Wouldn't go that far until some of Sumlin's recruits get high marks. So far, he's turned out exactly zero pro players as a head coach.
The premiere program of Texas. Amazing turnaround....the product on the field. (Not just individual players)
Aggies ranked #1 in preseason poll by CBS. www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/s...ason-no-1-with-manziel-few-weaknesses-why-not
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin on upgraded contracts 4 him & staff."That announcement's coming. Our guys r comfortable w/it. I'm comfortable w/it"</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/292048788397379584" data-datetime="2013-01-17T23:20:31+00:00">January 17, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Sumlin on upgraded contracts 4 him/staff "It's 1 that reflects our commitment as a coaching staff 2Texas A&M but also their commitment 2 us"</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/292049902480011264" data-datetime="2013-01-17T23:24:57+00:00">January 17, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Who wouldn't? But in all honesty I don't see this happening any time soon. Kelly had 4 straight years of incredible success in the majors and only now did he get a look, and it's a gamble IMO because I really doubt that style of offense would work in the NFL as the sole strategy of a team. Adding a spread/hurry up wrinkle to an already established pro-style offense might be very effective, but running the Oregon style spread full time doesn't look as promising at the next level simply because of the incredible athleticism and ability of NFL defenses.
Looks like the NFL came calling and he's staying(for now). http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/bruce-feldman/21583131/aggies-step-up-for-sumlin
Actually Chip Kelly turned down the Buccaneers last year. NFL teams might consider Kelly a test case for Sumlin. A&M fans better hope he doesn't get distracted.
Nobody knows what Sumlin's aspirations are. He may want to test the NFL waters at some point. He may not. He may be one of those guys that loves the college game and wants to be a college coach his entire career. He may also have seen the number of successful college coaches that flopped in the NFL. He may jump to the NFL next year. We will have to wait and see.
I'm honestly kind of shocked NFL teams are inquiring about Sumlin. I think he's a great coach. But that's one hell of a risky hire.
Nobody turns down the NFL if you are a head coach. Guys only go back to NCAA if they can't cut it in the NFL, not because they love the college game so much (that's what they say)
I am sure bob stoops has turned down NFL offers. It isn't like the NFL blows away college coaches with money since some of these football programs can probably match if not beat them. Would Pete Carrol have left USC if knew the NCAA wasn't calling. Are we sure NCAA isn't coming after Oregon? Guys like Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino quit NFL jobs. They might have been successful if they stuck it out.
Be really careful when using absolute terms like "nobody." I would imagine that Bob Stoops has had NFL inquiries. I would imagine that successful coaches like Mack Brown and Bobby Bowden probably had NFL overtures but never interviewed for positions. When the coaching salaries in the NFL were head and shoulders beyond the most lucrative college salaries, I would have agreed with you. These days, however, Sumlin reportedly will make $4 million a year on his new contract. The money in the NFL is not so vastly different that it alone will make e difference. The coach in question would have to have aspirations to coach in the NFL.
I have no memory saying such a thing. Can you post a link? I was not shocked at A&M's interest in Sumlin (or the fact that he was interested in them), but the hire did have risks associated with it, as Sumlin's tenure at UH was pretty much tied exclusively to Keenum (a guy who was recruited and bred mostly under someone other than Sumlin himself). There was pretty much nothing written in the book of Sumlin's recruiting fruits as a head coach. That's a little risk in there. But that risk is also counter-weighted by the fact that Sumlin used to coach at A&M, so they were somewhat familiar with him. A&M hiring Sumlin is not nearly as risky as a pro team hiring him, though, especially after just 1 year at A&M, as opposed to A&M hiring him after 4+ years at UH and a stint as an OC in their program.
To reinforce the point. College coaches that jumped to the pros (OC/DC/HC experience at major programs prior to being hired): Steve Spurrier - 10 years of success at a major program Chip Kelly - 5 years of success at a major program Bobby Petrino - 6 years success at a major program, 3 years of NFL exp Dennis Erickson - 7 years of success at a major program Nick Saban - 10 years of success at major programs Jimmy Johnson - 8+ years of success at major programs Compared to Kevin Sumlin: 2 years of success at a major program (1 year HC) Sumlin doesn't even have the resume that Harbaugh did. It sticks out to me as higher risk than most.
In other news, Tony Stephens decommitted after visiting Auburn. Rumor is that A&M told him that if he want on any visits he was gone, but that is unconfirmed. Little more room in the class I guess. Larue and Daeshon Hall are finishing up their visits, maybe one of them will stay. Or sign both Mackenzie brothers. Or maybe if they hire Vernon Hargreaves to be the LB coach he can bring his son with him. Still a bunch of possibilities betweennow and signing day.
Don't have time to dig too much, but you said Sumlin was a risky hire and that Kirby Smart or something like that was the safe pick, because he was defensive minded and had SEC experience. Here it is: http://bbs.clutchcity.net/showpost.php?p=6429478&postcount=350
So... we went from me calling Sumlin a "hell of a risky hire" @ A&M to... "Kirby Smart is a safe hire". I hope you see how that doesn't really jibe. Kirby Smart being the safest hire doesn't make Sumlin "risky", it makes him "riskier" than Smart. There were risks associated with A&M hiring Sumlin (as with any coaching hire), but nothing like an NFL team hiring him.
