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TexasTech.com| Texas A&M Football 2012: 1 Good Reason Why the Aggies Can Beat Every Opponent 22 Feb 2012 at 2:09am As Texas A&M heads into their inaugural season with their new conference, the SEC, many a critic is waiting for the Aggies to fall, and fall hard. Ranging from ESPN analysts to the local Texas media, you would be hard-pressed to find someone outside Aggieland or their new home who doesn't lust for A&M to fail.While the SEC is easily considered the best football power in the nation, the Aggies program is no pushover either. After letting former head coach Mike Sherman go after a disappointing 6-6 season, athletic director Bill Byrne and his search committee concluded that Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin was right the man to take over at A&M.The offensive-minded Sumlin may be a change for the defensive-heavy SEC, but could possibly be a solid advantage for an Aggie team that more than needs it considering who they'll be facing in the upcoming season.While it may be a stretch to believe that A&M has any chance at an undefeated record, particularly when both national title contenders from last year play in their same division, anything is possible. The game of football is the most volatile and unpredictable in the world, allowing me some leeway when I say that the Aggies have a shot at going 12-0 next season.We take a look at every game on Texas A&M's schedule and analyze how a miracle year might just be within the realm of possibilities for the Aggies. Begin Slideshow [From Bleacher Report - Big 12 Football] Missouri Tigers to Get New Uniforms, Helmet Design from Nike 21 Feb 2012 at 10:53pm The old-schoolers of Missouri are not going to like this one.The block style "M," the one for which many alumni believe Missouri as a university is known for sports-wise, will be removed from the helmets for the 2012 season.It had been rumored for some time that a change was going to be made, and it was confirmed early this week by Missouri athletics director Mike Alden in a letter released on Missouri's website."There will be changes and the look will focus much more on our logo than the 'block M,'" Alden said in his letter.It is worth noting that the helmets available on a Google image download search are not the actual new helmets; they are simply someone's edited images. Nike is being extremely secretive about the designs.This new look, which will be unveiled at the Tigers' annual "Black & Gold" spring game, is the latest of Nike's next-generation style of uniforms.Many other announcements of major changes were made by Alden as well.The band will now be seated at the southeast end of the stands on the student side to allow sound to travel better to everyone in the stadium and create additional seating.Also, although no specific plans are given, Alden alludes to the fact that maintaining facilities will be key in the future of the athletics department, and said, "You will see us introducing our next phase of capital improvements in the near future, and the costs associated with those will be well worth the investment."And Alden discussed the football schedule and is open about the progress, stating Missouri has one more game to finalize and the 2012 football schedule will be complete.Missouri will formally be a part of the Southeastern Conference beginning July 1.Read more Big 12 Football news on BleacherReport.com [From Bleacher Report - Big 12 Football] Has Bob Stoops Spoiled Oklahoma Football Fans? 21 Feb 2012 at 10:19am In just his second year as the head football coach at Oklahoma, Bob Stoops turned the program around and won a national championship.Many Sooner fans either forget or were not old enough to remember just how bad the program had gotten post-Barry Switzer.In the five seasons preceding Stoops, the program did not record a single winning season. Since his arrival, not only has he built a winning team every year, he has ten 10-win seasons. Six of his 13 years as head coach, he has 12+ wins.Think about that stat line for a moment. Nearly half of the 13 seasons Bob Stoops has coached at Oklahoma have produced at least 12 wins.You have to go all the way back to the 1987 season to find the last time the Sooners had at least 10 wins. Stoops has had 10 wins in all but three years.Stoops also has seven Big 12 titles and four national championship game appearances to his name.So I ask, has Bob Stoops spoiled Sooner nation?To fully explore this, I feel there needs to be a bit of comparison to other top football programs in the land to see how they stack up.During Stoops' 13 years at Oklahoma, only three programs have won more national championships—Alabama, LSU, and Florida with two apiece.Now let's compare these schools with Oklahoma over the past 13 years and see how they stack up statistically. Florida: Eight 10-win seasons and three 12+ win seasons. LSU: Seven 10-win seasons and three 12+ win seasons. Alabama: Seven 10-win seasons and three 12+ win seasons (with three losing seasons sprinkled in). With those stats in mind, lets take a look at total wins over the past 13 years.Oklahoma: 139Florida: 129LSU: 125Alabama: 111Looking at these stats alone would have any other fanbase dying to be in