re: Would A&M be undefeated if they stayed in the Big XII

Texas became a victim of their own success in recruiting. They recruited earlier and earlier and got the hype machine behind them (realize Bobby Burton who started Rivals is from Austin). If they looked at a kid they instantly shot up the rankings as a Sophomore or Junior because "Texas is interested, they must be great". Then those kids often times weren't as good as thought or they came into Texas expecting just to go to the NC game every year. Slowly but surely they ate away at their empire until suddenly the Emperor had no Clothes. Sure, they have some real talent but they also did a terrible job developing it.

Sherman had to truly rebuild from scratch. He got an A&M team that had talent but the talent there had attitudes that were poisonous. Guys like Javorskie Lane and Martellus Bennett who are now starting in the NFL and since straightened out had become completely undisciplined under Fran. Sherman had an eye for talent though and knew how to develop it, he just wasnt' a great closer. He refused to negative recruit and he really didn't punch back when others negative recruited A&M. Thus we ended up finishing in 2nd for far too many recruits and lost far too many commits late. Sherman had a lot of great character coaches but very little in the way of real recruiters on staff, it was far too much of an NFL mentality. Still, the base of talent was solid for Sumlin to inherit and he has taken things to a new level.

The recruits A&M is getting now is staggering and the bar is getting higher and higher. For instance A&M may well have the top 2 LB's in Texas locked up for 2014 before the first Jr Days. His entire staff is filled with guys that have been recruiting coordinators at previous stops. All of them clearly love recruiting and being very aggressive in spotting talent and locking it down. A&M has gone from holding its own with OU and winning some battles to the point where now they are kicking Texas' arse recruiting wise and crushing OU. If A&M can finish strong this year the sky is truly the limit.

It feels a LOT like when Jackie Sherrill was rolling. Sumlin has that same swagger.