The SEC has long been known as a place where defense rules in college football. Maybe some of that had to do with the league's generally minimal focus on offense for so many years, but we can debate that in another entry. Regardless, its defensive credibility is rock solid.
But in recent years, a steady influx of offensive changes from coaches to schemes has balanced the league and made it all the more dangerous.
But, as noted at the Daily Texan, there's also been a barely noticed flow of defensive coaching talent away from the SEC. Former Auburn star defensive coordinators Gene Chizik and Will Muschamp have made their way to the Big 12. Chizik was Texas' defensive coordinator before being hired as the head coach at Iowa State. Muschamp, meanwhile, is Texas' new D.C.
Elsewhere, former Alabama defensive coordinator Joe Kines is now the D.C. at Texas A&M. Chances are, those three have been adequately replaced, but their departure and the SEC's changing offensive makeup seems to indicate a change from the All D, No O days of SEC past. I doubt wide open offensive football with not much defense like on display in the WAC ever finds a home in the SEC. OK, severely doubt it. But it is interesting to note a modest departure of defensive coaching talent as a steady wave of offensive coaching talent moves in.
Related: I wonder if this perks up the state of defense in the suddenly wide-open, quarterback loaded Big 12?
The Big 12's annual meetings are currently taking place in Colorado Springs and league commissioner Dan Beebe has a lot on his plate. But one agenda item that he is pushing strongly is a fifth year of eligibility for football players. He hopes the proposed change will get some attention from the NCAA rules committee.
The proposal for a fifth year of eligibility would eliminate redshirting, instead giving college football players five years to compete on the field. Under current rules, players have a five-year window in which to complete four years of playing time. This isn't the first time this change has come up, but opponents have argued that eligibility rules need to standard across sports. Big 12 commissioner Beebe, disagrees.
Beebe, however, said he thinks football should be seen as unique because it has a high rate of redshirts and injuries.
"Injuries happen and coaches have players who could contribute, but they don't want to play someone on a limited basis and burn a redshirt year," Beebe said. "And you have kids during their redshirt year who are getting the heck beat out of them in practice every day with no hope of playing."
The rule change would certainly eliminate the need for coaches to agonize about redshirting decisions. In addition, it would seemingly end the need for athletes and schools to file medical hardships in the wake of injuries. Lastly, given that the average college football player takes around 4.7 years to graduate, the five-year eligibility window could help improve graduation rates.
Phil Knight laughts in Texas A&M's general direction. And Michigan's, but for totally different reasons.
Texas A&M is one of a few schools switching from Athletic Death Star Nike to Adidas (No, not "adidas," since it's morally wrong to de-cap a proper noun) this fall for various reasons.
Michigan's reason: Adidas gave them more money than any school in the country and guaranteed them "most favored nation" status wherein Michigan would always be the top-paid Adidas school.
Texas A&M? Well, not so much. They went to Nike, asking for the same terms as main rival Texas. Predictably, Nike said "scoreboard":
Byrne said he was offended when the rep told him, "You're not as good as they are and you're probably never going to be."
During Friday's spring practice, tempers flared, and helmets went flying when Texas A&M senior defensive Michael Bennett tangled with some offensive linemen. It is certainly not uncommon for small tussles to breakout during a football practice, especially among linemen who battle it out play after play. What's a bit unusual in this case, however, was new head coach Mike Sherman's strong reaction to what was actually the second fight of the day.
"We don't need that bull crap..."
As the Aggie players ran 50-yard sprints up and down the field, Sherman told them that intrasquad fights wouldn't be tolerated.
"We've got soft players," he said. "If you want to be average, then transfer."
It sounds like Sherman is really attempting to balance instilling discipline in his troops, while at the same time questioning their manhood. That seems like a really difficult proposition. I was also immediately reminded of my own time spent in youth football. The punishment our coach handed down for fighting with a teammate was five laps around the field while holding the hand of the player you had scuffled with. I can't remember if that increased discipline or team unity, but in this case fans in College Station seem to trust Sherman's leadership.
"I like what I'm seeing," said one fan. "I know who is running this program."
Yeah, and this time you didn't even have to subscribe to an ultra-secret newsletter to find that out.
Courtesy of the little-known Every Day Should Be Saturday, the website with the most revolutionary stance on calendar realignment in decades, we bring you what appears to be a campaign video for Texas A&M's Yell Leader. It's called "Reload With Reagan," which just so happened to be the title of an NRA pamphlet during the 1984 election cycle.
What you're about to witness will demonstrate perfectly the canyon of a difference between your favorite team's fanbase and that of TAMU. It's part cheerleading, part propaganda, and part hand gestures that would get you kicked out of 99% of high school and college classrooms. Enjoy.
We don't care what you may claim about your team and your traditions and your fanbase. You don't do "crazy" like A&M does "crazy." They do it with aplomb, alacrity, vim and vigor. Oh, you're doing "the wave"? How quaint. The Aggies are too busy squeezing their own testicles. All hats are off, TAMU: we admire your complete severance from reality and request that you stay at least 75 miles away from us at all times.
