Texas A & M Basketball - Gig'em with Bo Swayze

11/24/2025

🏀 Aggies Prove Once Again That Being an Aggie is Great, Even From a Distance (A Very, Very Cold Distance)

By: An Aggie Who is Definitely Not Crying About the Montana Snow

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (But I'm in Billings, Montana, and my 'yell' is currently just a whisper because the air is below freezing) — Well, another Friday night, another completely shocking blowout victory for the Texas A&M men's basketball team. Who could have possibly predicted that our plucky little squad (currently 4-2, which is practically undefeated if you only count the games we win) would roll over the Manhattan Jaspers? I mean, it was only a 109-68 victory. We barely squeaked by!

And I got to follow along from the comfort of my, shall we say, rustic Montana cabin, where the closest I get to 'College Station' is seeing the maroon stain on my coffee mug. But that’s fine. I’m an Aggie. I’ll "stand for the BTHOs" from anywhere, even if "BTHO" currently stands for "Be Tucked Hibernate Outside" given the weather.

The Dominguez Dynasty (Or Just a Really Good Night)

Let's talk about the real hero of the night, Rubén Dominguez. The sophomore dropped 30 points, which is impressive, but the way he did it is truly peak Aggie: All of his points came from behind the 3-point line. He went 10-of-14 from downtown, shattering the program record for 3-pointers.

It’s almost like he saw the two-point area and thought, "Nah, that’s where the other guys score. I’m going for the high-risk, high-reward option, because I’m an Aggie and we like to make things dramatic." Seriously, Rubén, next time just walk the ball down the court and launch it from the opposing team's bench. You clearly have the range. We’re so proud! But also, I'm slightly worried about your depth perception, son.

A Sarcastic Salute to the Squad

• Marcus Hill chipped in 19 points off the bench, which is exactly what we need. It's important to have someone come in and continue the beatdown with the fresh legs. Think of it as a quality relief pitcher coming in during the ninth inning of a 9-0 game to throw the final strike. Crucial work.

• Rylan Griffen added 17, and Jacari Lane 12. Excellent, excellent work contributing to the "everybody gets a trophy" scoreline.

• Rashaun Agee grabbed 10 rebounds. He was just being polite, making sure Manhattan had to watch us score on the second and third chances, too. It’s all about manners.

  
  

The final margin was 41 points. Manhattan, bless their hearts, was led by Terrence Jones with 13. When your leading scorer can’t even match the point total of one of our bench players and is 17 points behind our record-breaker, you know you’ve had a rough night.

History Repeats Itself, But Louder

The Jaspers trailed the entire game, and our 19-5 second-half run was apparently what "buried" them. You know, just in case they were still holding onto hope after the first half ended with a 20-point deficit. We were just tying up the burial bag, so to speak.

And here’s the best part: We previously beat Manhattan in the Old Spice Classic in 2010. The score back then? 74-45. It’s comforting to know that our program’s goal for beating the Jaspers over the last 15 years has been to score exactly 35 more points. It's all part of the master plan, folks. We plan our increases in victory margin years in advance.

Anyway, I’m going to go pour myself some more coffee and try to find my maroon parka. Gig 'Em, Aggies! Keep crushing the competition while I crush this existential dread caused by a perpetual state of winter. 

Oh and just because I write for basketball...doesn't mean this former football player has ignored the other sports....

BEAT THE HELL OUT OF THE T-SIPS !!!!! Gig'em!!!!!

Brother Bo

Beat The Hell Out of t.u.!

11/19/2025

Texas A&M vs. Montana: A Mountain Man's Guide to Surviving Aggie Basketball Anxiety 😂

86-81: The Night Montana Nearly Broke Aggie Hearts (and My Remote Control)

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, TX – Well, my fellow maroon-blooded Montanan, we did it. Texas A&M men's basketball secured a glorious, albeit medically-unadvisable, 86-81 victory over the mighty Montana Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

As an Aggie marooned in a land where the only thing bigger than the mountains is the collective shock when it snows before Halloween, this game was supposed to be my moment of quiet, confident pride. A warm, fuzzy W to counter the cold, fuzzy air. Instead, it was a 40-minute anxiety attack punctuated by two very different teams playing four completely different games.

The First Half: Howdy, Y'all! We're the SEC!

