The Aggie mens tennis team takes on the Longhorns tomorrow (Friday) at 6:00 pm at the Mitchell Tennis Center. I realize it is Good Friday, but if you are in the area, I think you will see a really good college tennis match. The Longhorns have been having a good season, especially considering the player losses they experienced after last year. The Aggies seem to be playing better and Jerry and Conor at one and two have been impressive the last couple of times out. I hope we have a very vocal and energetic crowd, for what is probably our best home match of the year.

Raven...always balanced and well spoken. We look forward to the challenge.

http://www.aggieathletics.com/Live/tennis/index.php?SSID=7856
Currently on doubles.

looks like a battle....gonna prob come down to a few tiebreakers or last match

Looks like tu's got it; doesn't look like we will put up a good fight, after all.

Very disappointing performances at #3,4. Connor Pollock continues to be our top performer.

Another .5 point lost in Lonestar Showdown

Man...that was as cold and windy as I can ever remember watching a tennis match. Impressed with the great replay hd addition. Too bad the lights went out during the final match. It was a real battle.

quote:

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...seizing a 4-2 victory over the Aggies before a crowd of 771 on a cold, windy Friday night.

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I know, I know... Students were gone, it was cold, it was Good Friday - but 771 for Texas? It is 70x more than any other tennis program could pull considering the conditions, but I can't help but feel that the love fest surrounding Aggie tennis is starting to slip.

I think you are right lostboy. The crowd even given all of the variables was poor. The hardcore was there, of course, but we can and should do better. Very strange match. I thought we lost it at number two doubles. We win the point, we probably win the match. Unfortunately, I was not very impressed with either team. It looks like both the Aggies and Texas have taken pretty big steps backward. Props to Conor, John and Jerry for playing well. Congratulations to Texas on the victory.

[This message has been edited by Raven (edited 4/7/2007 12:12p).]

Raven, as always a good solid post. However, don't discount several factors in how the match was played.

I arrived late and missed the doubles but was told they were hard fought and only a few shots determined the final outcome.

After a trip to the final 4 a year ago Texas lost the majority of the team. Reyes Varela and Milan Mehielovic are the only returning starters from that championship team.

Texas starts three freshmen in their line-up, one sophomore and two juniors. This is a very young team.

The Friday nights conditions might have been the most difficult I have ever seen.The icy wind made watching unbarable for most. I was impressed to see as many fans were there. However, a large portion were leaving the parking lot when I drove up after the doubles. Package that with your students departing town and there you have it.

Finally, while the lack of fan intensity might have been sub par the play was not. Texas played well and with fire as they have for most of the season. I am convinced this team will only get better in the future with the addition of incoming talent.

The Aggies will only get better as Steve gets more of his own guys in the ranks. It just takes a while when there is a coaching change. He is a good coach and will do well. It only insures more top competition for years to come.

Finally, sometimes you just have bad days. Losing your basketball coach, and losing to Texas in tennis might be bad enough for one day, but having the lights go out at the end of it all with your best player in the third set could just top it all off.

As I am writting this it is Saturday April 7th and it is raining like crazy. I didn't see the sun come up today but I believe it did indeed come up.

Hookem....

Denton was far down the hiring preference list, and we were approaching desperate when BB got to him. This is a throwaway year and, yes, the luster is gone from men's tennis.

Luster is often fleeting when it comes to college tennis and sports in general.

Steve Denton has yet to have the time to sign a full class of his own. Give the guy some time.

We lost the match at #2 doubles. Had numerous chances to break at 6-6 and just choked. Then got broke at 6-7 when 3 (yes 3) balls clipped the net. We are an average team that needs to learn how to win close matches.

quote:

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Another .5 point lost in Lonestar Showdown

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It is worth 1 point not .5 point. The score is now Texas: 7.5 A&M: 5

rik- i know you have a man crush on Denton being he was a big time player for the Horns back in the day...and i fully agree you got to give him some time to get his recruits in here, but this team returned everyone (minus Daki who didnt contribute the last 2 years) and is loaded with experience and has really under performed this year...from people close to the team i hear these guys are not playing as motivated or together as typical Aggie teams in the past, the main job for Denton this year, is to have this team playing with heart and together and with having everyone back they should be in the mix to make the 16s, not in the 30s....honestly, looking at the two lineups and what you guys lost from last years great team, and the Ags with everyone back should win that match at home, no doubt....

You are right Cory, the opportunity to win was there. As I said earlier in the year, the talent is there, pretty much the same as last year with some new talent. They do have a different coaching philosphy to work under that is for sure, and it should be a lot better, but it isn't.

It doesn't help that Denton keeps Luka in the line up when he loses every week. It is a sure thing that where ever he plays, he will lose a point. When the ags lost the doubles point, then several first sets in the singles, the motivation was not there and that is the coaches job. Still the match was there for the taking if they wanted it, but only 3 seemed to want it.

Then again earlier this week, the ugly fiasco with the baylore fans took a lot of spirit out of the Aggies. Including the brave fans who went there.

The Baylor fans went absolutely beyond the rules of Big 12 or USTA athmosphere were voicing significant racial, personal and sexual taunts to the Aggie players during the match and the referees did nothing about it. I know it will take me a long time to forget it, let alone the players that had to take it and still try to play.

Baylor should be banned from Big 12 Tennis for allowing their fans to behave in such a non-collegiate manner. Isn't this a Southern Baptist school? They behaved like uneducated ignorant thugs instead of like a christian college community.

[This message has been edited by Ags40luv (edited 4/8/2007 2:23p).]

Cory...other than your first comments I agree with you for the most part. However, taking over a team made up of former coaches players and having similar results is almost impossible. When Cass took over for coach Kent the outcome was very similar with many returning players.

Personal responsibility is up to the players. New coach equals different standards. As a former college coach I would assume that you agree with that?

As far as Steve Denton is concerned , you are on record as not liking him. I understand if it is because you question his coaching ability and skins on the wall type stuff but if it is just because he played at Texas back in the day I find that shallow.

I would like nothing better than to beat the Aggies every year for generations to come.

actually, the team Cass took over had only two contributing players return that year (Tori, Kruase)....so you are completely wrong in that statement

rocket horn is completely wrong when it comes to most things relating to college tennis

Ags40, I agree about Luka. I am perplexed by Denton's persistence with him when he keeps putting up L's. It is a shame we are wasting Connor P's performance this season. I just wonder about Denton's matchups. Look's like Jerry might be turning it around, though.

cory if you go back and reread my post I said many "returning Players" not "contributing players". My point it not to qualify the players only to say that taking over another mans team is not easy and often times is down right difficult.

I talked to both jm and pollock in the fall at the rolex in tulsa. Both of them at that time raved about how much they liked SD as a coach.

I am not going to bandy words. He will do better when he has his guys. Its just a fact...

If you want the last word. Ok it is yours.

731 your right , I don't. There, feel better?

rik-actually cass didnt even have that many returning players...he had 3, so your comparison about both taking over similar teams is not true...i don't doubt that Sd is a good coach and i know him pretty well from playing and beating his teams all 4 years but i have never had any problems at all with him or his teams, they played hard and fair...i will support him and the ags as always, i was just stating that this team is underachieving to this point with so much experience returning...you made the point that its the players responsibility, it is to an extent, but a lot still falls on the coach to get the most out of his team even if its not completely his team, i mean that's why they pay coaches the big bucks, right..?

Do you think they would openly say to the public that they hate him as a coach? hmmm

jag123 on the team? hmmmmm