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Did joining the SEC really help A&M as much as people say?
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:20 pm
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:20 pm
I see a lot of people (including a lot of Texas fans) talking about how much the SEC move helped A&M. I'm not saying it didn't help at all, but I think they just had a good team this year, including the Heisman trophy winner, and the coach they hired before the season is looking like a winner as well. I think that that coupled with the fact that UT is in shambles had more to do with their success over the past year than switching conferences.
If A&M had played in the Big 12 last season they might have been playing for a national title in January.
If A&M had played in the Big 12 last season they might have been playing for a national title in January.
This post was edited on 2/11/13 at 5:21 pm
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Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:23 pm to thefloydian
They had a good year because of a lot of factors. Don't think many of them had anything to do with the SEC.
The SEC effect will take a few years for both new schools to really benefit from. aTm had a great year, and if that winds up getting attributed to the conference instead of a good new coach and a great new QB, that's fine for me.
I like being in a great conference, but it's really going to take a few for the real benefits to trickle down.
The SEC effect will take a few years for both new schools to really benefit from. aTm had a great year, and if that winds up getting attributed to the conference instead of a good new coach and a great new QB, that's fine for me.
I like being in a great conference, but it's really going to take a few for the real benefits to trickle down.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:23 pm to thefloydian
They had a record # of kids apply this year by a big margin, so yeah
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:24 pm to thefloydian
The reality is that it helped.
The other reality is that they would have been in the title game this year if they had stuck one more year in the Big 12.
The other reality is that they would have been in the title game this year if they had stuck one more year in the Big 12.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:25 pm to Hubbhogg
quote:
They had a record # of kids apply this year by a big margin, so yeah
So you think they would have had fewer kids apply if they had gone undefeated in the Big 12?
That's an honest question, I'm not trying to be a dick or anything.
I think they would have easily gone undefeated in the Big 12 this year.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:25 pm to wmr
quote:
The reality is that it helped.
The other reality is that they would have been in the title game this year if they had stuck one more year in the Big 12.
Yeah, I agree with this.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:28 pm to thefloydian
A&M had been quietly building a national power in all areas of the school and the SEC move just was the catalyst to make it explode. It's about more than just being in the SEC though, it's about how we left and being the sole SEC team in Texas. Of course Sumlin and JFF mania were like throwing gasoline on the fire. The resources behind A&M and overall potential because of where we are located and how we are structured is just staggering.
I expected us to take 3 years to be where we are now, meaning we are in a position next season to legitimately compete for the SEC and thus NC.
I expected us to take 3 years to be where we are now, meaning we are in a position next season to legitimately compete for the SEC and thus NC.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:28 pm to thefloydian
I think it helps recruiting more than anything
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:30 pm to thefloydian
The whole "would have won the Big 12" thing is impossible to say. It took a lot of elements coming together for A&M to do what it has done this year. Too much would be different in the Big 12 to know if it would have been anything close to the same team.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:31 pm to Mizzeaux
quote:
They had a good year because of a lot of factors. Don't think many of them had anything to do with the SEC. The SEC effect will take a few years for both new schools to really benefit from.
i agree with this.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:33 pm to aggressor
In the same vein, winning the Big 12 by playing the way the Aggies did this year with a Heisman QB would have likely gotten record applications too.
When we were winning stuff, we got record numbers of apps too.
Winning gets attention, attention brings good things. If they get attributed to our new conference that's fine with me. I do think it will take a few years (and maybe a network) to get the real SEC benefit.
td;dr: I think aTm would be in the same position now if they had been in the Big 12. JFF would have had a harder road, not beating Bama, but I still think he'd have won.
When we were winning stuff, we got record numbers of apps too.
Winning gets attention, attention brings good things. If they get attributed to our new conference that's fine with me. I do think it will take a few years (and maybe a network) to get the real SEC benefit.
td;dr: I think aTm would be in the same position now if they had been in the Big 12. JFF would have had a harder road, not beating Bama, but I still think he'd have won.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:36 pm to thefloydian
quote:
Did joining the SEC really help A&M as much as people say?
If we were still in the Big 12, Larry Jackson might not have deemed that the team needed an additional three weeks with him prior to spring practices.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:36 pm to Patton
quote:
I think it helps recruiting more than anything
Yep.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:37 pm to thefloydian
Actually, now that I think about it. If they had stayed one more year in the Big 12, there likely would have been 3 undefeated teams. I'm not sure they would have made it over ND even though they were obviously a better team. ND has a lot of pull nationally.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:39 pm to thefloydian
Here's the deal: if A&M doesn't leave the big12, Sherman is probably still A&M's head coach.
If Sherman's coaching, our team probably has the same conditioning problems that plagued us in 2011 and would have doomed us in 2012.
If Sherman's coaching, we don't have a spread offensive philosophy and try to beat the SEC playing the same style as Bama or LSU, and we don't have the horses to hang with that style against those teams for 4 quarters.
If Sherman's coaching, MANZIEL MOST LIKELY DOES NOT START. Jameil Showers, Tannehill's backup from the year before, would almost assuredly have been the starter, and while he's a more than competent QB, he doesn't have the "it" factor that JFF works his magic with and wins games with.
If Sherman's coaching, our team probably has the same conditioning problems that plagued us in 2011 and would have doomed us in 2012.
If Sherman's coaching, we don't have a spread offensive philosophy and try to beat the SEC playing the same style as Bama or LSU, and we don't have the horses to hang with that style against those teams for 4 quarters.
If Sherman's coaching, MANZIEL MOST LIKELY DOES NOT START. Jameil Showers, Tannehill's backup from the year before, would almost assuredly have been the starter, and while he's a more than competent QB, he doesn't have the "it" factor that JFF works his magic with and wins games with.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:42 pm to Mizzeaux
quote:
I think it helps recruiting more than anything
I agree - at least up until the Cotton Bowl. I think facing the SEC toughened up our defense a bit and it showed. But the big bonus comes with recruiting. I know it's no big deal to 'Bama, LSU, Florida fans, but A&M fans aren't accustomed to having a class this highly-rated very often.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:42 pm to TbirdSpur2010
^ reality
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:43 pm to TbirdSpur2010
quote:
Here's the deal: if A&M doesn't leave the big12, Sherman is probably still A&M's head coach.
Explain, please.
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:45 pm to thefloydian
quote:
Explain, please.
There's nothing to explain...
Posted on 2/11/13 at 5:47 pm to townestoldme2
quote:
There's nothing to explain...
Oh, ok. I must have missed out when everyone else had all their Aggie info downloaded into their brain.
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