Longhorn Fans Should Worry As Aggie Goldmine Opens For Business

November 12th, 2012 11:16 AM║ Posted By: John Pennington ║ Permalink ║ Schools: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
Tags: Alabama, LSU, recruiting, SEC

Since way back in 2010, this site has said that Texas A&M would eventually join the SEC — long before it actually did — and that it would be uber-successful in its new home once it made that move. After 25 years of flirting, A&M and the SEC did indeed finally tie the knot this past year.

And the Aggies are already showing just how uber their uber-success might be.

Texas A&M is a goldmine in terms of potential. All the pieces are in place: rabid fanbase, a top 20 all-time tradition, facilities, a deep recruiting pool from which to catch blue chip prospects, etc. Toss in the SEC brand — you know, the league that’s produced more NFL draft picks than any other since 1988 — and the Aggies suddenly have a recruiting differentiator from in-state big brother Texas. “Want to play at Iowa State in a Longhorn Network game that no one will see… or would you rather play on CBS against teams like Alabama, Florida and LSU?”

We toss in LSU for a reason. Regular readers of this site know that we’ve compared 2012 Texas A&M to 2000 LSU for a while now. The Tigers had tradition and a deep in-state talent pool and great facilities and passionate fans, but for some reason, they’d gone nearly two decades without capitalizing on all of that. But in came Nick Saban at the dawn of the century, all that changed, and the Tiger program hasn’t looked back since.

Well, with each passing week it’s looking more and more like Kevin Sumlin and quarterback Johnny Manziel might just be the Texas A&M equivalent of Saban, a coach they upset this past weekend. They look like the spark that lights the powder keg. The pickaxe that strikes the vein of gold.

And Texas fans had better worry about it.

Oh, don’t take that the wrong way. Texas football will always be a top national brand. The biggest programs all go through valleys, but eventually they peak again. The Longhorns are trying stay out of a valley at the moment. They are 21-14 the past three years and Mack Brown is 61-years-old. He’s lost three years in a row to Oklahoma by an aggregate score of 146-58. Whether he rights things for one last run of greatness or not, Brown’s window is closing and that means Texas’ football program will have to go through some sort of transition for the first time since 1998.

By comparison, Sumlin is just 48-years-old, he’s in his first season in College Station and so is his do-everything, Heisman-candidate quarterback. Texas has reason for concern. Texas A&M has reason for hope. And Texas A&M’s hope should give Texas fans even more reason for concern.

Things are cyclical. As noted above, both the Longhorns and Aggies will rise, fall and rise again over time as they’re both traditional powers. (If you’re an all-time top 20 team, that’s a “power” to this writer.) But the SEC is the new variable in the ancient, heated Aggie-Longhorn rivalry. No longer can Texas do a single thing to slow A&M’s momentum. They won’t even get a shot to spoil a good Aggie season or undo their own Oklahoma loss with a Texas A&M win. They have no impact on A&M any longer and that’s never been the case before.

That’s another reason why Texas should man up and schedule Texas A&M, of course, but that’s a story for another time and place.

We just wanted to tip our red-white-and-blue MrSEC.com kepi to the Aggies for their big win at top-ranked Alabama on Saturday and for their fantastic entrance into the Southeastern Conference. That goldmine we spoke of when talking about A&M this summer, it appears Sumlin and Manziel are opening it up for business (much to the chagrin of several SEC West schools).

And there’s not a darn thing the University of Texas can do to stop it.

