Oct. 1, 2008

I hope those who were at Kyle Field last Saturday enjoyed Military Appreciation Day as much as I did. Football games are usually scheduled many years in advance. We thought playing the US Military Academy would be a great experience for our team and fans, and it turned out to be a great decision.

We have conducted a Military Appreciation Day many times, but this was the first time we hosted one of the service academies at the same time. Our staff worked hard in developing many of the aspects of the Military Appreciation Day. Something of this magnitude does not just happen. Director of Marketing Rob Stewart headed up a coordinated effort with many parties involved. Our thanks to Shady Groves, Jake Betty, Bill Byrne and Jason Crowley from the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. Also, our thanks to David Kipp and the Singing Cadets, Tim Rhea and the Aggie Band, and to Julie Baker from the Alamo Bowl.

We also worked closely with the US Military Academy in an effort to involve their cadets as much as possible. Our thanks to West Point's Christine Richardson, Jeffrey Graham and the West Point Black Knights Parachute Team.

Since Saturday, we've received many notes from the Army staff relating their appreciation for how they were treated at Texas A&M. They noted kindness demonstrated from various aspects of our gameday from parking lot attendants, to the Aggie Fan Zone, to stadium workers, and fellow fans. I offer the 12th Man a big tip of the hat for continuing to demonstrate the Aggie Spirit.

As for the game itself, I was pleased to come out with a win. But, I am concerned with the number of injuries our team has suffered especially to some of our veteran players at positions where we were already thin. However, it was good to see some less experienced players gain valuable experience. I believe this early playing time will continue to pay off in the future for us.

Congrats to true freshman defensive back Trent Hunter for being named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Trent received his first start last Saturday, and responded with a team-high 17 tackles, 11 of which were solo tackles. It seemed like Trent was around the football on every Army offensive play.

I'm looking forward to our game Saturday night in Stillwater, Okla., against Oklahoma State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and as the Big 12 announced last week, the game will not be televised.

I know a night game without television causes many in the Dallas-Fort Worth area concern because the strength of the radio station in Dallas which carries our games has a different signal strength at night. Click here for a complete list of the Texas A&M Sports Network affiliates. You can also listen to the game on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 121 and via our website at AggieAthletics.com.

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Our No. 7-ranked soccer team was unbeaten in two games over the weekend. We battled our friends in the state capital to a 0-0 tie in double overtime last Friday on their home field. I always want to win, but I was pleased with the result because our friends in the state capital have a veteran team which is ranked No. 7 in some polls, while we are young, talented, and ranked seventh in other polls. Each team received one-half point in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown. It was the first tie in the five year history of the State Farm Lone Star Showdown.

On Sunday, we shutout Baylor, 1-0. Congratulations to freshman Bri Young who scored our game-winner in Waco. She was selected to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Dyer posted her second straight shutout and her third of the season. Kelly was named National Soccer Coaches Association of America Player of the Week and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week.

This Friday, our team will host No. 12-ranked Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m. at the Aggie Soccer Stadium. Fans will have the opportunity to take photos with our Big 12 Championship trophies and the State Farm Lone Star Showdown trophy before the game.

Sunday, we host Oklahoma at 1:30 p.m. You can get tickets in advance by clicking here. Following the game, our team will hold an autograph session.

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Congratulations to our equestrian team for opening our new home with a win over Fresno State. Last Friday, our team hosted its first show at the Brazos County Expo Center in Bryan, and the facility is receiving very positive reviews. I'm excited to report we've extended our home winning streak to 11 shows over the last three years. This Friday, our team will be in Manhattan, Kan., to face Kansas State.

Today, the first ever Women's Intercollegiate Equestrian National Coaches Poll was released, and our team is ranked fourth

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It was a tough trip to Boulder, Colo., for our volleyball team last Saturday. After we won the first two sets against Colorado, and dropped the final three, I really felt for the players and coaches. This Saturday, we host Missouri at 6:30 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum. I hope many of you will be in attendance to support our team and coaches. We are hosting International Student Night, and are providing complimentary admission for members of our international student body.

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On Tuesday, our No. 13-ranked men's golf team finished 13th at the PING/Golfweek Preview at Inverness Golf Club the site of this year's NCAA Championship. Senior Bronson Burgoon led the Aggies by tying for 13th place overall after shooting one-over par.

Our women's golf team will be competing at the Lady Tar Heel Invitational this weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C.

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Good luck to our men's and women's cross country teams which will be running at the Notre Dame Invitational on Friday.

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Letters, we get letters. Let's answer some of your email.

Many of you have emailed me asking why we have scheduled kickoff for the Kansas State for 1 p.m.

Our game with Kansas State was not selected for television, so we will kickoff at 1 p.m. at Kyle Field on Oct. 11. Over the years, we have received more feedback about our football start times than almost any other topic. Needless to say, there is no consensus on this topic.

When one of our games is selected for television, we get feedback saying we should not allow television to dictate our start times because it's too early for some, too late for others, or does not work out with other family events scheduled for the day.

When we are not selected for television, we get feedback saying we should play at night, and just as many asking us to play during the day.

Shortly after I arrived in Aggieland, I worked with our staff and the 12th Man Foundation to develop kickoff times which would accommodate as many fans as possible, while being attentive to the Texas weather we have in August and September.

We decided when television does not select us for broadcast, we would play games in August and September at 6 p.m., and all other games at 1 p.m. This timing format would allow for better conditions at Kyle Field when the heat stress is an issue early in the season. Later in the season for conference play, an earlier start would better accommodate our fans who travel longer distances. Plus, the weather is more desirable after September.

