Top 5 Stories of the Offseason (cont.)

The offseason had a lot of interesting stories. I'm counting down the 5 most noteworthy. My criteria: Whatever I remembered, I wrote about. You'll find the top 2 stories here.

#2 Chase Holbrook

Boy, oh boy this could be very exciting – Chase is looking to build upon his breakout 2006 season, and stake claim to every Aggie passing record in just his junior year.

In addition, this offseason Chase garnered himself plenty of media attention. He is on the Manning Award watch list, as well as being listed for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. But wait, there’s more. He’s even being mentioned as a long shot Heisman candidate.

That guy is pretty good, if you like 6’5” 240lbs quarterbacks, with a laser-rocket arm.

That’s pretty impressive for a junior at a school with almost no football tradition. Does he have a chance at any of these awards? They are paper-thin at best. He’s not even the best quarterback in the WAC. Some punk from Hawai'i claims that honor.

#1 And So… It Begins

Our rivals were chomping on the bit when Reggie left. They said there goes Herb Pope. There goes your pipe dream of Sweet 16’s and beyond. Reggie used and abused you.

Well the eggs landed not in Las Cruces. Nope. They are over the faces of fans in Reno, Provo (or some other town nobody cares about in Utah), Albuquerque, and El Paso. NMSU got the last laugh for once.

Starting a coaching search in June was not ideal, but Dr. McKinley Boston was prepared. He wasted little time formulating a list of candidates – that at one point even included a mystery candidate (and I always say to take whats in the box)– and when the dust settled Marvin Menzies remained standing.

I, for one, welcome our new basketball overlord.

*It's worth noting that Menzies took over Theus's old job at Louisville, before taking over his old job at NMSU.*

Menzies has already been worth the hire. He retained Assistant Coach Chris Pompey, who has crucial recruiting ties to the east coast. He retained, in it’s entirety, the class recruited by Theus. That alone would have justified the hire. Howev-ah, he brought in Wendell McKines, a three-star highlight reel from San Francisco for the 2007-2008 (he took Nelsons scholarship). This propelled NMSU's 2007-2008 incoming class to #18 in the nation, according to collegehoops.net.

I’m pleased to say it didn’t stop there. He also lined up two talented walk-ons. 7-foot Hamidu Rahman, and four-star talent Troy Gillenwater will sit out the upcoming season. Both players should be on scholarship and contributing for the 2008-2009 season.

It seems, at least for now, those pipe dreams are realistic expectations. I have faith Menzies, with good reason, won’t disappoint.

Well enough with the old news. The offseason is OVER. Praise Jebus. Kickoff is only hours away, and I can barely contain my erection excitement. GO AGGIES!

JUMP

Top 5 Stories of the Off-season

The offseason had a lot of interesting stories. I'm counting down the 5 most noteworthy. My criteria: Whatever I remembered, I wrote about. You'll find 3/5ths of the list here. The top two stories will be posted later in the week.

#5 Smarty Pants from Da U transfers to NMSU

Rhyan Anderson was a highly rated defensive lineman coming out of high school. He signed up at the University of Miami, but saw limited playing time. He graduated from Miami in three years, and will now be a graduate student at NMSU. This leaves him with two years of eligibility.

Was that dry enough for you? Look, I don’t know anything about the guy, but he has good size at 6-foot-5, 245 lbs. From all accounts he is aggressive and has speed off the line. Hopefully he helps a woeful pass rush. In all honesty though, I only gave him the spot because I want to know to know one thing -- What does he think of Ned?

#4 Tyrone Nelson - Convicted Pie Snatcher

He pleaded no contest to charges of beating down a pizza dude, then stealing a pizza and some wings. From Dominos no less! Tyrone baby, what are you thinking? Everybody knows if you are going to grab some free pizza you call up Pizza Hut.

