← Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
TexAgs Live - Aaron Wallace Sr + Armani Watts : 08.07.26
00:44:25
Sack King of Aggieland and current coahc of Dallas Roosevelt Mustangs Aaron Wallace joins the show as he looks back at his career with Texas A&M, talks about how the Aggies were so dominant back in his time and more + who is Navid Duño?
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- [00:00]
A
We're back here on Tech Sacks Live. We're presented by David Gardner's jewelers Rollo Insurance Studio. We're going to go to the Bupes Catering bartending hotline because our next guest is one of the greatest defensive players ever at Texas A and M. Still owns the all time sack record with 42 sacks. Our guest is Aaron Wallace. Aaron, what's up, man? How you been?
- [00:16]
B
I'm good. How y' all doing this morning?
- [00:18]
A
Doing wonderful, man. So let's talk about this newest accomplishment in your life, getting your master's degree in sports management. From here, Texas A and M. Congratulations. Is that this weekend?
- [00:29]
B
Yes, it's this weekend. It's funny how the whole story started. I had talked with John Thornton, like every year at coaching school, and he kept talking about the program and I kept telling him I was gonna do it. So I ended up going back downtown to be an athletic director in Dallas isd. And I had the time, so I went on back and finished it up and I'll get the degree this Saturday.
- [00:58]
A
Now, how does that work? How long did it take you and was it challenging? Or maybe. I tend to think, Aaron, I could be wrong here. Like, I'm not 18 to 22 anymore, and I didn't really study well back then. I feel like I could study better now, but life happens. So, like, how was it for you?
- [01:14]
B
It's about like you just said. I mean, it was. It was very challenging because I hadn't been in school in years and the technology and all the different stuff. Stuff they have now, you know, it just. It was very. It was very challenging. But, you know, if I set my sign, set my mind to something, I like to accomplish it. And that was one of the things I wanted to do. I mean, I'm at that age right now. I'll probably be retiring pretty soon anyway. But, you know, it was just something I wanted to do, and I felt that it would make me better at what I do right now. So I just took the time to do it because I had it, you know.
- [01:48]
A
So catch us up. What are you doing these days, and how can this make you better at what you're doing?
- [01:54]
B
Like I said, I'm assistant athletic director for Dallas ISD. We have like 22 high schools, 32 middle schools. We kind of divide the schools up, but we still work all together on making everything happen. And, you know, as a player, you're used to doing the stuff on the field. As a coach, you used to taking care of a lot of the on the field. Stuff, but now I'm in a position where I'm doing more all the stuff behind the scenes, you know, like getting the workers and different stuff like that. So it's just. It's really. It really helped me a lot as far as organization, as far as working with people with different learning styles, different management styles, you know, stuff like that. It was really a good program, and I wish a lot of more guys would get involved with it.
- [02:38]
A
Aaron, what challenged you most? I mean, you're going through college, NFL career, you know, your athletic director background, or maybe this current thing that you're finishing up.
- [02:51]
B
I think it was all challenging. I mean, you know, I came to. I came to A and M from Roosevelt in Dallas, you know, back then, and it was a different place than what it is right now. I went to the pros, you know, that's challenging. Every year somebody's trying to take your job. I did high school coaching. I was fortunate enough to be on some good teams and some bad teams. So just right now, as an athletic director, we're having a lot of success in Dallas. I think we had, like, probably five or six state. Well, I think it was five state championships last year. Two last year. Two state championships last year. So that makes it a lot better when you win and you saying the kids have success. And, you know, I don't coach at any of those schools, but I do a little part in all of them, wherever, you know, they need the help.
- [03:40]
A
Aaron, do these kids know your story? Like, I mean, you don't strike me as somebody who likes to talk about it, but, like, they gotta Google you every once in a while and see the kind of beautiful career that you had.
- [03:52]
B
You know, when I was coaching, the kids knew my story, but as an athletic director, I'm just. I'm not as involved with the kids. So when they see me come around, you know, they just kind of, you know, I kind of stand back and let the coaches do what they do. But I have some coaches that do ask me to come and speak to the kids and stuff like that. So that's kind of cool.
- [04:12]
A
Let's kind of go back to. As you're deciding on your future as a high school student. What made A and M the place that fit for your future?
- [04:22]
B
Well, back then I got the A and M, and it was like a really. Just a culture shock from where I came from. You know, it was real different back then. A lot of cowboy hats and wranglers and, you know, I was like, what have I got myself into? But as Far as getting on the field and playing, it was just a great fit for me because we had Jackie, Sheryl, we had Davies and all that RC Slocum, you know, calling the defense, and it was just a great fit for me. So, I mean, like, my freshman year, I think I had 10 sacks probably my freshman year. So I was very happy on the field as far as just playing and off the field, you know, it was good, too, but I was just happy that I got into a system that could utilize my talent.
- [05:08]
A
Can you kind of describe to our audience that maybe who didn't get to see it happen, what it was to be an A and M football player in your day? Because, like, Kyle Field was an impossible place to come win at. It was. The defense was ridiculous. Like, it was. There was an aura to that era of A and M football.
