Things to think about regarding A&M

[dawg21]

I've seen where several have stated that they thought A&M is a sleeping giant and that joining the SEC has woke him up. Here's a few reasons why I disagree.

1. Endowment- A&M is huge. Its endowment is so big they have NEVER struggled to buy anything they wanted. They are adding a great new addition to the stadium. Its going to be awesome. But its not going to change a lot about their play, think TN. We on the other hand are making a small addition by comparision and will do for more for our program than their $500M (thats million) deal. Why? Location, players, and wackos. In the same way- whatever the new deal is for TV revenue it will help our program more than A&M, Bama, LSU...etc.

2. Location and players- TX High School football is very advanced compared to MS, much of AL and I'd probably say most of the country. In fact, there are a ton of college players that come from TX (hey its a big state). However, much of TX talent hits a ceiling in HS. Its over rated in terms of potential. TX High School develops great QBs, WR- but the physical and fast lineman are bred in east of TX. Here's both TX and A&Ms last 5 recruiting rankings per 247:

A&M- from 2009 thur 2013- (#27, 17, 36 (Manziel), 16, 8)
Texas- from 2009 thru 2013- (#6, 2, 4, 2, 17) I think Mac Brown goes strictly by recruiting sites.

A&M and Texas will build most of their teams with TX players. While A&M can build a really good team and even a great team with Manziel, I don't see them pulling top lineman out of state consistently from LA, MS, AL, FL, GA. Plus, those people are strange. That will have some effect on recruiting.

3. Sumlin and Manziel- Holy crap, Manziel would make any offense look good. I'd say 50% of the scoring comes from him just improvising. Sumlin won a lot of games at Houston but they got softer and softer each year. With Manziel running the show anything can happen, but he won't be there forever. I just don't think Sumlin is the tough minded coach I think it takes to a SEC championship and I think we will start to see that this year.

 

[ShrubDog]

I think Maziel will eventually get hurt. Teams will figure him out soon enough. Happens all the time.

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

I disagree with your disasgreement. Texas A&M is a major football school with an Ivy-league endowment. Now that they've gotten out from under their decrepit older Teasip brothers, look for them to eclipse every other program in the SEC. They'll have the pick of the top 25 players in Texas every year. They play an exciting brand of football. The Niedermeyer fan-base is a bit over the top, but you think Alabama, LSU, or even Ole Miss fans are rational? As for the the rankings, 2009 to 2011 means nothing.

 

[coach66]

I think that is the only way he is going to be stopped. If a big lineman can

ever get a good grip on him and roll him then that is what is going to happen.
With that said I only saw one lineman really lay a hand on him last year and
that was at LSU, and yes he almost didn't get up.

 

[Maroon&Black]

Just my humble opinion, but I think you're full of ****.

 

[ShrubDog]

A QB in the SEC that runs as much as he does and tips the scales at 185 will eventually get hit...and get hit hard.
Yea a big lineman is going to roll him up or a LB will pile drive his collarbone.
If you give DC's time to study film they will figure him out.

 

[patdog]

Don't be ridiculous. A&M is going to be very competitive at the top level of the SEC. But there's no way in hell they're going to eclipse every other football program. They'll just be another Bama/LSU/Florida/Georgia. Probably a step below what Bama and LSU have been recently, but they probably won't be able to keep that pace up forever either.

 

[SignalToNoise]

Things really fell into place for them at the right time. They join the SEC and happen to have a RS Freshman that wins the Heisman. It's going to result in some great recruiting classes and make them very competitive for the foreseeable future.

If it weren't for John Football that program wouldn't have nearly as much momentum as it does today, but having him -- even if it's only for two years -- will have a huge overall net effect on the direction of their program.

 

[jacksonreb]

re #2 where did those two....TWO.... top NFL draft pick linemen come from...canton or bassfield? since they don't breed good linemen in tx.....

 

[dawg21]

Why will they eclipse all the other programs when they "just gotten out from under" Texas? And my point about rankings is that UT has gotten most of TX high school talent...and they suck.

Also, an over the top fanbase and a WEIRD fanbase are two different things.

 

[dawg21]

I should've specified defensive lineman.

 

[futaba.79]

Ever been there?

A&M fans are very down to earth. Some of their customs and traditions are different but, as a guy whose school rings cowbells attached to metal handles, I don't call any fanbase weird.

Their program will prove to be a strong addition to the SEC and will be consistently competitive.

 

[dawg21]

Never been there. Just my interactions with them. I plan to go this year though. And don't get me wrong, I do believe they will be competitive, just not surpass LSU, Bama, UGA, FLA.

 

[121Josey]

Since they have all this money and following, why didn't they win a Big 12 title in the past 15+ years (or be relevant). Why did they cry foul at big brother UT? Why did they beg to join the SEC and get out of UT's shadow? If joining the SEC is not awaking the sleeping giant, I do't know what is.

 

[dawg21]

Because reasons already stated...players, toughness, defensive lineman. Just because they joined the SEC doesn't make them a champion.

 

[RingN2012]

Why will they eclipse all the other programs when they "just gotten out from under" Texas? And my point about rankings is that UT has gotten most of TX high school talent...and they suck.

Also, an over the top fanbase and a WEIRD fanbase are two different things.

Agreed. There are a couple decent fans here and there, but there are a whole lot of Aggots that make up the majority. Just socially awkward a lot of times and very Jason Collins-ish tendencies. They are so weird about their traditions, and you can spot one by the all gold class ring on their right hands.