Regardless, Nelson sealed his fate, and was kicked off of the basketball team. Nelson had an impressive run as an Aggie, and his loss will have a negative impact on the season. In his first season Nelson averaged 17.8 PPG and 8.7 RPG. An injured hand hampered his second season, but he played on all cylinders during the WAC Tournament. I have more to say, but I will post that later. For now…C’iest la vie Tyrone, next time don’t bring your brother and cousin along for the ride.

On the lighter side…AJ Harris, second WR on the depth chart, was also arrested. He was charged with getting his pimp on with the ex. They were later dropped.

#3 Fuck You, Billy Boy

Yeah that’s right I’m talking to you Billy Donovan. I blame you. You had to be a little pussy and crawl back to Florida. Why couldn’t you be a man, and go to the pros, suck it up like all the others of your ilk have, and then come back to the college ranks?

*clears throat*

Oh, excuse me. You probably have no idea what I’m ranting about. Let me explain.

Billy Donovan, former/current coach of the Florida Gators, had accepted (and signed!) a contract with the Orlando Magic. Ron Jeremy Stan Van Gundy was set to be named coach of the Sacramento Kings. Alls wells that ends well, que no? Well, in a word, no.

NBA Head Coach - Stan Van Gundy

Oops. Sorry Stan ... Mr. Van Gundy ladies and gentlemen.

Which brings me back to my point. With Donovan finding out he has no penis, he quickly backed out of his contract and bolted back to Gainesville. The Magic ran off with Van Gundy, and the Maloof brothers were left with their vaginas in their hand.

Have YOU seen my penis anywhere?

Now you may ask yourself; what does all this drivel have to do with NMSU? And all I have to say is; Fuck. You. This isn’t drivel; this shit is apt to NMSU. Because anybody who reads the sports page will know that those girly-men (Gavin and Joe Maloof) grabbed Reggie Theus right out from underneath NMSU. We never saw this coming! I mean a guy who from day one said that he was an NBA guy, taking an NBA job! The audacity of it all!

Honestly, Reggie’s departure was a season earlier than I expected. He, and his caveman brow, weren’t made for Las Cruces. And like I said, he said from day one he wanted to coach in the NBA. Donovan had nothing to do with that, by the way (especially that furrow brow). I think the Kings, as an organization, took a flyer on him as an NBA head coach, but that’s their prerogative. I’m actually looking forward to the preseason game between the Kings and the Mavs at the Pan American Center. I’ll get to shout out – Reggie! Reggie! Reggie! – for the last time.

Coaching: so easy a caveman could do it.

The silver lining – Opposing fans can no longer “hang” this kind of crap over our heads (except the whole robbing a pizza guy thing). Bad pun intended.

JUMP

Lets Start This Off..

You know there is very little in this world that I don’t find intriguing. However, very little of it excites me. I could see on CNN that we discovered a cure for cancer, and I would be amazed-- for several long seconds -- before seeing what’s on Comedy Central.

Then, there are sports. Nothing, not even a cure for cancer, will have me pacing around a room, rubbing my sweaty palms, and blurting out obscenities with no regard to the small children sitting in the area. It may not be the prettiest sight, but there is no controlling this. There is nothing more exhilarating than a come from behind victory, or a David vanquishing a Goliath.

You know what’s even better? When a team you cheered for since you were a little boy, excited you in this way.

The NMSU Aggies’ are that team for me. And their star is rising. The feeling here in Crimson Land is electrified. So much so, that is has compelled me to start this here site. I’ll focus primarily on the men’s teams in football and basketball. However, I’ll be all over the place, and you can expect to find some commentary you don’t wish to read. Screw you too.

With all that said, I’m hoping to have some fun covering the Aggies. I hope the readers are active and insightful. It will make my job easier, and I’m lazy. More importantly, I hope the readers flood my inbox with some sexy* NMSU girls (non-NMSU girls work jus as well), so I can decorate the site with.

Acceptable Picture. And yes these girls go to NMSU.

*No fat chicks.

JUMP