Good Bull Hunting: FanPosts

THE OLD-SCHOOL HIP-HOP WISDOM OF MACK BROWN

2013-05-15T17:29:15Z

The Longhorns' coach recently Tweeted these inspirational lyrics:

What other worldly knowledge will he impart upon us? The following scenarios are pure speculation:

The Longhorns' coach recently Tweeted these inspirational lyrics:

What other worldly knowledge will he impart upon us? The following scenarios are pure speculation:

The Valley of No Football

2013-05-09T04:24:01Z

You pick up a dusty, leather-bound journal. The maroon cover is dried, cracked, and faded and the pages are speckled with sand. You flip through the pages and see the script grows hastier and more erratic with each entry, as though you are watching a man’s descent into madness wrought onto the parchment. Each random entry you read fills you with impending dread for what fresh hell awaited in those scribbled words…

January 26th, 2013

Today was the Senior Bowl, the post-coital dump of the college football season. Sure, it feels good, but it’s nothing compared to the elation you just experienced. Nevertheless, I find that I must watch it and savor every minute. It’s not unlike stopping in Kerrville after you leave San Antonio heading west; it may not be much, but you know it’ll be a long time before you see civilization again.

The word catches in my throat, and I taste bile after I say it. Offseason.

March 13th, 2013

I’ve been wandering the offseason wasteland for over a month now. I can barely remember what it was like to feel anything but thirst for college football. I tried sustaining myself on basketball, but all I tasted was sand and ashes in my mouth. I am beginning to wonder if I will survive…

My eyes are beginning to play tricks on me. The other day I thought I saw a longhorn tattoo on Johnny Football. I pray to God it was a mirage.

via i1297.photobucket.com

April 13th, 2013

Thank the Lord, an oasis! The football being played in the Maroon & White Game was stale and tepid, but I drank up every moment of it until I could drink no more. The rumblings in my gut make me wonder if perhaps there was some bad defense in that football, but there is nothing I can do about it for now. Hopefully I won’t go all Mark Richt with my bowels.

The mirages and hallucinations now haunt my dreams, each more terrifying than the last. Even if I survive, I fear that the madness may take over…

April 25th, 2013

The NFL draft has provided me another desperately needed football oasis. Once again I drank as much as I could, but alas, I only found myself more thirsty in the morning. I miss football so much. Last night I found myself daydreaming about the XFL for God’s sake.

What I wouldn’t give for He Hate Me to carry me from this wasteland of despair.

May 1st, 2013

I had a beautiful dream last night, but I no longer know what is real and what is illusion. I saw a great football cathedral in a magical land. I saw a television network that rained money from the sky, and every football game in the conference was televised and was available - even in Austin. Can such a place truly exist? Will I live to see it? I sketched what I could remember, in the hopes that the prophecy might come true.

via i1297.photobucket.com

May 8th, 2013

I have made it this far, and yet I fear the distance is too great. Perhaps other men will find a way to survive on the lesser beasts of the offseason. I am told that given enough time you can even condition yourself to survive on baseball, but I think I would rather die.

If you are reading this, please return my body to Aggieland. Bury me somewhere where I can see the scoreboard at Kyle Field. Mark my final resting place "Hypno-Toad" if you must, but if you bevel the fucking T I will haunt the fuck out of you.

via i1297.photobucket.com

January 26th, 2013

The word catches in my throat, and I taste bile after I say it. Offseason.

March 13th, 2013

My eyes are beginning to play tricks on me. The other day I thought I saw a longhorn tattoo on Johnny Football. I pray to God it was a mirage.

via i1297.photobucket.com

April 13th, 2013

The mirages and hallucinations now haunt my dreams, each more terrifying than the last. Even if I survive, I fear that the madness may take over…

April 25th, 2013

What I wouldn’t give for He Hate Me to carry me from this wasteland of despair.

May 1st, 2013

via i1297.photobucket.com

May 8th, 2013

via i1297.photobucket.com

George Patton Was Once A Spread Offense Coach!

2013-05-01T17:49:24Z

via upload.wikimedia.org

A recent conclave of spiritual mediums contacted General George Patton and were shocked to discover he was actually a spread offense oriented college football coach in one of his many previous lives. Coach Patton went on to elaborate that many of his famous quotes were not about warfare, but instead about football. Coach Patton, a known Texas Aggie fan, gave specific examples as they related to the current A&M team:

"A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week."

They don't even have a playbook by God!

"A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later."

See A&M scramble plays.

"A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood."

See Coach Jackson.

"Do everything you ask of those you command."

See JFF at La. Tech running down an opposing player from behind, stripping the ball and then tackling the next bulldog that scoops up the ball.

"Do more than is required of you."

Ditto

"Fixed fortifications are monuments to man's stupidity."

See Alabama D.

"I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight."

Under Sumlin, undefeated on the road.

"If I do my full duty, the rest will take care of itself."

See the entire team vs. Alabama 2012.

"In case of doubt, attack."

See now Coach McKinney.

"It is the unconquerable soul of man, not the nature of the weapon he uses, that insures victory."

See the 12th Man.

"Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way."

JFF

"Live for something rather than die for nothing."

Why does this summon an image of Johnny with a sparkler in his teeth? What's going on down there?

"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't."

See Sumlin with a double-digit second half lead.

"Never let the enemy pick the battle site."

Eight games at Kyle Field this year men!

"No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair."

Somebody zip this off to Mack Brown in an e-mail or one of those tweet thingees.

"Success is how you bounce on the bottom."

See the 2011 season followed up by the 2012 one.

"The leader must be an actor."

See Sumlin in the locker room after the 2012 Ole Miss game.

"You are never beaten until you admit it."

"We should look at how fast we allow the game to go in terms of player safety. Is this what we want football to be?" Sorry Nick, but yes, yes it is.

"You shouldn't underestimate an enemy, but it is just as fatal to overestimate him."

Again, see the Bama game.

"Attack rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, without rest, however tired and hungry you may be, the enemy will be more tired, more hungry. Keep punching."

Can you say hurry-up/spread/air-raid offense?

"Above all else remember that we as attackers have the initiative, we know exactly what we are going to do, while the enemy is ignorant of our intentions and can only parry our blows. We must retain this tremendous advantage by always attacking rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, and without rest."

I can't wait to see the 2013 running backs, tight ends and new receivers added to A&M's offensive armory.

"In ~~war~~ football the only sure defense is offense, and the efficiency of the offense depends on the warlike souls of those conducting it."

Is there any lingering doubt I was a spread offense coach in a previous life?

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."

See Coach Kingsbury in 2012 and now Spavital.

"Wars might be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who lead that gains the victory."

Who is going to step up and replace Nealy and Swope? Important question.

"Many ~~soldiers~~ are led to faulty ideas of ~~war~~ by knowing too much about too little."

Good job coaches for letting Johnny be Johnny, and see Coach Banks recent comments ref Bertolet.

That is all.

The NFL on Draft

2013-04-26T16:48:22Z

On April 25th two Good Bull Hunting enthusiasts decided to drink all of the booze in the house and then describe the NFL draft as it happened. If you are seeking actual information and analysis, seek elsewhere. Hypno-Toad and redfluorophore present: The NFL on Draft.

#1 – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
ERIC FISHER, OL

Hypno-Toad: Shunning the Outland trophy winning top SEC offensive lineman in favor of a player who made his name in the ultra-competitive MAC is why you’re the Kansas City Chiefs.

Redfluorophore: I disagree. Did you see the highlight reel of him dominating that 6’3" defensive lineman from Western Kentucky?

Current beverage: Rum and coke. The tuxedo t-shirt of cocktails.

#2 – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
LUKE JOECKEL, OL

RF: I am so sad for this kid. He has Blaine Gabbert as his quarterback.

HT: And now instead of a run at a MNC, he gets a career that’s over before it starts.

It should be noted that a clearly liquored up Joe Namath is in the same building as Suzy Kolber. This just goes to show that true love can’t be stopped by something as simple as a restraining order and a tazer.

#3 – MIAMI DOLPHINS
DION JORDAN, LB

HT: I like this kid. Like Von Miller, he’s a badass undersized linebacker who can rock a bow tie like no one since Troy Dungan.

RF: I’m not sure I like the way he spells his name. His name’s not "dee-on", it’s "die-on". As in "this kid is gonna die on the field after the Patriots have their way with the Dolphins."

#4 – PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
LANE JOHNSON, OL

via i1297.photobucket.com

RF: I wasn’t aware that Lane Johnson was the son of a prospector.

HT: Chip Kelley is clearly hedging his bets by getting a backup QB.

