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State of A&M Football
Posted on 12/21/23 at 1:34 pm
Posted on 12/21/23 at 1:34 pm
I think you will see a dramatic shift with Elko. The days of T10 classes are honestly gone, especially with Texas entering the conference, Freeze the sleaze at Auburn, UGA and Alabama. Those will be the T4 teams talent-wise in the SEC as shown by signing day this year.
There will be more emphasis on the portal, and fundamentals. Coaching balancing recruiting. I think A&M will be competitive but not really championship material, especially from a talent standpoint. I think the model for Elko is Ole Miss, and Missouri if you talk about SEC teams.
Not sure what I think about that. I guess it means less 7 or 8 win seasons, but realistically we aren't winning anything of importance either. We will see. It is my belief that A&M missed its window and the reduced spending and budget is part of that reality
There will be more emphasis on the portal, and fundamentals. Coaching balancing recruiting. I think A&M will be competitive but not really championship material, especially from a talent standpoint. I think the model for Elko is Ole Miss, and Missouri if you talk about SEC teams.
Not sure what I think about that. I guess it means less 7 or 8 win seasons, but realistically we aren't winning anything of importance either. We will see. It is my belief that A&M missed its window and the reduced spending and budget is part of that reality
This post was edited on 12/21/23 at 1:38 pm
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Posted on 12/21/23 at 2:07 pm to ColoradoAg
I really dont know what to think moving forward, but I cant say I'm as pessimistic as you are.
So basically what we've been since the mid 90s?
To be honest, what we just did is how I would've done it if I were AD. Hire a proven coach that's won championships, invest in facilities/stadium/etc, have a big pool for assistant salaries, and to recruit well. We did all of that and look where it got us... So I'm kind of at a loss, I just figure I'll go with the flow and see what happens.
I used to be oppososed to shorter coaching tenures, you cant build stability hiring and firing a coach every 3-4 years, but after watching how fast football evolves plus the transfer portal a short leash may not be the worst idea. You're likely to have a decent idea of what a guy is bringing to the program after 3+ years and it's either gonna work or not. If not, rinse and repeat until it does.
All that to say, I dont think A&M's window is closed, we are still spending and investing more in our football program than we did in the Big 12 and early SEC years, and it looks like we have the pockets to keep up with other big players in the conference. It's just about finding the right coach, the right culture, and developing players. Maybe that's Elko, maybe it isnt. Time will tell.
quote:
I think A&M will be competitive but not really championship material
So basically what we've been since the mid 90s?
To be honest, what we just did is how I would've done it if I were AD. Hire a proven coach that's won championships, invest in facilities/stadium/etc, have a big pool for assistant salaries, and to recruit well. We did all of that and look where it got us... So I'm kind of at a loss, I just figure I'll go with the flow and see what happens.
I used to be oppososed to shorter coaching tenures, you cant build stability hiring and firing a coach every 3-4 years, but after watching how fast football evolves plus the transfer portal a short leash may not be the worst idea. You're likely to have a decent idea of what a guy is bringing to the program after 3+ years and it's either gonna work or not. If not, rinse and repeat until it does.
All that to say, I dont think A&M's window is closed, we are still spending and investing more in our football program than we did in the Big 12 and early SEC years, and it looks like we have the pockets to keep up with other big players in the conference. It's just about finding the right coach, the right culture, and developing players. Maybe that's Elko, maybe it isnt. Time will tell.
This post was edited on 12/21/23 at 2:08 pm
Posted on 12/21/23 at 2:19 pm to Texas Gentleman
I have no idea if Elko will work out. He's definitely not flashy, and I really don't like the DC hire - huge red flag to hire a "yes" man. We will see if he can keep the talent level up. I think we will be better coached but less talented. More of a spoiler or dark horse program. We won't be a front-runner just like we aren't in other sports. A ton of wasted money on football for sure, and it looks like A&M is doing a full 180 after the Fisher disaster. I wouldn't follow recruiting, because the result is going to be depressing.
Elko has to win next year, or he's sunk. It sucks, but that is reality.
Elko has to win next year, or he's sunk. It sucks, but that is reality.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 3:48 pm to ColoradoAg
quote:
Elko has to win next year, or he's sunk. It sucks, but that is reality.
When you say has to win next year what does that mean? 10 regular season wins and the playoffs? Beat Texas and LSU?
Posted on 12/21/23 at 4:11 pm to Dr RC
Realistically? He needs to go 9-3 and not get blown out. Otherwise, we continue to cede ground to the ****s from Austin. Continue to lose recruits to the likes of LSU, Bama, UGA, AU, etc ... Become undeniably middle of the pack in a loaded SEC. Plus, next year will be the most talented roster Elko has for the next couple of years.