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43 comments

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Agmom81

1 Like

Yep. You nailed, John....and did your homework, as usual! I'm about as 100% Aggie as you will find...and I'm old enough to say that I've been that way for "decades." So, fwiw, I don't care a hoot whether we ever play the Horns again. We enjoyed some terrific years of a FRIENDLY, fun rivalry on the field "back in the day" - but that has not been the case in the past 10 years or so. Perhaps if Horns fans can "get over it" and give us some respect for what we have accomplished in the past year (they seem to be the ONLY ones in the country that can't see it...) we might someday have a mutually respectful rivalry befitting both of these great universities. That would be terrific and I'm all for it. (I personally believe there is a better chance of that now that we are in different conferences, btw) If not - no big deal. IMO, our new SEC family is amazing: fan bases, venues, teams and traditions - we Ags feel right at home. Makes it easy, really, to leave the dysfunctional family behind and move on. Oh, yeah...and the goldmine doesn't hurt either ;-)

JB TexasEx

@Agmom81

I congratulated every Aggie friend on their big win over Alabama. Conversely, I heard next to nothing from them after our NC victory against USC. Why is that? I agree that a good-natured rivalry has turned sour with this realignment nonsense. Y'all did what was best for A&M.

Frankly, I don't see the point in reinstating the game if it can't be played on Thanksgiving. I see that y'all have successfully lobbied the SEC to play LSU on that day. That's a helluva game and should be a more than an adequate replacement.

Agmom81

1 Like

JB TexasEx: "I congratulated...I heard nothing...Why is that?"

Well, JB...this is just a guess, but it might be that you are considered a bit "annoying" by some your Aggie friends - and maybe even your non-Aggie friends. Consider as evidence your postings on this blog....a bit excessive, perhaps.

I certainly congratulated my Longhorn friends after the NC game...and I was sincere in my good tidings!

BTW, my original post intended to convey that the "good-natured rivalry" had already "turned sour".....long before realignment...significant distinction.

JB TexasEx

@Agmom81

True, most Aggies don't like it when their logic or integrity is questioned.

Sorry if you think my postings are "excessive". Thanks for being and staying classy.

BonzaiB

The Aggies can stay in the West. Football is cyclical, but 50,000 students and a boatload of cash and newfound excitement in the biggest college recruiting ground on the planet? We'll meet again, but its going to be fun watching the near term realignment in the West from here.

BradHoward

1 Like

Great article, John. As usual, your insights are spot on.

All the stars aligned this year for A&M. A lot of it has to do with Mike Sherman. He was not the best of coaches at the collegiate level, but he was a heck of a recruiter and knew how to spot talent. He secured one of the best O-lines in college football and he is also the reason Johnny Manziel came to A&M. As luck would have it, the SEC West is not quite as powerful this year as in year's past, thanks in part to Bobby Petrino (cannot say why AU is down). Add to that the Aggies have a coach whom players would run through walls for to please. Sumlin is a phenomenal motivator and strategist.

Most spread offenses would probably not work too well against SEC defenses. But the one at A&M has fared very well. In fact, but for a could of mistakes A&M would be undefeated right now because they came very close to beating LSU and Fla. In fact, they could well beat both those teams in a rematch. Why? Because as the season has progressed, Manziel has improved exponentially (remember he is just a red shirt freshman). In Manziel the Aggies have a QB who uber nimble and quick and athletic, and thus able to pull off what many QBs could not: he can make the spread offenses work against the best SEC defenses. In that regard, you can say Sumlin is the luckiest coach in America. When he arrived at A&M he already had in his back pocket, through the efforts of his predecessor, precisely the ideal instrument to make the spread work against 'Bama and the other SEC powers. He had Johnny Football.

Caddoaggie

Amen.

j_scott_o

I also need to add, A&M was even affected more by this than Nebraska since they were in the same division as both Oklahoma and Texas. Now, as the article stated, their is nothing neither Texas (nor Oklahoma) can do to stop A&M (or Nebraska).

djva0603

@j_scott_o I agree! I am still a Sooner fan (when it comes to Big XII play) I think Bob Stoops has a better shot so far when compared to Mack Brown! Now moving forward... I wonder what will happen to Texas Tech--they are under-developed... The folks outside of Texas do not understand how big Football is here... I mean there are A LOT of good football programs in the state! However they are overshadowed by Texas and Oklahoma! Texas Tech should try to build its resume and move to Pac-12 (if they ever decide to open the door). Houston is on its way: they are building a new stadium and they are moving to the Big East (they just need to find a new coach like their former coaches Kevin Sumlin @ A&M and Briles @ Baylor. Baylor is investing--I just don't know where they would go.