#5 – DETROIT LIONS
EZEKIEL ANSAH, DL

via i1297.photobucket.com

RF: Ziggy is somehow the scariest Mormon I’ve ever seen and also looks like a 6’4" Urkel.

HT: Barry Sanders has zero fucks to give about this pick.

Current beverage: Gin & juice.

#6 – CLEVELAND BROWNS
BARKEVIUS MINGO, DL

HT: The Browns blew their load early because they were so eager to finally have a Bark for their Dawg Pound.

RF: I’ve never seen anyone smile so big when faced with the threat of living in Cleveland.

#7 – ARIZONA CARDINALS
JOHNATHAN COOPER, OL

RF: I know absolutely nothing about this dude, but he looks like a massive human being and I would like him at guard.

HT: All I know is that Whoopi Goldberg would like her hair back.

#8 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
TAVON AUSTIN, WR

RF: I was 100% on board with this pick until I realized that Tavon Austin’s mom is taller than him.

HT: Most people don’t realize that Tavon was watching the draft with his family in West Virginia and then ran to Radio City Music Hall when his name was called.

via i1297.photobucket.com

Current beverage: Time for a tiny shot in honor of a tiny receiver. Yes that is Serbian plum brandy. No you may not ask why we have that. Just imagine sitting in the middle of an active mine field and drinking distilled jet fuel while eating a plum. Ziveli!

#9 – NEW YORK JETS
DEE MILLINER, DB

RF: As a Texans fan I can say that Alabama CB’s are great tacklers, but not good at some of the more subtle aspects of the game like covering wide receivers.

HT: ESPN’s infographic would have me believe that the Jets just drafted Glass Joe.

Current beverage: Rogue Hazelnut Brown. It appears the alcohol is beginning to take hold:

"I’d still do Suzy Kolber. But then, I’d have sex with a pillow so that’s not saying much."

#10 – TENNESSEE TITANS
CHANCE WARMACK, OL

via i1297.photobucket.com

RF: They picked that fatass over two very good defensive linemen because they are afraid of J.J. Watt. I’m reveling in their dumbassery.

HT: It takes a certain figure to pull off the bare midriff look, and I think Mr. Warmack does it nicely.

#11 – SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
D.J. FLUKER, OL

RF: Apparently there is a run on Alabama fat guys.

HT: Jesus, I think that the boogey-man checks under his bed for that guy.

#12 – MIAMI DOLPHINS
D.J. HAYDEN, DB

RF: Drafting someone who is frequently mentioned along with the phrase "medical miracle" is very noble. Stupid, but noble.

HT: ALL OF THE D.J.’S SURELY HAVE TAKEN A LESSON… I am drunk.

#13 – NEW YORK JETS
SHELDON RICHARDSON, DL

RF: If there’s two things you can trust Rex Ryan on, it’s defensive linemen and pedicure snuff porn.

HT: I really don’t think the skinny white dude on Big Bang Theory has a future in the NFL.

#14 – CAROLINA PANTHERS
STAR LOTULELEI, DL

RF: That’s a good pick. This guy gets more penetration than John Holmes.

HT: How can you argue with the organization that had the vision to draft Jimmy Clausen?

#15 – NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
KENNY VACCARO, DB

HT: The Saints just know that you can’t go wrong with that Mack-Brown-instilled work ethic.

RF: I can’t make jokes! They brought out a kid on crutches to announce the pick. Fuck texas, I’m out.

#16 – BUFFALO BILLS
E.J. MANUEL, QB

RF: The reason that I know this was a bad pick is because the Bills made it. E.J. Manuel owes Russell Wilson a handjob.

HT: But Geno Smith shredded top defenses like Baylor and Iowa State!

Current beverage: Screwdrivers

#17 – PITTSBURGH STEELERS
JARVIS JONES, LB

HT: Because if there’s ever a team that’s had trouble landing good linebackers, it’s the Steelers.

RF: I was gonna be a French porn star but Dick Lebeau already took my screen name.

#18 – SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
ERIC REED, DB

RF: Trading up eleven picks? Someone has a Harb-oner for this guy.

HT: Reed is a total badass in games where the referees are screwing A&M.

#19 – NEW YORK GIANTS
JUSTIN PUGH, OL

Nothing electrifies a drunken NFL draft watching party like a late round offensive lineman pick. On the plus side, the announcers just uttered the phrase, "We’ve officially entered Manti Te’o territory." There are two Smirnoff Ice’s in the fridge awaiting the possibility that Te’o is drafted in the first round. The Te’o price is paid with ice.

#20 – CHICAGO BEARS
KYLE LONG, OL

HT: In the future football will be played with 11 men in the box at all times. Linemen will reign supreme as each snap falls to the ground with no skills players to pick the ball up. This is the word of our Lord Saban.

RF: You know Howie long gets to fuck Teri Hatcher?

#21 – CINCINNATI BENGALS
TYLER EIFERT, TE

RF: As a Texans fan I breathe a sigh of relief because Gary Kubiak has a huge hardon for tight ends.

HT: Golden Domers and Cincinnati Bengals are a match made in heaven.

Current beverage: Miller Lite

#22 – ATLANTA FALCONS
DESMOND TRUFANT, DB

HT: Trying to figure out why there should be another Trufant in the NFL.

RF: Peeing in the bushes outside of his own house.

#23 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
SHARRIF FLOYD, DL

RF: The two best things to ever happen to Minnesota are Prince and Sharrif Floyd.

HT: The shots of Geno Smith crying backstage are really killing my buzz.

#24 – INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
BJOERN WERNER, DL

HT: Why is it that I have no problem spelling names like Barkevius, but Bjoern gave me trouble?

RF: As a Texans fan I am always OK with the Colts picking a defensive end that’s a white guy.

#25 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
XAVIER RHODES, DB

At this point we are merely trying to maintain enough sobriety to watch our teams – Texans and Cowboys – make their picks. We are failing.

#26 – GREEN BAY PACKERS
DATONE JONES, DL

RF: I wanted to cuddle him like he’s my own, but he is not and I am sad about that.

HT: The ratio of neck size to head size in the Packer defense is well above 1.

#27 – HOUSTON TEXANS
DEANDRE HOPKINS, WR

RF: Thank god it’s not Manti. I always wanted a player whose nickname sounded like the crowd was booing… you know, "MOOOOOOSE" or "TOOOOOOOMBS"… now the Texans have "NUUUUUUKE".

HT: I was yelling Booo-urns.

#28 – DENVER BRONCOS
SYLVESTER WILLIAMS, DL

inebriation + lack of preparation = no idea what is going on

#29 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
CORDARRELLE PATTERSON, WR

HT: If you managed to look good while playing for Tennessee this season, you’re probably pretty damn good.

RF: Did the Vikings just pick three times in the first round, or am I time travelling?

#30 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
ALEC OGLETREE, LB

RF: As drunk as I am I still know that this is a great pick.

HT: His only downside is that he plays for the Rams.

#31 – DALLAS COWBOYS
TRAVIS FREDERICK, C

via ww2.hdnux.com

HT: Not only is this guy not Manti Te’o, he has the beard of a Norse god. I would follow this man to Valhalla.

RF: He’s the James Harden of the NFL.

#32 – BALTIMORE RAVENS
MATT ELAM, DB

RF: It turns out that when you invent a girlfriend out of thin air to convince people that you’re not gay, then lie about her, then pretend kill her off, teams don’t want you as the core of their defensive unit.

HT: I thought this guy was a kicker?

We pour out a Smirnoff Ice on the ground in memory of Lennay. Gone but not forgotten.

#1 – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
ERIC FISHER, OL

Hypno-Toad: Shunning the Outland trophy winning top SEC offensive lineman in favor of a player who made his name in the ultra-competitive MAC is why you’re the Kansas City Chiefs.

Redfluorophore: I disagree. Did you see the highlight reel of him dominating that 6’3" defensive lineman from Western Kentucky?

Current beverage: Rum and coke. The tuxedo t-shirt of cocktails.

#2 – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
LUKE JOECKEL, OL

RF: I am so sad for this kid. He has Blaine Gabbert as his quarterback.

HT: And now instead of a run at a MNC, he gets a career that’s over before it starts.

#3 – MIAMI DOLPHINS
DION JORDAN, LB

HT: I like this kid. Like Von Miller, he’s a badass undersized linebacker who can rock a bow tie like no one since Troy Dungan.

RF: I’m not sure I like the way he spells his name. His name’s not "dee-on", it’s "die-on". As in "this kid is gonna die on the field after the Patriots have their way with the Dolphins."

#4 – PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
LANE JOHNSON, OL

via i1297.photobucket.com

RF: I wasn’t aware that Lane Johnson was the son of a prospector.