A major reason to watch Texas A&M football over the past few seasons has been the sight of Jorvorskie Lane plowing his way through Big 12 defenses. Lane, a veritable brontosaurus in pads, always surprised me with his athleticism and agility in the Aggie offense. But with new head coach Mike Sherman installing a "pro-style" offense in College Station; Lane will apparently be switching positions this spring.
"Sherman said running back Jorvorskie Lane will have to adapt to being a fullback in the new offense. Mike Goodson and Bradley Stephens were the top two running backs in drills."
First, as a Nebraska fan who has some recent experience with an NFL head coach and a "pro-style" system, I have one thing to say to Aggie fans: "I'm sorry." Secondly, one of the great things about college football is the lack of emphasis it places on body types and measureables when it comes to lining guys up. If Lane's new role means increased blocking demands and diminished carries, we as fans are being cheated.
"Sherman said he's challenging 277-pound running back Jorvorskie Lane to lose some weight, adding that he could afford to shed a few of his own pounds as well."
NOOOO!!! Say it isn't so, Coach Sherman. I like my Jorvorskie's huge and thundering. Now Lane is destined to be just another fullback with a funny name. And here I thought fatty running backs had become something of an institution at A&M. Is nothing sacred? Can an end to the 12th Man tradition be far behind?
ESPN did a smart thing in scheduling a college football game for last Thanksgiving. I don't really watch the NFL games so it was nice to sit down to USC playing Arizona State late in the evening. I had hoped it would begin something of a tradition for college football in having a marquee game on that night. That faith has been rewarded.
This year they've brought the Texas rivals together to play on the Holiday and as a bonus, it restores some tradition.
The longtime Thanksgiving event was moved to the day after in 1996. The switch back accommodates a Thanksgiving night ESPN broadcast, Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said Monday.
Texas and Texas A&M have played on Thanksgiving 60 times in a rivalry that dates to 1894.
Nice. After a string of six consecutive victories, Texas has dropped the last two to the rival Aggies (12-7 and 38-30). This year's meeting will be played in Austin.
Given the senator's eagerness to flash the hook 'em sign, his campaign just might find itself doing a little damage control among the Aggie vote. (Oh, who are we kidding. The Aggies are all Republicans, aren't they governor?)
...at least that's the implication from his latest move, or lack thereof:
Former Texas A&M defensive coordinator Bob Davie has declined an invitation to reprise that role with the Aggies, according to a source on campus.
Hey, I'm with him. Davie gets to lounge around in the offseason while college coaches are beating their heads in day after day, sleeping on the floor in their office and only contacting their families when, delirious from lack of rest, they accidentally hit the wrong button on their cell phone. Much better to be Bob Davie, Guy Who Gets Paid To Say "Footbaw" A Lot.
This is actually a bit of a blow for the A&M program. Though Davie's stint as Notre Dame's head coach didn't go well, he was a successful and well-regarded defensive coordinator over the course of a decade.
We learned earlier today that Texas A&M had chosen a replacement for departed football coach Dennis Franchione. Former NFL head coach and current NFL assistant Mike Sherman has been named as A&M's new coach, signing a seven-year deal.
Sherman spent six years as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, compiling an impressive 57-39 record. Despite that mark, he was highly unpopular in Green Bay by the time he was let go by general manager Ted Thompson after the 2005 season.
He was snapped up almost immediately by the Houston Texans, where he worked as an assistant head coach last year and then as the offensive coordinator this year. Now, he moves back to Texas A&M, where he served as an assistant under R.C. Slocum in two separate stints.
Given how unhappy Aggie fans were with Franchione, I'm left to wonder if they'd be happy with the university hiring a paper bag to coach the football team. He went 32-28 in five years at A&M, and never got the program over the proverbial hump. They beat Texas the last two years, but there have been enough embarrassing losses along the way to make some people miss Slocum, who was also basically shoved out of town.
So there oughta be at least some sort of a honeymoon for Sherman.
The SEC has long been known as a place where defense rules in college football. Maybe some of that had to do with the league's generally minimal focus on offense for so many years, but we can debate that in another entry. Regardless, its defensive credibility is rock solid.
The Big 12's annual meetings are currently taking place in Colorado Springs and league commissioner Dan Beebe has a lot on his plate. But one agenda item that he is pushing strongly is 
During Friday's spring practice, tempers flared, and helmets went flying when Texas A&M senior defensive Michael Bennett tangled with some offensive linemen. It is certainly not uncommon for small tussles to breakout during a football practice, especially among linemen who battle it out play after play. What's a bit unusual in this case, however, was new head coach Mike Sherman's 
A major reason to watch Texas A&M football over the past few seasons has been the sight of 
ESPN did a smart thing in scheduling a college football game for last Thanksgiving. I don't really watch the NFL games so it was nice to sit down to USC playing Arizona State late in the evening. I had hoped it would begin something of a tradition for college football in having a marquee game on that night. That faith has been rewarded.
...at least that's the implication from his 
We 
