program places them in a unique position to be over-rated just about every year.

I think they are likely the only team of some prominence in college ball to have alumni constantly touting themselves as the next blue blood. They mantra the sleeping giant/all the advantages line until the notion finds footing in some minds of the national CFB media. At one time or another, just about all of those sports pundits pick A&M to surprise the world. At no time do the Aggies deliver more than a big upset win en route to their traditional ocho-cuatro.

Now, they have established the pitiful narrative of "is this year finally the year the Aggies break through?" Nobody really wants to spend any more time on A&M than they do Michigan State or Pitt, but the annual question, just as the annual failure, remains: is this the year?

They get an obligatory and cursory look flavored by the Aggie hard sell leading to this notion that they will be better than they are. The reasoning is usually applicable to all above average schools: if their QB breaks out, if the OL finally gels, if linebackers can stay healthy...

Other than OU's aging MNC, I don't think the breaks have ever gone well enough for the miracle to happen.

The Aggies just set themselves up, unfailingly, as a November punchline. The wages of self-promoting a self that sucks.

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Posted
5 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

I'm late to this thread. Skimming some great stuff. Compliments to @closetojumping

I wonder if A&M making themselves largely unignorable despite nobody much caring about their football program places them in a unique position to be over-rated just about every year.

I think they are likely the only team of some prominence in college ball to have alumni constantly touting themselves as the next blue blood. They mantra the sleeping giant/all the advantages line until the notion finds footing in some minds of the national CFB media. At one time or another, just about all of those sports pundits pick A&M to surprise the world. At no time do the Aggies deliver more than a big upset win en route to their traditional ocho-cuatro.

Now, they have established the pitiful narrative of "is this year finally the year the Aggies break through?" Nobody really wants to spend any more time on A&M than they do Michigan State or Pitt, but the annual question, just as the annual failure, remains: is this the year?

They get an obligatory and cursory look flavored by the Aggie hard sell leading to this notion that they will be better than they are. The reasoning is usually applicable to all above average schools: if their QB breaks out, if the OL finally gels, if linebackers can stay healthy...

Other than OU's aging MNC, I don't think the breaks have ever gone well enough for the miracle to happen.

The Aggies just set themselves up, unfailingly, as a November punchline. The wages of self-promoting a self that sucks.

Except in November nobody really digs in on a who is a failure. It focuses on who is playing for it all. 
it’s a smart way to do it. You get to enjoy the shine for 6 months in anticipation and few care enough to autopsy the teams that failed when the season is still going on and there is a chase for playoffs and a title. 
after the season memories fade and they play bullshit games like “we were one play away from beating evil TU, Whoop!” And forget that they we dominated like they had a tennis ball gag stuffed down their mouth. 

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Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, RomaVicta said:

I'm late to this thread. Skimming some great stuff. Compliments to @closetojumping

I wonder if A&M making themselves largely unignorable despite nobody much caring about their football program places them in a unique position to be over-rated just about every year.

I think they are likely the only team of some prominence in college ball to have alumni constantly touting themselves as the next blue blood. They mantra the sleeping giant/all the advantages line until the notion finds footing in some minds of the national CFB media. At one time or another, just about all of those sports pundits pick A&M to surprise the world. At no time do the Aggies deliver more than a big upset win en route to their traditional ocho-cuatro.

Now, they have established the pitiful narrative of "is this year finally the year the Aggies break through?" Nobody really wants to spend any more time on A&M than they do Michigan State or Pitt, but the annual question, just as the annual failure, remains: is this the year?

They get an obligatory and cursory look flavored by the Aggie hard sell leading to this notion that they will be better than they are. The reasoning is usually applicable to all above average schools: if their QB breaks out, if the OL finally gels, if linebackers can stay healthy...

Other than OU's aging MNC, I don't think the breaks have ever gone well enough for the miracle to happen.

The Aggies just set themselves up, unfailingly, as a November punchline. The wages of self-promoting a self that sucks.