HT: Chip Kelley is clearly hedging his bets by getting a backup QB.

#5 – DETROIT LIONS
EZEKIEL ANSAH, DL

via i1297.photobucket.com

RF: Ziggy is somehow the scariest Mormon I’ve ever seen and also looks like a 6’4" Urkel.

HT: Barry Sanders has zero fucks to give about this pick.

Current beverage: Gin & juice.

#6 – CLEVELAND BROWNS
BARKEVIUS MINGO, DL

HT: The Browns blew their load early because they were so eager to finally have a Bark for their Dawg Pound.

RF: I’ve never seen anyone smile so big when faced with the threat of living in Cleveland.

#7 – ARIZONA CARDINALS
JOHNATHAN COOPER, OL

RF: I know absolutely nothing about this dude, but he looks like a massive human being and I would like him at guard.

HT: All I know is that Whoopi Goldberg would like her hair back.

#8 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
TAVON AUSTIN, WR

RF: I was 100% on board with this pick until I realized that Tavon Austin’s mom is taller than him.

HT: Most people don’t realize that Tavon was watching the draft with his family in West Virginia and then ran to Radio City Music Hall when his name was called.

via i1297.photobucket.com

#9 – NEW YORK JETS
DEE MILLINER, DB

RF: As a Texans fan I can say that Alabama CB’s are great tacklers, but not good at some of the more subtle aspects of the game like covering wide receivers.

HT: ESPN’s infographic would have me believe that the Jets just drafted Glass Joe.

Current beverage: Rogue Hazelnut Brown. It appears the alcohol is beginning to take hold:

"I’d still do Suzy Kolber. But then, I’d have sex with a pillow so that’s not saying much."

#10 – TENNESSEE TITANS
CHANCE WARMACK, OL

via i1297.photobucket.com

RF: They picked that fatass over two very good defensive linemen because they are afraid of J.J. Watt. I’m reveling in their dumbassery.

HT: It takes a certain figure to pull off the bare midriff look, and I think Mr. Warmack does it nicely.

#11 – SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
D.J. FLUKER, OL

RF: Apparently there is a run on Alabama fat guys.

HT: Jesus, I think that the boogey-man checks under his bed for that guy.

#12 – MIAMI DOLPHINS
D.J. HAYDEN, DB

RF: Drafting someone who is frequently mentioned along with the phrase "medical miracle" is very noble. Stupid, but noble.

HT: ALL OF THE D.J.’S SURELY HAVE TAKEN A LESSON… I am drunk.

#13 – NEW YORK JETS
SHELDON RICHARDSON, DL

RF: If there’s two things you can trust Rex Ryan on, it’s defensive linemen and pedicure snuff porn.

HT: I really don’t think the skinny white dude on Big Bang Theory has a future in the NFL.

#14 – CAROLINA PANTHERS
STAR LOTULELEI, DL

RF: That’s a good pick. This guy gets more penetration than John Holmes.

HT: How can you argue with the organization that had the vision to draft Jimmy Clausen?

#15 – NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
KENNY VACCARO, DB

HT: The Saints just know that you can’t go wrong with that Mack-Brown-instilled work ethic.

RF: I can’t make jokes! They brought out a kid on crutches to announce the pick. Fuck texas, I’m out.

#16 – BUFFALO BILLS
E.J. MANUEL, QB

RF: The reason that I know this was a bad pick is because the Bills made it. E.J. Manuel owes Russell Wilson a handjob.

HT: But Geno Smith shredded top defenses like Baylor and Iowa State!

Current beverage: Screwdrivers

#17 – PITTSBURGH STEELERS
JARVIS JONES, LB

HT: Because if there’s ever a team that’s had trouble landing good linebackers, it’s the Steelers.

RF: I was gonna be a French porn star but Dick Lebeau already took my screen name.

#18 – SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
ERIC REED, DB

RF: Trading up eleven picks? Someone has a Harb-oner for this guy.

HT: Reed is a total badass in games where the referees are screwing A&M.

#19 – NEW YORK GIANTS
JUSTIN PUGH, OL

#20 – CHICAGO BEARS
KYLE LONG, OL

RF: You know Howie long gets to fuck Teri Hatcher?

#21 – CINCINNATI BENGALS
TYLER EIFERT, TE

RF: As a Texans fan I breathe a sigh of relief because Gary Kubiak has a huge hardon for tight ends.

HT: Golden Domers and Cincinnati Bengals are a match made in heaven.

Current beverage: Miller Lite

#22 – ATLANTA FALCONS
DESMOND TRUFANT, DB

HT: Trying to figure out why there should be another Trufant in the NFL.

RF: Peeing in the bushes outside of his own house.

#23 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
SHARRIF FLOYD, DL

RF: The two best things to ever happen to Minnesota are Prince and Sharrif Floyd.

HT: The shots of Geno Smith crying backstage are really killing my buzz.

#24 – INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
BJOERN WERNER, DL

HT: Why is it that I have no problem spelling names like Barkevius, but Bjoern gave me trouble?

RF: As a Texans fan I am always OK with the Colts picking a defensive end that’s a white guy.

#25 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
XAVIER RHODES, DB

At this point we are merely trying to maintain enough sobriety to watch our teams – Texans and Cowboys – make their picks. We are failing.

#26 – GREEN BAY PACKERS
DATONE JONES, DL

RF: I wanted to cuddle him like he’s my own, but he is not and I am sad about that.

HT: The ratio of neck size to head size in the Packer defense is well above 1.

#27 – HOUSTON TEXANS
DEANDRE HOPKINS, WR

RF: Thank god it’s not Manti. I always wanted a player whose nickname sounded like the crowd was booing… you know, "MOOOOOOSE" or "TOOOOOOOMBS"… now the Texans have "NUUUUUUKE".

HT: I was yelling Booo-urns.

#28 – DENVER BRONCOS
SYLVESTER WILLIAMS, DL

inebriation + lack of preparation = no idea what is going on

#29 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
CORDARRELLE PATTERSON, WR

HT: If you managed to look good while playing for Tennessee this season, you’re probably pretty damn good.

RF: Did the Vikings just pick three times in the first round, or am I time travelling?

#30 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
ALEC OGLETREE, LB

RF: As drunk as I am I still know that this is a great pick.

HT: His only downside is that he plays for the Rams.

#31 – DALLAS COWBOYS
TRAVIS FREDERICK, C

via ww2.hdnux.com

HT: Not only is this guy not Manti Te’o, he has the beard of a Norse god. I would follow this man to Valhalla.

RF: He’s the James Harden of the NFL.

#32 – BALTIMORE RAVENS
MATT ELAM, DB

HT: I thought this guy was a kicker?

We pour out a Smirnoff Ice on the ground in memory of Lennay. Gone but not forgotten.

Draftspeak BINGO!

2013-04-26T15:25:28Z

Get your catchphrase on this weekend with GBH's customized Draftspeak BINGO cards! We don't even know what half of these words mean, but we're definitely going to hear them a lot over the next couple of days. (Thanks to Ranger222, cuppycup, and Lucas Jackson for the input.)

There are six versions:

It's Good Bull Voicemail Time

2013-04-24T15:35:50Z

I think there are plenty of candidates for this week's Good Bull Voicemail. Hit the call feature below or dial the Good Bull Hotline at 979-217-1364 and leave your response to this week's question. The best/funniest/strangest will make it on to the weekly podcast.

If you had a free pass to punch anyone in the face, who would it be and why?

Solution to the College Football Playoff Logo problem.

2013-04-24T01:59:00Z

Official description from Dr. Norris Camacho

A ship’s wheel, constantly navigating the tricky landscape of collegiate athletics as the football badge infuses itself within the American flag and by default the American Dream and very fabric of this nation. The four white lines in the banner represent the ceremonial four lines of coke sniffed off a hooker’s thigh by officials during Fiesta Bowl planning, and the year happens to represent the one January not affected by the decision between the announcement and the actual first playoff game. The shaded and light portions of the football represent the duality of Man. That whole Jungian thing.

The College Football Playoff website is letting fans vote on which terrible logo they want to see. The problem is that the logos were not combined or animated. I fixed the problem free of charge.

Official description from Dr. Norris Camacho

A ship’s wheel, constantly navigating the tricky landscape of collegiate athletics as the football badge infuses itself within the American flag and by default the American Dream and very fabric of this nation. The four white lines in the banner represent the ceremonial four lines of coke sniffed off a hooker’s thigh by officials during Fiesta Bowl planning, and the year happens to represent the one January not affected by the decision between the announcement and the actual first playoff game. The shaded and light portions of the football represent the duality of Man. That whole Jungian thing.

