Aug 31 | Texas A&M

[PutuporShutup]

I went to A&M for three years. College Station is a good town with great people. You will more than likely be treated very well unless you are dumb enough to show up in the bars running your mouth non-stop.

I do find it funny how sometimes northerners are so afraid of the south. Lived here all my life and wouldn’t have it any other way. Travelled all over but keep coming back to Texas.

I think Florida colleges give the "south" the bad rap. To your point, all the other southern schools i've been to outside of florida have been great experiences.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I went to A&M for three years. College Station is a good town with great people. You will more than likely be treated very well unless you are dumb enough to show up in the bars running your mouth non-stop.

I do find it funny how sometimes northerners are so afraid of the south. Lived here all my life and wouldn’t have it any other way. Traveled all over but keep coming back to Texas.

Maybe because we are so accustomed to "Midwest Nice" we assume that other places are just curmudgeon lol. There are some exceptions; Ann Arbor and East Lansing are not kind to visitors, but in general people in the MidWest are just always friendly.

Sounds like College Station rivals game days in South Bend for home hospitality. That's great to hear, we need more of that in this sport.

 

[Irish#1]

I think Florida colleges give the "south" the bad rap. To your point, all the other southern schools i've been to outside of florida have been great experiences.

We were at the ND UT game in Knoxville back in '99. Very fun group to tailgate with. Not sure how the conversation got around to UF, but they do not like UF fans. Said they are the worst, whether they are at home or on the road.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

We were at the ND UT game in Knoxville back in '99. Very fun group to tailgate with. Not sue how the conversation got around to UF, but they do not like UF fans. Said they are the worst, whether they are at home or on the road.

Can't be worse than OSU and scUM fans. Idk about ya'll and I hate to admit this, but USC fans are surprisingly gracious visitors, for the most part. There is a lot of respect among the fanbases and programs.

Also was blown away by BYU when they came to ND in 2012. They loved the campus, and were very nice. Vandy fans were also very fun to interact with in 2017.

 

[TxAg33]

Hey TexAg33/LoganIsmyname, know of any good talgating spots you can point me to? Some buddies and I are getting into town around 11ish Sat morning. We're staying at a hotel right off University Dr/Texas Ave so walking(ish) distance from Kyle Field.
A Bama buddy told be there may be a $30 or $40 public tailgating spot that anyone can get into?
Any info would be appreciated.

Condoms,

Sorry for late reply. First, let me say that "Irish Dodger" is about the most ill- informed person possible when it comes to Texas A&M and hospitality.

You will probably, literally, not meet a fanbase more eager to make a good impression on its guests. We are friendly TEXANS, not SEC hicks and definitely not the liberal woke arrogant criwd from Austin. One of our nicknames is "Farmers" (you'll hear one yell we do often "Farmers Fight!! Farmers Fight! Farmers, Farmers, Fight!" " also "Squads Left! Squads Right! Farmers! Farmers! We're Alright!". We're goid people even as our student population explodes.

Thats a long detour for me to answer your question this way:

go to texags.com and post your tailgating question as a ND fan and you will be smothered with good suggestions and free offers- guaranteed

 

[Hautian Domer]

With knapp, i can somewhat agree. With pendleton, if he truly beat out spindler and Coogan that is a really good sign. Those are two guys that can play fine vs A&M, especially spindler. I actually really like coogan as backup center to have some experience as a backup.

Now with Knapp, I hope he's good, but ND thought they would have Fisher at LT, then Jagusah, then Baker, then Knapp. We've seen this play out with ALT when he was really 4th option early, then ended up being by far the best option. Will we strike gold twice in 4 years? My concern is beating out Tosh isn't saying much. He's just not good.

Even before jagusah injury, there were early really really strong reports on knapp. So that is promising.

In the end, I think we're going to have 5 really talented Olinemen in the game vs A&M, my problem is, it's 3 of the 5 first time playing in college and it's a tough environment to play, and hear for communication. Billy/Craig have a little bit of experience starting and in a loud hostile environment (they got some snaps at louisville and Clemson).

Yeah, at least Pendleton has had one year in weight and strength training. A 17 or 18 year old kid fresh from high school lined up against 21 and 22 year olds who have been on an intensive weight training and nutrition program, generally speaking, isn't a "fair fight." There's always exceptions to the rule, however. If you're good enough, you're good enough. Let's hope that's the case.

 

[TxAg33]

All i know about your ST from last season is that the walk-on kicker was so bad that it led Bobby Petrino to comment this year that he may never attempt a FG again and just go for it on 4th down.

He's 39 of 52 on FGs, 73/73 Extra Points, and was 4th nationally in scoring last year. Not a big leg (52 yrd last year was his top) but pretty consistent inside 40 yards.

Petrino is at Arkansas, btw.