- [05:29]
B
The aura was we were just. We were just different. I mean, it was a lot of guys. And I think we did an outstanding job of recruiting back then because we brought in some guys from Houston, guys from Dallas. Jackie Sherlo did an outstanding job, and just putting all these guys together, and everybody had like a. Like a likewise attitude. We had a quarterback and Kevin Murray that was just. You know, he had been to the pros in baseball, and he was just one of those guys that was a natural leader. And then you just fall in line with the guys that he had around him, and everybody just kind of played together. Didn't nobody want to be the weak link. So every week, everybody just went out and played hard and made plays.
- [06:11]
A
Talk to me about RC what stands out about him as a person, as a leader, and just what he means to that, to everybody who's played for
- [06:18]
B
him, not only in the beginning when he had us, but when he got the pieces that we had. And you had me on one side, you had Rope on the other side, you had Chet Brooks, and all that came together to be the Wrecking Crew. So it was just a lot of talented guys, and he put them in a position. He put us in a position to succeed, and that's what we did. We went out and competed every week. It wasn't any lull in what we did. I mean, every week we were prepared. We went out and we won games. That's basically it.
- [06:51]
A
When you think about your record of 42 career sacks and it's still here with us, what do you think about that kind of accomplishment? When you look back at what you did and how it still stands the test of time,
- [07:05]
B
now that I look back on it I realize how great it was, but when I was doing it, it was just something I did. I mean, I could get to the quarterback. That's what I love to do. I mean, I grew up watching pass rushes like two Tal Jones and Harvey Martin with the Cowboys, and I just, you know, that was just something I love to do. And as I look back on it now and I see Von Miller, I see Garrett, and I see, you know, the rest of the patch. Russ, it's just a great thing to know that I still have that record that probably the way they move now, they probably won't get broken for a while. So, you know, it's just something that I can tell my kids about, tell my friends about. I'm still. I'm still real proud of it.
- [07:44]
A
Well, so what do you think about the current era of college football? You got nil. You've got all the movement. We'll see what the future holds with that. But just overall, like, you played in a completely different day. It's like night and day, the styles off the field that we see now and really on the field, too.
- [08:01]
B
I wish I was playing right now. Maybe I have some of that money these guys are getting, but right now I'm split on it. I mean, I like to see the kids getting paid. I don't like the movement. I mean, when kids can go just play somewhere every year because you don't get that familiarity with the kid and, you know, get to be a fan of the kid because they might be gone next year. I think that takes away a lot from the college game. But then at the bottom, the bottom line is it's business. So until. Until the NCAA or somebody does something about it, it's just going to be like that.
- [08:39]
A
Aaron, you talked about how different College Station was when you came in the 80s. When's the last time you came by? And what do you think about what this community's become? It's, you know, I'll put some words in your mouth, but it's like a. It's a real city now.
- [08:53]
B
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. That's a lot different. My daughter just graduated from there probably about what, three, three or four years ago, once or twice a year and go to games or whatever, but it's. It's completely different places. A lot of those places on the other side of the track with the country when I was out there now, houses and city, you know, just city all over now. So I'm glad. I'm glad to see it, you know, functioning and getting better and every and everything that's coming together down there. I mean, it's. It's fun to see that it's not just sleepy little country town anymore. It's getting into a big city.
- [09:30]
A
What do you think about the job Coach Elko has done here in a couple years?
- [09:34]
B
I've been. I'm a great fan of him. I haven't met him. I go to coaching school. I go to coach at kickoff every year. But I hadn't had a chance to meet him yet. But I think he's doing an excellent job. I mean, last year, it was exciting. I mean, I guess it was, what a South Carolina game. When they came back, they doing some exciting things down there, and I just wanted to keep on seeing them get better. I was kind of disappointed at the end, though, that we couldn't come on through and get into that championship, but it was fun to watch. To watch him and the team just compete every week.
- [10:09]
A
Do you remember what your record was against Texas?
- [10:13]
B
Never lost to Texas. I'm one of those. That group that I came. My class, we never lost to Texas, so it was pretty much just a run back then. But we had fun. Some enjoyable games. We came out and we played, and. I don't know, it's just something about going to A and M and playing Texas. I love the bragging rights. I love to say that, you know, we basically. We kick y' all butt, you know, so it was pretty fun back then.
- [10:44]
A
Aaron, I may have a different memory, but I feel like in the 80s, in the early 90s, you saw more A and M gear than anything else. Right? Like this. This was an A and M was the football program in the state.
- [10:58]
B
Right. Well, that was all because, like I said, it was all because of what we were doing in the Wrecking Crew, and all that stuff was. That stuff was long. Even after I retired and came back, you know, after I retired from the NFL, I came back and got my first degree. So I was out of school, like, 10 years and came back to A and M, and they were still talking about the Wrecking Crew. So even today, they still talk about the Wrecking Crew. So we said something that was gonna. That has last, you know, through time. You know, it's just A and M gear. If I wear it right now, I get stopped. I was at the pga. I live out in Frisco. I was at the pga. I had on some A and M stuff and ended up. The bartender ended up being Aggie, and we ended up talking and having fun and, you know, just reminisc and on that time, it's just, it's timeless basically. I mean what we did is put in, I think we put in had a lot to do with putting A and M on the map.