The College Football Playoff website is letting fans vote on which terrible logo they want to see. The problem is that the logos were not combined or animated. I fixed the problem free of charge.

WNBA Draft:Bon(e) Voyage

2013-04-15T16:17:55Z

She's ready. We've taught her everything that we could. Sure, selfishly, I'd love to have her another year...

- Gary Blair

After a brief post about Kelsey Bone's announcement that she's declaring for the WNBA draft instead of coming back to use her final year of eligibility, I wrote that I'd try to put up a longer fanpost about her career with the Aggie Women's BouncyBall program. With Kelsey one of the dozen prospects invited to the WNBA draft tonight, here it is.

M. Robinson's outstanding* interview with Bone starts with these words:

Bust.

Flop.

Overrated.

Those have been words consistently linked to the career of Kelsey Bone.

In some cases those words may have come from self-described fans of Texas A&M Women's Basketball sitting around me in Reed Arena. Some of the criticism reminded me of Jabbar in Airplane.

Roger Murdock: ROGER MURDOCK. I'm an airline pilot.
Joey: I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense.
[Kareem's getting mad]
Joey: And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during the playoffs.
Roger Murdock: [breaking character] The hell I don't! LISTEN KID! I've been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I'm out there busting my buns every night. Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.

Kelsey Bone's college basketball career was played in the shadow of two of the best women's bouncy ball players to ever set foot on the floor at Reed Arena: Brittney Griner and Danielle Adams. Griner and Bone have been paired since they played high school basketball in the Houston area. Their two high-school matchups got national attention. Simmie Colson wrote of their second meeting in the 2009 regional final four:

Nimitz versus Dulles, Cougars versus Vikings, Brittany Griner versus Kelsey Bone 1 versus 2, whatever people wanted to call it, only one giant would be left standing when it was over.

Nimitz and Dulles split the two meetings, with Griner's team winning the second matchup (in which both posts fouled out)**. Griner and Bone graduated ranked 1-2 in recruiting ratings. With Griner a long-time Baylor commit, we thought we had the inside track to land Bone, setting up annual renewals of the Griner-Bone rivalry for four years. Instead, Bone chose to start her college career in the SEC at S. Carolina.

Ironically, in disappointing Aggie fans with her choice, Kelsey set up A&M's 2011 national championship, and created the other shadow that has haunted her career in the eyes of the fan base. The scholarship slot that was set up for Bone was now open, leading Coach Blair to call again on the Kansas City recruiting connection that brought Tyra White and Tanisha Smith to the Ags. When Danielle Adams first shuffled onto the hardwood at Reed, a lot of Aggie fans were wondering how she could be the replacement for Kelsey Bone. Then she dropped 24 points on the Duke Blue Devils and we fell in love. By the time Danielle was collecting her MVP trophy for the 2011 finals, Bone was a redshirt transfer, practicing but not playing. I can't help but wonder how things would have played out if Bone had committed as a freshman. There would not be a #23 jersey hanging from the rafters at Reed and probably no national champion banner. What would our team look like today without the recruiting boost from winning the Big Dance? Would Vic Schaefer still be here?

On the positive side, we might have had fewer sightings of President Loftin doing the Dougie.

When Kelsey Bone became the starting center in the Fall of 2011, the shadows of Griner and Adams combined with the usual Aggie bipolar disease to create expectations. After all, Bone was #2 coming out of HS to Griner's #1, so she should be competitive with Griner as a junior despite transferring and sitting out a year... and not being Brittney Griner. Plus, Kelsey Bone was the player we wanted more than Danielle Adams, so she should be able to step in and do what Adams did, right? Or more. There were constant reminders of these expectations as the NC dominated the intro video, there were lots of events related to the NC, and Adams, rehabbing an injury, attended lots of games. A photo of the NC team hoisting the 2011 trophy is still the banner background for the women's basketball page on aggieathletics.com.

Bone's first year with the Ags was not exactly terrible. 11.9 ppg. on .566 shooting. 6.9 rpg. Big 12 newcomer of the year. All conference honorable mention. 5 double-doubles. Bone's stats would have made us giddy from the pre-Adams, posts. Not just in scoring: Bone's junior rebounding numbers are better than LaToya Micheaux' for the 2007-08 Elite 8 year (Miss Mean did set better screens***). The Ags were 24-11, made the conference final, and got to the Sweet 16, where they fell against a higher seeded Maryland team. But... the Ags got swept by both Baylor (not shocking in their undefeated NC year) and tu (shocking and bad, breaking a streak of wins over the sips and giving them scoreboard until we meet again someday).

This year brought new teammates, new assistants, and the return to the SEC. Although Bellock, Pratcher, and Windham were the seniors with more time with the team, Bone had the most experience as a starter. By the coaches' accounts, she was the team leader. With so many new players in the rotation, Bone was also the focus of the offense and the primary focus of opponents' game plans. New assistant Bob Starkey came to TAMU with a reputation for working with posts, from his work at LSU that included working with Sylvia Fowles. Starkey even worked with Shaq on the men's side before switching to coaching women. To my inexpert eye, Starkey's hand could be seen in how both Bone and Gilbert improved their footwork and positioning in the block. There were many times when Bone was unstoppable in the paint, and when she dazzled us with her passes out of double and triple teams. She was vastly improved in how she ran the break.

On the other hand, there were stretches where the fans were frustrated by her play... in no small part from the expectation that she should play at her peak all the time. Notable examples were at Vanderbilt, Senior day vs LSU, and, of course, the early exit vs Nebraska at Reed. In my memory, Bone had two different kinds of problems in games and individual plays where she struggled: The first kind was where she didn't follow the classic sports cliche of "let the game come to you". On offense this would manifest itself in taking more difficult shots instead of taking the tradeoff of a possible charge, a shot-block or non-call vs. a possible opportunity to go to the FT line. With my maroon-colored glasses, this was not entirely irrational due to the level of non-calls in the paint she saw all season. On defense, I sometimes saw Kelsey try to make a heroic play that led to either getting a foul or leaving a hole in the D. I blogged an instance of this from the end of the Ky game at Reed. But as I wrote at the time, I don't know if that was a decision she made or part of the way the D was drawn up. The second situation where Kelsey struggled was, not surprisingly, when the team as a whole struggled. Just as her great stretches reflected execution on the part of her teammates in making the right entry passes and the right cuts and spot-ups to take her passes, some of her poor stretches came when it seemed like the team was struggling to stretch the opposing D.

The early exit vs the Corn left a lot of us hoping that Kelsey would view her career as having unfinished business and return. But despite the NCAA disappointment, this year's team did hang another banner for A&M's first team championship in the SEC. The decision about not coming back is about balancing the benefits of returning vs moving on in terms of growing her game. One of the interesting things to me in Kelsey's announcement interview was her talking about how she wasn't a natural at bouncy ball growing up. People actually told her to give up the game. According to the coaches, Bone is very coachable, perhaps partly in reaction to her early experiences. While I don't think it's actually true that the coaches have taught her everything they can, that shouldn't be the standard, or no one would ever be ready to move to the next level (or you have coaches who aren't at the level of Blair and his assistants). As strong as the SEC may be in WBB, it's not clear to me if staying and dominating most teams would be the best way for Bone to continue to improve. It's time for Bone to learn against a higher level of competition. And while the WNBA salaries are not spectacular, Bone should be able to get a pretty nice gig in the offseason overseas.

So, Kelsey Bone moves on leaving her own shadow on the program for the next generation of Aggie Women's posts to live up to. I'll be wishing her Bon(e) chance in her pro career and beyond.

For an outside analytical view of Kelsey's draft prospects, see Swish Appeal's Nate Parham's analysis of her game at analysis of her game, and comparisons with other post prospects. ESPN's experts have KB going at 4 or 5 to Washington or New York.

* Yes, this is the third different fanpost where I've linked to it!

** Griner's Nimitz team wound up losing to Mansfield Summit in the 5A finals that year.

*** I believe Micheaux is the all-time rebounding leader... but the aggieathletics website sucks, and I could not find all-time career records for the program.

She's ready. We've taught her everything that we could. Sure, selfishly, I'd love to have her another year...

- Gary Blair

M. Robinson's outstanding* interview with Bone starts with these words:

Bust.

Flop.

Overrated.

Those have been words consistently linked to the career of Kelsey Bone.

In some cases those words may have come from self-described fans of Texas A&M Women's Basketball sitting around me in Reed Arena. Some of the criticism reminded me of Jabbar in Airplane.

Roger Murdock: ROGER MURDOCK. I'm an airline pilot.
Joey: I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense.
[Kareem's getting mad]
Joey: And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during the playoffs.
Roger Murdock: [breaking character] The hell I don't! LISTEN KID! I've been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I'm out there busting my buns every night. Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.

