The popular website TexAgs almost failed before it even began.
A local company gone national, TexAgs has found an ever-growing niche with the most committed college sports fans across the U.S. Today, TexAgs is an interactive business that grosses millions of views online and maintains relations with Texas A&M University athletic teams and their fans.
“We’re here to help the fan follow their team at a deeper level,” says Brandon Jones, TexAgs CEO and president. However, that mission almost wasn’t accomplished.
Jones and his brother started a software development company called Beacon Systems after college. Jones eventually sold the company, and in 1999 bought half of TexAgs with partner Josh Oelze. Within its first years, TexAgs made no money and Jones unsuccessfully attempted to sell the company. It wasn’t until he merged with The Maroon and White Report, an established publication put out by Billy Liucci and Hunter Goodwin, that TexAgs began to see success, according to Jones.
Today, Billy Liucci is the executive editor and co-owner of TexAgs, where he hosts The Beliucci Hour Lunch radio show every Monday and Friday. Hunter Goodwin, a former Texas A&M, Minnesota Vikings, and Miami Dolphins football player, is now chairman of the board at TexAgs and regularly appears on the show for The Hunter Goodwin Hour.
Since the merger with The Maroon and White Report in 2008, TexAgs has continued to grow. Today, the company has expanded to radio, video, and news while grossing 30 million views online each month, says Jones. Although the Texas A&M fan base has undoubtedly aided the success of TexAgs, Jones has sought to diversify the TexAgs business market.
“I didn’t want to be totally tied to the ups and downs of Aggie football,” says Jones. Knowing a business could never survive the pressure and anxiety of college game days, Jones pushed TexAgs to develop business models outside of Texas A&M. As a result, TexAgs has offered technology and strategy partnerships to seven other sites of its kind, including sites dedicated to Notre Dame, USC, and Clemson.
Although there are numerous other sites like it, Jones says he considers TexAgs to be the gold standard, partly due to the number of followers it has. While the official content is certainly popular, its discussion boards undoubtedly attract the most visitors. On Feb. 7, National Signing Day, TexAgs discussion boards generated 5 million views.
“We are the largest site of our kind in the country,” said Jones. “It’s like managing a zoo.”
Thankfully, for a community so vast, TexAgs is located right at the heart of the action. The TexAgs building sits just across from the south side of campus, separated only by George Bush Drive. The building is so close that Jones has been known to watch football practice from his second-floor conference room, which overlooks the practice field.
“We have really good relationships across the street,” says Jones, but he admits that at times it’s kind of a love-hate relationship. TexAgs doesn’t shy away from the good or bad when it comes to Texas A&M athletics. Jones explains that one of the hardest parts about reporting on a team he roots for is when he has to report on the bad days. When Texas A&M does poorly, TexAgs does too.
“Our interests are typically aligned; the better [Texas] A&M athletics does, the better we do,” says Jones.
With the recent hires by the Texas A&M football department and noticeable commitments from sought-after recruits, TexAgs forums are buzzing with Aggies ready to discuss the future of Texas A&M football. Even Johnny Manziel is getting involved. On Feb. 10, Manziel came to TexAgs to meet with fans and sign autographs, according to Jones.
TexAgs is also looking for more opportunities to expand and serve its followers. “There’s a lot of exciting ideas we’re considering,” says Jones without giving away any business plans. One idea involved the hiring of recently graduated Texas A&M quarterback Jake Hubenak, who played his last game as an Aggie in 2017. Hubenak was a seasonal contributor during Texas A&M football’s spring camp.
So whether fans are looking for Aggie sports news or a way to interact with each other online, TexAgs is about more than just gameday.
