Troy Miller writes about Texas A&M for rivals.com. This week, he wrote: “When Texas A&M travels to Lawrence, Kan., Saturday to face the Kansas Jayhawks they will find a much improves Jayhawk team, and one that has the chemistry to hand A&M an upset. Kansas plays at A&M’s weaknesses and the Aggies will have to show a little more in certain areas to come away with a tough Big 12 road win.” Chat about the game with him Friday.

tkeegan

OK, it’s a wrap. Thanks for joining us, Tory.

esotericAGent

Do you want Fran gone?

geppetto

This is not a question. Beat those suckers!!!!

Troy Miller

Hello everyone. Let’s get started.

Moderator

Hi, this is Tom Keegan, Lawrence Journal World sports editor. Troy Miller, who covers Texas A&M for rivals.com, joins us for a chat about the Aggies, KU’s opponent Saturday morning at 11.

trombeck

Hi, Troy. Which team seems to have more to gain or lose tomorrow in terms of momentum for the rest of the season? Do you think a win or loss make or break the season for either team?

Troy Miller

I think definitely Texas A&M. If the Aggies lose, the fire Fran bandwagon will be in full swing. This is not a game that Aggie faithful will be able to stomach if the Aggies lose. And as far as the rest of the season goes, A&M put all their eggs in the Texas Tech basket and came out with a loss. A loss at Kansas could put A&M in a downward spiral that would be very difficult to get out of.

ku131020

how do you think kansas’ defensive secondary will fair against A&M

Troy Miller

A&M has tons of talent at receiver. It just depends on if A&M decides to use it, which they haven’t for most of the season. But when Louisiana Tech took away the run early against A&M two weeks ago, the Aggies went to the air and blew away the Bulldogs. Watch out for A&M tight ends Martellus Bennett and Joey Thomas. They rival Missouri’s tight end duo and always have the potential to be a big threat. Bennett is 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds and catches anything his way. He creates mismatches for anyone and is almost impossible to defend.

mwoodard

What is the general feeling in College Station about the job coach Fran is doing? and how long do you see him staying there, knowing the high expectations on the football program, should A&M not finish in the top 3 in the south division? (I have heard from some UT fans that hope he gets a contract extension)

Troy Miller

The general feeling among Aggie fans is that they are not happy. All week it seems that every Aggie fan I talk to is asking what it will take to get Fran fired. Basically, most have lost all faith in him. But all the talk coming from the AD is that Fran is going to come back. Usually that vote of confidence is the last straw.
But AD Bill Byrne isn’t going to do anything untilt he year is over. Another .500 Big 12 record or worse and it will be hard to keep Fran in Aggieland.

gdiepenb

Who do you believe — between Mangino and Franchione — has done a better job during the time at his current school? Why?

Troy Miller

I would have to say Mangino. It’s taken a while, but he has taken a program in the dumps and turned KU into a team that is never a pushover. It is hard to recruit football players to KU with the history there, but now the Jayhawks have a team that can legitimately beat anyone on any given day in the Big 12. Fran on the other hand hasn’t gained any ground on Oklahoma and Texas, which is the measuring stick for A&M. In fact, he’s fallen clearly behind Texas Tech now, and that is not acceptable by Aggie standards.

Moderator

Any names being bandied about for a successor in the event Coach Fran loses his job after this season?

Troy Miller

A lot of the talk is around former Miami coach Butch Davis or Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, but I think the names to really watch are Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe who recruits Texas well and is a former A&M offensive coordinator. He reminds a lot of people of A&M basketball coach Billy Gillispie when he was at UTEP, and he’s done an ok job to say the least. Others to watch for are Georgia Tech defensive coordinator John Tenuta, Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and South Carlina defensive coordinato Ty Hill.

Moderator

Troy, Shifting to basketball for a minute, with the Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas games all being played at Allen Fieldhouse, I see Kansas going 16-0 in the Big 12. Do you think that opinion has merit? Also, does this Texas A&M basketball team have a chance to be its best ever?

Troy Miller

I think KU could definitely go 16-0, but that is always tough in the rugged Big 12. As far as A&M goes, I think its a foregone conclusion that this could be the best team ever and rival the solid mid-80s clubs under Shelby Metcalf. If KU is going to have one struggle at home, it will be A&M who came within a last-second shot of upsetting KU at the Phog two years ago. Both teams are better and will be featured on College Gameday this year, and A&M is a good team on the road as well. How weird is it that KU could beat A&M in football, yet A&M could possibly beat KU in basketball? Kind of Twilight Zone if you ask me.

dhill00

On a different subject. Can you tell me your opinion of the small disater taking place in Manhattan regarding 3 quarterback depatures before the season and now benching a 5th year senior for an unproven freshman with horrendous numbers. I believe another offensive lineman has left the team as well.

Troy Miller

Don’t get down on Ron Prince just yet. He doesn’t have much to work with, but when talking in recruiting circles a lot of prospects really love Prince. He has made some in-roads into Texas this year that will pay big dividends in the future. As far at the quarterback situation goes, Josh Freeman is going to be a good quarterback at K-State. He was recruited by Nebraska and A&M, yet in the end chose K-State because of Prince He has a good arm and is also a very good scrambler. I don’t think K-State will make any noise this year, but the future isn’t nearly as bleak as it may seem.

moderationman

Shifting back to Football, do you think KU can exploit the aTm secondary?

Troy Miller

A&M’s secondary isn’t nearly as bad as they were last season when they were dead last in the NCAA in passing defense. Against Louisiana Tech they absolutely shut down Johnathan Holland, who will be a NFL player. I look at KU the same way in that A&M can shut down Brian Murph. Dexton Fields, though, could have a big game as a lot of the focus will be on Murph. If KU is going to beat A&M, though, I think it is going to be on the ground.

Moderator

OK, it’s a wrap. Thanks a lot for joining us, Troy.