TexAgs

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TexAgs
TexAgs Logo.png
Type of site
Online community
Available inEnglish
OwnerMaroon & White, LP.
Created byPeter Kuo
URLwww.texags.com
CommercialMixed
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedJuly 22, 1998; 23 years ago (1998-07-22)[1]
Current statusActive

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 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 their members. 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.[23][24]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b 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. ^ Jump up to: a b c 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. ^ Jump up to: a b c Buckley, Christopher B. (2008-06-23). "Cyber Fanatics: TexAgs.com fans commune online". The Battalion.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "TexAgs.com and The Association Announce Strategic Marketing Partnership". 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2008-07-12.[permanent dead link]
  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. ^ "Why posters need multiple aliases?". TexAgs. 2003-09-23. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  24. ^ "Hey Staff". TexAgs. 2007-02-28. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-07-23.

External links[]

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