A&M @ UCLA. Losing HC Fired?

[BigdaddyQH]

The Sept 3rd game between Texas A&M and UCLA probably will determine the fate of one of the two head coaches. The loser of this game will have their work cut out for them to lose less than 5 games, and 8-5 will not cut it for either head coach.

A&M HC Sumlin has all but been told this. His schedule features Arkansas at Jerry World, games at Florida and LSU, and games at home against Alabama and Auburn. 5 very tough games. A losTs to UCLA makes a 9-4 or better record seem nearly impossible.

UCLA's Jim Mora has a very similar problem. After two straight 10-3 seasons, his teams have slipped to 8-5 and a terrible 4-8 last season. His away schedule includes games at Memphis, Stanford, Washington and USC. UCLA also hosts Oregon, as well as Colorado. Much like Sumlin, a loss to A&M makes a 9-4 season nearly impossible. The seat may not be quite as hot in Westwood as it is in College Station, but it is still very warm.

Do not overlook the possibility of both of these head coaches being unemployed after the 2017 season. 6-6 is not out of the question for either one of these two teams.

[gojetsgomoxies]

both are perfect examples of "be careful what you wish for".............. haven't UCLA and TAM done far better at times under these coaches than they had for a very long time? i know UCLA's really well, just educated guessing on TAM but i remember some very lean years.

[gojetsgomoxies]

absolutely nothing to do with the exact subject of this thread...... but did TAM's joining SEC harm U Texas football alot? i.e. kids from texas can no play SEC but still play games and to school in texas

[BigdaddyQH]

Texas A&M has only had one HC since they joined the SEC. As far as UT football is concerned, they have not had a season with under 4 losses since 2009.

UCLA has a history of fast starts and then flame outs when they hire new head coaches, though Neuheisel never had a good season. Toledo, Dorrell and Mora all started out very well for their first 3 years. Then UCLA started their usual slide down the chute in years 4 and 5. Mora is 29-11 his first 3 years, but is 11-13 in his last two season at the helm.

[daneblazer]

Sumlin seems to be running out of time, but not sure what they expect this season

[qwertvt]

Sumlin seems to be running out of time, but not sure what they expect this season

During the SEC media days, the A&M AD told Finebaum that the coach knows he has to win this season. There is no guess work with Sumlin.

[BigdaddyQH]

He MUST win 9 or more games and compete for the SEC Title. Losses to Alabama and Auburn at home will probably cost him his job. He also has games at Florida and LSU, plus a neutral site game in Jerry World against Arkansas, in addition to the game at UCLA.

[daneblazer]

Hope he has his bags packed. That's a hell of a gauntlet

[Ralphie Halves]

It's the curse of doing really well right when you first get there. It raises expectations too high, and if there's any let-down, nobody has the patience to let you recover from it. UCLA was a junk program for a long time before Mora. A&M wasn't supposed to compete in the SEC at all when they first got there, but they go 11-2, beat Bama, and win the Cotton Bowl. Where do you even go from there?

If I was either of the two, I'd gladly get fired and end up at a smaller program that isn't up my ass all the time, which is probably what's going to happen.

[qwertvt]

It's the curse of doing really well right when you first get there. It raises expectations too high, and if there's any let-down, nobody has the patience to let you recover from it. UCLA was a junk program for a long time before Mora. A&M wasn't supposed to compete in the SEC at all when they first got there, but they go 11-2, beat Bama, and win the Cotton Bowl. Where do you even go from there?

If I was either of the two, I'd gladly get fired and end up at a smaller program that isn't up my ass all the time, which is probably what's going to happen.

If A&M was in the SEC East. Sumlin would probably be fine right now. Regardless. he walks with 30 million which I believe is guaranteed. I would be fine getting fired for that and go to another program. Ole Miss perhaps?

[jtoler]

How stuoid, yes the first game of the season is going to determine whether a coach gets fired or not, not to mention its a nonconference game.

[Ralphie Halves]

If A&M was in the SEC East. Sumlin would probably be fine right now. Regardless. he walks with 30 million which I believe is guaranteed. I would be fine getting fired for that and go to another program. Ole Miss perhaps?

I think if A&M doesn't completely fall apart, he may still have value for an SEC team, yes.

