Texas A&M AD Trev Alberts Reacts To 'Coincidental' March Madness Double-Header vs. Nebraska
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COLLEGE STATION -- Trev Alberts knew eventually he'd have to face off against his alma mater, but he didn't think it would come a week after his departure.
The new Texas A&M athletic director likely didn't think it'd happen twice, either. Well, the NCAA committee had a bit of tomfoolery up their sleeves heading into the madness known as March.
During Sunday's selection show, the men’s committee elected to pin A&M versus Nebraska in the first round of the South Region Friday evening at Memphis, Tenn.
Then, just to throw more fuel on the fire, the women’s selection committee followed the same path, pushing the Aggies against the Huskers a second time in the first round on Friday night at Corvallis, Ore.
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“I will say that appears a little too coincidental to me,” Alberts said of the committee’s decisions during his press conference Monday. “It’ll be a little surreal and interesting to watch them compete. But the beauty is I can’t lose.”
From a fan perspective, Alberts is right. The former Butkus Award winner graduated from Lincoln and went on to become a first-round pick with the Indianapolis Colts in 1994. He also served as the Huskers' athletic director for three seasons after spending 12 years at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
But should the Aggies advance to the second round, Alberts walks a champion with his new program, one he believes is seeing an upward trajectory under new school president and retired four-star Air Force general Mark Welsh III.
“I do not think many people know just how fortunate Texas A&M is to have him as the president," said Alberts.
Alberts takes over an athletic department with a positive outlook, largely due to coaching. On the court, Buzz Williams has led the Aggies (20-14, 9-9 SEC) to back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since 2011. A&M is looking for its first NCAA tournament win since 2018 under previous coach Billy Kennedy.
On the women's side, Joni Taylor has breathed new life into the program as the heir of Gary Blair, returning to the dance after a two-year hiatus. This season, the Aggies (19-12, 6-10 SEC) picked up impressive wins over Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Missouri in conference play.
Other coaches, including baseball's Jim Schlossnagle, volleyball's Jamie Morrison, softball's Trisha Ford, and women's golf's Gerrod Chadwell all have made their marks since being hired by then-athletic director Ross Bjork, with Schlossnagle arguably been the most impressive after guiding the Aggies to a College World Series appearance in his first season.
“There are a lot of great coaches here,” Alberts said. “That is really obvious. You go down the list. First of all, they appear as if they are great people. Great hires have been made here.”
Tip-off from Memphis is scheduled for 5:50 p.m. In Corvallis, the Aggies will take the court at 9:30 p.m. CT.