- [11:56]
A
Well, Aaron, what do you think about not only Kochoko, but the fact you got a defensive minded guy leading the troops now, a couple offensive guys in the past. But when I think about A and M's glory days, I think about a tough wrecking crew defense and I think that's what coach Elkolu is instilling in this program. Again,
- [12:15]
B
like I said, you know, it comes to the attitude and I think a lot of that has to do with the, the way these guys are moving around and stuff too. I mean we play, we all played together for a long time, so we were, we were cohesive. We knew what each other was doing on every play. You know, I knew if I had to, if we didn't get to the quarterback, I expected Chip and the guys on the back end to make plays, you know, and basically they knew if they could have covered they guys for two or three seconds, either me or Roper were going to get to the quarterback. And I think that had a lot to do with our chemistry and us being, us playing together. Now if he could, if we could find a way to do that today and get these guys on the same page and you know, you know what the other guy's doing, you know what plays you got to make, I think it'll be fine. I think we've been doing a good job. I think it was Sorensen and those guys. I think they've been doing a good job of getting, getting to the quarterback and making things happen. So if these coaches can find a way to get that type of attitude and these guys, they're just going to play together for a year or two, then I know it's hard, but if you can do it, then you'll be successful.
- [13:23]
A
Aaron, how much did A and M prepare you for the NFL?
- [13:30]
B
I would say it was a lot. I mean, when I went to the NFL my first year, I got, I got like nine sacks. I made the whole rookie team and stuff like that. And that was just from doing the stuff that I did. But as I got to the NFL, I was kind of that in between guy. You know, they call them the edges now basically. Back then I don't even think they really know. To me in the system I was in, they didn't really know what, what to do with us, you know, because they wanted me, because I ran a 4, 4, 4, 4, 4,. And they wanted me to cover receivers and do all this stuff on the back end when I like Russ and the passer. So I think at that time I was prepared for the NFL. I just think that sometimes the schemes of the defensive I was playing, playing with, I wasn't happy with, basically, so. But in the end I ended up playing nine years, so it's good. So I'm. I enjoy my time there.
- [14:31]
A
Your time with Bo Jackson didn't cross, right? You guys didn't play together at the same time, did you?
- [14:35]
B
Yeah, I played with. I played with Bo Jack of my rookie year and that's the year he got hurt. Phenomenal athlete. Everything you seen or heard or talked about about him is true. I mean, that's a. He was a bad. He's a bad guy, man. He's just a pure athlete. And it was my pleasure just to watch them in practice and see him play. And it was, it was phenomenal.
- [14:58]
A
Is he the best athlete you ever competed against or with?
- [15:04]
B
You know, a lot of people ask me that and to see it close up, I would have to say he is, he is. I mean, the guy was phenomenal, man. You. And a lot of you. A lot of stuff you see of him are the highlights on TV and stuff like that, but the practice with him and just see how really fast he was. I remember when we played him in the Cotton bowl and he caught a little pass in the flat and he went back across the field and went up the sideline. Seemed like everybody in the stadium went woo at the same time. You know, I still remember that everybody was like, God, you know, I ain't gonna. I couldn't curse. But, you know, it. It was something else just to see him play and then to get a chance to see him play with Tim Brown and I don't know, I probably played with five other Heisman Trophy winners, but, you know, it's just, it's something about him that stood out.
- [15:52]
A
And Aaron, do you have any opinions on why A and M, for after your era, kind of had this up and down. One good year followed by not so good. One good year followed by a couple of not so good. And we're hoping that Coach Oko turns it around this year to double down on what they did last year.
- [16:09]
B
I think that the Slocum years were pretty good. I didn't get to watch them a lot because of course I was playing. But as, as I've gotten older and been watching them over the last years and going through all the different coaches, I think that right now they're in a good place. I think Elko was the whatever message he's sending to the kids, I think they're getting it. And it's just fun to see him go out and compete every week and be competitive. I mean, a lot of these schools, you know, you got the egos and all that. I think he's doing a good job of keeping that under control and I think that he's doing a good job and hopefully we can turn this thing around and have a good, a better year than we had last year.
- [16:51]
A
Last thing for you. How are you going to celebrate this weekend?
- [16:56]
B
Really? I'm, I'm coming. I will be in College Station. I'll probably go eat dinner after and then I'm headed back to Dallas and I'm getting. We got. I gotta go back to work. I gotta make sure that my kids have everything they need. We starting up football and South Oak Cliff, it has a big game out in the Cotton Bowl. I think they playing Richmond Rich and what is Richmond down in Houston. And it's a big all day tournament basically for football. And we got to make sure everything's prepared and make sure that, you know, these kids get going. I'm enjoy it. I mean, I'm a cherish the moment. But then I got to get back to work.
- [17:33]
A
Well, Aaron, it's been a real treat of mine to talk to you here on the show. Thank you so much for making a few minutes. Congratulations on the masters and your entire career. And I know you got a few more years left in. You said let's not retire just yet because you're impacting too many young people's lives, man. Thank you for your time.
- [17:48]
B
All right. I appreciate it. Thank you.