Well, in pure speculation I think all this combined @Wulaw Horn point plus 5 other items potentially play into this never ending narrative.

First, aggie has hired HCs that for various reasons get the attention of media. 

Next, they are always, constantly spewing propaganda about how much money they have and this appears to be supported by some of the coaching hires. Reporters mostly suck today and they aren't digging into the aggie budget. Also, they do actually have some money just none they can spend elsewhere due to the coaching choices.

Third, they rarely dip into a losing record. They are know for 8-4 for a reason. A big part of it is 3 of their 4 OOC are nobodies at their stadium, but again this takes looking at the receipts and sports Reporters are lazy.

Fourth, Texas is a football state, and I firmly believe writers will generate a rivalry/heel for plot when one may or may not exist in a competitive aspect. Perhaps a similar reality is true for Miami in football for Florida. 

Finally, reporting sucks for the most part these days. If it isn't sponsored by someone, it's written to generate rage. Hate sells, it sells really well. So does envy. Social media influencers make billions off showing their great looks and "amazing life" and/or telling everyone why their lives suck.

Edited by BurntEyes
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Posted (edited)
On 8/15/2025 at 5:16 PM, Vertigo said:

The mental gymnastics Pate does in this is truly astounding. My favorite piece is him calling Casius Howell potentially one of the best edge players in the country after a 3rd team all MAC season in 2023.

 

 

I just about never watch this stuff. It's a patience issue when it comes to listening to sports guys talk. 

I watched this, and it prompted a consideration of the difference between blather and bloviation. Is the difference merely philosophical? I'll get back to you on that.

"Elko and his staff are going to ask this team to do something most teams can't do. Prepare and play really hard in each game. There, I said it. Most teams don't do this, because they don't have a genius like Mike Elko working magic and exerting a gravitational field. 

"Here's another keen point: Notre Dame is a big game for them. If they go to Notre Dame and win there, that will tell you something about this team. I follow sports closely and have my own show. I go to the gym and can keep a white shirt unstained. Winning a big away game will be a big deal for A&M."

Profound. Ask your team to win all year. Then win big games.

Okay, I took liberties with the language but not the spirit. There is only spirit in Pate's bloviation: the blather of school spirit for the dear old Texas Aggies.

ETA: @BurntEyes reminds of Pate's opening: A&M's season last year was a success because they entered the Texas game needing only that win to go to the SEC Championship Game. As y'all say, that fact is doing a lot of heavy lifting in rating the Aggies as contenders.

Edited by RomaVicta
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Posted
2 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

Prepare and play really hard in each game

Wow they solved the Rubik’s cube of sports 

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Posted
1 hour ago, closetojumping said:

IMG_5476.png

thank you ctj for posting this - it has a critical data point - i've been running with the 2014 win at #9 south carolina as the last true road win

the google AI search results often return incomplete or totally incorrect results and this is such a case as the win at #3 barn was 8 games after the south carolina win

we have a new date

the last aggy true road win over a ranked opponent was 9 november 2014 at jordan-hare

3934 days ago

Posted

Pathetic quibble of the day:

image.thumb.png.11a09b55c2e55918db83bad48d5b8e53.png

There are several posts about whether this historic Colorado game should count as non-neutral. 

It says so much about how desperate they can get to identify some meaningless detail as evidence that futililty is not the way of the Aggie.

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Posted
24 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

Pathetic quibble of the day:

image.thumb.png.11a09b55c2e55918db83bad48d5b8e53.png

There are several posts about whether this historic Colorado game should count as non-neutral. 

It says so much about how desperate they can get to identify some meaningless detail as evidence that futililty is not the way of the Aggie.

In that thread, one guy comes on and adds that half the stadium or more was maroon and that the aggies actually had the advantage in that game. They’re truly pathetic people. 

Posted
27 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

There are several posts about whether this historic Colorado game should count as non-neutral. 

