Four Aggies Named To All-Big 12 Team
by Beergut on Dec 2, 2008 10:20 PM CST
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PrintFour Texas A&M football players were voted onto the Big 12 coaches all-conference team. Conference coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team, so to make the team usually means you have gained the respect of opposing coaches.
Punter Justin Brantly was named first team All-Big 12 after leading the conference with a 45.7 yards per punt average. Brantly finishes his career with a 44.4 yard average, which ranks second in school history to current NFL All-Pro Shane Lechler.
The surprise on the all-conference team has to be the inclusion of Jorvorskie Lane at FB on the second team. I think Lane's past history of excellence as a short-yardage tailback has helped him here. Even I freely admit that Lane is mediocre at best as a blocker, which is the primary job of a fullback. However, Lane is outstanding in short yardage, an area he has always excelled at. I think the coaches around the conference chose to recognize him for his past excellence, despite his diminished role in the Texas A&M offense this season. I also think the complete lack of teams using 11 personnel helped us, as true FBs are a rarity on most Big 12 teams with the predominance of the spread offense this season. The first team FB was Matt Clapp from Oklahoma. Who? Exactly. Clapp had 7 carries for 23 yards, 0 TDs rushing, 8 receptions for 81 yds, 3 TDs receiving, while Lane had 35 carries for 93 yds, 5 TDs rushing, and 4 receptions for 26 yds and no TDs receiving. Looking at the stats, maybe Lane's inclusion isn't such a surprise after all.
Jeff Fuller and Trent Hunter both made All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, respectively. I'm disappointed Hunter didn't receive the Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, which went to Travis Lewis of Oklahoma. I think it is asinine that McKinner Dixon of Texas Tech received Defensive Newcomer of the Year, simply because Dixon played at Tech two years ago as a true freshman. I don't think you should be considered a newcomer when you've played in this conference in a previous season.
I am also disappointed that Ryan Tannehill didn't receive at least Honorable Mention, because he was an outstanding receiver for us this season. I think the exclusion of any Aggie player from the all-conference offensive and defensive line listings tells you all you need to know about the performance of both of our lines this season.
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Interesting stats on clapp
2 things about the list i found odd.
first. and i must say i loved this, that none of the mammoth big huge scary tech o-line made first team. maybe the coaches in the big 12 realized what the media and refs didnt, that they hold all the damn time!!!!!!!!!!
second, and this i must say i didnt get. ou’s o-line getting 3 first teamers?? how? they were not that great, especially loadholt.
by wishiwasalonghorn on Dec 2, 2008 11:09 PM CST reply actions
I didn't know about Dixon.
What exactly is the criteria for newcomer of the year award? Is it to the top juco player or transfer player that comes in and makes an impact? What exactly is it? These awards are a joke. The fact that there are more than 11 players on both sides of the ball is ridiculous.
Bob Stoops coach of the year? For what? Doing what he was supposed to do. It should have been Leach outright.
I’m disappointed that Hunter didn’t win FDPOY of the year, but we were so bad and so bad on defense that nobody noticed or cared. Lewis made plays in more meaningful games than anything Hunter did.
With the Clapp situation its just not wanting to give the top spot to a guy on a bad team. Clapp was much more recognizable than Lane this season as Lane along with us have been an afterthought most of the season.
i agree about stoops
the only reason i can think of why he would get coach of the year is alot of his former employees had a vote
by wishiwasalonghorn on Dec 3, 2008 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
4-8 is 4-8
No matter how you spin it 4-8 is 4-8 with two of the wins coming against the worst teams in the universe Northwestern St. and Washington State and the other coming against us and Iowa St.
by PrimeTime2012 on Dec 3, 2008 1:34 PM CST up reply actions
Baylor was competitive in just about every game
that is why I give Briles credit
Coaching isn’t measured solely on wins and losses.
You mean
Losing 41-13 at home to Wake Forest, losing 49-17 to OU, 34-6 to OSU, 45-21 to Texas, 32-20 to Nebraska is competitive?.Out of there 8 losses 5 were blowouts. I disagree. Coaching is measured only on wins and losses in my opinion. If not Charlie Weis wouldn’t be on the heat seat.
by PrimeTime2012 on Dec 3, 2008 2:01 PM CST up reply actions
primetime,
dont let facts get in the way of your opinion.
apparently that is a rule here.
by jarrett.adams on Dec 4, 2008 8:49 AM CST up reply actions
that said
Briles was a great hire by Baylor and while I dont think he should be coach of the year this year. He certainly has them pointed in the right direction.
by jarrett.adams on Dec 4, 2008 8:50 AM CST up reply actions
I'm not saying he is a bad coach
Briles is a great coach and a guy that we should have pursued in my opinion, but to be the COY in the Big 12 or the Country is unfound for. You can’t be COY when you are 4-8. You just can’t. He has done a fantastic job but you can’t be COY with 4-8.
by PrimeTime2012 on Dec 4, 2008 12:20 PM CST up reply actions
well
the loss to Wake was in the first game of the year, when they started Kirby Freeman.
They were tied with texas at the end of the first quarter, and were ahead of Nebraska at halftime. 32-20 is certainly competitive.
Briles had his team playing hard in every single game, which is outstanding coaching. I’m not saying he deserves COTY, but I do think he did the best job of any coach in the league, given what he started with and what he had to work with.
i agree he did great
but how much of that is freshman phenom griffin….but then again he is the only reason griffin is at baylor so i guess it goes hand in hand
by wishiwasalonghorn on Dec 4, 2008 1:27 PM CST up reply actions
Its possible to have a good team and screw it up.
Its possible to have running back tandem almost as good as Bush and White and screw it up. Its possible to have a tight end who is becoming one of the up and coming players in the league and screw it up. Its possible to have a solid team and screw it up. Why did he fail? Thats what I want to know. Was it him changing offensive systems every year? Having a bad defensive coordinator? Or just being a bad coach? Its hard to believe that if you win 10 games at ’Bama that you are a bad coach.
by PrimeTime2012 on Dec 5, 2008 2:02 AM CST up reply actions
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