Looks like women's roster was posted today...several more newcomers than I thought there might be...

Lotta new names - but no info on them. I know Emily Neal is an accomplished swimmer from Texas, but don't know much about the others. Is Alia Atkinson the new sprint breastroker?

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Nice to see some swimming discussion.

I'm not a swimmer but have been getting into it with a soon to be 11 year old swimmer in the family who attended his second Aggie Swim Camp this past summer. I taped the Pan Pacs but have yet to watch the whole two hours.

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Swimming is a great sport. My two boys have each been to swim camp at A&M twice now. I watched the 2nd broadcast of the PanPacs and it was great to see the men's 4x100 free relay. Awesome swims and I'm very impressed with Cullen Jones. Julia Wilkinson was in the 200IM finals - she swims for A&M and Canada.

I'm pretty sure Atkinson is the new sprint breaststroker...I'd bet they are working on updating the info as we speak...I can imagine things are crazy around the ath. dept. with it being the first week of school and all

Rose will continue through 2008 atleast, Sullivant has thrown in the towel. Rose and the coaches made the choice because they felt that was going to be the best way he could perform at this meet. (Since Pan-Pacs is just a prequel for Worlds)

Sturdy is still here, and will compete.

Did anyone care to see that Wilkinson swam amazing at Pan Pac's?

Hansen will have another great year, she just didn't do that much this summer due to her training. I know that may be a cop-out answer, but hey I know the girl... and from what your talking about no one on here does.

Men wise...

Granted the guys team is not as strong as the girls team will be this year. This is going to be considered a building year.. especially for the big incoming class of freshmen. Alot of out of country talent, and some guys in country that need to figure out what "swimming" really is.

Our 200 Flyer from Mexico will definatly be our newest hot spot, if he transfers to SCY as well as his LCM times say he will.

Jacobo will be a presence in the Breast again, especially after getting off a summer of training "down the street".

Strange from H-town is load of talent waiting to be unleashed. Along with Greg from South Africa, and Gilad from Israel.

The men's side will be interesting to see how things pan out. For the women, i don't see why a Big 12 title isn't one of this season's highlights, along with a top 10 finish at NCAA's.

jedi - I'm glad you posted. I do know a few of the current swimmers (some came from Austin-based clubs). But I would hardly say I know what's going on.

I hope Sturdy finishes her career at A&M the same way she started it. Of course I hope Hansen can keep improving. And yes - I saw Wilkinson swim the 200 IM at PanPacs. Our women's team is SOOO strong. Unless Texas has some very strong incoming freshmen I really don't see how they beat us at Big12s this year. We should OWN Texas in freestyle.

As for the men - I'm glad to have fast swimmers, even foreign. But I believe a large foreign class is a sign that Holmes cannot yet recruit top talent semi-locally. But I'm all for us getting some swimmers so we get back on the radar of great high school talent. It is frustrating to see Eddie Reese as the 2008 Olympic coach, with one of his best freshmen classes in years.

you on the men's team jedi? are you sure you're not a sith?

What would make you think that?

I do have alot of info i know... but next to College Women's Soccer, my next love is swimming.

I may at times seem pessimistic about Aggie swimming, but I'm a fan and want us to show the NCAA world how good we can and should be. I see no reason for anyone to go to Auburn (Alabama) for crying out loud when they could go to A&M!

I'm with you on that one Spicewood...seems stupid to me that so many people go there and they end up leaving people who qualified for NCAA's at home because the exceed the maximum number allowed...I can't imagine how disappointing that would be

good point lookout... but

if you are someone who knows that they can't succeed if they don't KNOW the coach is the BEST (Auburn) then you gotta go there... Now if you want to prove yourself, especially in a small conference then you go to A&M.

Spicewood... What do you mean it's frustrating seeing Eddie Reese as the 2008 Coach? He (and his brother) have sent more Men to the Olympics than any other coach in the country since the 80's.

Eddie may not be the BEST in the business, but he has the reputation, and the reputation of taking good swimmers and turning them into EXCELLENT swimmers. I applaud him in the job he does, especially the job he's done with Crocker. After the 2000 Olympics when Crock had the "Post Olympic Stress Disorder" (it was named that because of Crocker by the way), Eddie turned him around to eventually become the World recordholder we know him as today.

I don't know personally how much longer Eddie will be there, but I can guarantee he'll be there through '08.

As for Jay... Jay is a great guy. He works hard and presses for excellence in the people he recruits. I just hope that he gets what he deserves.

You took my comment about Eddie wrong. I should have been more clear.

I have huge respect for Eddie and think he is one of the best in the business. His record speaks for itself and I think he is an excellent choice for the Olympic head coach.

The frustrating part is being an Aggie and watching Eddie continue to do so well when we really have not come close to reaching our potential.