 

[MKEagle]

Maybe because we are so accustomed to "Midwest Nice" we assume that other places are just curmudgeon lol. There are some exceptions; Ann Arbor and East Lansing are not kind to visitors, but in general people in the MidWest are just always friendly.

Sounds like College Station rivals game days in South Bend for home hospitality. That's great to hear, we need more of that in this sport.

As someone who grew up in Chicago suburbs, spent the majority of adult life in Wisconsin, and did a short stint in Minnesota... I felt this to my core lol

 

[TxAg33]

Hope you’re right but I’m skeptical. I’ve had good experiences at Ole Miss & UT so it could happen. Alcohol provides lots of courage for folks.

you strike me as the very rare exception of a person that might not encounter friendliness in Aggieland. Every fanbase has "that guy". Maybe you're Notre Dame's. The rest of you who travel there as our guests expoecting a great time will have exactly that.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I’ve not heard anything bad at all from Aggies here about the upcoming game. Yall should be fine.

 

[T Town Tommy]

you strike me as the very rare exception of a person that might not encounter friendliness in Aggieland. Every fanbase has "that guy". Maybe you're Notre Dame's. The rest of you who travel there as our guests expoecting a great time will have exactly that.

I can vouch for the Aggie hospitality come game day. What they lack on the field they make up with their friendliness.

 

[condoms SUCk]

Hearing Shane Gillis will be in College Station, will definitely be on the lookout. I doubt he’ll be the guest picker but would be a huge ratings boost if so.

 

[greyhammer90]

Hearing Shane Gillis will be in College Station, will definitely be on the lookout. I doubt he’ll be the guest picker but would be a huge ratings boost if so.

I'm sure he won't be the guest picker since we're the visitors but I'd be shocked if they didn't bring him on Gameday to talk.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

I went to A&M for three years. College Station is a good town with great people. You will more than likely be treated very well unless you are dumb enough to show up in the bars running your mouth non-stop.

I do find it funny how sometimes northerners are so afraid of the south. Lived here all my life and wouldn’t have it any other way. Traveled all over but keep coming back to Texas.

I don’t have to worry about venomous nope ropes in South Bend.

 

[MacIrish75]

I can vouch for the Aggie hospitality come game day. What they lack on the field they make up with their friendliness.

Italics got me like…

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Does anyone else find it funny that the entire national media & every site keeps talking about ND’s OL, when A&M played a kid at RT all of spring, summer & fall, & now he is slated to start at RG instead? And two of the OL positions have an “or” next to them. So they don’t even have 5 definite starters figured out?
And that’s going against ND’s DL, which has performed better than A&M’s.
And ND is confident in 4 of the 5 spots & thinks the interior is a big strength.
Can A&M name one area of their OL that is a strength? They are confident in one player, Zuhn.

I'll take anything I can get as we approach game time, my excitement and anxiety are building in equal proportion. I know this team has been built in an 85% ideal way. We have a loaded 2-3 deep on defense with countless All-American candidates at CB, S, LB, DT and plenty of potential surprise DEs. Golden's defense looked so vastly improved from year 1 to year 2 that it feels like year 3 should hold or recede minimally, but if they can build on what they did last year in terms of disruption while staying assignment-sound....I'll be full on giddy.

We have a much upgraded WR group where our presumptive starters have been beaten out across the board. One WR, prior to the incoming transfers, would've been slated to start (Colzie) is now relegated to probably 8th or 9th. I think KK, Gilbert and Saldate are more likely to get snaps this year than Colzie, and all of them are behind the top 6.

The RBs are hyper-athletic and capable of hitting homeruns. The TE room is loaded with talent and each of them is capable of operating in both the run/pass game. The QB is a true dual threat. The OL needs to simply be average to start the season and we'll see fan confidence grow. We have Denbrock creating the game plans and he's familiar with changes on the fly and working with all different talent levels. If he senses we have stars emerging, he'll exploit it.

STs could be a weapon if both guys are locked in and ready.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

you strike me as the very rare exception of a person that might not encounter friendliness in Aggieland. Every fanbase has "that guy". Maybe you're Notre Dame's. The rest of you who travel there as our guests expoecting a great time will have exactly that.

No you silly goose. I just said I had positive encounters at Knoxville & Oxford. I’m old enough to be your dad so I can assure you I’m not “that guy”. I’m good w/ a rabid fan base just do it with some modicum of class. No fanbase is 100% perfect but I can guarantee you you’re far less likely to have issues at South Bend vs most SEC schools.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

He's 39 of 52 on FGs, 73/73 Extra Points, and was 4th nationally in scoring last year. Not a big leg (52 yrd last year was his top) but pretty consistent inside 40 yards.

Petrino is at Arkansas, btw.

I know. I’m referring to his recent presser at UA. Just going by what he said so forgive me if I mistakenly besmirched your kicker. I did hear Elko brought his ST coach from Duke so it should be fine.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I don’t have to worry about venomous nope ropes in South Bend.

Aka Caution Ramen, aka Danger Noodles....

