DEVELOPING: And The Aggie GA Is Fired

That didn't take long...

In a two-paragraph apology, Texas A&M head football coach Kevin Sumlin has dismissed grad assistant Michael Richardson for his two shots on West Virginia players in yesterday's Liberty Bowl in Memphis:

From George Schroeder's Twitter:

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has permanently dismissed student assistant Michael Richardson for striking WV player. pic.twitter.com/qaxaop3zt9

— George Schroeder (@GeorgeSchroeder) December 30, 2014

For those of you under a rock, here are the two plays that got Richardson in hot water

How Not To Remain A Student Assistant

((HT: ESPN/Football News))

If you're a student assistant for a football program, you're the lowest on the totem pole.

You're the guy that analyzes film at really odd hours
You're the guy that makes index cards for whoever wants them for game planning
You're the guy that makes those really big placards that have the symbols that, supposedly, tell the offense what the next play is

But, you're not the guy that is supposed to do this to West Virginia players during the Liberty Bowl

TWICE!!! Once to corner Daryll Worley and the other to RB Andrew Buie


The Texas A&M assistant, Michael Richardson, was given the football equivalent of being sent to his room- he was told by head coach Kevin Sumlin to remain in the locker room for the second half.

More on the future of Richardson when we know more...

Texas A&M Suspends QB Kenny Hill for 2 Games

((ht: collegefootballtalk.com))

Well, that love affair ended quickly.

Texas A&M announced Saturday morning that very recently demoted quarterback Kenny Hill will be suspended for 2 games after a violation of team rules and athletic department policies.

#aggiefootball #tamu Kenny Hill has been suspended for two games.
— Aggie Sports (@Aggie_Sports) November 1, 2014

#aggiefootball #tamu Kenny Hill has been suspended for two games.
— Aggie Sports (@Aggie_Sports) November 1, 2014

Hill, who after a stellar opening week performance against South Carolina, got his family to try and trademark the name "Trill" Hill, has been considerably less than stellar since that performance. The premature Heisman hype that came after the game has totally disappeared.

Coach Kevin Sumlin promoted true freshman Kyle Allen to take over against Louisiana-Monroe for the reeling Aggies who have lost the past three games and after being in the early season Top-10, has fallen completely out of the rankings.

Ess-E-Cee Recap: Congrats To UK And What Was Bielema Thinking...???

((HT: WLEX-TV/KBTX-TV))

Mark Stoops was able to do something that his successors have not been able to do- actually beat an SEC opponent for the first time in almost 1,100 days...

The Wildcats knocked off Vanderbilt (who are looking to be a really bad football team, by the way) in Lexington- even as a favored program heading into Saturday.

Strangely, fans would like to see the stands at Commonwealth Stadium more-filled than they currently are...
Just ask them...
On the flip side, the HQ would like to know what Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema was thinking in overtime running to the right on a 4th and 2 when he needed a first down to keep the period moving- and your running game was non-existent. You had your chance, Arkansas, and you flat blew it. "A lot of things that caused us to lose this game today came from within our locker room," Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema said postgame. "Our third edge we talk about is playing clean, and that means playing penalty-free. ... The good news is we can correct those things. Our guys did several things throughout the course of the game to get excited about. But obviously, not enough to close it." Here's your local look...

Post Johnny Manziel Era Looks Good For Texas A&M, Aggies Pound Gamecocks 52-28

New Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill not only had Aggie fans forgetting about Johnny Manziel, Hill wipe out Johnny Football from the Aggie record books too.

Hill broke Manziel's school single game passing record throwing for 511 yards as Texas A&M routed South Carolina 52-28 breaking the Gamecocks 18 game home win streak.


Do we start the Kenny Hill Heisman Trophy campaign now?  Please no Kenny Football references.

It was obvious the Texas A&M played with a chip on their shoulder trying to prove that their will be no drop off after Manziel moved on to the NFL.

“You know, basically, nobody gave us a chance to even be close in this game,”Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “All I heard last week was [we’re] two-touchdown [underdogs] and if we could keep it close it would be great.”