- [17:50]
A
Aaron Wallace there on the Bupy's catering bartending hotline. We'll hit a break, we'll check, chat with Reese Nygren on the other side. Right now, when it comes to your money, your peace of mind, it starts with the right team. And that right team is Paragon Financial Advisors. They're an independent fiduciary serving clients all across Texas. No commissions, no sales pitches, just trusted advice tailored to you. They have a team of 18 professionals, including nine CFPs, a CFA and a CPA. And their expertise does run deep at Paragon. Credentials matter and so does your Future. Visit paragon adv.com or give them a call. 979-693-3907 to schedule your free consultation today. It is Paragon Financial Advisors. Integrity, expertise and trust. Paragon Financial Advisor the Money Machine is open now. Two ways to enter each week. Oh come on. Don't keep us in suspense. Zone150.com and the zone Newsletter thank you. We're back here on Tech Sags Live presented by David Gardner's jewelers Bravo Insurance Studio. A couple texts to get into a 210 number says hey, what up Reese, Nuno and Zane listening from the back roads of North Carolina. No name on there. So I can't get fooled by saying the wrong, you know, good job. And what else did we get? John in Cypress, your good friend Reese. He says, my favorite thing about the wrecking crew at Cal would be when the ref would say texas A and M has chosen to kick off. Thus was before deferring. Jackie did it for field position and intimidation. That is, that's, that's, yeah, that's the way to do it. What do you have over there at the Anger Elephant News and Social Center?
- [19:17]
C
So CBS Sports released an article talking about college football coaches records in big games, which a big game is against the AP top 25 and Mike Elko in the SEC is at number six. Number five if you take out Pete Golding who is number three on the list in terms of winning percentage.
- [19:37]
A
But he's got how many?
- [19:38]
C
Three. He has three games. He's two and one. Okay, so Kaylin DeBoer has the best winning percentage. He does win big games, he's 20 and six.
- [19:46]
A
But he lost two out of his last 20 and six. That's going to take a while to
- [19:51]
C
catch 20 and it's a 0.769 winning percentage. Kirby Smart has the most wins.
- [19:57]
A
Yep.
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C
Second, he's 42 and 17.
- [20:01]
A
He's first. Nice. I, I, I'm just guessing here. I could be wrong.
- [20:04]
C
Okay.
- [20:05]
A
When Kaylin DeBoer was at Washington, I know he had some big time wins in the top 10. I know that.
- [20:09]
C
Yeah.
- [20:09]
A
Okay. But I would assume a lot of those were PAC 12 wins when they were ranked between 15 and 25, which I think is different than SEC level teams because SEC level teams, if you believe that they were the better conference or not they were typically ranked. I mean how many are in the top 10 right now or top 12? Like six.
- [20:29]
C
Yeah, there's a lot of them.
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A
So there's that as well.
- [20:32]
C
Yeah, you talk about like the USC's back then and even like towards the end of his Washington tenure when Oregon had Bo Nixon and he had Michael Penix, they had a few battles back and forth. Brett Venables number four on the list, he's an even nine and nine in big games.
- [20:49]
A
That's interesting. I wouldn't have guessed that. I mean last year he had a big year and they, they took on a lot of obviously highly ranked teams. Does it show how many he won last year?
- [20:58]
C
It does not. It just has their overall coaching career record. So Venables actually ends the line of people over 500.
- [21:07]
A
Well, he was 9 and 9 in
- [21:08]
C
big, so 500 or above. Josh Hyple, 12 and 16 in big games. Mike Elkos 6 and 8. Steve Sarkeesian 25 and 35 in big games. Lane Kiffin 15 and 26. And then you start to get down to people with a few. Silverfields, 6. Golish has played total drink with 7 and 19.
- [21:32]
A
I'm curious what Silverfield's record is going to look like at the end of this year now that he's in the sec. So look, there's many ways to look at this list. I think when you look at coach Oko, okay, takes over an A and M program that had just followed up two seasons of going 12 and 12. Right. So I don't know if last time you looked, but a 500 team is not good. So that's what he took over.
- [21:56]
C
Yeah.
- [21:57]
A
The two years prior they were combined 500. Seven and five the year before. Five and seven the year before that. So he takes over a team that had been floundering and has had some big time wins. Here he takes over at Duke. Remember, he's a very new coach and make made Duke relevant.
- [22:14]
C
Yeah.
- [22:15]
A
And won big games at Duke that nobody would have expected. So his. I don't think you can look at these numbers as a one for one now you can look at what Kirby's done and be like, that's the gold standard.
- [22:27]
C
Yeah.
- [22:28]
A
You can look at what Kaylan DeBoer has done and been like, you know, there's a lot to be made about what he's not done at Alabama, but what he's done throughout his entire career. A name I didn't hear on there is Kirk Signetti.
- [22:40]
C
So they did it by conference. So Kurt Signetti is the leader in winning percentage in the Big Ten. He is 6 and 2. Okay, so he's relatively new. Ryan Day, second 27 and 11. Dan Lanning 15 and 8. And then Lincoln Riley got a fair share of his wins from Oklahoma. He is 20 and 17. So four Big Ten coaches are above.500.
- [23:03]
A
Now let's do this exercise for a minute.
- [23:05]
C
Okay.