Maybe these schools would have better luck if they move! lol

j_scott_o

1 Like

First, love your site. SInce the day A&M joined the SEC, your site has been a daily visit for me. Who am I kidding, a multi-time-a-day visit.

Anyway, going along with the cyclical nature of college football, maybe a little history lesson is in store. The argument that A&M benefitted from Auburn and Arkansas being down can be applied to the Big 12. When the Big 12 was formed, the two dominant teams at the time were Nebraska and A&M. Yes, Texas was ok...but, no one expected them to beat A&M in College Station to win the final SWC crown. And, no one gave them a chance to beat Nebraska in the 1st Big12 title game.

But, this is where things started to change. Something happened at the 4 tradional powers of the Big8/SWC (now Big12). Nebraska's Osborne retired and A&M's Slocum was fired (horrible move). At the same time, Oklahoma and Texas got great hires in coaches that were outstanding recruiters in Stoops and Brown, respectively. So, while Nebraska and A&M struggled to find a coach, OU & Texas had consistency and continued to get the recruits and win. So, getting back to Auburn & Arkansas being down and how it helped A&M this year, no teams had it better off than Texas and Oklahoma than when their rivals lost their Hall of Fame coaches, leading to a decade of mediocrity for two of the schools and top of the class for the others.

Now, it looks like the Huskers might have found their coach, and, A&M definitely has found theirs. Brown is in the twilight of his career. The excitement with Texas is waning. Grumbling persists at Oklahoma. We are now at a turning point of another cycle.

BrownFans

When English is non native language, that is understandable. Imagine without much English skill and I still get a Computer Science degree. With influence language, what your parent get out of you. Texas A&M is a great university, there is no doubt about that. But there are people who not even attend the school give it a bad crap.

djva0603

1 Like

Geez--thank God you're not a journalist. You're an assassin of English grammar and language! lol What is a Longhorn fan doin' in an SEC forum anyways? What ties do you have to the SEC?

alamoaggie08

@BrownFans

like longhorns?

Clarence

"Don't wake up the Aggies." - DKR

Clarence

You don't know the Longhorns very well. Longhorns don't worry. They deny.

BrownFans

@Clarence Yeah they deny A&M and other school for 4 national championship. To schedule a game, it is only the Aggie idea. If you are better off, then keep UT out of your mouth. Loser always complaint.

Rex Feral

@BrownFans @Clarence

Do all Longhorns have such a poor grasp of English?

JB TexasEx

No worries. Texas has well over 1,000 D-1A recruits per year. I imagine that we'll still get our 20-25 desirable players each year. A&M's move will pay dividends, but who's to say it won't cost LSU recruits in east and southeast TX? Maybe they'll keep a few of those boys home.

SevierVol

My job has me stuck in southeast Texas at the moment and I hve been here for the full football season. There are a ton of LSU fans in this area, second only to Texas I would guess. I think LSU will always recruit strong east of Houston since this area is much more like Louisiana than it is Texas and Baton Rouge is not all that far away. The Longhorns have had super recruiting classes the past few years but the players haven't lived up to their billing. I'm not familiar enough with the Longhorns to have an opinion one way or another whether the players are over rated or if coaching is the problem. The majority of UT fans I have talked to around here seem to like Mack Brown.

I think A&M will benefit more by swapping leagues than any other school since this recent "realignment" has been taking place.

John at MrSEC moderator

1 Like

@JB TexasEx

As noted in the piece, I think any decline in Texas' fortunes will be short-lived. The Horns aren't going anywhere long-term. But they'll no longer be able to help hold A&M back. A&M's free to succeed and fail on their own. That's new.

Now, if the two could just get together in the Cotton Bowl this year and on a year-in, year-out basis down the road... then Texas could at least have some impact on them again.

Without that, UT will just have to sit back and watch A&M sink or swim. And I believe they'll swim.

