It’s been said on radio stations and written in newspapers across the state. And based on their performance early in the 1999 season, college football fans across the nation may be starting to believe it.

"It" is the declaration that the 1999 Texas A&M receiving corps may be the deepest and most talented pass-catching unit in school history.

The only problem with that statement is that "it" needs an "is." No "may" is necessary.

In future reference, electronic and print media should go ahead and say, "The 1999 Texas A&M receiving corps is the deepest and most talented pass-catching unit in school history." To be perfectly honest, no other unit in school history really comes close.

During the course of this Maroon Millennium series, we have examined several positions where some incredibly gifted and highly productive players weren’t even mentioned. Over the course of the last 100 years and change, A&M has produced far too many tremendous linebackers, running backs and defensive backs to do justice to them all.

In the area of receivers/tight ends, however, the numbers are considerably lower. In fact, the Aggies have never had an All-American at either tight end or receiver. On the other hand, 10 Aggie linebackers and eight defensive backs have earned first-team All-American honors.

Some outstanding men have played receiver and/or tight end in Texas A&M’s past, but for the most part, the Aggies have tended to base their offensive philosophy on Highway 6 road signs that read: "DO NOT PASS" or "PASS WITH CAUTION."

Only in the last 10 to 15 years has that philosophy begun to change. And only in the last couple of years have the Aggies had the pass-catching weapons to make that philosophy a reality.

The career pass-catching leader in Texas A&M history isn’t even a receiver or tight end. Keith Woodside, a running back from 1983-87, tops the A&M career receptions list with 110.

No other school in the Big 12 has a career receptions leader with so few catches. In comparison, Kansas State’s career receiving leader is Kevin Lockett with 217. And Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Iowa State all have a career-leading receiver who caught at least 150 passes.

Times are changing, and the Aggies are now throwing the ball more effectively than ever before. For example, the Aggies have passed for more yardage than they rushed for in seven of their last nine games.

A&M is also attracting the attention of some of the nation’s top receivers nowadays. So, who knows? Receiver could be the star position in the next millennium of Aggie football.

But it was not in the last century. The receptions leader in A&M history — who truly played either tight end or receiver — is Rod Bernstine, who caught 105 passes from 1983-86. Bernstine, in fact, has the highest single-season receptions total — running backs included — in school annals with 65 in 1986.

Of course, Bernstine admits that he never wanted to play tight end at A&M. He wanted to play running back, which has long been the most glorious position on the A&M offense.

But Jackie Sherrill had other ideas for him, and today Bernstine is the most prolific receiver or tight end ever to play at A&M.

"In hindsight, things definitely worked out for the best," said Bernstine, now the owner of a successful nutritional supplements company in Colorado. "And Jackie never lets me forget that. I still talk to him every once in a while, and he often reminds me how that was the right move for my career. He’s right. I got tougher having to block on linebackers and defensive ends, and I was a first-round draft pick. I guess it’s funny how things have a way of working out for the best.

"But it’s true that I never wanted to play tight end at A&M."

Bernstine played nine years in the NFL, six with the San Diego Chargers and three with the Denver Broncos. Other former A&M tight end and receivers have also enjoyed some professional success.

Albert Connell is currently one of the top receivers for the Washington Redskins. And nobody in A&M history has ever caught more passes in a single game than Connell did against Colorado in 1996, hauling in 18 passes for 208 yards.

Other pass-catching Aggies who have made it on NFL rosters are tight end Tom Buckman (1969), tight end Dan Campbell (present), wide receiver Gerald Carter (1980-87), tight end Hayward Clay (1996-present), wide receiver Bobby Joe Conrad (1960-68), wide receiver Shane Garrett (1991), tight end Hunter Goodwin (1996-present), wide receiver Rod Harris (1989-91), tight end Mike Jones (1990-93), tight end Mark Lewis (1985-88), tight end James McKeehan (1995-98), wide receiver Mike Mosley (1982-84) tight end Richard Osborne (1976-79), wide receiver Carl Roaches (1980-85), wide receiver Chris Sanders (1996-98), tight end Rich Siler (1987) and wide receiver Jimmy Teal (1985-88).

From this perspective, there are several things noteworthy about that list.

1. Many of those players are or were primarily considered blocking tight ends.
2. Several of those players, like Goodwin and Mosley, didn’t play receiver or tight end at A&M.
3. Perhaps the most successful pro player on that list, Bobby Joe Conrad, could barely get on the field for Bear Bryant’s teams in the mid-1950s. But while Bryant couldn’t find a place for Conrad, the NFL had no such problems. Conrad played 12 NFL seasons and led the league in pass receptions in 1963.

For the most part, though, A&M’s wide receivers and tight ends of the past have not gained nationwide recognition for their pass-catching abilities. Players like Tony Harrison, Shea Walker, Connell, Harris, Mike Whitwell and Ken "Dude" McLean, who once caught 13 passes for 250 yards against Texas, all enjoyed solid collegiate careers.

But in terms of national recognition, the Aggies have often been overlooked. Except for 1942, when Cullen "Slick" Rogers was the nation’s leading pass receiver.