In Response...

Brad at The12thManchild (heavily endorsed by Every True Son) recently posted a link to a Big 12 Preview by The Battalion, the student newspaper at Texas A&M.

Brad called out the paper for setting off what he so aptly titled his "bullsh!t alarm." After reading what "The Batt" had to say about Mizzou this season, I can't help but agree. Here's what the preview said about Missouri:

"Missouri had one of the best defenses in the Big 12 in 2006, allowing 17.9 points per game, but some losses on that side will hurt the Tigers. Quarterback Chase Daniel is returning, however, and he had a standout year as a sophomore. The offense should be good, but the Tiger defense won't be able to stop anyone. A difficult preseason schedule at Illinois and Mississippi State will leave the Tigers tenderized heading into Big 12 season.
6-6 overall, 3-5 Big 12, 4th in Big 12 North

One of the Big 12's best defenses? Yes, it was the best in the country after the Colorado game FIVE GAMES INTO THE SEASON, but calling the squad one of the best might be a stretch - no matter what the numbers say.

What makes that statement worse is the fact that he called the defense "one of the best" in the Big 12 in 2006, but he classifies the Tigers' offense in 2007 as merely "good." Anyone think that should be flipped?

Additionally, the writer had Mizzou at 6-6, and 3-5 IN THE BIG 12. Are you joking? Most publications have Mizzou at 9-3 or 8-4 overall and no worse than 6-2 or 5-3 in the Big 12. Perhaps the writer forgets that of the six teams on Mizzou's schedule that he has ranked higher, only three games are away from home: Kansas State and Oklahoma on the road and Kansas at a neutral site. Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Nebraska all come to Missouri. Five losses is a worst case, kicked ball, Tyus Edney, fifth down-type of scenario.

And does anyone really think the Tigers will be "tenderized" by the NON-CONFERENCE (note he called it preseason - is this the NFL?) schedule this season? The Batt's esteemed writer even goes 0-2 talking about the first two games, as Mizzou is not "at Illinois" but rather playing at a neutral site, and he also has the Tigers slotted for a trip to play Mississippi State. Last time I checked, Missouri was planning to play Ole Miss in Oxford, so the trip to play Sylvester Croom's Bulldogs as MSU is news to me. And even if that was the case, would playing two teams that were a combined 5-19 in 2006 count as "tenderizing" (poor choice of words aside)? As it is, Illinois and Mizzou's actual opponent (Ole Miss) went 6-18 last season. Will these games be tough? Indeed. But tenderizing? I am speechless.

Maybe the writer spent too much time at College Station's famed Dixie Chicken and enjoying too much grass from the leaders in agriculture, but this is just too much. Maybe it's harsh to come down like this on a school that can't decide whether or not it wants to maintain a journalism program (they just recently decided to bring back the program they discontinued a few years back). But for an Aggie not to know college football seems like pure heresy in Aggieland.

So am I overreacting? Or did the Battalion just make Every True Son's eternal sh!tlist? To read the entire article, click here.