Thanks for reading the site,

John

JB TexasEx

@John at MrSEC

I doubt there's any chance A&M is added to UT's schedule while DeLoss is around. Many old-school, deep-pocketed alums (Joe Jamail, Red McCombs, etc.) will also have to sign off on the game too. It probably won't happen this decade.

Personally, I'd like to see the rivalry reinstated, but understand the rationale for discontinuing it short-term.

JB TexasEx

@alamoaggie08 @John at MrSEC

LOL...yeah, I'm bitter. Richest athletic department in the country, highest-profile public university in TX, etc. Delusional, as always, aggy. Funny how the academically-challenged SEC doubled their AAU schools by adding A&M and Mizzou.

The only "status" that we concern ourselves with is UT. Speaking of blowouts to OU, wanna compare aggy's record versus The University's? You may get your shot against OU in the Fiesta Bowl, little lady.

Boomer Sooner!

AndrewMartin

@JB TexasEx @AndrewMartin @JB @Caddoaggie If everyone is honest, we all know that TCU will fit an open spot, but is not a complete replacement for Texas A&M. If they were, they would have been invited to join the Big XII the first go around or the Pac 12 the last go around. In fact, even though LSU is the next best alternative for the Aggies to replace Texas on Thanksgiving,, LSU won't completely replace Texas. The most hyped and most profitable in state rivalry will always be Texas vs Texas A&M and that goes for any sport.

alamoaggie08

@JB TexasEx @John at MrSEC

i'm one happy ag and you're one bitter longwhorn. get over yourself and enjoy the continuous blowouts to ou. btw, you think the big 12 is so proud of it's academics? your outrageous demands wasn't the only thing that turned the pac-10 off. they're weren't thrilled about receiving two non-AAU schools in texas tech and ok st. the big ten also wouldn't have accepted nebraska if they had lost their AAU status ealier. texas has nothing to worry about academically, but it's the lack of status at other institutions that partly played spoiler and your grand scheme to create the first super conferene in the west. besides, not only did you lose two AAU schools in missouri and a&m, you also gained none from WVU and TCU. i guess that helps texas feel just a little bit more mighty in the lowly big 12.

JB TexasEx

@AndrewMartin @JB @Caddoaggie

Academics weren't the driver behind A&M's move...greater athletic revenues and better exposure were. Academics are and will be a consideration for UT if we ever think about moving again. It won't happen for at least 13 years, minimum, since Big 12 members signed a "grant of rights" for our TV revenues.

JB TexasEx

@AndrewMartin @JB @Caddoaggie

That's a fair and reasonable response, Andrew, but UT needs money like a fish needs water. No offense, but the UT vs TCU game will be sold out @ DKR and will be played before a national TV audience. Playing TCU doesn't help the TX economy? Why not? I'd argue that we'll generate even more $$$ playing TCU @ JerryWorld, too, assuming that they remain competitive.

JB TexasEx

@alamoaggie08 @John at MrSEC

You little aggies sure like to cling to the fantasy that "UT was trying to bully us into the Pac-12" story. That's nonsense, too. But, that's the only acceptable justification for making a move IF The University actually decided to go West.

But, we did not for two reasons; 1. UT wanted to keep Longhorn Network 2. UT administration decided playing half our games in the Pacific time zone wasn't good for our fans

Please provide a link where A&M consulted playing Tech and Baylor in FOOTBALL. You know that's BS, too. Your attitude towards those schools mirrors ours towards A&M. I'm sure you wanted to play them in basketball and non-rev sports. Keeps your travel costs down and pacifies your fans in TX.

Congratulations on being "happier and richer". Now compare your annual athletic revenues, where you now rank 6th in the SEC, to The University's and get back to me. Ignorance is bliss and you're one happy Aggy!

JB TexasEx

@Caddoaggie

I also love how aggy conveniently forgets that he built his record while incurring major recruiting violations under both Sherrill's and Slocum's watch. Funny how UT was never sanctioned during the same time period. You may have "similar academic standards", but you aren't and haven't been recognized as better by a reputable source, ie US News and World Reports.

