Okay kids, Colorado is our last chance to grab a conference W at Kyle. Before Tech, our chances of getting a home win seemed pretty bleak. While we didn't get the win in Lubbock, we did... hugs. "During the Texas Tech week, you could really see a big change in the locker room. There were a lot of guys going around hugging everybody. There was a lot of excitement." Hold on, give Trent Hunter a chance, he's a fish. "Some of the seniors … they’re a lot more passionate now than they were at the beginning of the year."

Seniors, that is so last season.

19 players have seen action for the first time this season. The motive is less throw-them-to-the-wolves and more whole-the-hell-else-do-we-have, but result can be the same: bad now, good later. Shermi knows “it’ll pay off for somebody. Hopefully it’ll be me." I hope so too, and not because $Bill lets Sherms say around too long.

Jerrod Johnson's too-soon start is paying off already. But Johnson can't take all the credit, "I really think I'm a product of my environment, the coach and players around me and the things I've been taught." JJ is only one man.

The OU game will be televised, but we don't know how, yet. Suck it up on Saturday and we will be on FSN; blow out Colorado and we are headed for a nationally televised ass kicking game on ABC.

Too bad the season is over, because that would have been a hell of a game last night. 1083 yards of offense, 11 TDs, and two punts. That is like a McDonald's All-American game, zero defense. Iowa State's QB Austen Arnaud had a career day, throwing more than 100 yards more on Saturday than in any other game in his career, but couldn't find the end zone. In total, Iowa State had 401 yards in the air but only one passing touchdown. How does that happen? Goodson didn't play due to a sprained ACL so the running game was pretty much dormant outside of Cy-Gray's 27 yard TD.

Freshman Ryan Tannehill passed T-Murph (and others) to be A&M's most prolific freshman receiver, and there are still at least four games left in the season.

Shermi quote of the year, "Our back is so far up against the wall we have splinters up our butt."

Um, I am watching Tech v KU. Have you seen this guy from Tech, Brandon "Mankind" Carter with Halloween makeup on, including striped lipstick?
Really?

With football season over it's been pretty sleepy around here, so Maroon Madness (Haj Hibbert was there, I can't wait to see this guy play) and Turge's media day were a welcome wake up. Basketball is BACK, finally. In his first press conference of the season, Turge talked about being more comfortable, Josh Carter stepping up as a leader (and hitting more shots, thank god), and James Blasczyk, the last minute big man he brought in when DJ split.

Besides Blasczyk, there will be a couple of other fresh faces, point guard Dash Harris and forward David Loubeau. Right now, David's "head is spinning" with the speed Turge is pushing. He will be good, but "he's got a long ways to go." Day one Turge said DJ had a long way to go, and he was exactly right, so I think we can trust him that we will have to wait on Loubeau.

Dash is another story. Turge loves this guy, and a former point guard he should know. I am not even going to paraphrase this praise...

We're trying to change the way we play. We're trying to play faster. We weren't able to do that last year, and Dash is going to help us do it. We just have to have somebody to run with him. I love his decision-making. Great on-ball defender. He's just going to help us. He's going to help us and be a part of the rotation and he's a winner.

Check Dash drop some dimes in these clips...

I maintain that a player with a cool name gets a disproportionate amount of media attention. Dash will be one of those players. A super-fast guy named Dash, are you kidding me. This is the cheese that the four-letter network loves.

Stick a fork in us, we are done.

Even if you hadn't looked at the schedule, you would know we are playing Tech this week by the posters on this site:

Tech poster 1:
"10 out of the last 13 the underdog has won. BWHAHAHAH. Isn't it time to go do a tradition or something. Y'all are pathetic."

Tech poster 2:
"I now look at them with there cult views and pity them that they can not break free from the Aggie bondage and must suffer as a die hard for a program that take solace in beating Army."

Tech, keepin it real.

So I blew it on the K-State upset call, and pretty much everyone has given up on the season. Things are so bad in College Station that Tech fans have emerged from the dust to talk shit about how they are so good that they don't even want to talk shit. They "will probably not even waste the energy of calling [their] aggie friends to rub it in. [They] now look at them with there cult views and pity them that they can not break free from the Aggie bondage..." Aggie bondage? Really? The sun even shines on a dog's ass some days; 10 of the last 13 days to be exact. We have given up 100 points in our first two Big 12 games and I bet our field goal tossing foes believe they can make it 200 in three games, but Vegas is only giving them +21. I actually don't even care. Out.