Nimitz versus Dulles, Cougars versus Vikings, Brittany Griner versus Kelsey Bone 1 versus 2, whatever people wanted to call it, only one giant would be left standing when it was over.

On the positive side, we might have had fewer sightings of President Loftin doing the Dougie.

So, Kelsey Bone moves on leaving her own shadow on the program for the next generation of Aggie Women's posts to live up to. I'll be wishing her Bon(e) chance in her pro career and beyond.

* Yes, this is the third different fanpost where I've linked to it!

** Griner's Nimitz team wound up losing to Mansfield Summit in the 5A finals that year.

*** I believe Micheaux is the all-time rebounding leader... but the aggieathletics website sucks, and I could not find all-time career records for the program.

SEC Network Announcement on Tuesday

2013-04-12T13:26:13Z

It's finally here folks. The SEC and ESPN are holding a press conference on Tuesday to announce the SEC Network, code named LOLOLOL SOOOO MUCH MONEY.

The news from Sports Business Daily:

The SEC and ESPN plan to formally announce the creation of an SEC channel on Tuesday. The two parties have begun to reach out to key constituents to let them know about the 12:00pm ET announcement at the Atlanta Hyatt. University presidents, ADs, SEC CommissionerMike Slive, ESPN execs and the conference's corporate sponsors are among those being invited to the news conference. The SEC and ESPN have been working on plans to form a channel since the fall of '11, and the new channel is expected to launch in August '14.

The channel is expected to have its studio headquarters in Charlotte at the ESPN Regional Television offices, while the primary sales outlet will be based in Atlanta.

LINK

It's finally here folks. The SEC and ESPN are holding a press conference on Tuesday to announce the SEC Network, code named LOLOLOL SOOOO MUCH MONEY.

The news from Sports Business Daily:

The SEC and ESPN plan to formally announce the creation of an SEC channel on Tuesday. The two parties have begun to reach out to key constituents to let them know about the 12:00pm ET announcement at the Atlanta Hyatt. University presidents, ADs, SEC CommissionerMike Slive, ESPN execs and the conference's corporate sponsors are among those being invited to the news conference. The SEC and ESPN have been working on plans to form a channel since the fall of '11, and the new channel is expected to launch in August '14.

The channel is expected to have its studio headquarters in Charlotte at the ESPN Regional Television offices, while the primary sales outlet will be based in Atlanta.

LINK

That noise you hear is every administrator at SEC schools rolling around on their beds full of Benjamins.

Johnny Handsign

2013-04-08T13:24:44Z

via i1297.photobucket.com

Star Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel continues to troll hard in the paint during the offseason. One wonders if he has the endurance to keep up this whirlwind pace.

Just a few weeks after flashing one hated rival's hand sign and causing the Aggie fan base to poop their pampers, Johnny Football is at it again. This image of the controversial Heisman winner surfaced early this week, and the meltdown on Texags is one that no one is likely to survive.

Stay tuned for updates throughout the off season as Johnny Football continues his tour of college football hand signs. Coming soon: a trip to Gainesville to try out the 'Gator Chomp', a special baylorfans.com photo shoot performing the '~~Suck~~ Sic 'Em Bears', and a personal lesson on 'Woo Pig Sooie' with Bret Bielema himself.

via i1297.photobucket.com

Star Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel continues to troll hard in the paint during the offseason. One wonders if he has the endurance to keep up this whirlwind pace.

WBB will be Boneless in 2013-14

2013-04-03T18:55:00Z

Kelsey Bone announced at a presser today that she's leaving forgoing her last year of eligibility and declaring for the WNBA draft.

From the Houston Chronicle coverage

“One of my great accomplishments has been putting on a Texas A&M jersey the past two years,” an emotional Bone said Wednesday.

We'll miss you, Kelsey, but wish you all the best at the next level. If I have time later, I'll try to put up a post looking back at Bone's career at A&M. In the meantime, here is a reminder to look at the interview from a bit ago at Swish Appeal

Kelsey Bone announced at a presser today that she's leaving forgoing her last year of eligibility and declaring for the WNBA draft.

From the Houston Chronicle coverage

“One of my great accomplishments has been putting on a Texas A&M jersey the past two years,” an emotional Bone said Wednesday.

NOSIR: Kevin Sumlin to Coach Browns, Aggies Placed on Suicide Watch

2013-03-27T18:00:11Z

via bloguin.com

In a startling off-season development Kevin Sumlin has announced that he has accepted the position of head coach of the Cleveland Browns, confirming the deepest and darkest fears of every living Aggie across the globe. Although details for his contract are not available, there is already speculation amongst the Aggie faithful that he may be one of the highest paid first-time coaches in NFL history.

Coming off of a wildly successful 2012-2013 football season with Texas A&M University, the move is all the more surprising after Sumlin described coaching at A&M as a ‘dream job’ – a phrase Aggie fans have repeated constantly ever since in an effort to make it true.

"Texas A&M is a program that has been dormant for more than a decade, but I believe that all of the pieces are in place to return to power as a dominant program in college football," Sumlin said in August of 2012 to an openly weeping crowd of A&M students. "I am very excited about this opportunity and our potential."

Sumlin will have his work cut out for him in Cleveland, where the Browns have squandered a decade of high draft picks to accomplish little other than ensuring more high draft picks in the future. The former Purdue linebacker notably said nothing to address concerns – most of which were shouted at him by A&M fans as his moving truck drove out of town – about backup quarterback Colt McCoy’s durability or the assertion that Brandon Weeden throws like a girl. "I think that we will make a big splash in the NFL," Sumlin said when asked about his unique, run-heavy version of the Air Raid offense. "I assume that my quarterbacks will fit right into the system as they always seem to have my past jobs."

"Cleveland is a program that has been dormant for more than a decade, but I believe that all of the pieces are in place to return to power as a dominant program in the NFL," Sumlin said in March of 2013 to an openly weeping crowd of A&M students. "I am very excited about this opportunity and our potential."

When reached for comment, A&M fans were found to be eating directly from a tube of raw cookie dough, washing it down with rubbing alcohol, and sobbing soundlessly in the dark. Observers described the scene as "at the same time haunting and beautiful, as though the fan base were the subject of some century-spanning grand epic tragedy being written by a cold and uncaring god."

At press time Kevin Sumlin was reportedly visiting Kliff Kingsbury in Lubbock where they were engaged in what was described as "an elaborate series of fist bumps."

Hypno-Toad is a freelance writer for the Houston Journal of Things That Never Were. While he does suffer from night terrors, the bed-wetting is unrelated.

via bloguin.com

At press time Kevin Sumlin was reportedly visiting Kliff Kingsbury in Lubbock where they were engaged in what was described as "an elaborate series of fist bumps."

Hypno-Toad is a freelance writer for the Houston Journal of Things That Never Were. While he does suffer from night terrors, the bed-wetting is unrelated.

Manziel to quit Twitter, establish Geocities page

2013-03-27T00:06:02Z

Recent reports indicate that the Heisman winner will self-impose a Twitter ban. How will we keep up with him? Many are no doubt wondering that same thing right now.

Well, wait no longer. The dynamic QB has decided to resurrect his Geocities page that he last worked on in Elementary school.

"I think it's great," he said. "You have so many options, especially with the graphics, fonts, everything. It's so much fun." Manziel later admitted that he could no longer remember his Geocities password, but would be sending an email to the support team soon in an attempt to recover it. Fortunately, he thinks the page was still under construction the last time he modified it.

"I mean, everyone's so cutting-edge and on mobile nowadays that I think it will be cool to go a bit retro," he added. "Plus it will make me really think about what I post since it's so time-consuming to dial-up, choose your fonts, and upload all those emoticon gifs. I mean, I take classes now on an old-school computer. Why not update my status there too?"

Manziel said he was leaning toward a maroon background with dark gray, bold-faced 36-point Times font for his header, but that he had not made up his mind yet. He did indicate that the following graphic would definitely make it onto his page:

When told that Geocities was currently only available in Japan, Manziel replied, "that's cool. I have some friends in Tokyo. I'll just DM them on Twitter and tell them what I want on my page."

Recent reports indicate that the Heisman winner will self-impose a Twitter ban. How will we keep up with him? Many are no doubt wondering that same thing right now.

Well, wait no longer. The dynamic QB has decided to resurrect his Geocities page that he last worked on in Elementary school.

When told that Geocities was currently only available in Japan, Manziel replied, "that's cool. I have some friends in Tokyo. I'll just DM them on Twitter and tell them what I want on my page."