The first half was a beautiful, sun-drenched Texas afternoon of basketball. The Aggies shot the lights out—we're talking 71% from the field! We built a comfortable 14-point lead at halftime, and I, naturally, texted all my Montana friends something smug about the superiority of the SEC's hardwood over the Big Sky’s... or maybe it was just a picture of Reveille. Point is, the victory felt inevitable.

My inner monologue: "See, Montana? That's what a program with a dedicated Yell Practice budget looks like! We're going to win by thirty! Gig 'Em!" I was practically whistling "The Spirit of Aggieland" while polishing my spurs (a purely symbolic, Montanan-Aggie tradition, of course).

The Second Half: The Grizzly Bear Woke Up, and So Did My Ulcer

Then, the second half started. And that's when the Grizzlies, bless their snow-loving hearts, remembered that in Montana, you don't quit just because you're down 19 points with seven minutes left. You just get madder and start throwing things.

Specifically, they started throwing three-pointers. Money Williams (yes, that’s his name, and he earned every penny of it in this half) became a walking, talking inferno, scoring 18 of his 22 points in a furious late-game rally.

The Grizz, who apparently used the 19-point deficit as a personal motivator, went on a run so terrifying it could only be described as a runaway Big Sky avalanche. They hit their last twelve field goals! My comfortable lead evaporated like a snowdrift in July.

I went from calmly sipping my ice cold Miller High Life to standing on my couch, yelling incomprehensibly at the television, possibly alarming the local elk population. The score went from 73-54 to 81-80 in what felt like the time it takes to say "Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!"

🐻 The Grizzly Comeback Code: When down by 19, just hit every 3-pointer until the opponent’s mascot sweats through its fur.

The Climax: A Free Throw Line, a Turnover, and a Sigh of Relief

The final nine seconds were a study in pure, unadulterated basketball panic. Montana got within one point (81-80), and my heart tried to escape my chest cavity.

But here’s where the Aggie Spirit—or maybe just the sheer pressure of not losing to a team from a state where a bison is a traffic hazard—kicked in. The Aggies, bless their exhausted souls, were absolute ice men at the free throw line, sinking 9-of-10 attempts in the final stretch.

The game was ultimately sealed when Montana committed a turnover in the dying seconds. It was a chaotic, beautiful, messy win, clinched by the most Aggie of ways: grinding it out with defense and free throws.

Montana-Aggie Post-Game Feelings

I'm now physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. I simultaneously want to send a congratulatory "Gig 'Em!" text and a consolatory, "Y'all still got the better mountains!" note.

To my fellow Aggies: Never, ever take a 19-point lead for granted. To the Montana Grizzlies: You are terrifying. Please go back to scaring hikers, not my basketball team.

But hey, a win is a win! I’ll take the victory, and now I’m going to go drink some hot cocoa and start planning how to build a Reed Arena-themed snow fort. BTHO everyone!

Brother Bo

11/16/2025

The Texas A&M Aggies: Masters of the False Dawn

Bryan-College Station, TX – If you attended the Texas A&M Aggies Men's Basketball game against the UCF Knights on November 14th, you witnessed a performance that can only be described as a masterclass in the psychological art of "getting one's hopes up, only to be violently hurled back to reality."

The game, which UCF ultimately won 86-74, started promisingly enough for the Aggies. A&M and UCF played a friendly game of "You score, I score, wait, we're tied?" for the first half, ending at a perfectly symmetrical 30-30. It was basketball's version of a perfectly hung picture frame—nice, neat, and utterly non-committal.

The 14-Point Aggie Mirage

Then came the second half. Oh, the second half. Texas A&M, in a stunning and utterly uncharacteristic burst of competence, went on an 11-0 run and established a glorious 14-point lead! The 12th Man was roaring. The "Bucky Ball" era was delivering on its promise of fast-paced, high-octane offense. For a brief, shining moment, it seemed as if the Aggies had somehow stumbled upon the winning combination for a safe in a heist movie.

However, much like a diet that starts on a Monday, A&M's commitment to winning dissolved faster than a free sample at Costco.

The UCF "Wait, Did I Leave the Stove On?" Surge

Enter the UCF Knights. They looked at the 14-point deficit and essentially shrugged. We assume their coach told them, "Don't worry, they're A&M—just wait a minute," and the team took it literally.

The Knights proceeded to unleash a scoring spree that was less of a run and more of a spontaneous combustion. In the final 12 minutes of the game, UCF casually outscored the Aggies 46-22. That's not a shift in momentum; that's a full-scale, late-game personality transplant for both squads.

