If the CBS-Houston report that Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin will be named as the new Texas A&M head coach in the next 24 hours, his team’s performance Saturday probably wouldn’t be quite the exit that he had envisioned. The Cougars fell 49-28 to the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in the Conference USA championship game.
In his postgame comments, Sumlin refuted the report, maintaining that he has yet to have any discussions with any other schools.
Sumlin has been Houston’s head coach since 2007. He and and veteran quarterback Case Keenum rode a wave of success behind a high-powered spread offense. Now, if he moves on to A&M, the pieces seem to be in place for similar offensive success.
A&M recruited well under former Aggies head coach Mike Sherman. The Aggies return a solid group of quarterbacks (Jameill Showers, Luke Joeckel and Johnny Manziel) to go with another solid group of wide receivers (Ryan Swope, Malcome Kennedy, Uzoma Nwachukwu, Kenric McNeal, Brandal Jackson and Nate Askew), a position that Sumlin knows well. The entire Aggies offensive line returns next season, and Sumlin will two talented running backs at his disposal. I do not believe Sumlin will have troubles getting started offensively.
Sumlin, a former A&M assistant, knows the recruiting turf well and is very familiar with the Aggies program.
Now, time to get to work on the defense. Judging by UH’s effort on D today, Sumlin will need help there. Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman floated the name of Mike Stoops to be Sumlin’s defensive coordinator.
