Hey Guys, Up front let me say I am one of the honored select few that can say they are a Tide and Aggie fan. I am a Former Student of Texas A&M University and have an open minded view of the whole thing.
The "Fran Thing"
Do you not think for one moment, that the Aggies did not have the same punch in the gut feeling when The Bear left for The University of Alabama? How about the HornFrogs? But that was okay in your mind? As long as it happens to someone else it is okay. It is college football. It is not right, but it is what it is.
"Deep Pocket Alum"
Dont talk about low class deep pocket alum as if A&M is the only University with that group. Both of our fine universities have this group. I think, no check that, I know this group is what got A&M into its troubles in the late 80's early 90's and I bet this group has something to do with University of Alabamas problems today.
"Hecklers"
Come on! University of Alabama fans never heckle? In general, heckling is just plain juvenile. But for some reason heckling and baseball go hand in hand. At A&M baseball games only, heckling has become a sport of its own. At all other athletic venues, you will not even hear a BOO. Not allowed. A group at baseball games known as the Raggies do a pretty good job of heckling. They do tons of research and get information on individual players/coaches and incorporate that into their "shtick". Nothing mean spirited, they get pretty damn creative in fact. Word of advice, Do Not Allow Your Cellphones to Ring during the game! Unless you want to become part of the fun. For those of you traveling to College Station this weekend, you will experience a fun mannered heckling. Trust me, if you have any sense of humor, you will at minimum get a chuckle out of it. I promise. For those of you that travel to College Station if you experience anything less than a complete enjoyable time, I would be shocked. Hell, even the hated sips enjoy the trips to Olsen. (I tried to find a thread on the sipsite that was expressing the fun and great experiences from the last series with the Horns but my computer skills are lacking.)
Anyway my .02 cents worth. Fran skrewed up, Alabama got left in a lurch. But Fran nor the "blue collar fan/alum" didnt cause the problems. Hell neither of the 2 could fix them. Not overnight. No denying, A&M is the benefactor of a great football mind/talent. As a Former Student of Texas A&M University I would be scared to death if you guys were "happy" that Fran left. Hell, Fran might leave A&M tommorrow. Who knows. But in the cases of both fine Universities, the University is much larger than the athletic programs. I try to pride myself in recognizing all the other pleasures that being a fan of both Universities brings to me above and beyond athletics. Trust me, I owe a ton to Texas A&M University and also the Aggie Family. Without either, I would not have many of the life pleasures I experience each and every day. None of these have a damn thing to do with what goes on in an athletic event.
Pick any Alabama fan and I will show you an identical Aggie Fan. We all have great fans and we all have sh*thead fans. Just the great fans seem to be less vocal and the sh*thead fans are heard more.
Rolltide & Gig'em '89