the Sooners' place since the turn of the century. Yet, for some reason, Sooner fans always want and expect more.I must admit, these stats blew me away. I have been as hard on Bob Stoops and the program as a whole as anyone, but even I can't ignore how impressive Stoops has been.Stacked up against three of the top powerhouse programs from the past decade, Stoops takes the cake in every area outside national championships.Now, granted, I realize that the other three schools mentioned are all part of the SEC and most would agree the best conference in college football. Being all part of the same conference has them beating up on each other over the past 13 years and thus lowering their potential win totals.That may be true, but the numbers Stoops has put up are still quite impressive regardless. The Big 12 is arguably the second best conference in the nation. We're not talking about dominating the ACC or Big East here.Stoops has been under fire in recent years for not being able to win the big one, but I think it's time Sooner fans put things into a bit of perspective and appreciate the tradition Stoops has brought back to the university.Is it realistic to expect a national championship once a decade? Is that even fair considering all the other powerhouse programs with huge fanbases as well?Time will tell if Bob can pull off another title run, but even if he doesn't, I'll always appreciate the job he did returning Sooner football back to prominence where it belongs.Read more Big 12 Football news on BleacherReport.com [From Bleacher Report - Big 12 Football] NFL Draft: Why Robert Griffin III Is Better Than Andrew Luck 21 Feb 2012 at 2:11am We all know Andrew Luck is good. Every football fan knows Andrew Luck is good.But does America know how good Robert Griffin III is?Let us take a look at Luck and Griffin's statistics during the previous two years.In virtually all categories during their latest collegiate year, their statistics are extremely close. However, there are a few important things to note. Griffin threw six less turnovers during those two years. Luck had a much more impressive year in 2010, and because Luck had a spectacular red-shirt sophomore year — he gets an instant boost of consistency.However, Griffin was a more accurate passer in his last collegiate year, which is an important skill to have in the NFL. I will give Luck the advantage in the passing game, but only because he is consistent. He had back-to-back pro-caliber years. Don't give Luck too much credit. Griffin is very close behind.The major difference maker is Griffin's explosiveness in the running game. Being an agile quarterback can make one successful in the NFL. The ability to evade a sack can give a quarterback a few extra critical seconds to make a good throw.Griffin is no Atlanta Falcons-era Michael Vick. But, he can add a dangerous offensive alternative to any team — instantly.Luck does have a much more prototypical style. His throwing motion is incredible. He will make big throws, every game. Don't expect him to ever shy away from a pressure situation. He has the guts to take the reigns in those crucial moments and deliver.Griffin is a lot more like Cam Newton than people realize. He will throw off of his back foot occasionally. He does air out a lot of his throws, meaning he will have trouble with NFL secondaries. He also has a Heisman Trophy, but that is beside the point.Griffin is more explosive. And as a defensive player I would be more worried about Griffin because he is a dual-threat quarterback. If a team's passing game is struggling, a dual-threat quarterback can lift a team to victory — especially if he is equally dangerous as both a runner and passer.A perfect example of what a stellar dual-threat quarterback can be is Cam Newton. I imagine Griffin having a first year similar to Newton's.I imagine Luck being somewhat of a toss-up. Griffin has the extra element in his game that will lift a team to those tough victories. Luck is just going to throw the ball. He might run out of the pocket, if the situation is dire. But, an NFL defense can handle any dual-threat ability Luck can muster.I am not saying Luck is not as good as Griffin. Luck is going to be a good NFL quarterback. There is no doubt in my mind that he will have a successful career.I am saying, if I have the first pick in this year's NFL draft, I would pick Griffin first—without hesitation.Read more Big 12 Football news on BleacherReport.com [From Bleacher Report - Big 12 Football] Oklahoma State Football 2012: 1 Good Reason Why Cowboys Can Beat Every Opponent 20 Feb 2012 at 10:29pm Despite losing a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, the Oklahoma State Cowboys have rebounded in recruiting and appear poised to make noise in the Big 12 conference in the upcoming season.In 2011, the Cowboys proved they were a program that had the capabilities of putting on a national championship run. In 2012, they'll be out to prove they have the staying power to annually compete for such lofty goals.Here's are reasons why they could beat each and every team on their 2012 schedule.Begin Slideshow [From Bleacher Report - Big 12 Football] Missouri Tigers Football: Do They Belong in the SEC? 20 Feb 2012 at 2:17pm On July 1st, the Missouri