Coach Sherman question?

[Fxalaweed]

Ever since Coach Sherman was hired he's been doing things big and small that have gotten him alot of praise and pat on the back comments from alot of Aggie faithful as well as given hope to Aggieland. Basically it just seems like the phrases good bull, class move, etc phrases have been thrown out alot at him and just curious how long the good vibes hang around if we start loosing. So my questoin to ya'll my fellow Aggie Brethren is this. How many losses till the honeymoon is over this year or will he get a pass his first season. I'm playing devil's advocate here hoping for a good thread:gig: . Here's how I see the season playing out myself somewhere between 8-4 and 11-1.
August 30 Arkansas State (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=2032) W

September 6 at New Mexico (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=167) W

September 20 Miami (FL) (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=2390) Toss-up

September 27 Army (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=349) W

October 4 at Oklahoma State (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=197) W

October 11 Kansas State (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=2306) W

October 18 Texas Tech (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=2641) Toss-up

October 25 at Iowa State (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=66) W

November 1 Colorado (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=38) W

November 8 Oklahoma (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=201) L

November 15 at Baylor (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=239) W

November 27 at Texas (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=251) Toss-up

PS wow sorry about the schedule length

[Agnlaw]

Good thread. I think he gets a pass in year 1.

[whitelightnin_23]

pass in year 1.

While I think he's making great moves off the field (not considering recruiting since that has not yet come to fruitition)...he better live up to the hype or else he'll be considered a "country club coach"...someone that is good PR for the program, but a "lovable loser".

[12th man fan]

Here's how I see the season playing out myself somewhere between 8-4 and 11-1.

Why 11-1 and not 12-0?????

:D

Anyway, to answer your question, he gets a pass year 1, even if we go 6-6. But it better improve every year afterwards. He'll get Fran's five years, and he better be 9-3 or so, beating tceh consistently, and winning most bowl games, at that point.

[texags08]

he will obviously get the year 1 pass, but i don't think he will need it... We will all be convinced by the end of next season that $Bill went the right way...

[Loftin]

I gave Fran a pass in year 1. I think we'll be forgiving and patient this year, unless we have a disastrous loss (like Arkansas State, Army, or Baylor).

[Mezentius]

I don't know if pass is the right word for me. I'll give him a bit of leeway. I don't demand perfection but I demand good effort and to win games we should and be fighting for those we might shouldn't well into the second half or 4th quarter.

I think every game on our schedule is winnable.

[Loftin]

I don't know if pass is the right word for me. I'll give him a bit of leeway. I don't demand perfection but I demand good effort and to win games we should and be fighting for those we might shouldn't well into the second half or 4th quarter.

I think every game on our schedule is winnable.

Well said. I don't think another 77-0 would be forgiven as it was for Fran.

[Gravy]

I gave Fran a pass until the conclusion of year 3. Sherman gets the same.

[Chi Ag]

Sorry, NO Pass GO. How long do we have to wait...I'm getting old..Look at Mac Brown's learning curve...for Christ's sake...Why should our expectations be any different than Texas'? Unless we are inferior? Give me a break...If we have less expectations then let us change our Aggie War Hymn and Fish camp and all the other TU bashing...I'm sorry, but WE ARE not inferior and WE should WIN....

[DCAggie]

So Sherman has to win what this season--the division, the conference, x number of games?

I'd give any coach a pass, but w/ the OL and a good chunk of the defense having to be rebuilt, I'm definitely gonna wait and see.

[Agnlaw]

Yes, on 2nd thought.. leeway.. no pass.