The Aggies' late-game strategy appeared to be based on the novel idea of letting UCF sharpshooters Jordan Burks (who had a career-high 21 points, with 5 three-pointers) and Carmelo Pacheco (5-of-6 from deep) have a three-point contest, which they aggressively lost.

In the end, the Aggies were left staring at a 74-86 defeat, wondering where their 14-point lead went. It likely went out for a nice dinner and a movie with UCF's scoring efficiency, and they sent a postcard saying, "Wish you were here, but we're doing great!" The Aggies' loss served as a crucial reminder to all fans: in college basketball, a double-digit lead is a mere suggestion, and for the Texas A&M Aggies, a second-half lead is often a beautifully wrapped gift box... that only contains a receipt for heartbreak.

Brother Bo

11/13/2025

The Aggies Found the Rim, But it Wasn't for Love

STILLWATER, Okla. — The Texas A&M Aggies came into Stillwater for a Sunday matchup against Oklahoma State, riding high on a two-game winning streak. They left on the back of a runaway train called "the Cowboys' offense," which, it turns out, is a more effective method of transportation than whatever the Aggies were doing with the basketball.

In a game where Texas A&M shot a respectable 82.7% from the free-throw line, a basketball fundamental that even the most timid gym class participant can master, the rest of their performance was... less conventional. The Aggies shot a paltry 32% from the field and an even more miserable 9-for-35 from beyond the arc. To put that in perspective, a professional fisherman would have a higher shooting percentage in a hurricane.

Oklahoma State, on the other hand, treated the game like an open buffet of baskets. The Cowboys, featuring 12 newcomers including seven transfers, looked like a team that had been together for years, and not a group of strangers who just met at a bus stop. Their ball movement was crisp, their shooting was solid, and their bench put on an absolute clinic in the first half. Meanwhile, A&M's bench looked like they were waiting for a taxi that never arrived.

Perhaps the Aggies were simply blinded by the newness of the Cowboys' roster. "Wait, who is that guy? And that guy? Do we even have a scouting report for these new guys?" one Aggie player was reportedly heard whispering to a teammate. "I think one of them is the guy who serves me coffee every morning."

Marcus Hill was the sole Aggie in double-digit scoring with 14 points, while the Cowboys had five players in double figures. It was like watching a one-man band perform a concert while a full orchestra played in the background. Hill, to his credit, gave a valiant effort, but it was like bringing a water pistol to a fire hose fight.

In the end, the Cowboys won handily, 87-63, and the Aggies were left to ponder their performance. Did they learn a valuable lesson? Probably. Did they have a little bit of fun playing basketball? Unclear. Did they finally make it back on the bus to go home? That, at least, seems likely. Bo Swayze

11/7/2025

Reed Arena Report: Aggies Beat Texas Southern, But Only After a Collective Mid-Game Existential Crisis

COLLEGE STATION, TX – The Texas A&M Aggies defeated the Texas Southern Jaguars 104-70 on Thursday night at Reed Arena, but the final score only tells half the story—the half where the Aggies finally woke up and remembered how to play basketball. The first half, as is customary for an Aggie non-conference game, was a masterpiece of tension, missed shots, and synchronized student-section panic.

The game started with the Aggie student section, the legendary Reed Rowdies, perfecting their traditional pre-game performance: pretending to read their newspapers (presumably The Battalion) while the opposing team's starting lineup was announced. The unspoken message: "We are so unconcerned with you, we're catching up on local news."

Texas Southern, apparently offended by the journalistic snub, proceeded to build a lead, baffling the Aggies and the faithful in attendance. At one point, with A&M trailing 23-17, the offense looked like they were shooting with a blindfold on and a hand tied behind their back. Aggie fans began to speculate on Reddit that there was "something wrong with the basket on that side of the court," a popular local conspiracy theory that pops up whenever a shot doesn't go in.

The "Brick! Brick!" chant, typically reserved for an opponent's egregious air ball, was dangerously close to being turned on A&M's own players. The Aggie bench, meanwhile, was reportedly running out of towels to nervously wring.

Then, at halftime, something clicked. Was it a rousing speech from Coach Bucky McMillan? A detailed schematic adjustment? Or maybe someone just yelled "Free pizza!" and the Aggies mistook the basket for the delivery driver. Whatever it was, A&M came out firing in the second half, unleashing a blistering 20-4 run that turned the "Sickos Game" into a predictable Aggie romp.