Why not? How about "why"? We don't give a rip about your antiquated "traditions".

AndrewMartin

@JB TexasEx @Caddoaggie What's in it for Texas? More money, better Texas economy, better rivalry than all or most, make sure A&M doesn't close the competitive gap, etc. the real question to me, besides the emotional stuff, is why shouldn't they play? It all comes down to bruised egos on both sides.

AndrewMartin

@JB TexasEx @Caddoaggie Most of those wins occurred when the Aggies were a small all male military college. If you look at the series after the Aggies went co-ed and the corps was no longer required, the series is basically tied. The academic statement does not apply. Florida, Texas A&M, Missouri and Vanderbilt stack up well compared to the Big XII. I could argue that academics are now stronger in the SEC than the Big XII overall. If academics were the driver,then Texas would have left the Big XII.

alamoaggie08

@JB TexasEx @John at MrSEC

wrong again, JB. 1) OU is not in texas and tu isn't about to tell them what to do, especially since it's they're only big rival left. 2) a&m consulted with tech and baylor about playing and both of them also said no: sour grapes and fear of mean ol' deloss.

do you know the true reason why a&m left? it all started when texas was looking at the pac-10 (oh, look who tried hardest to break up the big 12 in an attempt to pawn even more off of them). a&m only found out about it through the media, so they had no idea texas was shopping them to another conference without consulting. dr. loftin went to dr. powers and asked him what was going on, and the only answer he got was it wasn't his business. really? it's not a&m's business that another school is trying to move them to another conference and they don't know about it? talk about lack of respect for a fellow institution. it was clear there that texas just saw a&m as a little pawn in their grand scheme. not a respected rival or fellow university. well we knew that we weren't a pacific school so started reconsulting with the sec, and here we are now happier, richer and on our way to being more successful than ever. you t-sips thought we needed you. wrong. as it turns out, it looks like you'll be needing us.

j_scott_o

@JB TexasEx @Caddoaggie

No offense, but, you gotta love how Texas fans always trot out the all time record like they were witness to most of them. Case in point, "a Big 12 team that beats aggy most of the time". In your lifetime, it is probably 50/50. I've been watching college ball religiously since 1978. In the Texas/A&M games I've witnessed, there has been no domination of one program over the other.

JB TexasEx

@djva0603 @Caddoaggie

"For the sake of our state"....really? Personally, I would hope that the Texas state legislature had better things to worry about. But, if it ever came to 'cutting off funding' for UT and A&M I'm sure the game will be reinstated tomorrow.

Why are y'all beating me up over this? I've already said that I want the rivalry back.

djva0603

@JB TexasEx @Caddoaggie

The University of Texas and Texas A&M University should play each other--for the sake of our state! There is something bigger than A&M and the Longhorns--and that's the State of Texas and it's football fans! We want our game back! I think that it would help to take a look at what the state legislature at Alabama did when Bama and Auburn did not want to schedule each other on the gridiron--they threatened to take away funding for both institutions! Texas constituents should call their representatives and senators to force both schools to play each other! It's not that big of a deal and it is possible to maintain rivalries whose institutions belong in different conferences: Florida Gators vs Miami or FSU, Georgia Bulldogs vs Georgia Tech, South Carolina vs Clemson, Oklahoma vs Nebraska, and Texas A&M (when they belonged to the BIG XII) vs Arkansas!

JB TexasEx

@Caddoaggie

I responded to your rudeness in kind, sir.

An SEC board that has speculated on the Longhorns' worries. As a Texas-Ex, I wanted to help John out with his straw poll. You Aggies never answer the question, "what's in it for UT to continue the series"?I've already told you why it won't happen soon. Neither the UT administration nor influential alumni want the game. Call it "sour grapes" if you'd like.