“I think what we did tonight showed that really, we’re not a one-trick pony,”Sumlin said. “You know, we are not anywhere near where we want to be – [but] we’re not going anywhere, anytime soon.”

The Aggies put up 680 yards on South Carolina's offense.

"We got manhandled," South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier said. "We got clobbered tonight."

The head ball coach was humbled by the Aggies performance at Columbia.

"That team is so much better than us, it wasn't funny," Spurrier said.

South Carolina fans were a little shell shocked too as this string of sound bites from WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina shows.


wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |
As a post script to Kenny Hill's 511 yards passing he becomes the sixth SEC quarterback to surpass 500 yards.  Here's the list:
Eric Zeier - Georgia
Jared Lorenzen - Kentucky
Rohan Davey - LSU
Peyton Manning - Tennessee
Tyler Wilson - Arkansas
Kenny Hill - Texas A&M

Coach O, Fight On! USC Knocks Off Stanford

((HT: ESPN on ABC/USC Athletics))

The debate may really pick up now...

Has Ed Orgeron earned the removal of the word "interim" off his coaching position at Southern Cal...???

This might be the proof...


FOSG Lindsey Thiry was in the locker room and collected these quotes from the roster via her Twitter:

We want to run through a brick wall for Coach Orgeron. -Hayes Pullard

I speak for the whole team and we absolutely love Coach O. -Cody Kessler

Clay Travis thinks the top two for the job should be Kevin Sumlin and James Franklin...

The HQ isn't all that hot about either and, in talking to those who are buying tickets these days, they like Orgeron...

Should be an interesting tug of war...

Interesting sidebar via Lisa Horne and her Twitter:

Per KABC, two people had cardiac arrests on the USC field and 1 person suffered a broken leg

Coach O is causing hearts to go a-flutter...

Johnny "B" Good, 'Bama Be Better 49-42

In the most anticipated college football game in the history of the universe Alabama marched into College Station, Texas and left with a win 49-42.

Here's the highlights from WVTM-TV.


WVTM-TV: News, Weather, and Sports for Birmingham, AL

 Johnny Manziel's numbers, 28/39 for 464 yards, five touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

Texas A&M let Johnny Football talk to the media.




"Well he played Johnny-like, that’s about the way to put it."  Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said.  "He scrambled around and made some plays but he also stayed in the pocket and remained efficient."

DEVELOPING: Manziel Suspended For First Half Vs. Rice (UPDATED w/NCAA Response)

((HT: ESPN/McMurphy))

Well, is this the beginning or just the beginning of the end...???

Brett McMurphy is reporting that JFF is suspended for the first half of the Rice matchup...

In an agreement between the NCAA and Texas A&M, the NCAA has acknowledged Manziel did not receive money for signing autographs.

However, after not discussing the matter Tuesday, In the Ess-E-Cee teleconference Wednesday, TAMU head coach Kevin Sumlin ungagged the school-mandated gag order and talked about how his QB has dealt with everything in the off-season...

"Johnny's handled it very well," Sumlin said. "Everything around football, he's been extremely sharp and focused."

The HQ would like to remind everyone of the following 2 words: "Plausible deniability..."

Here's your flashback involving Jack Ford talking with Tim Brando about JFF...
((HT: CBS Sports))


More when we know more...

From the NCAA their own selves...

Texas A&M University and the NCAA confirmed today that there is no evidence that quarterback Johnny Manziel received money in exchange for autographs, based on currently available information and statements by Manziel. Due to an inadvertent violation regarding the signing of certain autographs, Texas A&M declared Manziel ineligible and submitted the following conditions for reinstatement to the NCAA:

A one-half game suspension for Manziel

Manziel will address the team regarding the situation and lessons learned

Texas A&M will revise its future education concerning student-athlete autographs for individuals with multiple items

Based on the information submitted by the university, the NCAA accepted the conditions as put forward by Texas A&M. If additional information comes to light, the NCAA will review and consider if further action is appropriate.

NCAA rules are clear that student-athletes may not accept money for items they sign and based on information provided by Manziel, that did not happen in this case.

Manziel Questioned By NCAA, Both Sides Full Steam Ahead...

((HT: Feldman/CBS Sports))

Time for everyone to quote Bruce Feldman...