People still have to take into account all of the players that transfer out of that school too though. Won't be a lay-up.

[BigdaddyQH]

What interests me about this game is the line. It has been UCLA -3 1/2 since the line first came out. You can get A&M and 3 1/2 points all over Vegas. A line like that should be a red flag. It is almost as if the books are begging you to take A&M by giving you a free hook. A&M has covered their first game of the season for the past 3 years, and their first away game of the season for the same amount of time.
Both teams have had poor seasons for the past two years. There are too many unexplained circumstances for me to wager on this game.

[jtoler]

What interests me about this game is the line. It has been UCLA -3 1/2 since the line first came out. You can get A&M and 3 1/2 points all over Vegas. A line like that should be a red flag. It is almost as if the books are begging you to take A&M by giving you a free hook. A&M has covered their first game of the season for the past 3 years, and their first away game of the season for the same amount of time.
Both teams have had poor seasons for the past two years. There are too many unexplained circumstances for me to wager on this game.

8-5 is not poor sir, especially in the SEC. I know you grew up on Pac-12 football but they play big boy football in the south. I must agree I like your thinking about the point spread though.

[BigdaddyQH]

8-5 is not poor sir, especially in the SEC. I know you grew up on Pac-12 football but they play big boy football in the south. I must agree I like your thinking about the point spread though.

Sumlin was TOLD by the A&M AD that another 8-5 season would not be acceptable. I did not make this stuff up. As far as 8-5 goes, it is a poor record when three of your games are at home against the likes of Nicholls State, UL Lafayette, and New Mexico and you have another game against a school (Ole Miss) that is going on probation, cannot go to a Post Season game, and has had their Head each fired for supplying all of their horny players with broads. Only Missouri, whose non-con schedule features home games against Missouri State, Purdue, Idaho, and a UConn, has 4 easier games than that. So 8-5 is poor for those two school. A&M is 15-17 in their last 4 seasons against their SEC rivals.

[jtoler]

Sumlin was TOLD by the A&M AD that another 8-5 season would not be acceptable. I did not make this stuff up. As far as 8-5 goes, it is a poor record when three of your games are at home against the likes of Nicholls State, UL Lafayette, and New Mexico and you have another game against a school (Ole Miss) that is going on probation, cannot go to a Post Season game, and has had their Head each fired for supplying all of their horny players with broads. Only Missouri, whose non-con schedule features home games against Missouri State, Purdue, Idaho, and a UConn, has 4 easier games than that. So 8-5 is poor for those two school. A&M is 15-17 in their last 4 seasons against their SEC rivals.

But Sumlin overall he's 44-21 and this is the SEC. Id like to see any other time a coach with that record was fired. Only Saban, Malzahn, and McElwain have lifetime conference records over .500. Im not disregarding 15-17, but most in the SEC have much poorer conference records. Just think Texas A@M brass are logically stupid as Ive seen other schools in year's past with their so called expectations. You need players to win and when they had them they won. Im sure top players dont flock to Texas A@M if they can go to other schools in the SEC. Now they will have a new full time qb, uh thats isnt supposed to go great with it being whomever is going to be calling the shots.

[BigdaddyQH]

Jtoler, you are such a black lover that you cannot see what is in front of you. Why don't you talk about the last 4 years at A&M. The year after Johnny Football left A&M. His overall record is 33-19. His record in the SEC is as I previously posted, 15-17 during that time period. 5 out of the other 6 SEC West teams have better records during that time span. If you do not think that having the 6th worst record out of 7 teams in the SEC West is not something that the head coach should be fired for, then I suggest that you get your dumb, uneducated, biased head out of every Black Arse that you can find. We all know what you are. Now get lost boy.

[Grits n' Gravy]

Spot on. Both coaches are in must win big seasons. Mora has lost all of the momentum he started with and USC is back to being their big brother after a few rocky seasons. Sumlin is a goner. A&M has underperformed of late considering all of the talent they have had. Not sure this year's team is going to be much different than the past few.

If I remember correctly last year's matchup of these 2 schools was boring until late in the 4th. Short spread with lots of UCLA love early and late A&M steam. I can see the same thing happening with bets...early a&m and late on bruins.