- [23:05]
A
All these coaches that are ahead of Coach Elko what did they inherit? Now, let me go ahead and tell you. A and M has the same resources of all these other schools. So maybe it was coaching malpractice the years prior to why. But what did these guys inherit? Because Lincoln Riley inherited to me an incredible program at Oklahoma. Ryan Day inherited. Now he did it. He's done a great job. Don't get me wrong. I'm not taking away from what he's done at Ohio State, but he inherited a national championship contender every year program.
- [23:40]
C
Yeah, those Urban Meyer Ohio State teams leading into Ryan Day.
- [23:45]
A
Like, come on, who are some other ones?
- [23:47]
C
Dan Lanning at Oregon.
- [23:49]
A
Dan Lannington inherited a program that should have been better late. Like, they're not in the same vein that A and M was. Right. But they were excellent. Right. He took over an excellent program. Who else?
- [24:02]
C
So you talked about Lincoln Riley. He's now at usc. I think USC was a solid program, solid program.
- [24:09]
A
But when he took over there, they weren't.
- [24:11]
C
They were on. On the decline. We move over to the ACC. Dabo Sweeney, 41 and 28, deserves all
- [24:17]
A
the love he gets.
- [24:18]
C
And then Rhett Lashley is the only other ACC coach with a.500 or better record. He is even at 5 and 5.
- [24:25]
A
His first year at SMU was fantastic. We'll see how he follows it up this year. Some of those SEC coaches, what they inherited. Kirby inherited a program that had not won it, but was. You know, I believe Mark Richt, when he was at Georgia, was an excellent coach but did not get them to where they wanted to be. So he's one guy.
- [24:43]
C
Josh Hyple at Tennessee.
- [24:44]
A
Josh Hyple at Tennessee. That program had been up and down.
- [24:47]
C
Yeah.
- [24:48]
A
Let's be honest. So he deserves credit. Lane Kiffin deserves all in the world. He took over Ole Miss and made them nationally relevant. Who else is on there?
- [24:55]
C
Steve Sarkeesian at Texas.
- [24:57]
A
I think Sark is interesting because he took over a program that, like Tom Herman, had some good years and some definitely bad years, but potential. And I think Stark has been able to obviously take them to another level. And they were sarc.
- [25:12]
C
Yeah.
- [25:13]
A
I don't know why, because it's not connected. Sorry, Nick. It's. It's not hitting. I don't know why. It's just the way I'm sitting, I guess. But where was I on sarc?
- [25:21]
C
You were talking.
- [25:22]
A
There was patience with him. His first two years they went. I think they went 12 and 12 in his first two years there, too. So they had a very similar to what Elko took over that was, that was the first couple years of Sark. So patience there absolutely paid off.
- [25:35]
C
And then three of the coaches that have been at their schools for a little bit that are near the bottom in terms of winning percent. Eli Drinkowicz is 7:19.
- [25:44]
A
I think he deserves a lot of
- [25:45]
C
credit, but he deserves a lot of credit. Shane Beamer at South Carolina, 7 and 21.
- [25:50]
A
I am not as down on people on Beamer as people are. I am not as high as people were two years ago. I think Beamer at can be a really good coach at the right school and it's hard to be the right. Steve Spurrier wasn't fantastic at South Carolina.
- [26:05]
C
No. And then last one, a guy who deserves all the credit in the world, Clark Lee, 6 and 18 career record. But he brought Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt basically back from the dead.
- [26:16]
A
I mean, if you would have said don't say Vanderbilt, you would have said an SEC team went 10 and 2 and didn't make the playoffs, you would have been like, there's no way. Yeah, right.
- [26:26]
C
Yeah. Nor would it.
- [26:28]
A
They went 10 and 2 last year. Right?
- [26:29]
C
Yeah. If you had told me it was Vanderbilt, I would have been like, what? Vanderbilt.
- [26:34]
A
We'll hit a break here. I believe we have Armani Watts coming up next. So we'll chit chat with Armani Watts on the other side. Right now we're talking about the Rollo Insurance Group, where you get a personal agent, you get their cell phone number, you probably don't get their address. But you know where Rollo Insurance is, is on Highway 6 right here in College Station. But they're all across Texas, over 60 offices. Anywhere you go in Texas, you're going to find a Rollo Insurance studio. Well, not a studio, but a place. And when you go there, you're going to get the same kind of customer service that I've always gotten. Whether it's home, auto, business or ranch insurance. Start a relationship with an expert who puts you first. They become familiar with your specific situation and they'll make sure that you're taken care of throughout your entire time with Rollo Insurance. So when you need advice or have a claim, you'll speak directly with someone who knows your situation. That's the Rollo difference. Check out the website. Rollinsurance.com TexActs rollinsurance.com TexActs or call them up. 8844 Rollo. That is 8844 Rollo. The Houston Astros. The Houston Astros play in the zone.
- [27:29]
B
Play in the zone.
- [27:30]
A
Thanks to Kelly Burt Dozer. As a reminder the final segment of the program is brought to you by Double Dave. That's the at 10:50. But right now, caller number 12-979-693-1150. We're going to hook you up with your choice of a dozen pepperoni rolls or a large one topping pizza from Double Dave's. They've been serving Aguiland since 1984 with your favorite pizza and of course, those world famous pepperoni rolls, reliable in house delivery, bringing piping hot goodness straight to your door. Just click on double daves.com and your favorites are on their way. All right, let's check in at the Angry Elephant News and Social Center. Got a couple topics we can get into, Reese, but did you have something for us?