Johnny Manziel met with the NCAA on Sunday and denied allegations he took money for signing autographs- and pretty much denied everything...

For five and a half hours... and the focus was his financial records...

"The focus of our coaches and student athletes is solely on preparing for Rice this Saturday, and in the best interests of Texas A&M and the 100-plus student-athletes on the team, I have instructed Coach Sumlin, his staff and our student-athletes to refrain from commenting on or answering questions regarding the status of our starting quarterback, Johnny Manziel," athletic director Eric Hyman said in a prepared statement.

But that hasn't stopped anyone from talking about Manziel as the starter this weekend against Rice...

Here's Feldman on "The Dan Patrick Show"
((HT: Dan Patrick Show their own selves))

2 TAMU Starters Accused In April Beating, One Arrested

((HT: KBTX-TV))

According to a police report out of College Station, Texas two victims and witnesses told local police that there had been an altercation at a place called the "Hookah Station" on April 7 when two Texas A&M starters Floyd Raven, Senior (mugshot off to the right, thanks to the Brazos County Sheriff's Department) and Deshazor

Everett had been spraying champagne- angering another group of patrons.

Raven and Everett have been charged with two counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief for an incident after the initial contact where the victims returned to their apartment complex and were pulled out of their own car by a large group of people that included the two football players.

Police interviewed the two players who later claimed that "eight to ten unknown men" joined them.

Everett told police he came face-to-face with one of the victims in the melee, but he claims that someone else punched that particular person and knocked him down.

Raven, when interviewed, said a person he "had problems with" at the bar threw a punch and missed. Raven told police he followed up with two punches and knocked the man down. Raven was jailed late Monday morning with bond set at $4,000 for each of the three charges he faces. Everett had not been arrested as of early Monday afternoon.

One of the victims said there was nearly $1,400 in damage done to his SUV.

You might remember Everett for doing this last season...
((HT: SEC Digital Network))


"The Hookah Station...?"
Really...???

Report: Johnny Manziel Considered Transfer and Was Suspended

((ht: collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com))

Is anyone else growing weary of the persistent whining...and smack talk coming from reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel?

Just days after a briefly posted Tweet stating "I can't wait to leave College Station", comes a report in the Dallas Morning News that (a) Manziel was initially suspended by Texas A&M for the 2012 season and (b) would have transferred had not that suspension been overturned.

Manziel's suspension was apparently based around his June 2012 arrest for fighting and possession of fake ID's. That suspension came from the school, not from the football team. The school later reconsidered.

Read the entire story from the Dallas Morning News RIGHT HERE

As for the Twitter comment, Manziel is saying it was a response to getting a parking ticket.



Stop whining Johnny.

It's been interesting watching the change in attitude coming from College Station after last years successes. Between Manziel getting in trouble every month or so for Tweeting something he shouldn't and the school's athletic director running smack on Alabama and Nick Saban, they are not doing a lot in the "Win friends and influence people" category.

It will be interesting to see how the backlash begins...or more specifically when.

How Fired Is Gene Chizik Now...??? 63 Points Worth Of Fired...

((HT: al.com/McAllister))

The HQ would say "pretty fired," but under the auspice of it not happening until December 1st when the buyout drops $2.5-million to $7.5-million from the astronomically, ungodly number $10-million.

Unless, of course, Charles Barkley has some poker money laying around to cut the check RAHT NAH!

The level of #Chizitude has reached 11 on the Plains...
Why 11...???


Let's see what the Auburn Tigers did this week against Texas A&M (or, more accurately didn't do against the Aggies)in losing 63-21...

A&M scored on their first 6 possessions, had four scores before Auburn had a "first down," rolled up the most yards against any Auburn team ever (671), was only five points shy of giving the Tigers their worst beating ever (68 by Georgia Tech in 1917), and gave them their worst home beating ever (previous margin 42 points).

And Chizik is not worried about his job security...

The reason he's not worried...???
Probably, because there is no job security at present...

Wonder who starts against New Mexico State next weekend...???

Shootout In Shreveport, Texas A&M Survives La. Tech 59-57

Louisiana Tech wanted to prove they could stand toe to toe with an SEC school and the Bulldogs did.  It’s just the Texas A&M Aggies were just a little better.

