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Former Texas A&M assistant and ex-Green Bay coach Mike Sherman returned to the Aggies nearly two years ago vowing to restore Aggie pride, dignity and accountability to the once proud program.But in less than two complete seasons, Sherman doesn't seem close to his promise.
This will certainly be a tough week in Aggieland after A&M fell asleep against Kansas State and did not wake up until the mediocre Wildcats had pulled off a 66-14 rout in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday. And as crazy as it sounds, the score wasn't anywhere as close as it appears.
The Wildcats led 38-0 at halftime and were up 59-0 in the third quarter before the Aggies started putting points on the board. A&M, which breezed through its first three cupcake non-conference games has now lost three straight and you have to wonder if the Aggies will win again this season after Saturday's embarrassment.
"We got our butt kicked every which way. There is no question about that," Sherman said after his team fell to 3-3, 0-2 Big 12. "It goes with everybody: offense, defense, special teams, staff, everybody. We all got our butts kicked."
Now the question is how long before Sherman gets his butt kicked out of College Station. The message boards and phone lines are blowing up after what could be the Aggies' most embarrassing loss in years. Sure there have been some bigger margins of defeat to say ... Oklahoma. But Kansas State? And a bad Kansas State squad that has struggled to identify a quarterback in Bill Snyder's return from retirement, at that?
It was interesting to listen to the A&M players following Saturday's defeat. It was like they had an out-of-body experience for four quarters against Kansas State.
"For whatever reason, that wasn't us out there," said quarterback Jerrod Johnson.
"That wasn't us out there," said linebacker Von Miller.
Unfortunately, the tape won't lie and surely by Sunday night the Aggies became aware the team at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium was them.
Folks in Aggieland chased R.C. Slocum, who never had a losing season at A&M, out of town because they felt the game had passed him by. They never accepted Dennis Franchione because he was an outsider and at times he played too conservatively.
Sherman, who had watched from a short distance as the Houston Texans offensive coordinator, came in saying all the right things about wanting to do things the Aggie way. The guess is this isn't what anybody had in mind.
Sherman, who coached under Slocum before heading to Green Bay where he is famous for coaching Brett Favre, has made no excuses. But Sherman also hasn't made any gains in his two years on campus.
One of his most reliable receivers is backup quarterback Ryan Tannehill. And then the one that may exemplify how little progress has been is made is former quarterback-turned tight end Jamie McCoy is now carrying the ball out of the backfield. McCoy promptly got Saturday's onslaught going by fumbling the ball away on a run during the second play from scrimmage.
Sherman took over a bowl team and has promptly turned it into the worst program in the Big 12. The Aggies use to be able to count on a win against Baylor, but that has changed even with star Bear quarterback Robert Griffin sidelined.
Sherman got spanked by Arkansas in the final non-conference game and then opened the Big 12 season with a loss to an Oklahoma State team that has been hindered by injuries and off the field trouble.
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In this undated photo provided by the University of Connecticut, Jasper Howard is seen. Howard, 20, of Miami, and another student were stabbed during a fight after a fire alarm was pulled during a university sponsored dance at the UConn Student Union just after 12:30 a.m., police said. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut) **NO SALES**
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In this undated photo provided by the University of Connecticut, Jasper Howard is seen. Howard, 20, of Miami, and another student were stabbed during a fight after a fire alarm was pulled during a university sponsored dance at the UConn Student Union just after 12:30 a.m., police said. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut) **NO SALES**
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Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall speaks during a news conference about the stabbing death of playerJasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
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Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, speaks at a news conference about the stabbing death of player Jasper Howard as university president Michael J. Hogan, second from left, Major Ron Blichter of UConn Police, center, UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway, second from right, and player Desi Cullen, right, listen in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
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Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, comforts senior captain Desi Cullen, right, during a news conference about the stabbing death of teammate Jasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
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A student walks by yellow tape marking the crime scene where University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard was stabbed and killed early Sunday morning, in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
AP
Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, comforts senior captain Desi Cullen, right, during a news conference about the stabbing death of teammate Jasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Howard, 20, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Police vehicles are parked at the crime scene where University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard was stabbed and killed early Sunday morning, in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, comforts senior captain Desi Cullen, right, during a news conference about the stabbing death of teammate Jasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Howard, 20, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
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Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee (5) is tackled by Texas Tech's Bront Bird, in the second half of their NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. Texas Tech beat Nebraska 31-10.(AP Photo/Dave Weaver)
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Yet, Sherman says he saw his team improving.
"This is hard," he said. "I felt every week of the season we got better, going back to the preseason and our preseason camp.