I have a very different opinion of Eddie's brother. Longhorn Aquatics earns much of its national reputation from Eddie's swimmers and kids who move to Austin but were already very very fast. I know a lot about TXLA as my kids swam there.

Sorry I apologize for taking your comment about Reese wrong.

I know it's hard being an Ag, But you have to think of it from a High
School guy coming into college.


Which would you choose? If you are looking to have a great career in the
sport, and have a grand "party" time while you do it?



Austin = One of Playboy's Party Schools, live music capital of the US, bigger town atmosphere, proven athletic programs, track record in a decent number of sports

or

College Station = (to the rest of the country) Hick Town, big trucks, country music, redass farmers, small town, 1 mall, isolated fairly from big towns, cult like atmostphere

To an athlete coming in those are all different reasons to go to different schools. I chose A&M but there were quite a few reasons for it. Texas was one of my final choices next to A&M.

In swimming, it's not just about what potential is, but about the "aura" a coach gives off, or a school gives off. Swimming is about dynasties, if you can get your team to break into a certain level at NCAA's then your in. The Men's team has been into the 10-20th level for quite some time now. Even in the '03-'04 season we were only 1.5 points out of Top 10. There are 11-14 teams that are "Top 10" Teams, we have been one for quite some time. However it's going to take alot more than just bringing in recruits to establish us as a legit "Top 10" team. Eddie figured it out, but as long as we are still searching for it, thats what it's going to be "searching".

I am not trying to be negative to A&M i love it, but i am just pointing out that we have some areas that need improving and it's going to take a while to get there. In swimming it's going to take not just 2-3 years, it's going to take closer 6-8 years to even begin to start making differences. Our sport isn't like Football, or Basketball, in which a coaching change will rectify problems. When you do that in Swimming, the whole nation reacts and since it is America's #1 Sport (Total registered swimmers are over 1 Million) it's a fairly big reaction.

Anyways i've been waiting for my lunch to cool down a while now, it's probably cold, and i'm going to have to heat it up again.


I'm out for now

Jedi - I understand EXACTLY the lure of Texas to a top swimmer. Most kids have raced in the TSC, and see the national championship banners hanging from the ceiling. They know Crocker/Peirsol/Hansen are still setting world records. And of course they have Eddie.

But College Station is probably a better place than Auburn Alabama (equally dominated by football). Or cold Ann Arbor. My theory on Auburn is that they have so many foreign swimmers because in spite of their success, they can't get some USA kids to go to Alabama over Stanford, or Austin, or Cal.

A&M needs to host more big meets (Grand Prix, Senior Circuit, etc.) to expose more kids to the campus. Holmes needs to get some kids into NCAA finals. And Bultman needs to continue on the current upward trajectory. A win over Texas this year would be a huge achievement.

Do you know when they will post the men's roster?

You mentioned some of UT's WR holders and it reminded me of a conversation I had last week with 2 former UT swimmers. We were talking about Piersol and Hanson's Nike contracts. They knew a round number, but not many specifics of the deal. Bottom line is that even though these guys are making a fraction of top contracts in other sports, they are still doing pretty well for themselves as professional swimmers. it makes me wonder how it affects college recruiting to have the ability to make any money in swimming. A&M and the other "just out of the top 10" programs have no problem attracting the run of the mill Sr./Jr. national swimmers, it's the future WR holders that are going to the UTs, U of Ms, and Auburns. Is it starting to become a bit like bigger sports where the big name programs are pipelines to the NFL or NBA?

[This message has been edited by H2OPoloAg02 (edited 9/18/2006 3:33p).]

h20 - you might be right. Ryan Lochte signed a big new contract with Speedo recently. But these guys are the cream of the crop. All WR holders or NCAA champions.

I think it is good for the sport in general to have more highly visible athletes.

I'm afraid so H20...even with the upswing in women's recruiting, it's still tough to even get the attention of some of the top Americans (with a couple of exceptions; Sturdy, Hansen) because of not being in that 'inner circle'...I think a lot of the kids A&M gets are looking for a more complete college experience vs. the swimming-is-my-job-and-my-life-is-over-if-I-don't-get-to-the-Olympics type of kid...I would bet almost without exception there hasn't been a single kid that's come here and left unfulfilled, be it in swimming or the college experience...I may be speaking with maroon-tinted glasses on this one, but the total package A&M offers is next to no one...i think a lot of the 'top dogs' are a little narrow-minded if you ask me

Ryan's contract is amazing... biggest one in the history of swimming.

As for athletes that have come to A&M and been completely satisfied... I would tend to agree, IF they wanted the complete experience, and not just the swimming one.

But lets face it, if you want to be the BEST in the sport, your going to head to an Auburn, Texas, Florida, Stanford, USC, Cal, or Arizona.

