Since Mike Sherman's announcement a week ago that he didn't expect Mike Goodson to return to the Aggie football team for the 2009 season, I've been thinking about the effect this will have on the program.

A quick look at the depth chart shows we're not hurting at running back. Cyrus Gray, Bradley Stephens, Keondra Smith, and others are waiting their turn to carry the ball. We have Kalvin Guyton committed for the 2009 recruiting class, so we appear to be set for the immediate future. Goodson leaving doesn't look like it will hurt the program on the field.

Off the field, I wasn't too sure what to think of Goodson this season. He only started seven games this season, often sitting out because of injury. I've heard rumors that there were games where he was healthy, but he was held out because of attitude problems. I only hope he wasn't a problem in the locker room. Regardless, I don't think this season turned out the way Mike or the fans wanted it to. I think many fans expected Goodson to thrive in the pro-set West Coast attack Sherman was installing as our offense this season, especially with Mike being the feature back. Injuries, both to Mike and to our offensive line, never let that production happen. I think Mike knew, as many fans did, that he was going pro after this season, pretty much regardless of what the statistical results of the year were. Our team having a mediocre season on the field and his struggling with injuries off the field probably strengthened his resolve to move on.

I will always remember Goodson for his electric runs on the field and especially for his performances against texas. I'm sure they are breathing a sigh of relief in Austin that Mike isn't coming back to torture them for another year. Goodson never quite achieved the potential we all saw flashes of as a freshman and sophomore, but I think we all wish him the best as he moves on to the next step in his career.