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: RETROACTIVE VS RIDICULOUS

2013-03-26T21:31:59Z

via t0.gstatic.com

IN THE 1970 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON NEBRASKA WON THE NATTY

The t.u. claim to the 1970 college football National Championship (NC) is well...bull poop. Texas finished off that season (on January 1, 1971) by losing in the Cotton Bowl 11-24 to pre-bowl #6 Notre Dame. Until 1974 the UPI ranked teams before their bowl games (They changed this after consecutive embarrassments, to include this one. Facing similar ridicule the older/wiser AP poll switched permanently to post-bowl rankings in 1968). The pre-bowl UPI poll is what Texas bases this bogus Natty on. Nebraska, who was 10-0-1 (the 21-21 tie was against then #3 USC) was ranked #3 pre-bowl, beat #5 LSU, finished undefeated at 11-0-1 and was declared the consensus National Champion. Note the pre-bowl #2 team Ohio State also lost, 17-27 to #12 Stanford. Using the teasip perpetuated lame claim method, I guess Notre Dame won the most recent Natty in spite of being thumped by Bama. I submit that A&M’s recent retroactive claims to college football NCs are more worthy than many of the existing/accepted claims of numerous schools.

Further, retroactive claims to NCs, and the acceptance thereof, are nothing new. There is almost a hundred years of precedence for declaring/deciding upon a national champion, to include retroactively. My throw down to t.u. is this; Erase your false claim to a Natty in 1970...as engraved on walls/printed on pennants…or cease and desist your criticism of Texas A&M’s much more valid retroactive claims to championships in 1919 and 1927.

Why do I care? About t.u.‘s claim…I don’t really. However, the more acerbic teasip fans love to scoff at Texas A&M’s recent retroactive claims to two National Championships at every opportunity…usually accompanied by a before/after graphic of the Kyle Field wall. So, as a reward for your petulance I choose thee t.u., as my bogus natty poster child.

Note t.u. is not alone in questionable claims to championships. I’ll even go a little further in conciliation to t.u. and, though I shudder at the thought, admit we have shared DNA (Bible, Bellard, etc.). I give credit to their school/team where it is due…specifically their claim to the 1969 NC, in my opinion, is better than the Penn State claim (who were also 11-0), and t.u. was the unquestioned NC winner in 1963 and 2005. I also understand that to a large degree the modern day pervasiveness of the internet, twitter and blogs contributed to some of the negative hoopla over A&M’s recent claims. I don’t think there was as much stink in the 1980s when Alabama sports information director Wayne Atchison added five national titles – 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934 and 1941 – to the Crimson Tide’s claims. There are some interesting claims in that group (Like 41‘ where they did play a lot of ranked teams, but lost to both Vandy and an unranked Mississippi State in the regular season and did not appear in a bowl.), but we can save that debate for another day…or not even go there at all if Bama fans don‘t try to lord the number of their claimed titles over us.

As I researched this article I learned a lot along the way. I present relevant/fun facts (spiced with personal opinion of course) below for consideration, and you, the humble reader can decide where you come down on this. I am a big fan of history, and I know there is a lot here. I have tried to be succinct and I hope I don’t bore you…but heh, it is the off season…what else have you got to do? Print it off. Take it to the head. You know you wanna. In italics I provide some of the weak counter-arguments I found on the web.

But, but we (t.u.) got a trophy and everything.

Actually…no…you didn‘t. Your team’s name, and Ohio State‘s (another bowl loser that year), was engraved on the side of the McArthur trophy for 1970. The McArthur (named after the General of "I’ll shall return." fame.) is a traveling trophy that, the winner of which since its inception in 1959 often differed from the AP Poll winner, Coaches' Poll winner or both, until, for the sake of creating some legitimacy, it was tied to the BCS championship. It was not a crystal football and it does not reside at your school. Prior to the advent of/tie-in to the BCS, favored teams had their names inscribed on the side of the McArthur, based on pre-bowl or otherwise potentially specious votes.

But, but bowls in 1970 were like rewards. They didn’t really reflect who won the NC.

Yeah right. Not even close to a cigar. The Rose Bowl, started in 1902 under a different name (the East-West Tournament), was at first the only major college bowl game. By 1940, there were five major college bowl games, by 1950, the number had increased to eight games, and by 1970 the number had increased again, to 11 games. "The concept of a national championship in college football dates to the early years of the sport in the late 19th century (the 1800s for those of you in Austin), and some of the earliest contemporaneous polls can be traced to Caspar Whitney, Charles Patterson, and The Sun in 1901."

The Rose Bowl was the de facto National Championship of the 1920s. United Press called the 1927 Rose Bowl (Bama beat Stanford 7-6) "the football championship of America." The Sugar, Sun and Orange Bowls were all introduced in 1935. The Cotton Bowl was added in 1937. These additional major bowls accelerated the interest in the rankings of teams and the declarations of national champions. By 1970 pre-bowl, post-bowl and retroactive college football national rankings had been going on for fifty years or more. I refer you back to the Sports Illustrated cover image at the top of this article. "Nebraska is No. 1" along with the subtitle, "Notre Dame Beats Texas." To try and suggest there wasn’t an obvious National Champion in the 1970 season (it wasn’t Texas) is ludicrous.

But, but pre-poll (AP started in 1936) retroactive claims to National Titles are BS!

I actually stumbled on this argument on a Florida Gator site. This seems rather self-serving, since Florida wasn’t nationally relevant until the 1980s. Sorry gators, it’s true. The blog stated, "Any claim of a National Championship prior to the AP’s first poll of 1936 is highly suspect. Most of them are backdated or retroactive. This includes 3 of Notre Dames 11 titles, and four of Alabama’s." While some of these claimed titles might warrant scrutiny, I don’t buy the supposition that all pre-1936 claims are suspect. All pre and post 1936 polls and mathematical systems are also highly subject to inherent flaws and regional/individual bias. In some cases Retroactive > Existing Claim.

Retroactive claims started almost a hundred years ago, and they are accepted/recognized, along with their innumerable biased poll/system brethren. Notre Dame’s claim to the 1924 title is a glaring example. Hearing of the concoction of Prof. Frank Dickinson’s mathematical system, Knute Rockne invited both Dickinson and Rissman (the wealthy sports fan paying for/presenting the corresponding Rissman trophy) to South Bend. Rockne convinced them to make it a "national" (rather than regional as first conceived) trophy and to make it retroactive to 1924 so the Irish of Four Horsemen fame could be the first official national champions.

In my opinion, the 1924 10-0 Irish were more deserving of the title than 9-1-1 Penn anyway. I don‘t discredit this claim. However, it is illustrative of my point that retroactive claims have precedence and standing. Starting in 2014 the BCS is moving forward with a playoff system that will definitively determine the national champion each year. Some folks will no doubt kick and scream each year over which teams do or don't get in to the BCS playoff, but it will lend a great deal of clarity. Retroactive and weak claims are in the books. I suggest we just accept them both, move on and look forward to the BCS playoff system.

But, but the Aggie retroactive claims are laughable.

For added context, let’s note the 1917 Aggie football team was undefeated, untied and admirably unscored upon. A&M does not claim this year as a championship (perhaps because no poll/system ranked us as #1?). However, it is worth noting, the famous coach of this team, Dana X. Bible, took a year off in 1918 to join the military and serve his country during a war. The U.S. military did not fully mobilize/arrive in France until the spring of 1918. He returned to coach the team in 1919. The 1919 team also went undefeated (10-0), untied,…and again unscored upon…and was ranked #1 by the Billingsley Report and the National Championship Foundation (both retroactive). Harvard, Centre College (coached by Charlie Moran…a man who is central to an A&M-teasip story for another day), Notre Dame and Illinois are also listed in at least one poll/ranking system as possibly being number one in 1919. Illinois only played seven games in 1919 and lost one (10-14 to Wisconsin), but use their perceived "strength of schedule" as some of the basis for their claim.

Included in their 1919 season total of nine games, Harvard defeated the Oregon Webfoots by a score of 7-6 in the Rose Bowl. Harvard came close to skunking all their opponents in 1919, with the exception of a 10-10 tie with Princeton, a 10-3 win over Yale and the 7-6 win over the Webfoots (now the Ducks). Notre Dame (ND) and Centre’s Praying Colonels both went 9-0 in their seasons. At present Notre Dame does not claim 1919 as a NC, but this season did help build/solidify the legends of Knute Rockne and the Gipper. Granted the relative strength of regional teams may have varied greatly in this era, but without the measurement of head-to-head match-ups such as the Rose Bowl and subsequent bowl games, other than infrequent relevant out of conference games, how these teams would have faired against each other is wildly speculative. Bottom line, based on being undefeated/unscored upon, and having played ten games total, at the very least the Aggie 1919 team has a valid claim to being co-national champions.