This post was edited on 12/21/23 at 4:12 pm
Posted on 12/21/23 at 4:23 pm to ColoradoAg
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The days of T10 classes are honestly gone
I don't think you can say that without giving him a full season to recruit. I think he's hired some dogs to recruit. Go look at Sark's first year. Jimbo's first year. Norvell's first year. Most coaches struggle when they're hired in transition.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 4:24 pm to ColoradoAg
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Continue to lose recruits to the likes of LSU, Bama, UGA, AU, etc ...
Everyone loses recruits to everyone in this conference.
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Become undeniably middle of the pack in a loaded SEC
We've already been undeniably middle of the pack. While I get that the East tends to be easier we haven't even been to the SEC title game like Mizzou (twice).
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Plus, next year will be the most talented roster Elko has for the next couple of years.
That's a silly declarative statement considering we don't know who all he'll pull from the portal or how well he can recruit w/a full staff and season behind him.
This post was edited on 12/21/23 at 4:27 pm
Posted on 12/21/23 at 5:02 pm to ColoradoAg
This is ridiculous
Your assumptions are baseless
If Elko focused on finding a DC that agrees with his defensive philosophy, so what? Are you saying Elko wasn’t an excellent DC? Cause he was.
Your assumptions are baseless
If Elko focused on finding a DC that agrees with his defensive philosophy, so what? Are you saying Elko wasn’t an excellent DC? Cause he was.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 6:04 pm to Old Sarge
Elko was an excellent DC. However, the fact is next year will be the most talent he has for the next few years. Majority of Fisher’s recruits. But 2025 will be his first actual class, which means when majority of Fisher’s players leave, the incoming talent will be underclassmen.
So yes, 2024 will be the most talent he has for a few years. It’s also the easiest schedule we’ve had in years. No Bama, no UGA, and no Ole Miss. It doesn’t get much easier in the SEC
So yes, 2024 will be the most talent he has for a few years. It’s also the easiest schedule we’ve had in years. No Bama, no UGA, and no Ole Miss. It doesn’t get much easier in the SEC
This post was edited on 12/21/23 at 6:07 pm
Posted on 12/21/23 at 6:43 pm to ColoradoAg
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State of A&M Football
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ColoradoAg
Posted on 12/21/23 at 7:30 pm to Texas Weazel
Wait until the steers steal two of our uncommitted recruits. It’s coming. The choices were made today after the terrible DC announcement. That is on Elko
Posted on 12/21/23 at 9:01 pm to ColoradoAg
Almost would have been worth it to retain Jimbo another year if it kept OP away
Posted on 12/22/23 at 12:11 am to NanosTacoRun
Keep your head in the sand if you want. This DC hire is hard to spin, and either the 5* kids don’t like it or were never coming here anyway. The recruiting class will finish with a thud and be the lowest rated in about a decade or so …
Posted on 12/22/23 at 9:43 am to ColoradoAg
quote:
The recruiting class will finish with a thud and be the lowest rated in about a decade or so …
So who cares? Like farmer said, look at most new coaches transition classes, they tend to be lower than their usual ranking. Give the dude a season or two to figure it out. If we’re still recruiting in the 15-25 range in Elko’s third class, yes there’s reason for concern. You’re getting worked up over something so far in the future its pointless right now.
Is Aggie football that fun for you to follow? I’d truly think you might be better off getting more invested in a different sport.
Posted on 12/22/23 at 11:07 am to Texas Gentleman
We were 18th, 13th, and 17th from 2016 to 2018. Our record from 2016-2020 was 8-5, 7-6, 9-4, 8-5, & 9-1. 2 ranked seasons. Our #1 ever 2022 class went 5-7 & 7-5. I am just trying to highlight that a few good not great classes can still win a little bit and top-tier talent doesn't always.
I think as long as we stay consistently in the 8-15 range with an occasional class in the 4-7 range we will be plenty talented enough to win at an extremely high level. Sure, I would love to be Georgia or Bama, but we can get by without that being the case.
I think as long as we stay consistently in the 8-15 range with an occasional class in the 4-7 range we will be plenty talented enough to win at an extremely high level. Sure, I would love to be Georgia or Bama, but we can get by without that being the case.
Posted on 12/22/23 at 2:01 pm to ColoradoAg
How do you know that the DC hire is “terrible”?
Posted on 12/25/23 at 11:48 am to SafetySam
Because the guy hasn't really achieved much other than being fired. When he won the broyles award at army they had the 78th SOS and the best offense in the history of Army football. He'll be a position coach most like and Elko will continue running his 4-2-5 "bend don't break" defense and we'll get dink n dunked to defeat every game.
Posted on 12/25/23 at 5:50 pm to AllDayEveryDay
Wasn’t Elko a top-5 consensus DC?
Posted on 12/26/23 at 7:32 am to SafetySam
He was and is
Posted on 12/29/23 at 3:13 pm to Old Sarge
.
This post was edited on 12/29/23 at 3:14 pm
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