 

[SkullCandy.sixpack]

I think they can go as far as their coaching takes them. Look what they did last year with only 1 recruiting class that broke the top 10. An Aggie told me in November that getting into the SEC was the greatest thing that ever happened to the school. He explained the coaches would always have to recruit players with the goal of "beating Texas and winning the Conference." Now their recruits are told they will be playing to "beat Bama and win the National championship." And that same year, they have the #2 recruiting class--their highest in decades, and so far for 2014 they are #1 with nine 4 star commits. I'll wait until they have 4 top 10 recruiting classes before stating how far they can go--but likey "all the way" with any luck at all.

 

[thatsbaseball]

If they have the right HC everything else is good to go.

 

[121Josey]

Because reasons already stated...players, toughness, defensive lineman. Just because they joined the SEC doesn't make them a champion.

First, we're not talking about them being a champion. You said that you disagree that they were a "sleeping giant." If you don't think that they are championship material, just look at how the SEC set their schedule to run the table in 2013. I'm sure Bama will be formidable, but A&M has the goods to win it all. I'm sure that they will fall apart after back-2-back 11-win seasons.**

Now, your "reasons already stated" are erroneous.

1. Endowment- A&M is huge. Its endowment is so big they have NEVER struggled to buy anything they wanted. They are adding a great new addition to the stadium. Its going to be awesome. But its not going to change a lot about their play, think TN.

Will the stadium be louder. Does the noise level affect the way a team plays? Does being closer to the field affect the way a team plays? (And if they NEVER struggled to buy anything they wanted, why did they always do things after UT did them (e.g., jumbo-tron)? Why did they wait until they went to the SEC to renovate Kyle Field? If they could buy ANYTHING that they wanted, they sure didn't want to keep up with the Oregon's and Bama's of the world.

You do know that endowments and athletic budgets are two different things, right?

Think TN? TN won 8-10 yearly except 2005 and 2008 (Fulmer's last year). I'm sure Lane Kiffin's one year and the Dooley era had a lot to do with their incompetence. Plus, the rise of Vanderbilt and Franklin has prevented their recovery.

2. Location and players- TX High School football is very advanced compared to MS, much of AL and I'd probably say most of the country. In fact, there are a ton of college players that come from TX (hey its a big state). However, much of TX talent hits a ceiling in HS. Its over rated in terms of potential. TX High School develops great QBs, WR- but the physical and fast lineman are bred in east of TX.

Is this your expert opinion? Why do Texas high school players get a lot of stars if they will SUCK in college? These recruiting analysts are just stupid and over-rate every athlete in Texas.** Oh, except for the ones that go and play for SEC schools.**

A&M and Texas will build most of their teams with TX players. While A&M can build a really good team and even a great team with Manziel, I don't see them pulling top lineman out of state consistently from LA, MS, AL, FL, GA.

If they have the talent that they want at their doorstep, they're not desperate for those east of the Mississippi. If you don't think that they have some "hogs" in TX, you clearly haven't done your research.

Most TX HS's have run spread-offenses for years. Until the last 5 years, most HS in the southeast ran pro-form offenses.

Why will they eclipse all the other programs when they "just gotten out from under" Texas? And my point about rankings is that UT has gotten most of TX high school talent...and they suck.

You really missed the correlation here, huh? UT could have the best talent, but it doesn't mean they have the best coaches. TSUN can have Top 10 recruiting classes every year, but if they don't have good talent developers, then they'll lose to teams with lesser recruiting classes.

Oklahoma and OSU definitely doesn't get any recruits from Texas.** Let's not forget about Oregon (who had a commitment from Manziel) and SEC schools. So, how do you figure that UT got most of the Texas talent? It just sounded good?

3. Sumlin and Manziel- Holy crap, Manziel would make any offense look good. I'd say 50% of the scoring comes from him just improvising. Sumlin won a lot of games at Houston but they got softer and softer each year. With Manziel running the show anything can happen, but he won't be there forever. I just don't think Sumlin is the tough minded coach I think it takes to a SEC championship and I think we will start to see that this year.

You did know that Florida beat A&M at Kyle Field this year? LSU almost beat them at Kyle Field. But they went and destroyed everyone else on the road (even Bama) - and only because they were weak and had no talent besides Manziel.**

What are you basing Houston getting softer on? Their lack of winning? Their 13-1 2011 record showed how soft they'd really gotten soft.**

Weird and over-the-top fanbase? Out-of-staters surely don't say that about Louisiana, Alabama, or Mississippi schools.**

So, the data - their new facilities, their fan base, their new TV exposure, their new coaching staff, their increase in recruiting - show that the sleeping giant has awaken. Winning and winning convincingly (a al the U in the 80s) does a lot for a neglected program.

(Yes, I've lived in TX.)

 

[GloryDawg]

This is how I see it.

The University of Texas is to the State of Texas as the University of Alabama is to the State of Alabama. Texas A&M is to the State of Texas what Auburn is to the State of Alabama. They are the little brothers and will always be the little brothers. Texas will always get the creme of the crop. Also University of Texas has a easier road to a National Championship then Texas A&M does. Winning National Chanpionships is what get guys to sign.

 

[dawg21]

I'm saying A&M will be no more of a giant in the SEC than they were in the Big 12. Competitive..yes, better off...yes, dominant the conference...no. Again, they definitely have a shot with Manziel, but long term they will not be a giant (and by giant I mean a top 10 team every year).