TexAgs

TexAgs is an independent Texas A&M University fan website. It features articles, chat, forums, and recruiting information about Texas A&M Aggie sports. The website receives an average of 1,000,000 pageviews per day,[2] and as of June 2008, TexAgs was the sixth most-visited college sports website[3] and the most visited NCAA Division I-A website.[4] During the 2012 college football season, the website received an average of 500,000 monthly unique visitors.[5]

TexAgs
Type of site
Online community
Available inEnglish
OwnerMaroon & White, LP.
Created byPeter Kuo
URLwww.texags.com
CommercialMixed
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedJuly 22, 1998 (1998-07-22)[1]
Current statusActive

TexAgs was created by Peter Kuo in May 1997 and sold to its current operators in December 1999.[1][6] When it debuted, TexAgs only had 2,000-3,000 members, and forums only discussed Aggie football. In February 2007, The Association of Former Students announced a marketing partnership with TexAgs.com.[7] As of 2007, there were more than 60,000 accounts. The website never used any form of advertising for promotion, as it grew popular via word of mouth.[8] As of 2013, there were over 9,500 paying subscribers,[5] and the website presently includes over 50 different forums.[9]

Notable forum posts include one that disclosed that former University of Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar received payment for non-worked hours from a local auto dealership seven months before the University kicked the player off of the team and reported the infraction to the NCAA.[6][10][11] Former University President and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has posted as "Ranger65".[6][12][13][14][15][16] In April 2010, TexAgs gained national attention when a forum member posting as "dermdoc" posted of terminating an employee because of increased costs due to Obamacare. The employee happened to have voted for President Barack Obama.[17][18] Texas A&M graduate and US Astronaut Mike Fossum posted late on July 29, 2011 from the International Space Station using an account TexAgs staff set up for him earlier that day.[19]

In 2009, the website became an affiliate of ESPN.com as part of the 20 college TEAM Sports Network,[20] but that relationship has since ended.[21]

On August 22, 2011, TexAgs radio was launched as a daily Aggie sports talk show on KZNE 1150 The Zone. The show airs for three hours on weekdays and includes a one-hour TV show simulcast.[5] Hosts include Gabe Bock, Billy Liucci, and Olin Buchanan.

As of 2019, TexAgs had four owners, nineteen full-time employees, fourteen part-time employees, and seven interns.[22]

Criticism

Some current and former members have criticized the operation of the message forums, particularly its moderation policies. Such criticisms include a policy of anonymous moderation by a staff of twenty, led by Brandon Jones, who are allowed to post alongside regular members.[23][24] This is in contrast to similar websites that list their staff and moderators in an open fashion. Further, such moderation is sometimes seen as inconsistent.[25][26]

See also

References
  1. Griffin, Tim (1999-07-31). "College football fans zone in on the Web". San Antonio Express-News.
  2. "TexAgs Media Kit". TexAgs. 2015-06-18. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  3. "Most Popular In College and University". Alexa Internet. Archived from the original on 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  4. "Most Popular In NCAA Division I-A". Alexa Internet. Archived from the original on 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  5. Scarborough, Alex (2013-07-01). "Welcome to college football's never-ending online tailgate". ESPN. ESPN. Archived from the original on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  6. Buckley, Christopher B. (2008-06-23). "Cyber Fanatics: TexAgs.com fans commune online". The Battalion.
  7. "TexAgs.com and The Association Announce Strategic Marketing Partnership". 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
  8. Fullhart, Steve (2006-10-28). "The TexAgs Internet Explosion". KBTX. Archived from the original on 2007-06-11. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  9. "TexAgs Forums". TexAgs. 2015-06-18. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  10. Roberts, Selena (2007-07-15). "Internet Whistleblowers Go Where N.C.A.A. Fears to Tread". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
  11. Steele, Michael (2006-08-29). "TexAgs' Brandon Jones turned a hobby into a career". The Battalion. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  12. Doyel, Gregg (2006-12-12). "Our best defense shouldn't come from a message board". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  13. "Dr. Gates breaks cover". TexAgs. 2006-12-07. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  14. Cohen, Rachel (2006-12-08). "Anonymous posts on TexAgs.com came from Gates". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  15. "Post on Texags by Secretary Gates". TexAgs. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  16. I doubt that NC State has a Ranger65 at StateFans Nation
  17. CBS News
  18. The Houston Press
  19. TexAgs.com: Aggies Only(subscription required)
  20. "January 21, 2009 AGGIE ROUNDUP".
  21. "Would you sign up for an ESPN-free TexAgs?". TexAgs. 2011-08-14. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  22. TexAgs Staff Page
  23. "* Some of My Thoughts on Moderation - Please Read *". TexAgs. 2006-03-09. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  24. "* Some of My Thoughts on Moderation - Please Read *". TexAgs. 2006-03-09. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  25. "Why posters need multiple aliases?". TexAgs. 2003-09-23. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  26. "Hey Staff". TexAgs. 2007-02-28. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
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