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Program improvements are being made under Bill Byrne. Aggie fans, you don’t realize what you have! For over three years now, Bill Byrne has been planning and putting into practice a strategy that will place Texas A&M athletics at the top of the Big 12. His job is certainly not finished, but the overall results clearly indicate that the Aggies are heading in the right direction. Byrne has been steadfast, honest and straightforward, aggressive and productive. A goal oriented approach with details listing how each task is going to be achieved, followed by downward communication detailing progress toward those objectives is something A&M fans could have only dreamed of 4-5 years ago. Yes, the “good ole boy network” at Texas A&M is long gone. Byrne’s Wednesday Weekly aggieathletics.com/feature.php?type=1&SID= is literally filled with information about the men’s and women’s athletic programs. If one just takes the time to read it’s obvious that Byrne is committed to total program excellence. Whether its facility upgrades, financial goals/limitations, the hosting of NCAA events, A&M’s radio network, or the hiring of top-notch coaches, Bill Byrne is always on the move. I think his words sum it up best. From his latest release dated 5/10/2006: “We’re about to conclude my third year of communicating with you once a week here on Wednesdays about the inner workings of the athletic department. I enjoy doing it, and I believe that as we continue to ask you for support in attendance, donations, and positive spirit, that it is essential you know exactly what is going on. And also why and how we make certain decisions – some of which you like, and some you don’t.” “It’s great that Aggies want the best. We’re here to make it the best. The whole purpose of visiting with you here and in person whenever and wherever time permits, from A&M Club meetings to just sitting in the stands at an Aggie competition, is to let you know in frank and open terms what the issues are that we confront in making Aggie Athletics the best for our student-athletes and in Building Champions.” A recently released all-sports study by the Waco Tribune-Herald shows that the A&M athletic program is one of the top overall programs in the Big12 – and has been for a majority of Byrne’s stay in Aggieland. The study awarded points and ranked schools based upon sport-by-sport standings for both men and women, with extra points for postseason success. The Aggies closed the gap on front-running Texas (#1 for 6 straight years) despite the Longhorns’ stellar season and finished second in the overall Big 12 point standings. The women’s rankings had A&M finishing first, ending Texas’ five-year hold on the title. Some folks on internet message boards will discuss and become emotional about things they don’t have complete information on – like athletic schedules for example - and miss the all-encompassing effort being put forth by Byrne and his administration in making A&M one of the top athletic programs in the country. His track record for hiring coaches is phenomenal… Byrne has recently hired an NCAA D1 head coach (Mary Jo Firnbach – Syracuse) to be the associate head softball coach under Jo Evans. Gary Blair was brought back to Texas in 2003 (from Arkansas) and the women’s basketball program has suddenly returned to the NCAA tournament with a young and very athletic team. Pat Henry spurned LSU to lead A&M’s Track & Field program to a very successful 2006 season. Billy Gillispie’s future at A&M is incredibly bright after an extremely productive second season, advancing to the NCAA second round with a young and hard working team. And before giving up on the hire of Dennis Franchione as the head man in football, it might be a wise choice to let the 2006 football season run its course. After painfully falling behind in the arms race prior to his arrival, Texas A&M is quickly upgrading and taking the lead in facility improvements. From the Bright Complex to the proposed indoor practice facility, the Aggies will soon have all the features necessary to recruit at the highest level. Texas A&M dominated its competition from the mid-80’s to the mid-90’s and appeared perfectly positioned for a leap into the 21st century, but poor leadership and a lack of vision and planning allowed the once dominate programs (Texas – OU) to catch up and once again pass A&M. But the corner is being turned and the future is once again bright. And the Aggie athletic programs are just now beginning to see the fruits of Bill Byrne’s labor. |