"I had comfort in the fact we were getting better. [Saturday] we didn't get better. We took a step backwards."
You think?
Well it could get worse before it gets anywhere near better. Try this one for size: The Aggies are headed to Lubbock _ a place where they haven't won since 1993 _ to face a Texas Tech team that a week earlier applied the same kind of beating to Kansas State that the Wildcats put on A&M on Saturday.
The Aggies say this is a long season. They don't know true those words may ring with six games remaining and not a for sure win in sight.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-20-2009 @ 3:35AM
Rodney said...
Tommy Tuberville must be licking his chops for this opportunity.
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 10:38AM
hi deb-deb said...
seems like the aggies need a major overhaul in all departments. sherman is not their guy,they really need a decent QB. as well as smarter players. when you install a complex system on both sides of the ball,you need quality players to pick up on the schemes. they possibly need to pick a better motivator,recruiter,and a manager (coach) that can pick the right assisstants.
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 12:03PM
David said...
Tommy Turbeville won't touch this job. A & M has a great tradition but I watched them play Arkansas and the Aggies problem is quality ball players. They are not good. They will get better -but it will take better players.
Reply
10-20-2009 @ 1:27PM
terrancefharris said...
I'm not sure what Tubberville's interest level would be now, and I'm not sure the A&M job will even be open this season, but Tuberville was definitely very interested in the Aggies prior to Sherman getting the job. I worked hard on that story after Franchione was fired and people close to Tubberville said he tried to get involved through a third party. I never quite understood what this meant, but a person close to Tuberville said they knew he wasn't getting the job the night Fran's firing/resignation was announced when the school announced Gary Darnell as the interim coach. This person said if A&M was interested in Tuberville there would have been no need to do that because Tuberville could have been in place that Monday. The problem there was he was still the head coach of Auburn.
That being said, the last thing A&M needs is another coach who may not be able to connect with his players and recruits. They need a younger, more energetic up-and-coming coach who can excite the fans and the players. The thing is two years ago they could have had Muschamp. Not sure who they could get this time.
10-20-2009 @ 3:05PM
sam73112 said...
While I understand A&M's frustration, it's not like they've ever had a program that was very good anyway.
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10-20-2009 @ 6:24PM
Brooks Davis said...
Hey, Texas A&M has a storied football program in the 80's and 90's. Their defense was well known as "The Wrecking Crew," and Aggie linebackers, defensive ends and offensive linemen have had no problems going in the 1st round in the NFL.....
Don't believe me ? Look it up yourself......look up Aggie Football under Jackie Sherrell and R.C. Slocum.
10-20-2009 @ 8:43PM
John said...
A&M had a somewhat storied program but they cant out recruit- Texas,Oklahoma,or Texas Tech,TCU, Nebraska or even Houston and Oklahoma State. So What are they going to do. Just be A&M and lose the important games.Its a mind-set and they have to lose the losing mentality.
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10-21-2009 @ 12:51AM
Cool Dude!!!! said...
..the ONLY justice here would be to just be sooo bad..that t.u. totally dominates the Ags to the point that it looks like they were playing Lafayette Junior College...and hence, the pollsters say t.u. played a cupcake team...and passes 'em up in the rankings for an SEC team... (Horns..be careful what 'ya wish for..)...Didn't this scenario play out last season???
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10-23-2009 @ 10:28PM
iaian6 said...
Ter Harris: It behooves me to tell you that a loud bunch of laughs for several minutes made our year with "Burning Under Sherman". Tell the truth and shame the devil. "Improving"--the devil is a liar. Sherman "erases" players. He is the FARMER working for a land owner who planted a vineyard with a hedge around it, built a platform for the watchman, and leased it to Sherman after "Fran." Time of harvest, owner sends agents to collect the share-crop farmer's part. Head FARMER and his farmers attacked his men, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. The owner sent his son, thinking they would surely respect him. When the farmers saw the son they dragged him out of the vineyard and killed him. Sherman killed his Defense Coach, a two bowl games three years starter with the most starts of the whole team leader in safety tackles and came to TAMU through the miracle in Coach Cliff W. Spencer(Muster)at Westfield High School tightening his gloves in memory of a most loved Aggie. It seems Sherman erased all the efforts of that high school coach with us only through memories who had a life-changing impact on that Safety personally and in football and erased Aggie Cliff Spencer. Father, forgive him; if he KNEW better last season's four wins would have been better. P.S. For those of us who have sent sons to play at Texas A&M know Sherman does not apply Building Champions nor the Athletic Department Mission Statement for TAMU nor Built on Core Values!!!
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