Texas A&M Football: Dear Aggies, stop complaining about Kevin Sumlin

Texas A&M football is coming off one of the most inexplicable defeats in program history, but that doesn’t mean head coach Kevin Sumlin should be gone.

Dear Texas A&M Fans,

Some of you have lost your minds. Kevin Sumlin should NOT be fired.

Let me start off by addressing Tony Buzbee, the Board of Regents member, who has openly called for Kevin Sumlin to be fired after the UCLA loss in this social media post:

Tony: By writing the post publicly you have shown that you have no juice, power or pull in the athletic department. If you did, you would not need to curry favor in the kangaroo court of social media. It must be very easy to play “arm chair” coach from the air-conditioned seats of the renovated Kyle Field that Sumlin helped build.

Do you realize that calling for a coach’s head in Week 1 is foolish? You did not think about the damage you could do to the program. National Signing Day is in December this year. Recruiting is always affected by perceived coaching instability. Do you really want the school to fire Sumlin mid-season? Who would is your coach in waiting? This social media post was selfish act. At this point, your loyalty to the Aggies is in question. Coaching changes should never be played out in the media. The program and recruiting always suffer.

I do believe every coach should be evaluated at the conclusion of every season. You have to answer 2 simple questions to know whether or not you should fire your coach.

1. Is there an available guaranteed upgrade over our current coach?
2. Is there still hope? Can your coach walk in high school homes to recruit and sell young men on the fact that the future is brighter than the past?

Texas A&M is still in transition

The fact that you believe Sumlin should be fired means you are severely overestimating your program. Texas A&M is not a top-tier college football program yet. It has only been six years since the school moved from the Big XII to the SEC West. The entire roster had to be rebuilt to fit the SEC style of play. In addition to being very competitive in the SEC, Sumlin has turned Texas A&M into a top destination for recruits. Four of the last five years he has had at least a top 15 class. College Station has never a destination for 5-star recruits. If you fire him, let me know how you think recruiting will go.

Do you believe Les Miles and Chip Kelly are going to be knocking down your door trying to get the head job there? Nope. If you fire Kevin Sumlin, the likelihood is high that you would have to go with an unproven coach. Hire and unproven coach and you get unproven results. Sumlin is a known quantity. He has never finished below 8-5. Before he got to A&M, the team had only had two seasons since 1998 with more than 8 wins. But you want Sumlin fired? Do you think you A&M should be in the national championship conversation every year?

The time is coming, it’s just not right now

I completely understand wanting your program to win national titles and be nationally recognized as a powerhouse. All schools want that. It takes time. You probably can’t remember the last time the national championship was won by a team that isn’t a traditional powerhouse. No team has won a national championship since 1990 that wasn’t named Clemson, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Auburn, USC, Oklahoma, Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee or LSU.

A big push toward the college football playoff is coming for Texas A&M, but you have to be patient, pay your dues, and wait for a couple special players to walk through the door. You are complaining about transfers like your school is the only program that has players transfer. Even Nick Saban has kids leave the program for various reasons.

It took a long time to build the prestige that Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, and Ohio State have.

Next: Counterpoint - Why Sumlin needs to go

Tony, keep quiet, be patient, and have several seats.

Fans: Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. Some of you may get your wish for Kevin Sumlin to be fired. It will prove to be the biggest mistake in program history. Get a grip, ride it out with Sumlin, and you will reap the benefits on the back end.

George Wrighster, III