The Reed Rowdies, sensing the shift, were now in peak form. Every Texas Southern foul was met with the synchronized finger-point and the five-time scream of "You!" Every Texas A&M three-pointer saw the entire section jump on the count of three. When Texas Southern called a timeout—a desperate plea to stop the bleeding—the crowd immediately began the classic, mocking chant of "Chairs! Chairs! Chairs!" directed at the student managers scrambling to bring out seating.

By the time the Aggies cracked the 100-point mark on a three-pointer, the only real suspense left was how many different players were going to get in on the action (12, it turned out).

In the end, it was a dominant victory for the Aggies, but not without giving the fanbase a collective, two-hour anxiety attack first. Aggie basketball: It's rarely easy, but it's almost always entertaining.

The Aggies will return to Reed Arena... after all of us recover from the first half.

11/3/2025

Aggies Unleash "BuckyBall" on the Demons: A Report From the Bleachers!

Well folks, buckle up your belts and hide your grandmas, because the "BuckyBall" era at Texas A&M has officially begun, and it came in like a wrecking ball wearing maroon and white! The Fightin’ Texas A&M Aggies didn't just play their season opener against the Northwestern State Demons; they performed a 40-minute, high-energy exorcism right there on the sacred hardwood of Reed Arena.

In front of a packed house of 7,500 screaming (and probably slightly deafened) Aggies, the highly anticipated Frankenstein-like roster assembled by the master-mind himself, Coach Bucky McMillian, took the floor. McMillian, who apparently learned his coaching chops from a time-traveling version of Nolan Richardson, unleashed an immediate, full-court, caffeine-fueled assault. The intensity on display hasn't been seen since the invention of the double-shot espresso, or maybe since that legendary 1994 Arkansas squad.

The Game: A 40-Minute Carnival of Chaos

The game started, and the "BuckyBall" philosophy was clear: "40 minutes of Hell" is back, and it's brought a whole host of transfer portal stars and hotshot recruits with it. The Demons looked less like a threat and more like a collective deer caught in the headlights of a very fast, very aggressive maroon truck.

• Shooting: The Aggies were sizzling, hitting 49.5% from the field. Sure, they only went 11-31 from the arc, but that's what happens when you're too busy sprinting past the three-point line to dunk it.

• The Boards: A&M dominated the glass, pulling down 44 rebounds (including a staggering 17 offensive boards). It looked like the Aggies were rebounding their own shots just for fun, or maybe because they left their car keys under the basket.

• Defense: Northwestern State turned the ball over 16 times, which the Aggies promptly converted into 24 points. That's not just defense; that's a polite, organized robbery.

The Conclusion: Total Domination

By halftime, the Aggies had built a comfortable 56-35 lead. They didn't slow down after the break—they just kept the pedal to the metal, proving that Bucky McMillian subscribes to the school of coaching that believes a lead is just a suggestion to score more.

The final buzzer sounded, mercifully ending the Demons’ suffering, with a definitive 98-68 victory for the Aggies. Every Aggie got a chance to experience the BuckyBall magic (or madness), with the intensity remaining fierce until the very last tick.

The verdict? This could be a sleeper team, or it could be a total train wreck. But today, it was a blowout of epic, fast-paced proportions.

Next up, the Aggies welcome Texas Southern on Thursday, November 6th. Let's see if the BuckyBall express keeps rolling, or if they need to refuel after this 40-minute sprint!

3/14/2025

Well, it’s about time for big-time players to play BIGTIME! 

The #14 Fightin’ Texas Aggies vs the tu t-sips in the second round of the SEC tourney. The ‘sips earned the chance to get destroyed by beating Vandy. This is a chance the Ag’s to provide a five-finger throat punch and knock the ‘sips out of the NCAA tourney.

Well, the Ag’s failed to dispose of the ‘sippys and lost in double overtime 94-89.

In his final SEC Tournament game, Wade Taylor led the Aggies with 29 points on 17-18 free throw shooting to not only eclipse 2,000 career points at Texas A&M but become the all-time leading scorer in the SEC Tournament. In the end, it seemed that turnovers did the Aggies in, losing the battle 13-6. Losing Washington and Garcia due to fouls also hurt the team. The tough loss aside, the Fightin’ Texas Aggies are still guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament, and the team will now await to see what their final seeding is. So get some rest gentleman. Gig’em!