It says so much about how desperate they can get to identify some meaningless detail as evidence that futility is not the way of the aggy.

nfl stadium = true road game

it's like winning the big 12 in 1997 when they didn't play in the title game

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Posted

They have not had back to back winning seasons in conference games since Bill Clinton was president.  That’s astounding. Haven’t played for a conference title since 1998.  Where they won in a fluke game against a better team

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Posted
20 minutes ago, Hagbard Celine said:

nfl stadium = true road game

it's like winning the big 12 in 1997 when they didn't play in the title game

Pretty sure they played for the conference title in 1997 and were routed. I think you’re thinking of their claims for the 2007? and 2010 South Division titles when they did not, in fact, play for the conference title. 

Posted

Spoilered below is an article mistitled by Tarp. He says it’s about the LBs, but it’s about the RBs. 

Highlights:

-Tarp again pushes one of the most laughable bullshit premises that anyone talking about ATM seems to have to push -that Reuben Owens is a big play guy. If I remember correctly, the guy’s longest play from scrimmage is less than 25 yards and very few are more than 10. Where in the fuck did this notion come from?

-He’s identified that some of the aggie honks have prematurely started pushing true freshman Morrow as the next big thing. This is happening because idiots who cover the team overrate 7 on 7 performance. 

Spoiler

Quick thoughts on Texas A&M's LB room as fall camp draws nearer to a close

VIP
  •  TarpSTAFF
    Posted on 12 mins, V I P, User Since 138 months ago, User Post Count: 88177
    • 12 minsVIP
    • 138 months
    • 88177

     

    Texas A&M's running back room is considered to be deep because it's got multiple players with career college starts. However, two of them are probably elevated among the remainder due to particular traits that they have.

    Le'Veon Moss simply runs with a lot of violence. He breaks tackles and wears down opposing defenses. He can be a lot of different things…a guy who closes games, a big play producer, someone who sets a tone not just for the running game but for the team as a whole, and a more than adequate pass catcher. As of right, they're going to try to keep him healthier for the big games on A&M's schedule and restrict his usage in some contests more than others. They've already apparently done that in fall camp as well.

    There is a disconnect between people that like third year player Rueben Owens and those that wish for more out of the former five star. Owens' biggest selling point is the fact that he is considered a big play guy both as a runner and a pass catcher. Every time I've heard about a major practice or scrimmage in the past year, he has a long run or pass reception in them. He had a long reception in the spring game. He's fast and works hard to get into space.

     

    I understand that people also wish that they would see from him is more of is down to down physicality and production. However, on an offense that's placing a premium on generating chunk plays, his return to health (after last season's injury) is considered to be a big deal.

    Amari Daniels is reliable and is elusive and fast enough to be a big play guy himself. He has lost weight and so it will be interesting to see how that affects his pass protection (which was much better in 2024 than in past seasons).

    EJ Smith will probably get more opportunities as a passing down back but has proven so far to productive when given opportunities in a crowded running back room.

    The freshmen, Deondrae Riden and Jamarion Morrow, are making their mark in different ways. Morrow is good in 7 on 7 work and so stands out more than Riden does simply because is an elusive guy who can catch the ball. This enables him to generate big plays more often no matter what format they're working in. On the other hand, Riden is bigger, a better pass protector, and is a contact balance runner who is going to do better in games than on the practice field.

    A&M's desire this season is to be more of a big play offense and so that's going to be the primary selling point of these guys when it comes to their usage.

 

Posted

I think the aggy move to the sec has a lot to do with it. the sec media seems to not be a big fan of texas of course. they prop up aggy as a contender every year because aggy media sucks the sec tit like no other. then the sec media only talks to KB and CG who hate all over texas and voila, we're stuck in this weird loop where aggy and texas are the same in the national media. fuck aggy. everything that comes out of their mouth is a lie and everything going in is a dick. 

Posted
2 hours ago, DFW Horn said:

Season 2 Nbc GIF by The Office

 

2 hours ago, Js1 said:

Wow they solved the Rubik’s cube of sports 

Science!!!! 

Play hard and win all your games is how... 

You win games and championships!

Who knew?  

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