Auburn compared to Texas A&M

[doc4aday 1,887]

We all know how much TAMU has invested into their football program, especially with the stadium expansion. Most of us got a huge kick out of TAMU's stadium resembling a fishing tackle box! Now that the stadium has been finished, it has turned out to be a really great stadium.

I know that they have invested a lot of $$$$ with their coaching staff, especially Kevin Sumlin. They have recruited well, and pretty much rival Auburn in many ways. This is not a bad thing whatsoever imho. They have hired one of the top 5 DCs in the country. The bad news is that Sumlin may be on a hotter seat than most realize. With the salary he gets, his results have yet to warrant it. I would think that he has to have at least a 9-3 or better record for 2016 to keep his job. In as long as I can remember, TAMU has not had a coach with a great deal of success since RC Slocum.

I do believe if Sumlin is fired after 2016, TAMU will go after a proven winner that can take their program to the next level.

Auburn, imho, is in much better shape to breakout and start winning consistently. We have a very good coach that has been a part of 1 NC, 2 SEC titles, and another NC that fell 13 seconds shy of giving us 2 NCs within a 5 year period. Only the turds have done better than us.

I feel that Gus has put together a very good staff on both sides of the ball and an excellent staff that can recruit with the best of them. We are in the process of doing some major upgrades to our stadium and athletic complexes that cover the gamut of needs to bring us in the top programs in the country.

I do not know near as much as many of you out there, and hope that you will step up to the plate and add to what I have only scratched the surface over.

Remember, this is a comparision between us and TAMU.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

I honestly don't think Sumlin's record will make one bit of difference as to whether he's let go or not. That program has obvious problems off the field that he's going to need to fix, or they are going to have to drop him to stop the bleeding.

If there is one thing you can say for Gus, he's the king of trying to do things the right way, even when it's to the temporary detriment of production on the field. While that hasn't helped us on the scoreboard lately, I'd rather struggle from injuries and problems being shown the door than be the hot mess that A&M is right now. I still think Sumlin sold his soul to Johnny Football and he's now reaping what he sowed with egos run a muck in his locker room, dirty play on the field, and a general lack of control.

[ShugMan55 0]

Both are land grant schools.

Both have great vet schools.

Both live in the shadow of a state named college.

Both are repeatedly brought up as the classiest/nicest places to visiting fans.

I have no problem with being thrown into a category with A&M.

[ToomersStreet 804]

Both are great schools in great towns. But differences are Sumlin is actively trying to leave for the NFL as reported by the NFL Network, he has managed to run off two 5 star QB's, and now a trainer has come out and said he was pressured to clear injured players to play. Both Sumlin and Malzahn started off strong and have regressed each season since, both do not seem to be able to develop their QB's but at least with Gus there are not obvious red flags of trouble brewing in the background.

[keesler 6,037]

Both are great schools in great towns. But differences are Sumlin is actively trying to leave for the NFL as reported by the NFL Network, he has managed to run off two 5 star QB's, and now a trainer has come out and said he was pressured to clear injured players to play. Both Sumlin and Malzahn started off strong and have regressed each season since, both do not seem to be able to develop their QB's but at least with Gus there are not obvious red flags of trouble brewing in the background.

Solid comparison

[Tiger 8,927]

in 2013 I had said the best coaching rivalry in the SEC post-Saban was going to be Gus vs Sumlin.

Boy was I wrong. There's a chance 1 or both of those guys don't make it to the end of Saban's career. If Sumlin keeps going the way he's been leading TAMU and the bottom falls out for AU like it has once every 4 years (really hoping that 6-6 regular season is our true floor with Gus) both schools could have new coaches. Shows how much I know lolol

[McLoofus 35,182]

There's a chance 1 or both of those guys don't make it to the end of Saban's career.

[Tiger 8,927]

Hahaha...not Gus bashing I swear. I'm sure someone will think that I'm saying Gus will be fired next year. Just speaking on trends

[doc4aday 1,887]

My son lives in San Antonio, and has been there going on 9 years, and says that there are far more TAMU fans than UT Austin. I find this interesting. We all know that UT though is the premier program in Texas, but has fallen tremendously over the past few years. This leads me to this prediction folks!