3/10/2025

The # 22 Fightin’ Texas A&M Aggies came into Tuesday night’s game vs #1 Auburn on a 4 game skid needing to prove something. That they did. A&M never trailed the tigers the entire game and rolled on to a 83-72 victory at Reed Arena.

This was the Aggies first-ever win over a #1 ranked team and the rowdy crowd of 12,257 surely showed the country the true spirit of The 12th Man.

This might be the Aggies best complete game of the year and did what they do best, crashing the offensive boards and had a 24- 9 advantage over Auburn. Hopefully they can carry this momentum to the final regular season game against the kittys of LSU and into the SEC Tourney.

After the game, Texas A&M sent Taylor IV's No. 4 jersey to the rafters at Reed Arena, where only Acie Law IV has hung for years. There’s something special about #4 in Aggieland!

Last game of the SEC regular season sees #22 Texas A&M Aggies visiting lsu kitties at Baton Rouge, LA. It was a slug fest in the being that played right in to the Ag’s playbook. They flat out wore the kitties down. When the team decided to clamp down the boards, it was over, out rebounding the kitties 42 – 27.

Wade Taylor IV finished with 17 pts, bringing his 4-year total to 1,999. 

Solid win going into the SEC tourney- please give us those t-sip from tu- horns down! Gig’em!

3/3/2025

Well the losing streak continues to 5 in a row as Texas A&M continues to battle down the stretch heading into the SEC Tourney and March Madness.

 #12 A&M loses to Vandy in a close one 86-84 @ Reed Arena and then to #3 Florida 89-70 in Gainsville that was never close.

 We are going in the wrong direction and need to show some huevos against #1 Auburn on Tuesday and finish strong against LSU. Gig’em!

2/24/2025

The #7 Texas A&M Aggies went on the road to Starkville, MS  to play at the best named arena in the nation. Unfortunately, The Ags didn’t get over “The Hump” vs Miss St in The Battle of the Maroon.

The Bulldogs started off strong jumping out to a 15-8 lead with the Ags closing with a 10-0 run before the half to take a small 31-30 halftime lead.

The second half was horrible with the Ags going on a 4 minute scoring drought and losing 70-54. 

The Saturday game was supposed to be a battle of 2 of the SEC best defenses with # 6 Tennessee visiting the #7 Fightin’ Texas Aggies at Reed Arena in an early match-up. Now with it being National FFA week, I was swamped with Blue Jackets and kept my phone on the game during our events here in Montana. 

Ag’s started strong with a dunkfest the first few minutes which was impressive but as the game went on I could tell we play better at night, geez. Vols up 36-32 at the half. 

The Ags battled hard in the second half even tying it up with 4:37 left in the game at 57 but they couldn't get over the tenacious Tenn D to close this one out. Ags lose again 77-69. 

Back to the drawing board for Vandy on Wed night!

2/17/2025

Early morning game with the piggies from Arkansas visiting Reed Arena vs the #8 Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday. This was definitely an ol’ fashion SWC Brawl from the beginning. Ags started slowly, probably waking up early after a night at the Dixie Chicken. Pigs went up 8-0 by beating the Ags at their own game- crashing the boards and lots of fouls and wrestling.

Aggies went on a 9-0 run to close out the half leading 33-25. Wade Taylor IV starting warming up by in the second half and is now the all -time leading score in school history with more records to fall before the end of the season.

Aggies defense woke too outscoring the piggys 22- 7 on points off of turnovers. Arkansas did get as it to 50-50 tie until the The Fightin Farmers went on another 9-0 run and finished off the game with a 69-61 victory. The Aggies have now won 20 or more games the last 4 seasons in The SEC and look forward to Miss St up next. Gig’em!

2/13/2025

Lots of hype set up #10 Texas A&M @ #15 Mizzou on Saturday’s match up so it was probably the Game of the Week. Aggies had only one game this week after a brutal January schedule and had a day off to rest and to think about the tigers.

The Ags started on a 12-0 run as” Miss U” couldn’t hit anything. The kitties eventually found their shot and with a couple of runs got it close with the Ags closing the first half with a 38-29 lead. Both Taylor IV and Payne had gotten into foul trouble and had to sit awhile as Mizzou clawed back into it with a 12-0 run themselves to tie it 64-64 with 9.8 secs left in the game.

But as we have seen all year long, big time players make big time shots. Taylor IV nails a 3 with 2.1 seconds left in the game and the Fightin' Farmers from College Station Walk out of Columbus with the W.