I asked Team Meteorologist Troy Kimmel to research the average temperatures in our area during mid-October. Troy says our average temperature on the second Saturday in October is a high of 84 degrees and a low of 61 degrees. Based on the data, it should be very comfortable day for our fans next Saturday at Kyle Field.

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Some fans have asked me about offering the Kansas State game via pay per view. There are a variety reasons why pay per view is not a viable option.

One issue involves possible start times because a pay per view game must happen outside of the other Big 12 games being televised. Next week, Big 12 games are being televised at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. I'm confident few fans are eager to have breakfast or a midnight snack at Kyle Field to accommodate a pay per view audience.

The other reason we don't offer our home games for pay per view is because of lost revenue.

Let's go inside the numbers concerning pay per view.

Last week, I wrote about the revenue generated from the Big 12 Television Contract. Being on television for the Kansas State game would have generated between $160,000 and $315,000 depending on which network selected us.

Pay per view is not a financially viable solution. FSN, which has the rights for pay per view contests in our league, receives 50 percent of the revenue after it covers all expenses. The remaining 50 percent is split evenly between the two teams competing. The last time we hosted a game for pay per view, we received a check for $15,000.

At the same time, being on television while not selling out Kyle Field creates some revenue challenges. When one of our games is selected for television, many times we see reduced numbers of folks wanting to purchase our remaining seats or choose not use their tickets on gameday. Instead they choose to watch the game via television. The payment from the Big 12 does not always equal the revenue we ultimately miss at Kyle Field.

When Kyle Field starts selling out on a season ticket basis I will be open to pay per view broadcasts when feasible.

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My inbox has also been filling with concerns about our games not being on television and how it could affect recruiting. Because of the large media markets we are located near, we are on television many times during the season. At the same time, because of where College Station is located, and considering the areas we primarily recruit from, what I am seeing is a large majority of our recruits are at our home games. Many of our recruits are making the short drive to Kyle Field to see our unique gameday experience in person because the majority can travel to campus in less than three hours. I'm not discounting the value of the exposure having our games on television provides. At the same time, I share the view with our coaching staff that having a recruit experience our campus and games in person is one of the most important aspects of the entire recruiting process.

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One alert fan emailed me this week asking why the 2009 football schedule starts a week later next year.

The NCAA mandates when each sport may play its first contest (game or scrimmage) based on where Labor Day falls on the calendar. No games or scrimmages may happen prior to the Thursday before Labor Day in the sport of football. This also affects the bye week we've had for many years before our Thanksgiving week game with our friends from the state capital. Next year would have been one of those years when 12 games would not have been allowed had the rule not changed to allow 12 games every year regardless of the number of weeks available in the season. The old rule allowed 12 football games during those years in which there were 14 Saturdays from the first possible playing date through the last playing date in November (2008, 2013, 2014 and 2019).

You can find next year's football schedule by clicking here.

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Several of you have written me asking what can be done about people who conduct protests or exercise free speech near our stadium on game day. Many of you who emailed me do not want to hamper other citizen's right to free speech. However, you have concerns about the ability to distribute free speech via a bullhorn. I am concerned too.

The response we've received from legal counsel and law enforcement says the expressive activity can happen with a bullhorn because we are using amplified sound in the Aggie Fan Zone with our radio and television shows, and from other interactive vendors.

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Last week, I received a memo from the NCAA documenting their concerns with rapidly increasing travel costs as it relates to participation in NCAA Championships.

Newspapers and television seem to have daily reports on rising airfares and surcharges, while the airlines are reducing the number of flights and seats available.

A majority of invitations to participate in postseason NCAA Championships are awarded within seven days or less of the NCAA Championship happening. Because many sports have large travel parties, and because travel arrangements for NCAA Championships are made at the last minute, more prudent travel cost management must happen.

The NCAA has conducted a comprehensive Travel Cost/Capacity study and made several recommendations to the legislative bodies of the NCAA membership.

Among the recommendations the NCAA staff has offered are:
Announcement selection timing and departure from campus for the team, adjusting practice sessions to accommodate travel, avoiding cities with high travel costs, and further adjusting brackets to encourage less flying to championships.

They are also considering adjusting bracketing to place regional sites more geographically regardless of seeding, and in some sports eliminating the rule which attempted to avoid conference match-ups early in the bracket.

The NCAA is also recommending an amendment to their policy on reimbursement for extra bags and equipment. They project a possible $1.5 million expense in baggage surcharges. The NCAA is also exploring options to ground ship some equipment for participants.

During the 2007-08 athletic season, the NCAA spent $42.6 million in travel expenses relating to NCAA Championships in all three divisions. It was a 52.6 percent increase in its travel expenses over the past three years.

Last year in Division I, the NCAA spent nearly $29 million in travel expenses for the championships, which was an increase of 58 percent over the last three years.

Increased travel expenses affect us at Texas A&M in a significant way throughout the year. We are talking with our coaches and looking at how we build our schedules. I am encouraging our coaches to schedule more home games, and play road games much closer to Aggieland.

One example is in early spring, Aggieland is a destination because of our weather. Other schools are willing to come to us to avoid the unfavorable weather in their area. We should make sure we are taking advantage of it in our scheduling.

Our travel expenses at Texas A&M make up nine percent of our annual budget. That amount has increased 20 percent since last year. In fact, travel expenses rank fourth in our budget behind salaries/wages, scholarships, and debt service.

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Hope to see you in Stillwater on Saturday night.