Caddoaggie

@JB TexasEx

It's an SEC board, coming from the Big 12-2 sisters of the poor, that's trolling. Nice name calling sir, and we didn't lower any academic standards to go to the SEC, if you pay enough attention, Texas A&M University has very similar academic standards to that of the University of Texas. As far as the record goes, why not keep playing us? Why, spin all the reasons you want, why it can't happen. Nothing but sour grapes.

JB TexasEx

@Caddoaggie

Not trolling anything that references The University, d-bag. We're a Big 12 team that beats aggy most of the time. We'd have to lower our academic standards significantly to be "an SEC type team".

76-37-5...spin that

Caddoaggie

@JB TexasEx @alamoaggie08 @John at MrSEC

Pats t-sip on the head... It's ok, spin it all you want, you just keep trolling conference websites that the horn's don't belong to, and while your at it, keep thinking "your an SEC type team".

JB TexasEx

@alamoaggie08 @John at MrSEC

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but the fact is UT's administration and the powers that be don't want the game. Furthermore, your accusation that "DeLoss threatened each Big 12 team" is nonsense. OU is playing A&M in a basketball tourney this fall. From what I hear, A&M doesn't WANT to play Tech or Baylor in football...only UT. Yes, I'm sure A&M would like to play them in other sports. It would keep travel costs down for non-rev sports.

"Sour grapes" certainly plays a big part, because A&M reneged on their commitment to the Big 12. That salient point is well-documented. You don't think that upset Tech and Baylor, too? Yes, UT can "pay-off cupcakes" but why should we do that? What's in it for UT to renew the A&M series immediately? We've already got nationally relevant OOC games scheduled with Notre Dame, UCLA, Cal, USC, etc.

alamoaggie08

@JB TexasEx @John at MrSEC

there's no rationale to consider other than sour grapes when it comes to ending the series. the reasoning deloss gave was the schedule was full, but seriously don't tell me there aren't cupcakes in there that texas can't pay off with their $300 mil from the longhorn network. that reasoning also doesn't fly considering deloss quickly went out and all but threatened each big 12 team, especially those in texas, who would even consider scheduling a&m in any sports. billy kennedy and rick barnes talked about playing in basketball, but barnes is basically too scared to ask. you're right that it won't happen with deloss around, but there's no reasoning behind it other than he said too much earlier and is too proud to give in now.

djva0603

Beautiful article! I grew up around Big XII football and I must say that the Aggie's have always had potential--but it would always be dampened by the Texas Longhorns. I'm not an Aggie fan--I'm a Crimson Tide alum and a Sooner fan.

A&M is a perfect fit for the SEC! They have helped expand the SEC recruiting map into the rich-fertile-football grounds of Texas! Coach Sumlin has proved to be a success @ OU, HOUSTON, and A&M!

Now...one thing must be addressed. Is it possible that A&M enjoyed success because of the Arkansas debacle and Auburn's implosion? What will happen to A&M when those teams finally pick up good coaches? Speculation, speculation...

As a Texan I would like to see the Lone Star Showdown! Texas needs to stop using the excuse of "our schedule is full." They can afford to payout one of those cup-cake games and schedule A&M! So much for being the "Jone's" of college football! Bravo Aggies for an awesome game last Saturday! Next year will be different! LOVE SEC FOOTBALL! 7 in a row is still possible! ROLL DAMN TIDE! and /m\

John at MrSEC moderator

@djva0603

Certainly the nosedives at Arkansas and Auburn helped... no question, but that's the cyclical nature of the league. In the 90s, Florida and Tennessee ruled the SEC East. As those teams have had varying shares of struggles -- aside from the Tim Tebow years at Florida -- you've seen Georgia and South Carolina climb. LSU and Alabama rose.

A&M's been aided the West not being as tough as expected, but recruits won't be thinking about that one too deeply. And that's the key moving forward. As you say and as we've written, A&M has great, great potential and first-year success in the SEC is sending that message to recruits in Texas and beyond.

Thanks for reading the site,

John

MoKelly1

Very nice article. No doubt the SEC brand will help A&M in recruiting and success. Congrats.

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