Then on Tuesday, a depleted Georgia Bulldog team came to town as the #8 Aggies were licking their chops. Well, it didn’t start like the Ags wanted to as Georgia came out on FIRE. Dismal shooting by A&M (23%), a ½ step slower on D and lack of intensity led to a Bulldog lead at the half 32-23.

This was definitely a tale of 2 halves. The Aggies' elite defense held the Pups scoreless for nearly 15 total minutes and allowed only 15 points in the second half. The Ags went on a 22-0 run showing their potential even when things aren't going as planned. The Fightin’ Farmers win 69-53. Bring on the Piggy’s as Texas A&M hosts Arkansas on Saturday.

2/2/2025

Great week for the Texas A&M Aggies with two big SEC conference wins against the spooners of Oklahoma and the fighting chickens of South Carolina. Playing in the nation's most physical conference, these are the games we need to win with March Madness right around the corner.

The Ags started Tuesday night facing the spooners in College Station. We really need to get that bad taste out of our mouths from the horrible loss to the sippy's in Austin.

It was BTHO Cancer night at Reed Arena with the crowd in a sea of pink, the team wearing home white jerseys with neon pink lettering and shoes. And always dressed to the T, Coach Buzz Williams also followed suit, literally dressed in pink. The dude is without a doubt the best dressed coach in basketball. Enough about wardrobes...on to the game.

Another physical game with the Ags dominating on the glass. Shooting only 27% from the field and a dismal 4 out of 24 from the 3 pt line kept the Okies in the game leading to only an Aggies 33-31 lead at the half. But did I mention that we DOMINATED the glass? The Aggies out rebounded OU 47-19 with A&M having 21 offensive boards. That is why the Fightin' Texas Aggies are AMERICA'S # 1 rebounding team.

OU tried to make it close at the end getting within 4 points but luck ran out when Wade Taylor IV made a 3point play to extend it back to 7. Henry Coleman III finished it off making 4 free throws in the final minute and sent the spooners packing back to Norman. The Ags also remembered how to shoot free throws for a change shooting 83% going 29-35 from the charity stripe.

Wade Taylor IV is now the 1st player in school history with 1400 points and 200 plus steals in his career with many more records to break before he is done.

Zhuric Phelps added 15 points and Coleman added 14 for the victory.

Solid win and and so proud to see the Aggie faithful honor the fallen and the survivors of breast cancer.... F&*K CANCER!!!!

Next up was a road trip to Columbia, SC to play the Fighting Chickens who have yet to win a conference game. I decided to watch the game at the American Legion Yellowstone Post 4 in Billings, MT which was incorporated by Congress in September 1919. Great place to watch basketball!

Sloppy start at the beginning of the game, with the Ags usings 15-0 run to go up 32-19 midway through the first half. Every time the chickens tried to make a run A&M answered.

The Aggies shot 60% from the field with SC only managing barely 40% and the Ags led 44-36 at the half.

 Wade Taylor went OFF from 3pt land going 5-6 for 15 points at the intermission .....And when I say "went off", I mean draining shots from the LOGO! I wonder how far out is too far out for Taylor IV???

Amazing range for this soon to be lottery pick.

Second half was more of the same. Texas A&M's 2-1-2 defense seemed to keep SC confused the entire game and every run the fighting chickens made the Ags answered. Sloppiness in the last minute made it close but another win for the Ags, 76-72. Taylor IV finished with 25, tying his career best night with 7 threes and clutch free throws down the stretch. Poor SC...0-9 in the conference.

Huge game is coming up next Saturday in the other Columbia...Missouri - home of my favorite Hooters. Gig' Em Ags !!! BTHO the MIZZU!

1/26/2025

It was quite a rollercoaster of a week for the Fightin' Texas Aggies, highlighted both with a remarkable win and a heartbreaking loss. I agree that it is best to address the disappointing blown lead first, as it was undoubtedly a tough pill to swallow given Coach Buzz Williams' extensive experience. 

So, after hanging out at the World Famous KGHL “The Mighty 790” studios getting some show prep ready for my shows this week, I Ubered over to Tiny’ Tavern and Casino here in Billings, Montana. 

And I must tell you about my new favorite hangout. This place is where all the Colorado fans hang out. Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies, and Avalanche. Great Sports Bar! And they have the BEST chicken wings I have ever had. I will elaborate on my extensive chicken wing resume another day. 

