re: A&M AD Woodward: “I’ve got to worry about Auburn and Alabama and LSU”

quote:

---

You mean the years when you won all your national championships and had a Heisman winner?

---

IMHO, there are 4 "eras" of CFB"

- Pre-WWII: Small private schools like Harvard, Notre Dame, etc. could and did dominate

- WWII-1973: Big state schools could throw schollys at any talent they wanted, and small schools couldn't or wouldn't.

- 1974 to late 90's: Leveler playing fields on scholarships and the nascent rise of TV money gave smaller programs a chance again.

- 21st century: Major conferences, TV contracts, and simply larger schools (and alumni bases) return concentrated power to state schools.

In the second era, we were about 39% winning percentage. We simply could not compete as a small military school.

From 1974, we've been at 65% (including a 19-19 record against Texas)