LUBBOCK, Texas -- Media guides are supposed to list facts and figures, quickly relay information from past games or historic landmarks and, of course, talk up the home school whenever possible.

They are not necessarily unbiased manuals, but then again, rarely do they convey opinions. Especially about opponents.

Well, Texas A&M has caused a mighty stir by changing all of that.

On page 226 of the 2002 Aggies football media guide, a feature lifted from an Aggies alumni magazine -- headlined, "Worst Atmosphere" -- puts an interesting spin on events that occurred in the ugly aftermath of Texas Tech's 12-0 win over A&M last season, when Tech students tore down a goalpost and tried to shove it into an A&M fan section, leading to numerous fights.

According to a story in the Dallas Morning News, the media guide section calls the Red Raiders "classless clowns," and the alumni story also says Tech fans "were even uglier than the barren stretch of dirt some West Texans call a city." The Red Raiders, "even in victory, looked like classless clowns."

It then goes on to refer to Texas Tech's basketball coach, Bob Knight, saying, "No school in America better deserves Bobby Knight than Texas Tech."

The Morning News story says Tech football coach Mike Leach is aware of the A&M media guide's contents.

"I just think the comment and the context pretty well speaks for itself," Leach said. "I think the inclination to write something like that speaks volumes. I certainly don't think that reflects the opinion of all of the Aggies everywhere. But it certainly reflects on the individual that wrote it."

Homer Jacobs is the editor of the alumni magazine -- The 12th Man -- that originally ran the article in January. The magazine has a circulation of about 23,000 and its intended audience is A&M supporters and alumni.

However, the media guide was not expected to become a forum for the explosive alumni magazine article. A&M sports information director Alan Cannon said it was a mistake the item was reprinted in the media guide, and he took full blame in the Morning News article.

"It should not have run in the Texas A&M football media guide," said Cannon, who admitted he did not fully read the text before placing it in the guide. "That's my responsibility and my fault. So I will face the consequences."

A&M's 404-page book is distributed to media members nationwide and to potential Aggies recruits.

Knight could not be reached Monday by the Morning News. But school spokesman Cindy Rugeley told the newspaper: "Things like that speak for themselves. But we do want to say that Texas Tech is proud of our students, and we're proud that Coach Knight is at Texas Tech."