Coach Bible also led the 1927 (our second retroactive claim) Aggie team to an 8-0-1 record, arguably the best record among the NC claimants for that year. The Aggie tie was a scoreless 0-0 match-up with TCU (in case you were wondering). TCU was no slouch in the late 1920s and 30s, winning two NCs. I consider a tie superior to a loss (L), and 8-0-1 better than 7-0-1 (Illinois). The three number one ranked teams with the Ls that year (Georgia, Notre Dame, Yale) and Illinois can/will, as always, to some degree try to make the strength of schedule argument to bolster their claims/the polls that gave them merit. Georgia actually played Yale that year and beat them 14-10. I guess Yale can somewhat hang their hat on the fact that they were the only team who beat Army, and Army was the only team that beat ND. I’m not sure why Army wasn’t/isn’t in the mix. Pitt was 8-0-1 going into the Rose Bowl, but lost to a two-loss Stanford team. The Georgia Bulldogs lost their final game of the season against Georgia Tech 0-12. Interestingly, ND had also played Georgia Tech that season, and beat them 26-7.

Humorously the Illinois claim to the NC is partially based on the goofy Dickinson mathematical system’s rating of them as number one. The Dickinson System, was devised in 1926 by Frank Dickinson, a professor of economics at….wait for it….the University of Illinois. Again, A&M has a solid claim to at least co-national champion.

But, but who cares? 1919 and 1927 are ancient history!

Well if A&M’s retroactive claims are ancient history, to be mocked, and deemed irrelevant then so is 76-37-5. For the uninitiated in Aggie versus t.u. hatred…that is another commonly used teasip derision…that of the overall head-to-head records between our two schools. The longhorns are adept at ignoring all historical differences between the two institutions and the fact that in the last four decades Texas A&M and the University of Texas have been at relative parity, with the series standing at 21 to 19 in the teasips’ slight favor. If you found this post interesting…Aggies and/or teasips (flame on!)…then say the word, and the decade by decade football history between these two "little" schools in Texas will be the topic of my next fanpost.

In summation, retroactive claims are subjective, but so are pre-BCS playoff electors, mathematical systems and polls. There are only a few years in all the history of college football where there was a unanimous National Champion. Retroactive claims are nothing new. When the facts are examined, Texas A&M’s claims to retroactive National Championships for their impressive 1919 and 1927 seasons are not only legitimate, but hold more water than a plethora of other schools’ porous existing claims.

via t0.gstatic.com

IN THE 1970 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON NEBRASKA WON THE NATTY

But, but we (t.u.) got a trophy and everything.

But, but bowls in 1970 were like rewards. They didn’t really reflect who won the NC.

But, but pre-poll (AP started in 1936) retroactive claims to National Titles are BS!

But, but the Aggie retroactive claims are laughable.

But, but who cares? 1919 and 1927 are ancient history!

NCAA WBB Tournament: the party's over for A&M

2013-03-26T07:20:40Z

At least half of this was very wrong.

It seems likely that the Huskers will go back to the zone against the Ags on Monday night. Nebraska starts 4 players over 6 ft tall, and two or three of these will sandwich Bone.

Coach Blair said in the post-game that he had also been expecting zone, so I was in pretty good company. But Nebraska didn't need to play zone to frustrate the Aggie Women's Bouncy Ballers earlier tonight and bounce the 3-seed home squad from the Big Dance. The did, however, use their length and a sagging man defense to sandwich and frustrate Kelsey Bone, whose night was far worse than her 13 pts on 6-10 shooting with 5 boards, and 3 blocks would seem to indicate. Unlike most teams, Nebraska's double-team was done by having the outside defender turn her back to the ball and face up on Bone. Coach Connie Yori explained that most teams never do this; it's something that Yale has run. Bone described it as a different D than what she had seen.

if you told me before the game that A&M would shoot 45.9% and 42.9% from three-point land, and that those numbers were higher than the Huskers, I would have assumed a solid win, especially when the Ags took 4 more shots (61-57) ended up with only one more turnover than the Corn. But in fact, after roaring out to a 14-6 lead to start the game, the Ags were outplayed the rest of the way. Although Nebraska dominated the game, the Ags didn't quit and made a number of runs. Each time the Huskers would make a key stop or it a clutch shot to quell the comeback. After A&M's initial burst to get to 14-6, NU went on a 19-2 run to take a 23-16 lead. A&M cut it to 2 twice before the intermission. Nebraska pushed it back up to 11 at the break on a buzzer-beating turnaround 3 by Rachel Theriot. Nebraska stretched their lead to 16 in the second half, but the Ags tried to claw their way back. Our last serious run, sparked by PG heir apparent Jordan Jones cut the lead to 7 with 2:44 left. Jones, who averages less than 1 3FGA/game, hit two treys in a row, and then swiped the ball from Moore in the open court and took it for a layup and one. That was Moore's low point of an otherwise stellar evening.

Nebraska also defied this from Nate Parham's preview:

Nebraska is a team that has shown a tendency to drift out to the perimeter and the problem is that they only shoot 31.2% from the 3-point line - in each of their losses a combination of cold shooting and an inability to get to the line did them in. And where that stands out in their statistical profile is a low free throw rate.

In the two rounds at Reed, Nebraska shot 53.8% and 42.1% from beyond the arc, on 13 and 19 attempts. The long-range bombing attack repeatedly opened the lane for layups and putbacks as the Aggie defenders ran out too late at their assigned shooters. The Huskers reprised their 18/23 vs 1/1 advantage vs Chattanooga at the charity stripe by going 14/15 on free throws. The Ags were 1/2, with an astonishing zero free throw attempts for any of our front court players. It may be tempting to ascribe this to a combination of President Obama picking the Huskers and the refs being as unsatisfied as Rand Paul about the administration's policy on domestic drone strikes. But in fact much of the disparity came from the D described above denying the entry passes to the posts, combined with the Ags getting anxious and taking shots early in the shot clock. But then again, 3 fta in two days?!

On D, it seemed at times as though the Ags had reverted to the team of inexperienced freshmen we saw at the start of the year. It was the kind of game where everyone in the crowd was screaming "Nooo!" every time an Ag would try to make a heroic double team only to see a wide open Husker making an uncontested shot. You could see these plays developing like a slow motion car crash. Blair talked about how his posts were not supposed to switch out to stop Moore at the top, but they did it anyway... perhaps because this is how he coached them to play all year. Hailee Sample doubled her 4.8 season average in part on lobs for layups. The paint was also open due to the defense being spread thin by Nebraska's 3 point shooters. A&M started with Kristi Bellock guarding NU's prime shooter, Jordan Hooper. Over the course of the game, Blair tried a series of different defenders on Hooper, including Tori Scott, who had a similar assignment against Taber Spani in the SEC tourney, and the seldom-used Senior, Cierra Windham. CeCe played 5 minutes in the second half, did a decent job on D, got some boards, and took a couple of shots she probably shouldn't have taken.

In the battle of the point guards, Pratcher had what would be a good night against most opponents: 17 points, 3 asst, 1 turnover in 38 minutes. But Moore showed why she's a WNBA prospect: 20 pts, 10 assists, 4 turnovers and a steal. Moore played every minute. What doesn't show up in the stats is how well she controlled their offense. The two coaches avoided having their two point guards check each other. Pratcher did spend some time on Moore, but NU mostly used others on AP.

So, congrats to the Huskers on their win, and good luck in the Sweet 16. We should also congratulate the Aggie Women on a successful season. While the loss hurts now, you made us proud and brought another banner to Aggieland from the SEC tourney.

At least half of this was very wrong.

It seems likely that the Huskers will go back to the zone against the Ags on Monday night. Nebraska starts 4 players over 6 ft tall, and two or three of these will sandwich Bone.

Nebraska also defied this from Nate Parham's preview:

Nebraska is a team that has shown a tendency to drift out to the perimeter and the problem is that they only shoot 31.2% from the 3-point line - in each of their losses a combination of cold shooting and an inability to get to the line did them in. And where that stands out in their statistical profile is a low free throw rate.

Good Bull Hunting: FanPosts

THE OLD-SCHOOL HIP-HOP WISDOM OF MACK BROWN

The Valley of No Football

January 26th, 2013

March 13th, 2013

April 13th, 2013

April 25th, 2013

May 1st, 2013

May 8th, 2013

January 26th, 2013

March 13th, 2013

April 13th, 2013

April 25th, 2013

May 1st, 2013

May 8th, 2013

George Patton Was Once A Spread Offense Coach!