They also have an amazing drink called the ORANGE CRUSH. They sell more Smirnoff Orange Vodka than any place in the world at Tiny’s Tavern because of this drink. So, I have set the stage, “little Texas" themed bar, Chicken Wings, and Orange Crush... 

Perfect place to watch the Ag’s BTHO the t-sips!  

As Roger the owner changed the TV to the game, and Stuart refilled my 3rd Orange Crush...I was ready to go. 

The Ags looked ready to go too. Sloppy start for both teams but A&M got out to an 18 point lead with 57% from 3-pt world and out rebounded the sippys 21-9 at halftime. I was in heaven at the break and all I needed to decide was if I was going with Cajun or Regular with the wings. But as famous San Antonio sportscaster Dan Cook said one day, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings “  

And she wailed.... 

Well, the Ags got dusted in the second half. The t-sips played more physically and shot the ball better than A&M. It came down to a game winning basket with 3.7 left in the game... t.u. had their only lead of the game at the buzzer. The last time A&M had beat t.u. in Austin, Kelly Clarkson had just won American Idol, Spiderman was the #1 movie and Eminem had the #1 album- ----- 2002!!!!

GEEZ!!!! 

To say the least...I was not happy. So, I paid my tab, Thanked Roger, Stuart, and Colby for everything and Ubered myself home. Reflecting on the week, I did smile about our game vs OLD MISSY earlier in the week. Kinda the same story as the latter game, just reversed. 

Playing in Oxford, Mississippi,(Elvis's birth town and the only McDonalds with Elvis toilet paper), in front of a rowdy crowd, the Rebs jumped out to a big lead and the Fightin Texas Ags found a way to win this tough and grimy game by taking their first lead of the game with 13 seconds left and playing some great D in the closing seconds. I just wish we could have closed out the t.u. game that way. 

Bring on the spooners (OU) and the fighting chickens (South Carolina) next week. We need to play a couple of complete games and not half games. 

I will close by saying that these 2 games had more contact with them than some of the pro hockey games I have seen. So much so that I declare that the SEC is without a doubt the MOST physical league in the NCAA’s...fight me over it!!!  

1/19/2025

Well you never know ‘bout dem Texas Aggies. After we beat the hide off the hated T-sips from Austin by 20, I quit my job on Cape Cod. Perfect time to find a new gig. So I loaded up my Ram pickup, stuffed my 2 year cat, Sir Duke of Bozeman in my old gym bag and headed to Nashville to meet up with my fellow Aggie brother, Steve.

Now Steve hate’s watching basketball and is allergic to cats, so I knew if I wanted to watch the next game against the Sooners, I would have to be creative on this trip west. We decided to stop in Columbia, MO  after dealing with iced roads. So we picked out a hotel that was conveniently located right next to my favorite sports bar…Hooters. To my pleasure, they had all of the SEC schools banners hanging from the rafters EXCEPT the Sooners and the T-Sips. Loved it!  

The wings were hot and the brews were cold. They even let me play “The Aggie War Hymn” a dozen times on the TouchTunes without so much as a dirty look.  The girls even were all black instead of that ugly orange I was expecting… guess it’s a Mizzou thing.

Next morning I had decided the only way I could watch the Aggie game was to head to the Iowa / South Dakota border and treat my brother to a giant casino! He could play blackjack and I could cheer on the Fightin’ Farmers. I gave him some chips, and off I went to bet on the game. I took the Ags straight up, got a frosty beverage and settled in for the game. Well, after being down most of the contest, as much as 18 we rallied in the last minute to win.  I looked behind me and there was Steve shaking his head in disbelief. Then I cashed out my winnings and started planning the ‘Bama game.

The next day we headed to Wall Drugstore & Mount Rushmore and then headed to Deadwood. Another casino, amazing steakhouse and great live music.

I knew that the ‘Bama game was going to be a challenge. Wade Taylor IV has been out with injury and this was the first game between top 10 teams in College Station history. Well ‘Bama won, we lost to Kentucky a few days later and we finished off the roadtrip with a big win against the kitty’s from LSU. Big games this next week against Ol’ Miss and the t-sips in Austin.

What happened to Steve? Sent him home to Texas. Sir Duke has a new uncle (Steve has a nephew) and a new last name… Sir Duke of Billings…. Oh yeah… and I got my dream job! Gig’em