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

The RBs are hyper-athletic and capable of hitting homeruns. The TE room is loaded with talent and each of them is capable of operating in both the run/pass game. The QB is a true dual threat. The OL needs to simply be average to start the season and we'll see fan confidence grow. We have Denbrock creating the game plans and he's familiar with changes on the fly and working with all different talent levels. If he senses we have stars emerging, he'll exploit it.

Agreed on thw WR room, and this part of your post, in particular, is HUGE for helping with a young, ascending OL. In 2022, when the OL struggled in the first half of the season, it didn't help that we had Jack Coan, a pure pocket passer, trying to make plays from a disaster of a pocket.

At least RL can move, escape pressure, and extend plays. Not to mention the TE and RBs will be beneficial in the quick passing game to exploit over-aggressive pressures.

If we survive College Station and the OL improves/gels, sky is the limit.

 

[forkbeard3777]

A&M are largely good folks ... a little weird and cult-y, but affable.

I, honestly, like a little good natured ribbing as long as it's in good fun. A&M fans, however, really aren't like that. They're pleasant and they'll give you a "howdy" and all that shit...

The campus resembles a Russian Gulag. Remember, don't walk on the grass and don't wear your hat in the student union. Enjoy their marching band - easily one of the best, if not the best in my opinion. They've got some of the more unique traditions. Y'all will have a good time.

Go kick their ass.

 

[condoms SUCk]

Condoms,

Sorry for late reply. First, let me say that "Irish Dodger" is about the most ill- informed person possible when it comes to Texas A&M and hospitality.

You will probably, literally, not meet a fanbase more eager to make a good impression on its guests. We are friendly TEXANS, not SEC hicks and definitely not the liberal woke arrogant criwd from Austin. One of our nicknames is "Farmers" (you'll hear one yell we do often "Farmers Fight!! Farmers Fight! Farmers, Farmers, Fight!" " also "Squads Left! Squads Right! Farmers! Farmers! We're Alright!". We're goid people even as our student population explodes.

Thats a long detour for me to answer your question this way:

go to texags.com and post your tailgating question as a ND fan and you will be smothered with good suggestions and free offers- guaranteed

Thanks TxAg33, yup I made an account and posted the question, good responses so far.

 

[greyhammer90]

Don't walk on the grass and don't wear your hat in the student union.

(Do it.)

 

[greyhammer90]

Boys, we're gonna see a tunnel screen again. LFG.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Aka Caution Ramen, aka Danger Noodles....

There is a reason God turned the devil into a snake in the Bible.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I went to A&M for three years. College Station is a good town with great people. You will more than likely be treated very well unless you are dumb enough to show up in the bars running your mouth non-stop.

I do find it funny how sometimes northerners are so afraid of the south. Lived here all my life and wouldn’t have it any other way. Traveled all over but keep coming back to Texas.

I find it funny how sometimes folks assume where someone is from based on minimal information. For the record, I’ve lived in Arkansas most of my life. The Deep South is never confused w/ the Midwest.

Been to plenty of Razorbacks games home & away along w/ other SEC & ACC schools. Also been to ND home/away games. Most have been great experiences. Just going by what I’ve heard…fair or not. Carter Karels who covers TAMU & is an alum admitted that along w/ the size of Kyle Field & the chants that the liquored up fans make it more “nasty” for the opposing team. No it doesn’t mean that fans will be accosted but Karels also noted that Notre Dame is probably too nice.

Judging how sensitive TexAgs was I’m guessing College Station isn’t quite the Eden he portrays despite being a great campus w/ a rabid fanbase that’s mostly well behaved.

 

[Irishokie]

I’ve not heard anything bad at all from Aggies here about the upcoming game. Yall should be fine.

Ok, Brian Kelly.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Yeah, at least Pendleton has had one year in weight and strength training. A 17 or 18 year old kid fresh from high school lined up against 21 and 22 year olds who have been on an intensive weight training and nutrition program, generally speaking, isn't a "fair fight." There's always exceptions to the rule, however. If you're good enough, you're good enough. Let's hope that's the case.

Knapp is 18 and Scourton (A&M DE) is 20. Your point is valid though

A few things Knapp has going for him vs most true frosh is he played really good competition in high school, and he has been a weight room junky for awhile, so very strong.

 

[ND7983]

Did Georgia not have a ton of talent sitting that one out?

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

Not that game.
That was the team that won the next 2 national titles.
All their talent was sophomores & juniors & were coming back so they didn’t sit out.
Look at the DL for UGA who played in that game. Six of them are in the NFL now.

 

[ND7983]

My understanding is the DE that transferred from Purdue is both of those things.

I’m guessing, and predicting, Dembrock is going to run the read option directly at him to slow him down. Chip him with a TE, & run motion & sweeps wide at him.
All those things slow down a pass rusher.
I personally would have Leonard run option with Love right at him.