1. Charlie Strong will be fired next season. There is a huge ground swell to get him fired, and if he does not go at least 9-3 in 2016, he is gone.

2. When Strong is let go, Texas will hire out Hugh Freeze from Ole Miss making him the highest paid coach in all of college football. He will be offered and will accept $8 million per year. You may think I am crazy with this prediction, but sit still for a bit and think this through. Freeze is a better recruiter than he is a coach, but the gap is small in that he is a very good coach and has proven this. Yes, I hate Ole Miss for good reasons that I would rather not divulge at this time. I am pretty good with some predictions, and horrible with others.

I have correctly picked many things that have taken place. I have picked the North Carolina pic 3 and pic 4 more than once each. And have actually picked the Powerball and 3 numbers a few months ago, but did not buy a ticket. I do not gamble, but do have a knack for predicting things here and there!

[PoetTiger 1,901]

Sumlin has not sniffed a SEC title nor BCS game...Gus has done both. I don't think it's a fair comparison. Jmo.

[AUwent 3,970]

in 2013 I had said the best coaching rivalry in the SEC post-Saban was going to be Gus vs Sumlin.

Boy was I wrong.

I would love to have A&M develop into a rival (they kind of are for me as a UT fan, but I have respect for them), if a friendly one, since both schools are admittedly alike. Really, given that:

-The away team has won all four meetings since we began playing every year

-Two of those meetings were wild shootouts that ended in admittedly controversial calls (I endured 2012 and I still think this was the most painful Auburn loss of my life)

-Those controversial calls derailed the losing side's season

-The two are always compared with each other and have the aforementioned similarities (I know of LOTS of mutual fans of the two)

I'm surprised we're not rivals.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

Sumlin has not sniffed a SEC title nor BCS game...Gus has done both. I don't think it's a fair comparison. Jmo.

And Gus did it without having his star player making an idiot of himself on national news and without dirty play on the field (see Julien Obioha's "A lot of stuff happens at the bottom of a pile" from 2014 and Ricky Seals-Jones intentionally sending Dinson to the hospital last year).

[DyeCampAlum 335]

I don't know why A&M seems to shoot itself in the foot, but realistically A&M has huge advantages over Auburn. Bigger & richer alumni base. Bigger & richer recruiting turf (though Baylor and TCU have done something amazing). Their people are just as passionate. If they ever really put it together, Auburn will be #4 in the West in terms of easiest places to succeed.

[DAG 36,503]

Kevin Sumlin has a 20 million dollar buyout. The only way he gets fired, is if he has one of those AU 2012 seasons.

[Dual-Threat Rigby 9,969]

I don't know why A&M seems to shoot itself in the foot, but realistically A&M has huge advantages over Auburn. Bigger & richer alumni base. Bigger & richer recruiting turf (though Baylor and TCU have done something amazing). Their people are just as passionate. If they ever really put it together, Auburn will be #4 in the West in terms of easiest places to succeed.

They kind of have the little brother mentality to Baylor, TCU and Texas as far as programs go. Probably more resources just not that belief in themselves as a program

[AUld fAUx@ 2,584]

We're the big brother (4 yrs) in this relationship

“As a result, in 1872 the school was renamed to the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Auburn_University

“The first public institution of higher education in Texas, the school opened on October 4, 1876^[13] as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_A%26M_University

[WDE_OxPx_2010 5,549]

in 2013 I had said the best coaching rivalry in the SEC post-Saban was going to be Gus vs Sumlin.

Boy was I wrong.

I would love to have A&M develop into a rival (they kind of are for me as a UT fan, but I have respect for them), if a friendly one, since both schools are admittedly alike. Really, given that:

-The away team has won all four meetings since we began playing every year

-Two of those meetings were wild shootouts that ended in admittedly controversial calls (I endured 2012 and I still think this was the most painful Auburn loss of my life)

-Those controversial calls derailed the losing side's season

-The two are always compared with each other and have the aforementioned similarities (I know of LOTS of mutual fans of the two)

I'm surprised we're not rivals.

I was there for 2012 as well. Miserably cold but felt colder because of the play of our TIGERS. Stayed till the end.

[aucanucktiger 2,009]

...neither has natural media outlets to constantly jam accomplishments & pseudo-accomplishments down national media throats...

