R-E-S-P-E-C-T! How do the Aggies get it?

One must feel for Texas A&M head football coach Mike Sherman. He inherited a 6-5 record and a program in shambles.

Sports writers and TV crews grouped around Missouri's head coach during the Big 12 media days in July. When Sherman stepped to the podium, most of the media had disappeared. Like Rodney Dangerfield, he's getting no respect.

Why should he? Sherman came to Texas A&M from a .500 Houston Texans. Before that he had a tenure as head coach with the Green Bay Packers. He brings a certain “wow factor”. That's not respect.

Pre-season football pollsters are giving the Aggies no respect either. USAToday left the Aggies out of it's top 25. Rivals.com rated the Aggies No. 65. What is most telling is that Rivals rated the Aggies above only Iowa State and Baylor in the Big 12. That's no respect!

Aggie faithful and coaches know that they will get no respect until they beat somebody. Failed head coach Dennis Franchione won nine games in 2006. He didn't beat “somebody”. He wasn't close to winning a Big 12 South title and never got any respect. Fran lost to Oklahoma and Texas Tech. He was blown out in the Fiesta Bowl by Cal. Nine wins do not get anyone respect.

It's not the number of wins, but who the Aggies lost to. Loses to Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas University, Iowa State, Texas Tech and lowly Baylor have put the Aggies near the cellar on the respect meter.

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Sure! The Aggies did beat their bitterest cross-state rival Texas U. in the last two years, but they were not even close to winning a Big 12 South Division title. The Aggies must win at home and win on the road. They have to do it consistently. That translates into respect!

The team Sunday reported for two-a-day summer drills leading up to it's fall opener with Arkansas State on Aug. 30.

Yet to be decided is a starting quarterback, Sherman told the media. He must choose between three-year letterman and two-year starter Stephen McGee or sophomore Jerrod Johnson, who is thought to be the better passer.

To punctuate how rag tag the Aggies are, Sherman confirmed that he will be switching two defensive backs to wide receiver. Incoming freshmen will be expected to contribute on the defensive line, offensive line, and defensive backfield.

The thought of having freshmen in the defensive backfield is especially scary since the league is loaded with Heisman caliber quarterbacks! No respect!

Mammoth fullback Jorvorskie Lane reported to camp over-weight further putting Sherman on the horns of a dilemma.

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“[Lane] is not where I want him to be at this point. We still have to work with him in camp to get him to that point,” Sherman told Bryan Eagle writer Richard Croome. The coach expressed concern that Lane's conditioning was such that he risked injury to workout at full speed. No respect!

Two of Sherman's signees failed to show due to being ruled ineligible by the NCAA. Again, no respect!

This will perhaps be a season for Sherman can build on. It's doubtful that that will get the Aggies any respect.

By Jay Goode
Big 12 Fans Texas A&M Correspondent

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