- [28:02]
C
So I did have something real quick that I saw also from CBS Sports. So they their new ish college football analyst friend of the program, Charles Davis and Super bowl champion Doug Peterson. And they asked him how far they thought certain college football programs would do in the 2026 season. A and M was one of the teams that they asked him about. Charles Davis said, I have them as a contender in the sec, but they barely miss the College Football Playoff. While Peterson said, I don't think this is a team that is going to make the postseason. So it sounds like Charles Peterson said this.
- [28:35]
A
I'm sorry.
- [28:35]
C
DOUG peterson, FORMER EAGLES and JAGUARS for
- [28:39]
A
some reason I was, I thought you said Chris Peterson.
- [28:40]
C
Oh, no, Doug Peterson. So it sounds like both of them. At least Charles Davis has them being a contender. Maybe that's nine and three. Doug Peterson didn't sound like he was as high on the Aggies as Charles Davis was.
- [28:56]
A
All right, so let's kind of take this down. It's, it's, we already kind of tackle people's opinions are what they are what they are. Let's just everybody for a moment do truth serum, not super fan theorem, am superfan. We go 12, 0 every year. Carson Stein, okay, there's that right? I think we're 11 and one. I don't care. Put me at quarterback. We're 11 and one. Carson thinks that way. Then there's others that are doom and gloom. I have people in my family that are doom and gloom. Oh, man, I don't know how struggle to win seven games. I think it's gonna be a struggle. Then there's people like me that hedge your bets and like, you know, you're 9, 3, 8 and 4, right? Like I see, I can see either way. The reality of the situation is they probably are a tweener Team. Right. And why are they a tweener team? It's not just because of the schedule. It's because of the schedule. Slash. You're more road games in the SEC than home games.
- [29:57]
C
Yeah.
- [29:58]
A
And road. So I understand why people would be like, if you told me any team in the country you're replacing your offensive line and your defensive line, I don't care who they are. I'd be like, you got to take a step back.
- [30:10]
C
Yeah. Obvious answer.
- [30:12]
A
Like, that's an uneducated. And when I say I don't know how much better these guys are, and the one thing you won't know until you see it in a game is the chemistry. Right. But then if you want to argue with yourself. And I love arguing with myself, because my thing is. Yeah, I totally understand. Like, I would do this every team that I. I talk about and I forget who it was last year. I think I did this with LSU and Texas last year. I said, it is impossible to be better than you were a year ago when you're replacing an offensive line.
- [30:47]
C
Yeah. It's a tough task. And like you said, if you had told me that an SEC team was replacing the. Their trenches entirely that went to the
- [30:55]
A
NFL, by the way, they're not replacing crap.
- [30:58]
C
Not because they transferred out, because they didn't like the results that they had. These were guys drafted to the NFL, I agree with you. I'd be like, I don't know. And then you factor in the schedule that A and M has. Going to lsu, going to Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, all that. I kind of agree that they're kind of like, you could see 7 and 5. You could see 10 and 2, like, in the SEC. Yeah.
- [31:19]
A
If a and M, with all the changes they had, went to the Big 12 this year, just for this year, I think they're a ten and two at worst team.
- [31:25]
C
At worst.
- [31:25]
A
Right. It's not a shot at Texas Tech. That's just what I think about the level of talent that they have.
- [31:30]
C
Yeah. You're comparing the middle of the Big 12 to the middle of the SEC.
- [31:35]
A
Now I take my maroon shot. Okay. Shot. All right. And I want to be optimistic. Okay. Why I would be optimistic about that point in particular, because that's the only reason I don't believe that. That's the only reason I think people can be down on A. M. Okay. If I want to be optimistic, what I would say is, well, they did replace it with SEC starting talent. Now there is no guarantee that those guys that they got from the Portal, all four on the offensive line are going to start for A and M. Yeah. In fact, I think Billy has in his recent post, I think he had Blake Ivey probably on the starting line, starting lineup on the offensive line. So. But the fact that you got guys who have played at this level gives me a little more confidence that you know what, maybe it won't be the bumps and bruises that we thought that would be the. That would be my reason. And then, sorry, I'm going to add to that if they don't start with my voice going super high. Louis Molina and David Nuno, we both talk high. It's a both thing for us, Louie, is that if those guys aren't your starters, it's because young guys in program have developed and they are now SEC starting caliber offensive linemen. Yeah.
- [32:55]
C
And it's a big, it's a big boost to your program to be like, hey, I brought this guy in from South Carolina or wherever, like, and they're not starting because I've developed this four star, three star, five star, whatever into being equal if not better to the, the guy with already SEC proven talent. I think that that's pretty big. That like kind of a transfer, transfer portal get. Because you're getting someone that maybe you weren't expecting to be ready this early on.