[alexava 6,998]

My son lives in San Antonio, and has been there going on 9 years, and says that there are far more TAMU fans than UT Austin. I find this interesting. We all know that UT though is the premier program in Texas, but has fallen tremendously over the past few years. This leads me to this prediction folks!

1. Charlie Strong will be fired next season. There is a huge ground swell to get him fired, and if he does not go at least 9-3 in 2016, he is gone.

2. When Strong is let go, Texas will hire out Hugh Freeze from Ole Miss making him the highest paid coach in all of college football. He will be offered and will accept $8 million per year. You may think I am crazy with this prediction, but sit still for a bit and think this through. Freeze is a better recruiter than he is a coach, but the gap is small in that he is a very good coach and has proven this. Yes, I hate Ole Miss for good reasons that I would rather not divulge at this time. I am pretty good with some predictions, and horrible with others.

I have correctly picked many things that have taken place. I have picked the North Carolina pic 3 and pic 4 more than once each. And have actually picked the Powerball and 3 numbers a few months ago, but did not buy a ticket. I do not gamble, but do have a knack for predicting things here and there!

Please PM me the winning Power Ball #s. I would be glad to collect the jackpot. I don't care if you call it gambling or not.

[Randman5000 4,461]

Both are great schools in great towns. But differences are Sumlin is actively trying to leave for the NFL as reported by the NFL Network, he has managed to run off two 5 star QB's, and now a trainer has come out and said he was pressured to clear injured players to play. Both Sumlin and Malzahn started off strong and have regressed each season since, both do not seem to be able to develop their QB's but at least with Gus there are not obvious red flags of trouble brewing in the background.

I think people say that cause their fans are nice. Lived in San Antonio for 5 years. They don't have a nice campus or a nice town.

It's pretty bland.

[McLoofus 35,182]

Both are great schools in great towns. But differences are Sumlin is actively trying to leave for the NFL as reported by the NFL Network, he has managed to run off two 5 star QB's, and now a trainer has come out and said he was pressured to clear injured players to play. Both Sumlin and Malzahn started off strong and have regressed each season since, both do not seem to be able to develop their QB's but at least with Gus there are not obvious red flags of trouble brewing in the background.

I think people say that cause their fans are nice. Lived in San Antonio for 5 years. They don't have a nice campus or a nice town.

It's pretty bland.

Everything about them is so beige, except their recent attempts to be a sexy football program.

[AUwent 3,970]

in 2013 I had said the best coaching rivalry in the SEC post-Saban was going to be Gus vs Sumlin.

Boy was I wrong.

I would love to have A&M develop into a rival (they kind of are for me as a UT fan, but I have respect for them), if a friendly one, since both schools are admittedly alike. Really, given that:

-The away team has won all four meetings since we began playing every year

-Two of those meetings were wild shootouts that ended in admittedly controversial calls (I endured 2012 and I still think this was the most painful Auburn loss of my life)

-Those controversial calls derailed the losing side's season

-The two are always compared with each other and have the aforementioned similarities (I know of LOTS of mutual fans of the two)

I'm surprised we're not rivals.

I was there for 2012 as well. Miserably cold but felt colder because of the play of our TIGERS. Stayed till the end.

No, I meant that the 2014 game was more painful. 2012 I was just angry. LOL

[Tiger 8,927]

The 2014 game ripped my heart out. The stakes were very high with a huge game coming up the following week and we literally fumbled it away at the end of the game. The 2012 game just reinforced what we thought about the team as we were just coming off of a loss to freaking Vandy. It was over by the end of the first quarter I believe it was 21-0 in the first 15 minutes and we had, if I recall correctly, only scored 21+ points in an entire game once prior to that game that season.

[texaswde 8]

Campus is nice, but Bland is the correct term and in the last 15 years has grown huge(spread out)in area. There is no comparison to the quality of the towns except 2 towns together. Character of towns physically very different- B/CC is a very flat, non forest landscape. Auburn/ O is a way neater area. My wife wishes we could pick up Auburn and move it to Texas.

[auburn4ever 1,266]

Since A&M joined the SEC, we've only beat them twice and both wins came at A&M. It would be nice if we could beat them at Jordan-Hare for a change.