I would be satisfied with consistent top 10 NCAA finishes with at least a few individual finalists.

I also want an Aggie American Olympian, male or female. I want to hear Rowdy Gaines say "in lane 3, Codie Hansen, who swam for Texas A&M."

Codie Hansen absolutely a possibility, Julia will swim for Canada, she's going to Worlds, and "probably" Pan American, Triin will be going for Estonia, Eric Sehn will go for Canada, Alajando Jacobo will go for Mexico(with his brother Alfredo)... among others.

I would like the same though, an American Olympian from Texas A&M would be amazing.

ps. Former Aggie Swimmer Scott Mueller is in the new Kevin Costner / Ashton Kutcher movie the Guardian.

Just thought you guys would like to know. If you didn't already.

What makes A&M any different, from a swimming standpoint, than those you mentioned jedi? Who's to say if we got a handful of big-timers that we wouldn't do the same things those schools have done with similar talent? When Sturdy was healthy, her times were toe-to-toe with anyone in the country...the girls have a few more in that league too (Aljand, Hansen, Wilkinson)...they are proving it CAN be done here...it's just a matter of waking people up outside BCS to that realization

[This message has been edited by Look Out Below (edited 9/18/2006 10:24p).]

It's not to say that it can't be done, but it is difficult. Never in a million years would I have thought A&M basketball would be where BG has taken it. I think there is a subtle difference in the fact that getting a major sport into the national media (ie recruiting attention) just takes top 25 or 1 big win on TV. To get swimming into the national media you have to dominate your conference or win a national championship.

I think someone used the term inner circle, and that just what it is. It looks like our women are on the cusp. Our men have been there for over a decade and failed to break through twice. First when they hosted NCAA's (placed 11th, I think?), then when Rose led the team and was Big XII swimmer of the year. I think each of those were big steps that were blocked by Dollar Bill's poor handling of Jay's situation.

I was wondering, is Doug Boyd an up and coming coach with a reputation to match his previous success that might take over for Jay in the future, or just another assistant coach? I really haven't heard much talk about him since he got to A&M.

Byrned clearly screwed up Jay's contract in year 1. It seriously damaged Jay's ability to recruit. I don't know whether Jay is good or not. Most who know him seem to say he is a good coach. He unfortunately has no real reputation since he was Nash's quiet assistant for forever. I hope he can show "the world" he can develop swimmers into NCAA qualifiers and start to build a reputation to help him recruit America's best.

There was a press release about Boyd being retitled after his first year, so I would bet he's more than 'just the normal asst. coach'.

As far as how good a job they have been doing, the best to way to show it would be to compare how swimmers that went through both regimes did. I think they match up pretty favorably. Several swimmers -- Blanchard, Jacobo, Sullivant, Watson, Gardner -- all got faster under Holmes and Boyd. From what I hear from the club community, some of the not-as-talented guys have really exceeded expectations as well. Will these club coaches ever convince their better kids to come here again? Jury's still out on that one unfortunately...

I don't think the contract thing with Byrne is what hurt Jay; it's his reputation. This pretty much sums it up: http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7469.asp

[This message has been edited by Look Out Below (edited 9/19/2006 1:54p).]

you would think that they would post the men's roster sometime soon...

It's in the process... of being put together... they want to update it completely not piecemeal their way through it... especially with all the incoming

Jedi,

Update just the names/heights etc or actually put bio's up.

All we got were names.

Sure took awhile to do that...

Finally a mens roster....

The Texas roster is up too but it doesn't have any bio information. Check out Ricky Berens...

Casey Strange was the Texas 5A champion in 50 free - 20.74 and 3rd in the 100 - 45.83. Improved in finals each time. He's already one of the fastest on the team in freestyle sprints.

Nice job Jay to recruit him.

I've seen Sean Duckworth swim. Solid swimmer from a 4A school and club with AAAA in San Antonio. Maybe has room to grow with a more serious training program.

don't worry about Ms. Hansen, my daughter swam in college and with differenct training techniques it might take a year or two to better times set in HS.

She already did geno...in practically every event...can't wait for the season to start...the new women's bios are up and boy is Atkinson faster than I thought

Sturdy had arthroscopic shoulder surgery AGAIN this August. Man she has been dealt a bad hand on injuries.

LOB - you're right about Alia - her 100 breast is particularly good.

I saw that about Sturdy too...jedi says she's good to go though and he seems to be in the know...maybe they just did a little clean-up vs. a more intrusive type of surgery

I read on collegeswimming.com that Kim Brackins is not as good as some say considering her success at Auburn. One poster said some elite women recruits won't look at Texas now. Any idea why?

Brackins also said in an article that she has an extremely talented senior class. Except for breastroke I just don't see it. Our sophomores beat them in every freestyle event and are equal in back and IM.