For one thing Texas A&M has already made its mark in the SEC record book.  Aggie quarterback Johnny Manziel broke his own school and Southeastern Conference record for total offense with 576 total yards.

Manziel passed for 395 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for a career-high 181 yards and three touchdowns.   His 72 yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter was a thing of beauty and sealed the win for the Aggies.

"He is a very special player," Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes said. “We had a hard time adjusting to his speed early in the game. I thought our guys got more settled in and made some adjustments and made some plays in the second half. We just couldn't stop him in critical situations. That's what good players do, they make plays."

Check out the highlights from Shreveport.  (Thanks KBTX-TV, Bryan – College Station, TX)

Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin was happy to escape Shreveport with a win.  (Thanks 12thmanTV)

Next Saturday we will see if Texas A&M will be a player in the race for the SEC West title.  LSU comes to College Station renewing that rivalry.  Then its three straight road games at Auburn, at Mississippi State then at Alabama. 

I believe that might qualify as a brutal stretch of road games.

It sure doesn't look like Kevin Sumlin

Ooops

((ht: @markschlabach))

Quick hitter here.

Take a look at this photo currently making the rounds on Twitter.

It's from an unnamed newspaper in the state of Texas. And...according to the caption, is supposed to be a photo of Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin at today's SEC Media Days.

Only it's not.

For the record, it's Ivan Maisel of ESPN who bears absolutely no resemblence to Sumlin.

And in deference to the Newspaper Editor who approved the photo, it apparently came from the Associated Press...who definitely knows better.

**UPDATE**--Apparently the photo was cropped. Sumlin is actually out of the frame, screen left. Somebody got a little carried away with the ol' photoshop software it appears.

Ess-E-Cee Media Day One: Spurrier Goes Funny...Everyone Else Survives...

((HT: WLTX-TV Columbia))

The OBC was in rare form on Day One of Ess-E-Cee Media Days in Birmingham-slash-Hoover...

"If I made the schedule, Georgia would be playing LSU and we'd be playing Ole Miss," Spurrier said.

Spurrier later apologized to Ole Miss...

Here's Spurrier at the Wynfrey Hotel's version of the Chuckle Hut...
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel stood there at the same podium and said there's a perception that "we play a bunch of high school teams." He says the Tigers know they have to earn respect in the SEC. Pinkel says Missouri fans have gone beyond excitement over playing in the SEC and "have become fanatical about it." Good luck with that one, coach... Vandy head coach had one thought for prospective recruits: "If you're truly the best and the brightest where else would you go?" Franklin led the Commodores to six wins and their second bowl appearance since 1982 in his first year at the helm... The HQ is thinking 5-7 ourselves, losing to Wake Forest on the last game of the year... Texas A&M has a new coach in Kevin Sumlin and he's ready to play in a damn, tough conference... ((HT: KBTX-TV Bryan/College Station)) But Missouri wide receiver T.J. Moe was the quote machine for the day: "It's like a zoo around here. Look at you guys. There's 1,100 media members here, I'm wearing a suit and tie for some reason, and I got escorted to an elevator by security when I got off the bus here. There were 15 people waiting for an autograph, so it's just different. It's way cooler here."
They're just lucky that they may not be around tomorrow...
That's when Alabama speaks and the world rotates off-kilter...

Coaching Carousel: Sumlin leaves Houston for Texas A&M

((ht: chron.com))

Kevin Sumlin

And the carousel keeps spinning.

Texas A&M has found their coach to lead them into their first season of SEC football.

That coach is now former Houston coach Kevin Sumlin.

Sumlin will take over the Aggie program after 4-years of leading the Cougars to 35 wins. In that time, the enhanced their reputation as one of the premier offensive programs in the NCAA.

There was a buzz on Friday that A&M was trying to woo Georgia coach Mark Richt, a rumor that we never believed. 

Sumlin takes over a program that struggle under former coach Mike Sherman after going 6-6 this past season. Sherman was informed that he lost his job via Twitter. A&M has not announced a press conference yet, it is assumed that will take place on Monday.