- [33:26]
A
Right. So I could understand why people would say A and M is a tweener team, why people would say they're not going to make the playoffs. I get it. I also understand that people, even Aggies, maybe sometimes more than the national media, hold on to history. We don't have back to back good years or this and that. Right. All I can say, and it's going to sound like a broken record, is I do believe in the process that they're doing across the street. Right. So if they find themselves like the first half of the season, I think sets up nicely to where you're going to be tested against teams that can beat you. But I think you can kind of figure out who you are, your identity of this year's program in those first six games. Right. And if you go five and one or six, zero, that's great. You have accomplished Jack. Right. You really haven't.
- [34:21]
C
We found that out last year.
- [34:22]
A
Right. But if you do do that and you figure out, all right, we got our offensive line unit, that works. Oh, we're getting after the quarterback. Our secondary. Good. Good luck throwing on this secondary. Right. Our linebackers, we're not giving up the big runs. If I told you the biggest change that we're going to See, this year is that A and M does not give up these massive runs. For instance, by the way, they don't lose the Miami game if they don't give up a massive run.
- [34:51]
C
They don't.
- [34:52]
A
They don't. You know why? Because they stop them where they should have stopped them. They punt. They have half the field to kick a field goal. Game over. Okay. There's still a lot of time left,
- [35:00]
C
but we get the point.
- [35:02]
A
Yeah. The Texas game, I don't know if you win that game, if you stop big runs, but running is what killed you in that Texas game. Yeah. And you couldn't move the ball until very late.
- [35:14]
B
That was.
- [35:15]
A
That was a problem in the second half, in the third quarter especially. But in that Texas game, if you can stop Trey Wisner from these big runs or even Arch Manning, I can't believe I forgot his name for a second. Arch Manning from, like, eluding the rush and just running on you. Now, these are big ifs, and that was a problem that followed A and M all season. But if I told you your defense is going to be as good as last year's, they could be potentially better. Maybe not better getting at the quarterback,
- [35:43]
C
but they got to be better getting turnovers.
- [35:46]
A
You got to be better getting turnover. And stopping the big run.
- [35:48]
C
Yep.
- [35:49]
A
If they stop the big run, they are playing against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. That's how I truly believe. If they don't give up that huge run in the fourth quarter in your own end zone. Right. That set up their score. I believe you win that game and
- [36:04]
C
Ohio State did look pedestrian in that Cotton bowl, whether it was because they were playing Miami or whether possible it was just Ohio State. They did not look good that game.
- [36:12]
A
I'm not trying to give excuses because the wind and this and that. Miami had to play in the same wind. Right. But I'm just saying if the way you played at the end of a season carries so much weight towards the way people perceive you the following year, that's why Marcel catches more strays than Arch. Okay. And I'm okay with. That's why Alabama is catching strays right now. They did win a playoff game, but they lost two out of their last three games and they were embarrassed. Yeah, it's the way you play at the end. But by the way, the way you played at the end of the year prior does not necessarily mean anything for the upcoming year.
- [36:48]
C
I'd have to agree with that point. And you're talking about looking bad for Alabama in two of their last three games. Let's say A and M beats Miami in the playoff game and then doesn't look good against Ohio State and loses that one. Are we still having the same. The same conversations as we are now? Even though you won a playoff game, but then you turned around and lost, let's not say blown out, but lost by a decent margin to Ohio State? Are Alabama and A and M having those same conversations?
- [37:18]
A
Coach Elko strikes me as a significantly smarter, better version of everything that I do in life. Okay, Everything. He's better. I'm making the comparison from a mindset point of view. The last time I did a half ironman, I was horrible.
- [37:38]
C
Still better than a lot of people.
- [37:39]
A
But let's pretend that's not a half hour. Whatever event I was. And I told myself this will never happen again. That's how they operate there. My point is like, all right, we're not gonna allow that to happen again. We're not gonna allow these big runs again. So now we're talking about 18 to 22 year olds. There's 11 guys on a play that are participating. You can't guarantee success because of a mindset, but I think you can guarantee being closer to that when you focus on your issues and you work an entire nine month process on being better at here, here, and here. So this was a long way of responding to Peterson and Charles.
- [38:21]
C
Yep.
- [38:22]
A
Charles Davis. My dear friend Charles.
- [38:23]
C
Dear friend Charles Davis.
- [38:24]
A
That. I get it. I might be on the same page as both of you. I might be. But I don't think anybody in their right mind knows anything because whatever questions you have about A and M, I hope you have those same questions about lsu. I hope you have those same questions about Texas. That's replacing people. We focus on the transfers that they got and how Arch finished at the end of the year. And by the way, I agree with the national media. I think Texas is going to be one of the two best teams in the sec. It pains me to say, but they also have questions. Ole Miss has got questions. Oklahoma has got questions. So all these teams that A and M doesn't have to play Ole Miss, but all these teams that A and M has to go on the road and play, they've got a bunch of questions, too. If they had the reach of a Texas, their talk show host named Pablo Jones would be talking about this. I don't know if that last name fit with their.
- [39:20]
C
Yeah, I think there was a different one that went with that.
- [39:22]
A
Pablo Weeks. We're gonna, you know.
- [39:23]
C
Okay, yeah, that's more.
- [39:24]
A
Yeah, Navid Duno. Navid Duno. David Dunya for tigerags.net okay, Tiger Axe. I don't know. He would probably be saying, hey, guys, we got a new coaching staff, but we don't really know about a quarterback situation.
