Kevin Sumlin facing some harsh critiques following another late season collapse
Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin appears to have become a victim of his own early success down in College Station.
Whether you want to point to the success of his first campaign, Sumlin won 11 games in his first season with the Aggies, or his early season successes, A&M has posted stellar 5-0 starts each of the last three seasons, Texas A&M has fallen short time and again to capitalize on the momentum its coach was able to build.
After being rewarded with a contract paying him $5 million dollars a year, the second-richest deal in the SEC, some are being very vocal in questioning if the Texas A&M head coach is worth his lofty paycheck. His 3-9 combined record against Power 5 teams post November the last three seasons and his consecutive 8-5 records have not gone unnoticed.
Here’s just a sample of some of the feedback Sumlin received following A&M’s loss to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl:
Kevin Sumlin got a raise to $5 million a year after going 11-2 and 9-4 his first two seasons at A&M.
Since then:
8-5
8-5
8-5— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 29, 2016
Couldn't have imagined this at the time: Since beating Tennessee on Oct. 8, A&M's only wins came against New Mexico State & UTSA
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) December 29, 2016
Earlier this season when I said Kevin Sumlin and Charlie Strong are the same coach, I was wrong and I apologize.
Kevin makes more money.
— Brandon Wheeland (@BrandonWheeland) December 29, 2016
Beat the hell outta UCLA. See y'all in September at my favorite sports venue on earth.
— Jimmy Gardner (@jimmygards) December 29, 2016
2014: 5-0 start. 8-5 finish
2015: 5-0 start. 8-5 finish
2016: 6-0 start. 8-5 finish— Tanner Holley (@TannerHolley16) December 29, 2016
Ags far too talented a team to lose five of seven games at any point, much less to close out season with Ws coming vs NMSt and UTSA.
— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) December 29, 2016
*Bo Pelini stares at Kevin Sumlin's 9-4, 8-5, 8-5, and 8-5 finishes, nods in approval.*
— Dustin McComas (@DMcComasOB) December 29, 2016
Breaking: Texas A&M Board of Regents declares that August 5th, (8/5) will be known as Kevin Sumlin day
— Matt '15 (@TxAg_Matt15) December 29, 2016
With starting quarterback Trevor Knight now no longer with the program after his one-year stint in College Station, Sumlin and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone will be forced to go back to the drawing board to figure out the team’s quarterback position after being bailed out by Knight’s decision to transfer in as a graduate of Oklahoma.
With Texas landing the “it” coach of the season after luring Tom Herman away from Houston, the pressure will rise considerably on Sumlin if the Longhorns gain serious momentum heading into signing day and turn that into a big 2017 season. Can Sumlin survive another 8-5 campaign?
Considering a new quarterback has to be worked in and the Aggies open the season at UCLA and travel to Florida next season, in addition to playing the annual SEC West slate, 8-5 may be tough to reach, even for a coach so adept at achieving that record.