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When I was 5, I know, for a fact, the Boogie Man lived under my bed. Other than that, life is full of myths and urban legends. How else would Hollywood keep its B-movie directors in business? At Texas A&M, where history is described with words like "tradition," "storied" and "lore," there are plenty of myths and stories to be told. So in order to clear up a bit of the confusion, here’s some answers to frequently-asked questions, at least among the Aggie community: Q: Does R.C. Slocum call any of the plays? A: Rarely. He suggests strategies and philosophies during the game like "Let’s run the ball" when the Aggies are trying to kill the clock. Fourth-down decisions are his and whether or not to kick or defer. But other than that, Slocum allows his assistants to carry out the game plans. Sure, he’s been more involved with the defense this season, but he’s still not calling the formations based on down and distance. In 1993 for a behind-the-scenes story, I was given all-access to two days of coaches meetings, practices and bull sessions. Slocum popped his head into both the defensive and offensive meeting rooms, but he just didn’t have time to script plays or watch enough tape to game-plan like his coordinators and assistants. Q: Do recruits choose schools for degree plans, stadium size, conference affiliation, girl-to-guy ratio and uniform colors? A: Some do. But the overriding majority of the top-flight players pick schools based on three criteria: Will they play quickly; will they win consistently; and do they feel comfortable in their surroundings.
Q: Will the South End Zone Football Complex and Academic Center ever be built? A: No question. This is a must on the build-for-the-future agenda. A&M’s locker room and coaches offices aren’t horrible, but they are behind the competition. The Championship Vision Capital Campaign is clearly en route to meeting its adjusted $50 million goal. And in two years, the south end zone will sparkle with a building like no other in college football. Q: Does A&M lack the talent of some of its previous championship teams in the early 1990s or mid-1980s? A: Not really. Those teams had great quarterbacks in Kevin Murray and Bucky Richardson. And the linebacking units were outstanding with players like Johnny Holland, Quentin Coryatt and Marcus Buckley. But those teams had the benefit of playing in the Southwest Conference, not the Big 12. Sure, the 1985 and 1991 teams were legitimate top 10 teams, but none of those teams had to battle three top 10 teams in one season, the defending national champions on the road and Notre Dame at home. The current A&M football team has a quarterback, defensive line and secondary that are comparable to those great A&M teams of the past. And its receivers are far better than those of yesteryear. The problem is that times and scheduling have changed. And with a lack of big-play linebackers – A&M’s signature position – the appearance of a drop-off in talent is skewed. Q: Does Cain Hall have the best food in Bryan/College Station? A: For sure. The daily feasts still include lobster and shrimp… and that’s just for the appetizers. If dining halls were awarded national championships, Cain would be going on its 10th in a row. Q: Have people been married and buried on Kyle Field? A: Yes. Ok, not buried. But ashes have been spread on Kyle Field after cremations. Does anyone really know what lies beneath the mounds of dirt and plumbing at Kyle Field? Probably a select few… at least until the grass is pulled up in favor of some space-age synthetic in 2033. Q: Are there rats the size of porcupines in the steam tunnels underneath the A&M campus? A: I hope not, or I’m outta here. Q: Is Kyle Field really the loudest stadium in the country? A: Well, it’s in the top three. Having been to every Big 12 venue, Notre Dame and LSU, only Death Valley rivals Kyle Field for noise. The problem with the Tiger din is that it’s never sustained… it only surfaces when the liquor and the big touchdowns hit. Florida Field, home of the Gators, and Neyland Stadium at Tennessee are probably the only other two stadiums out there that can generate the noise the fans of Kyle do. And, as much as I respect the opinions of ESPN’s "College Gameday" crew, Oregon’s Autzen Stadium hasn’t made my list of most intimidating stadiums. Q: Are Texas fans the rudest and crudest of the Big 12 bunch? A: Probably when the Aggies come to town. But don’t count out the foul-mouthed behavior you’ll find at Oklahoma. Their fans abused the Aggies as they made their way to the locker room after the 1999 game in Norman… and the Sooners won that game by 45. Q: Is the Dallas Morning News out to get the Aggies? A: Not anymore. But that doesn’t discount some of the unusual headlines and positioning of stories A&M will receive on a weekly basis. Whether you’re a fan of A&M beat writer Al Carter or not, a bunch of editors run the Morning News. The paper still features the nation’s top sports section, but its focus is on pro sports, not the colleges. Q: Is Brent Musburger out to get the Aggies? A: No way. This one will stir a bunch of debate, but Musburger bashers are way off-base. Sure, he’s made some regrettable calls, but producers set the storylines for him to pursue. Take, for instance, the 1998 Big 12 title game in St. Louis. ABC had to focus on the Cinderella story of Kansas State possibly playing for the national title. The Aggies’ incredible comeback caught the whole production truck off-guard, and Musburger had to scramble to recount A&M’s final push for the upset. After the game, Musburger was the first in line to congratulate the A&M players in the tunnel. It was a classy move for a guy who catches far too much criticism. Musburger’s forte is setting up the stage for some high drama. And sometimes that overzealous attitude can backfire on him. Q: Is the grass at Kyle Field a memorial? A: No. The 55 flags that fly atop the stadium memorialize the fallen Aggies of World War I. And the grass around the MSC is a memorial. But the field at Kyle is fair game, and all sorts of people walk on it unharmed. And rightfully so. Maybe the 1981 incident involving an Officer of the Day, his saber and an SMU cheerleader still sticks in people’s minds, but the Kyle Field grass is only special because it represents a hallowed place where years of great games have unfolded. Q: Did Texas really water the field incessantly before the 1998 game in Austin? A: Yes. Q: Did A&M fans call Texas players and wake them up in the middle of the night prior to the 1999 Bonfire game. A: Yes. Ok, we’re even. |
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12th Man Foundation unless otherwise noted.