The NFL on Draft

#1 – KANSAS CITY CHIEFSERIC FISHER, OL

#2 – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSLUKE JOECKEL, OL

#3 – MIAMI DOLPHINSDION JORDAN, LB

#4 – PHILADELPHIA EAGLESLANE JOHNSON, OL

#5 – DETROIT LIONSEZEKIEL ANSAH, DL

#6 – CLEVELAND BROWNSBARKEVIUS MINGO, DL

#7 – ARIZONA CARDINALSJOHNATHAN COOPER, OL

#8 – ST. LOUIS RAMSTAVON AUSTIN, WR

#9 – NEW YORK JETSDEE MILLINER, DB

#10 – TENNESSEE TITANSCHANCE WARMACK, OL

#11 – SAN DIEGO CHARGERSD.J. FLUKER, OL

#12 – MIAMI DOLPHINSD.J. HAYDEN, DB

#13 – NEW YORK JETSSHELDON RICHARDSON, DL

#14 – CAROLINA PANTHERSSTAR LOTULELEI, DL

#15 – NEW ORLEANS SAINTSKENNY VACCARO, DB

#16 – BUFFALO BILLSE.J. MANUEL, QB

#17 – PITTSBURGH STEELERSJARVIS JONES, LB

#18 – SAN FRANCISCO 49ERSERIC REED, DB

#19 – NEW YORK GIANTSJUSTIN PUGH, OL

#20 – CHICAGO BEARSKYLE LONG, OL

#21 – CINCINNATI BENGALSTYLER EIFERT, TE

#22 – ATLANTA FALCONSDESMOND TRUFANT, DB

#23 – MINNESOTA VIKINGSSHARRIF FLOYD, DL

#24 – INDIANAPOLIS COLTSBJOERN WERNER, DL

#25 – MINNESOTA VIKINGSXAVIER RHODES, DB

#26 – GREEN BAY PACKERSDATONE JONES, DL

#27 – HOUSTON TEXANSDEANDRE HOPKINS, WR

#28 – DENVER BRONCOSSYLVESTER WILLIAMS, DL

#29 – MINNESOTA VIKINGSCORDARRELLE PATTERSON, WR

#30 – ST. LOUIS RAMSALEC OGLETREE, LB

#31 – DALLAS COWBOYSTRAVIS FREDERICK, C

#32 – BALTIMORE RAVENSMATT ELAM, DB

#1 – KANSAS CITY CHIEFSERIC FISHER, OL

#2 – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSLUKE JOECKEL, OL

#3 – MIAMI DOLPHINSDION JORDAN, LB

#4 – PHILADELPHIA EAGLESLANE JOHNSON, OL

#5 – DETROIT LIONSEZEKIEL ANSAH, DL

#6 – CLEVELAND BROWNSBARKEVIUS MINGO, DL

#7 – ARIZONA CARDINALSJOHNATHAN COOPER, OL

#8 – ST. LOUIS RAMSTAVON AUSTIN, WR

#9 – NEW YORK JETSDEE MILLINER, DB

#10 – TENNESSEE TITANSCHANCE WARMACK, OL

#11 – SAN DIEGO CHARGERSD.J. FLUKER, OL

#12 – MIAMI DOLPHINSD.J. HAYDEN, DB

#13 – NEW YORK JETSSHELDON RICHARDSON, DL

#14 – CAROLINA PANTHERSSTAR LOTULELEI, DL

#15 – NEW ORLEANS SAINTSKENNY VACCARO, DB

#16 – BUFFALO BILLSE.J. MANUEL, QB

#17 – PITTSBURGH STEELERSJARVIS JONES, LB

#18 – SAN FRANCISCO 49ERSERIC REED, DB

#19 – NEW YORK GIANTSJUSTIN PUGH, OL

#20 – CHICAGO BEARSKYLE LONG, OL

#21 – CINCINNATI BENGALSTYLER EIFERT, TE

#22 – ATLANTA FALCONSDESMOND TRUFANT, DB

#23 – MINNESOTA VIKINGSSHARRIF FLOYD, DL

#24 – INDIANAPOLIS COLTSBJOERN WERNER, DL

#25 – MINNESOTA VIKINGSXAVIER RHODES, DB

#26 – GREEN BAY PACKERSDATONE JONES, DL

#27 – HOUSTON TEXANSDEANDRE HOPKINS, WR

#28 – DENVER BRONCOSSYLVESTER WILLIAMS, DL

#29 – MINNESOTA VIKINGSCORDARRELLE PATTERSON, WR

#30 – ST. LOUIS RAMSALEC OGLETREE, LB

#31 – DALLAS COWBOYSTRAVIS FREDERICK, C

#1 – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
ERIC FISHER, OL

#2 – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
LUKE JOECKEL, OL

#3 – MIAMI DOLPHINS
DION JORDAN, LB

#4 – PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
LANE JOHNSON, OL

#5 – DETROIT LIONS
EZEKIEL ANSAH, DL

#6 – CLEVELAND BROWNS
BARKEVIUS MINGO, DL

#7 – ARIZONA CARDINALS
JOHNATHAN COOPER, OL

#8 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
TAVON AUSTIN, WR

#9 – NEW YORK JETS
DEE MILLINER, DB

#10 – TENNESSEE TITANS
CHANCE WARMACK, OL

#11 – SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
D.J. FLUKER, OL

#12 – MIAMI DOLPHINS
D.J. HAYDEN, DB

#13 – NEW YORK JETS
SHELDON RICHARDSON, DL

#14 – CAROLINA PANTHERS
STAR LOTULELEI, DL

#15 – NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
KENNY VACCARO, DB

#16 – BUFFALO BILLS
E.J. MANUEL, QB

#17 – PITTSBURGH STEELERS
JARVIS JONES, LB

#18 – SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
ERIC REED, DB

#19 – NEW YORK GIANTS
JUSTIN PUGH, OL

#20 – CHICAGO BEARS
KYLE LONG, OL

#21 – CINCINNATI BENGALS
TYLER EIFERT, TE

#22 – ATLANTA FALCONS
DESMOND TRUFANT, DB

#23 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
SHARRIF FLOYD, DL

#24 – INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
BJOERN WERNER, DL

#25 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
XAVIER RHODES, DB

#26 – GREEN BAY PACKERS
DATONE JONES, DL

#27 – HOUSTON TEXANS
DEANDRE HOPKINS, WR

#28 – DENVER BRONCOS
SYLVESTER WILLIAMS, DL

#29 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
CORDARRELLE PATTERSON, WR

#30 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
ALEC OGLETREE, LB

#31 – DALLAS COWBOYS
TRAVIS FREDERICK, C

#32 – BALTIMORE RAVENS
MATT ELAM, DB

#1 – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
ERIC FISHER, OL

#2 – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
LUKE JOECKEL, OL

#3 – MIAMI DOLPHINS
DION JORDAN, LB

#4 – PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
LANE JOHNSON, OL

#5 – DETROIT LIONS
EZEKIEL ANSAH, DL

#6 – CLEVELAND BROWNS
BARKEVIUS MINGO, DL

#7 – ARIZONA CARDINALS
JOHNATHAN COOPER, OL

#8 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
TAVON AUSTIN, WR

#9 – NEW YORK JETS
DEE MILLINER, DB

#10 – TENNESSEE TITANS
CHANCE WARMACK, OL

#11 – SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
D.J. FLUKER, OL

#12 – MIAMI DOLPHINS
D.J. HAYDEN, DB

#13 – NEW YORK JETS
SHELDON RICHARDSON, DL

#14 – CAROLINA PANTHERS
STAR LOTULELEI, DL

#15 – NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
KENNY VACCARO, DB

#16 – BUFFALO BILLS
E.J. MANUEL, QB

#17 – PITTSBURGH STEELERS
JARVIS JONES, LB

#18 – SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
ERIC REED, DB

#19 – NEW YORK GIANTS
JUSTIN PUGH, OL

#20 – CHICAGO BEARS
KYLE LONG, OL

#21 – CINCINNATI BENGALS
TYLER EIFERT, TE

#22 – ATLANTA FALCONS
DESMOND TRUFANT, DB

#23 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
SHARRIF FLOYD, DL

#24 – INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
BJOERN WERNER, DL

#25 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
XAVIER RHODES, DB

#26 – GREEN BAY PACKERS
DATONE JONES, DL

#27 – HOUSTON TEXANS
DEANDRE HOPKINS, WR

#28 – DENVER BRONCOS
SYLVESTER WILLIAMS, DL

#29 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
CORDARRELLE PATTERSON, WR

#30 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
ALEC OGLETREE, LB

#31 – DALLAS COWBOYS
TRAVIS FREDERICK, C

#32 – BALTIMORE RAVENS
MATT ELAM, DB