- [39:42]
C
Very interesting accent.
- [39:43]
A
What was that?
- [39:44]
C
I actually don't know. As a country boy. Yeah, it was. Was a country.
- [39:47]
A
So I got it.
- [39:48]
C
Yeah.
- [39:49]
A
I go to the meetings anyway.
- [39:51]
C
Frequent.
- [39:54]
A
You base your opinions on what happened at the end of the year and on what the head coach has been able to do. Right. That's in this era of college football. And oh, on three says they got the second greatest transfer class in the history of the world. That's how people make these opinions.
- [40:09]
C
Yeah. And we know how getting top classes goes. We had the number one class a few years ago. Didn't exactly pan out how everybody thought it. But I mean, everybody has these questions about A and M. Can you point to a team in all of college football that doesn't have any major questions? Like, Indiana is replacing a Heisman winning quarterback with Josh Hoover.
- [40:31]
A
Yep.
- [40:32]
C
Like, that's a question. Georgia, I mean, they're replacing wide receivers. Galore. Yeah.
- [40:36]
A
Like, but again, because of the brand, I expect for Georgia to be fine.
- [40:42]
C
Yep.
- [40:43]
A
Now what level fine? We'll find out. Because of the A and M brand, people sometimes pull them back down because, hey, you know, this, this is what A and M always does. Yeah. That's what Coach Elko has stressed about trying to change. We'll hit a break here, Come back with a final segment here in the 9 o' clock hour. If you're craving authentic Italian food here in the Brazos Valley, you got to check out Fratella in Fratella Italian Cafe in Bryant. They're family owned. They're an awesome restaurant where all the food is super fresh homemade cooking crafted with every single ingredient out there. From recipes passed down through generations to locally sourced ingredients, they have it all. They've got the Fratella, which is one of their signature dishes. It's the name, but it's also one of their dishes. It's got like a calzone, but fried to golden perfection. They have daily lunch specials and if you want pizza, they have the best pizza in town. Fratella Italian Cafe can also cater all of your big time events. You need to stop by and check out their amazing food, especially right now. If you're listening, lunch is right around the corner. It is Fratella Italian Cafe, 3901 S. Texas Ave. In Bryan. Discover why it's more than a meal. It's a tradition. Home road or bowl. You can hear Aggie football on the zone.
- [41:50]
B
The zone.
- [41:52]
A
Looky here. J Pops chiming in. You want to read this text? If you've got the text.
- [41:57]
C
Groove open the J Pops one. Yes, I do have it. Texas A and M can indeed go 111 again with the schedule at hand. Me personally, I believe they will go 111 with a loss to either ou or Tex. What makes these wins possible is Marcel and the O line playing together up to speed and also the defense making some big time plays.
- [42:17]
A
That's right, Jay. If all those things happen, they can go 11 and 1. I prefer they not lose in November at all. If I were, you know, if they go 11 and 1.
- [42:28]
C
If you had to pick a loss, where are you putting it?
- [42:31]
A
I don't want it to be South Carolina because I lose there too much and I want to enjoy South Carolina. I'm not going to pick a loss. How about that? I'm not going to pick like, oh, you know what? I want this. It's a trap. There's no way I win.
- [42:43]
C
It was a trap question for you.
- [42:45]
A
Yeah, like, no, I'm not going to pick a win, but I don't want to lose in November.
- [42:48]
C
Yeah, I think if I had to pick one, it wouldn't be one in November.
- [42:52]
A
Right? If I had to pick one. No, I won't. I'm not going to pick one. It's like picking your favorite kid. Are you the favorite?
- [43:02]
C
I'm not. I don't know if I'm the favorite kid or not because my parents pull the. I don't have a favorite kid.
- [43:09]
A
I don't have a favorite. I don't have a favorite.
- [43:11]
C
I feel like every parent.
- [43:13]
B
Parent.
- [43:13]
A
No, I don't have a favorite kid. I don't. Now, a situation can make you like somebody more or less in that moment.
- [43:19]
C
In the moment.
- [43:20]
A
In the moment. I can be like, mm, mm. You're on the bottom of the list right now. But I start off the day everybody's equal footing.
- [43:27]
C
I feel like it would be a different answer if we weren't on air. No, I feel like you.
- [43:31]
A
I will tell you the exact same answer after anybody who. Nick, speak up. You think that I have a favorite kid? No, I've heard this, this spiel before,
- [43:41]
C
the even footing thing.
- [43:42]
A
I. I believe you. Yeah. So you don't know me that well. Okay, you try to. First off, you try to tell me how to do the show in the first segment.
- [43:50]
C
All right, I. I will admit I did not have the text line open. That was why I wanted to wait.
- [43:56]
A
You try to have Natalie learn how to do the social center, and then you're gonna tell her that I hate some of my kids? I mean, I didn't say that you hated any of you said.
- [44:07]
C
I said that you probably have a favorite kid.
- [44:09]
A
I don't have a favorite kid.
- [44:10]
C
Okay.
- [44:10]
A
I can tell you who's more wired like me, and that's not a good thing, right? I could tell you who's sweet. I could tell you who's sassy. I could tell you who gets annoyed all the time. I gave you all four kids right there. We'll be back with Billy Lucci, I think.