I have heard through the grapevine that Bill Byrne (A&M's AD) is in serious talks with Bobby Valentine to become A&M's new baseball manager. He was apparently seen shopping for a house in Pebble Creek (an affluent College Station neighborhood). George Horton's name is also being thrown around quite a bit. Personally, I think Bobby Valentine is a TERRIBLE choice. On the other hand, Horton would be a dream send. He is fresh off of a National Championship with Cal State Fullerton. Anyone have any thoughts?
I've been following this situation closely, and I have not seen Bobby Valentine's name mentioned once. I think whoever you heard this from is pulling your leg. The aggies' wet dream is to get Horton from Cal State Fullerton, but who knows if he's willing to uproot his high school aged daughters and move from Orange County to lovely Bryan-College Station. Another guy they want is the Arkansas coach, Van Horn, but he's not likely to leave his alma mater and their revamped program up there. I do think they made the right move in canning Mark Johnson though. The Aggies probably have the most financial resources in the state available for college baseball and the best fan support, yet this year they are probably the 6th best team in the state behind Rice, Baylor, Tech, TCU and UT Austin.
eh, this year the Coogs are down. I'd say that A&M is better than UH this year. In terms of who A&M will get, I think that Horton is a real possibility, as is one of the assistants at Nebraska. Other more remote possibilities (yet very capable coaches in my opinion) are Chris Rupp from Sam Houston and Rayner Noble from UH. The Aggies really, really want Horton though from Fullerton. He beat his predecessor at Fullerton, Augie Garrido, in the college world series last year to take the national championship.
I'm just stunned to find out that there exists an affluent neighborhood in College Station, TX. Who knew?
Kinda of splitting hairs here, but I would agree for the moment. For the record majority of our players are freshmen and sophmores.
Aaron Brown has the potential to be an excellent weekend starter for the Coogs. He pitched some very good games against Rice this season. The Coogs freshman class is pretty solid. The situation with Aggy is totally different -- they are in rebuilding mode.
How do you have a rebuilding mode in college sports? You don't. Rebuilding entails a process over several years to put the right pieces into place. Not available in college sports with a 4 year max. In colleges you get somebody who can recruit better players and utilize their talents within a scheme. You do not rebuild.