Vegas is giving KState 3.5; Not a humiliating line. If I knew how, I
would start a vote on what you think the Tech line will be. 45 sounds
conservative.

I am not always the biggest fan of the four-letter network's Tim Smith, but today I am...

I still think I can hear A&M play-by-play announcer Dave South's call ringing in my ears from that play.

South's call--- "HE GOT A TOUCHDOWN. HE GOT A TOUCHDOWN. HE GOT A TOUCHDOWN. HE GOT A TOUCHDOWN" ---has got to be one of the best, maybe I'm bias.

In case you forgot what a champion in maroon looks like:

Mi Bennett will no play on Saturday. Some BS about "team rules."
Haters.

KState @ Kyle Field; 2nd home win? I am kind of feeling this one.

JJ gets the start by default, not by ability or production, unfortunately. It's pretty clear that Shermi wants to stick with McGee. How else can you explain the unwillingness to name a starter? He wants the vet in there and will wait until the trainer's update on Saturday to give up on the shoulder; always hoping next week's news is better. I don't blame him. JJ gives us glimpses of great; McGee doesn't turn the m f'in ball over.

When it gets this dark, it's easy to see rays of light: the O-line gave JJ time; in the Army game we got on blocks and stopped, we actually moved OSU; we are punting the ball well; lots of young guys are getting serious minutes. There it is. The sign you gave up on the season is when you point out how much this will help NEXT season.

This brings some relief. All expectations are slid to '09 and each W will be a treat. I like treats.

Any self-respecting pundit must justify his analysis at all costs; admit a mistake and your credibility evaporates. So here is mine... Careful analysis shows I was 62% right. The top runners v worst defenders was not the blood bath that most anticipated. We kept both guys under their normal production levels and, for the most part, out of the end zone. That said, our offensive line and receivers need to get better at tackling. If we are going to hand them the ball 5 times, we cannot let two of those go back for TDs. A&M is not on the decline; you cannot erode what you don't have. We are there, declinED.

Um, TTech hung 5 TDs on KState in the first half. We are screwed.

I am calling it. We beat OSU.

Everyone everyone thinks we are getting smoked. They are ranked for the first time in five years. The four-letter network picked it 45-20 bad guys; that is professional analysis ladies and gentlemen. Jackie Sherrill knows that line smells, "Since when has A&M been a 25-point underdog to Oklahoma State or a 25-point underdog to anybody?" Exactly Jackie (in the interest of full disclosure, Jackie was talking about our "tremendous step back,” and not the inability of Vegas to pick a good line for our games, but whatever).

OSU may have the both of the top two Big 12 rushers and may sport the top rushing offense in the country and we may sport the 5th-worst rush defense in the country, but everyone know those kind of comparisons are crap when they don't work in your favor. I mean please, who has OSU played? Probably not Army.

UPDATE: K-State will not be on TV.

My obsessions over plummeting financials have been a welcome distraction from a football team that was inches from hitting rock bottom. I didn't expect to see a fourth quarter, fourth down defensive stand to get the W in a game where Vegas gave us +30.

In the Army we (probably) said goodbye to McGee and (I hope) welcome back to J Train. I've complained about the big man for a while; his crying and weight have not gone over looked here. But at times like this, when a guy says, "I was asked to play fullback, and that's what I'm going to do. But when I'm called upon to carry the ball I'm going to put my team on my back," GIVE HIM THE BALL!

I listened to Dave South announce the game, so no clue how many times JJ avoid the sack and extended the play, but he has got to do better than 53 yards, a TD, and am INT. I guess his shoulder is not feeling great. This is reminding me of Fran years when half of our starters were hurt.

A single bright spot is Trent Hunter. The TRUE FRESHMAN defensive back was awarded Big 12 defensive player of the week. When was the last time that happened? Probably Jackson Appel. Here is to four more years of Hunter roaming the pitch.