Lastly, who wouldn't want to have former President George Bush at your games AND some of the practices?

You know something's working when a school has a tradition called "Yell Practice."

I figure anyone who has teenagers doesn't need practice, but that's just me.

One of the biggest signs that Texas A&M is a rarity among college football programs, though, is this: the Aggies drew 41,072 fans to their spring game — which would qualify as the 11th-largest crowd in Utah history.

Imagine how many would have shown up if they had a good team.

Trouble for A&M was that a big-time reputation and big-time production aren't always the same. Last year, the Aggies escaped an upset in College Station when the Utes fell short on a late-game 2-point conversion try. A year later, the Utes are more trouble than ever. It took all of a minute and 13 seconds for their first score. By the late second quarter they were up 27-0.

So much for Aggie Muster, Aggie War Hymn, Farmers' Fight and all that other stuff they do to entertain themselves in Texas. The Utes weren't buying it. The first touchdown was a 78-yard thunderclap of a pass play to Steve Savoy; the second, a stylish end around. By then it was obvious the Utes had entered the season in a nasty mood. A 45-yard pass play followed to set up another touchdown. Next up: a 38-yard scoring throw to a wide-open John Madsen.

Utah had at least two other early chances for touchdowns, but Alex Smith overthrew receivers that had open lanes to the end zone.

Still, it never mattered. There was plenty of room for minor mistakes.

In the end, all they really could have used was a visit from Joe Cocker.

Who then could have sung a hit of his own: "You Are So Beautiful."

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com