Tigers will formally join the Southeastern Conference, ending what will have been a a 105-year stand with the conference originally known as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association.You can debate about why they're leaving, or whose fault it is, all day. Depending who you ask, it could be anyone. Whether it was a school, TV network, underground agreement...it doesn't really matter at this point, because it's happening.But with a solid tradition of SEC football that might as well be a religious experience anywhere you want to watch a game in the south, do the Missouri Tigers bring that much to the table in terms of tradition, competition and the ability to win?We examine five cons and five pros of Mizzou football—starting with the bad.Begin Slideshow [From Bleacher Report - Big 12 Football] Big 12 three-pointers | Taking a Page from Ford's book 20 Feb 2012 at 5:00am Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford hears those who want to compare him to Keiton Page, and he puts up a warning sign. [From Kansas City Star: Big 12 Conference] Oklahoma Football: 20 Best Defensive Players in School History 19 Feb 2012 at 10:45pm Given Oklahoma's high-flying, record-setting offenses over the past decade, the word "Sooner" has become synonymous with "offense." Considering the statues piling up in Heisman Park outside Memorial Stadium, the comparison is widely recognized.It is defense, however, that has brought seven national championships to Norman—defenses led by some of the most ferocious humans to ever strap on a helmet. Bud Wilkinson had a succession of suffocating units during his NCAA-record 47-game winning streak, Barry Switzer commanded some of the greatest defensive players in history during his tenure in Norman and Bob Stoops won his national championship in 2000 with what is considered one of the best single-game defensive performances of all time.Let's take a look back at the top 20 defensive studs to ever wear the crimson and creme.Begin Slideshow [From Bleacher Report - Big 12 Football] Texas A&M Recruiting: Junior Day Results in Multiple Commitments for the Ags 19 Feb 2012 at 10:23pm The Texas A&M football coaches held their second junior day recruiting event on Saturday and it was a smashing success. Kevin Sumlin and his staff continue to make their mark on the recruiting trail. According to Rivals.com, the Ags added six new commitments to the 2013 class.In order to prevail in the Southeastern Conference you have to win the battle in the trenches. The Aggies had a great start to their recruiting class by securing commitments from defensive tackles Isaiah Golden and Kerrick Huggens after the first junior day.The Ags received commitments on the opposite side of the line on Saturday. Joas Aguilar from Birdville High School and Ishmael Wilson from Dallas Bishop Dunne High School both gave verbal pledges to A&M.Wilson was well known in recruiting circles and most thought he would follow his high school teammate Alex Norman to Austin. He committed to the Ags on Saturday and gave David Beaty another win on the recruiting trail in the DFW area.Aguilar is a virtual unknown and comes with none of the hype that Wilson had. Watch his highlight video and it quickly becomes apparent why the Aggies offered him. Aguilar's power and willingness to finish blocks jumps off the screen at you.The Ags shored up the running back position with commits from James White and Johny Jefferson. White has great power and speed and at 6'0" 190 lbs, he should be ready to contribute in the SEC immediately.Jefferson is not quite as developed as White as he needs to improve on his speed. It is hard to judge players before their senior season plays out, but right now, Jefferson looks like a good candidate for a redshirt.The Aggies also received two commitments at safety. Victor Davis from Rosenberg Terry High School and Jonathan Wiggins from Alief Taylor both verbally committed to A&M.The Aggies need help at the position after losing commitments from Corey Thompson and Collin Blake late in the 2012 class. Wiggins and Davis have the size needed at safety to compete in the run-dominated SEC.The Aggies had disappointing returns in the 2012 class when it came to recruiting pure DTs, safeties and linebackers. Kevin Sumlin and his staff have already addressed needs on the DL and at safety, but they need to find some linebackers who can make an impact in the SEC.Aggie fans should still be ecstatic about the 2012 class right now. With 12 commitments the Ags are halfway through recruiting for their 2013 class and it is only February.Read more Big 12 Football news on BleacherReport.com [From Bleacher Report - Big 12 Football] 5-Star QB Tyrone Swoopes Commits to Texas: How Big Is This for the Longhorns? 19 Feb 2012 at 4:02pm Texas received a big-time pledge this weekend from Tyrone Swoopes, a talented QB prospect from the Lone Star State. Swoopes is great prospect and has a high ceiling.Mack Brown usually does a fantastic job of nabbing early commitments during this phase of recruiting, as Texas is one of the premier programs at getting a jump on early recruiting.Come inside and see what this 5-star commitment means for Texas.Begin Slideshow [From Bleacher Report - Big 12 Football] |