True Test???

Interesting. The Dallas Morning News calls Texas A&M's game against Miami tonight, "a true test."

We all know that "The U" isn't quite what they were in the day. I reference you to their loss to Oklahoma, 53-14.



Give props to Miami Coach Randy Shannon, though. He'll remind you of a Ralph Friedgen (not physically) or a Forrest Gregg (who re-started SMU after the "Death Penalty").

He's heeding the call of his program, where he played, was an assistant coach, and now is charged with re-building "The Monster". He's in the early stages, where he'll get battered and beat. But recruiting from Miami will save him in the longrun. I don't care what anyone says. They'll still compete for the cream of the crop in the state of Florida, whether UF is the defending national champs or not. Here's why...

MiamiU football is known more than any other program in the nation for 1 thing. Their attitude... That's the sell. Bad Boys. "Punch you in the mouth tough." That's the 1 thing that hasn't left the program, and when Randy Shannon played for the "U", it was what fueled their heyday. He brings attitude. Tell me this... If you're a Miami blue-chip athlete, and you have Urban Meyer in your house 1 day, and then Shannon the next, who reaches you? The coach from Ashtabula, Ohio, or the Coach from 2 blocks over? Miami has a wealth of blue-chip talent every year, and Shannon wins that battle 80% of the time, conservatively.

Case-in-point... When Oklahoma won the National Championship in 2000, 2 prominent starters were from Miami. Starting MLB Torrence Marshall, and playmaker safety Ontei Jones. OU also had 5 players overall on that team from Florida. Top 10 BCS schools still cherry-pick from the Miami area. As far as I can tell, Shannon is the best coach born/raised/educated/succeeded from that area. As much grief as Donna Shalala has caught in her athletic dealings in the past, she'll boost alumni support considerably with this hire. Just in time for Miami to start getting facility upgrades....

Now, back to tonight's game. The Aggies have the obvious working against them. The game is being played in Miami. Outside of that, Miami won't be able to stop the 1-2-3 punch of J-Train-Lane (Jess Moran's favorite player in the Big 12), Mike Goodson, and QB Stephen McGee... For the 3 of you that don't know, Lane is a 270 pound tailback, that's right, tailback... Not familiar with his fine work??? Enjoy...



Granted, A&M's toughest game thus far was Fresno St., who took them into triple-OT

The Aggies have one of the most potent ground games in the Big 12, outdated though it may be... The 'Canes held the Sooners to 116 yards rushing, and when the 'Canes stack the box against A&M, it will force the Aggies to pass... All bets are off then. Miami allowed OU 411 yards passing, but Stephen McGee isn't the passer Sam Bradford is, nor does he have Bradford's arsenal of receivers... Highlights tonight on KDBC 4 News at 10!!!!