thebattalion ● friday,
december 2, 2011
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media
‘A true man’
Everybody in the front office are so fake I swear, come to us smiling all the time n sh*t then do this...
Sherman fired after 6-6 season
Offensive lineman Cedric Ogbuehi, @nuff_ced70
Adrian O’Hanlon III The Battalion
T
exas A&M fired head football coach Mike Sherman Thursday night after he led a preseason Top-10 Aggie team to a 6-6 overall, 4-5 Big 12 record.
“Mike Sherman has operated our football program with the highest levels of character and integrity over the past four seasons and has served as a great ambassador for Texas A&M University,” A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne said in a statement. “Mike always put the welfare of the student-athlete and Texas A&M first.” Byrne also said A&M will choose its interim head coach for its future bowl game after talking with coaches and players Friday. Jason Cook, chief communications officer for the A&M System, said Sherman’s one-year extension approved by the Board of Regents in July “has not been executed.” Cook said the original contract is still binding. “We’re looking at liquidated damages according to his initial contract, which would be about $5.8 million,” Cook said. “If he gets another job, professional or college, that would offset against Texas A&M’s obligation under the buyout.” Cook said the decision was made by University officials — likely Byrne and University President R. Bowen Loftin — without requiring final approval by the A&M System Board of Regents. “There’s been conversations, sure,” Cook said of Loftin discussing the decision with board members. “Board action is not required to terminate a football coach.” A source with close ties to the regents indicated that regent James Wilson was likely the most involved, saying Wilson often drives coaching and athletics decisions. See Sherman on page 5
Ups and downs ◗ 25-25 overall record at A&M ◗15-18 against Big 12
He brought me here, gave me my first big time offer, and taught me as well as my teammates important life lessons and helped us grow as men
opponents
◗ 0 bowl wins, 2 losses ◗ Led A&M to first ever Big 12 sweep of Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska in 2010
◗ A&M’s 2012 recruiting class is ranked No. 9 in the nation by ESPN, and includes 25 recruits of at least 3-star caliber. Running back Trey Williams, ranked 5 stars and No. 13 overall nationally, leads the pack.
Offensive lineman Patrick Lewis Jr., @P_Lewis30
Mike Sherman speaks during yell practice on Nov. 23. “Things just didn’t click exactly the way we wanted,” Sherman said of the season. “We’ve had ups and downs, peaks and valleys.”
Funny how all these decisions are made without thinking of the players. Funny how things work Wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu, @7sbackkkTX
Josh McKenna — THE BATTALION
Tracking a career 1978
1979-80
Stamford Worcester High Academy School (head (head coach) coach)
1981-82
1983-84
1985-88
Pittsburgh Tulane Holy Cross (grad (o-line coach) (o-line coach, assistant) offense coordinator)
1989-93
1994
1995-96
1997-98
1999
A&M (o-line coach)
UCLA (o-line coach)
A&M (o-line coach)
Green Bay Packers (tight ends coach)
Seattle Seahawks (offensive coordinator)
2000-05
Green Bay Packers (head coach)
2006-07
2008-11
Houston Texans (assistant head coach, offensive coordinator)
A&M (head coach)
SOURCE: AGGIE ATHLETICS
EDITORIAL
Mike Sherman deserved better
M
ike Sherman’s firing Thursday was nothing short of a fiasco, bungled by a leaky University administration that showed uncharacteristic ineptitude. There are appropriate ways to fire public figures and inappropriate ways. Thursday evening’s official announcement followed a textbook example of the latter. Before the Texas game, University President R. Bowen Loftin was quoted expressing support for Sherman, even that he was “look[ing] forward” to Sherman’s future at A&M. By Tuesday, Loftin was wavering — he was quoted saying he and Athletic Director Bill Byrne were “thinking hard” about the program’s future. Wednesday, it surfaced that administrators were
Pg. 1-12.02.11.indd 1
talking about possibilities for firing Sherman. By Thursday, A&M’s dirty laundry was displayed in media outlets across the state. A&M presented an administration unable to act decisively; a multimillion dollar football buyout mere months after faculty and staff cuts; a demoralized football program, limping into the Southeastern Conference without success or unity. The damage was unmanageable. By Thursday, the administration had crippled Sherman’s ability to maintain order in his program, leaving no choice but to part ways with the four-year head coach. What’s more, Loftin wasn’t even at A&M to deliver the news or handle the situation —
he was in Washington, D.C. Unbelievably, it gets worse. Media outlets reported Sherman’s ousting before Sherman knew, who was rumored to be recruiting in Houston. But the most disappointing aspect is beyond the University’s embarrassing public display. It’s one of honor, esteemed so highly by Aggie students and alumni. “Mike Sherman has operated our football program with the highest levels of character and integrity over the past four seasons,” Byrne said in a press release announcing Sherman’s firing as head coach. This wasn’t lip service. Sherman conducted his football program with class and dignity in an era during which football coaches have time-and-again
embarrassed their universities. Unfortunately, the A&M administration didn’t return the favor. Given his record, the decision to let Sherman go may have been the correct one, but the administration has some explaining to do about the manner in which it conducted the operation. During his final address to the A&M student body — at yell practice on Nov. 23 — Sherman demonstrated once more a fundamental understanding of what it means to be an Aggie. “It’s part of our Aggie culture. You’ve got to be able to pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and move ahead,” Sherman said. “And that’s part of being an Aggie.” He doesn’t wear an Aggie
Ring, but the man’s spirit is in line with the best of this University. Best of luck to Mike Sherman, wherever he goes. He deserved better from A&M.
EDITORIALBOARD The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor in chief having final responsibility. Robert Carpenter Editor in Chief senior applied math major Jared Baxter Managing Editor senior media studies major Adrian O’Hanlon III Sports Editor senior agricultural communications and journalism major
12/2/11 12:55 AM