[WesTxAg]

i think this season won't be Fran bad....but watch out for year 2 guys, that is when the tough road conference schedule comes....that's where we've had trouble the past decade(and especially under fran)

also keep in mind, some fans are already claiming gloom n doom since we're not only getting our asses kicked in recruiting, we're just straight getting it handed to us for 09. a little early i know, right?:undecided:


two areas are beyond obvious in 'key' areas that will decide sherm's fate:
**can he get the defense back to its glory days?**
-can we scheme and cover for teams like tech, cu, okst, & baylor's new offense
-can we get athletes, especially at LB, on the field and in coverage
....My personal opinion is the D will be night n day from last year...just read some of cyril's comments after the M&W game....
**can sherm get the athletes at WR to run his offense right?**
-we know he can recruit, and we certainly know he can coach the OL
-QB & RB areas are stacked
-will WR flock to the BCS to play for Sherm...so far the TE's have recognized Sherm's offense as an attractive place to play

[Pumchavas28]

-we know he can recruit
We don't know that for sure right now... Just sayin... Malone deserves 90% of the credit in keeping the 08 class together & bringing in most of the new guys....JMO.

[WesTxAg]

We don't know that for sure right now... Just sayin... Malone deserves 90% of the credit in keeping the 08 class together & bringing in most of the new guys....JMO.
read it again...it was talking about OL'men

[Conan]

Well said. I don't think another 77-0 would be forgiven as it was for Fran.

Good point. He gets a pass, but this year still means a lot. This schedule is a joke. I just hope we do well in-conference and get to a bowl.

[Mezentius]

two years ago..hell before last year our north conference oppoenents would have appeared pretty easy. Missouri was inconsistent, nobody really saw Kansas coming and we kill Nebraska...

Has nothing to do with anything just thinking of how the schedule can change.

[Thisjeffguy07]

I'd agree with the original poster's schedule/results with one exception... I think the colorado game will be a toss up at best. For some reason Colorado always plays us tough, and Dan Hawkin's team will be much better than they were last year.

As far as sherm goes I think we just have to wait and see... it all depends on how things play out, but no matter what happens I don't think $bill will call it quits anytime in the first 4 years

[MarylandAG]

For me it is not a set number of years, pass, leeway, etc. What I will be paying attention to is the coaching in various situations, how adversity is handled, utilization of personnel, game plan development/scheme. Just as an example, 3rd and 1, game on the line, gotta have the first down, how do you handle it? I think the previous staff did a very poor job of this. His coaching style from what I saw of the Texans last year is radically different than what the previous staff ran, and the honest truth is that personnel was recruited to run that style of offense, so I'm curious how Sherm will use the talent. While I fully understand the poster comparing us to the sips and how Mack did, and for the record I also don't think we are inferior, I think this is an area we have to tread with caution. Again, reality is that Sherm is coming into a league/division with a few buzz saws (sips, landthieves, and to some extent the tards), so that is something that has to be considered. I think in the long run he will turn out to be a great hire, I also think he has a very steep climb ahead of him, pro to college transition, prevalence of spread offense, recruting young kids as opposed to dealing with professionals, etc, etc etc. At the end of the day, I truly believe he is up to the challenge. Going back to my orginal statement about the coaching, if the coaching is solid, everything else will take care of itself, including the wins. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it!:D

[Dustin00whoop]

FX, I was kind of thinking the same way. Sure, the guy is reaching out to Ags & doing things that appeals to Aggies, but that doesn't equate to wins. I constantly hear about Sherman sending an email to the student body, or doing this & that, & then people follow it up with, "A&M football will go to big places under Mike Sherman." Personally, I don't see the correlation between the two.

I think the time he has to get things going will be far less than what Fran had. The only reason I gave Fran so much leeway for so long was because the lack of talent that we had on campus. That isn't the case for Sherman. Fran brought in some great players--he just didn't know how to develop them. If things don't take off in the next 2 years I'm going to be severly disappointed.

[Pumchavas28]

FX, I was kind of thinking the same way. Sure, the guy is reaching out to Ags & doing things that appeals to Aggies, but that doesn't equate to wins. I constantly hear about Sherman sending an email to the student body, or doing this & that, & then people follow it up with, "A&M football will go to big places under Mike Sherman." Personally, I don't see the correlation between the two.



I gotta agree with this.... It just doesn't add up... Reaching to the fans is nice & all, & reaching out to former players is exceptionally great....

But neither of those things will win the games... It could earn him a 1 year pass, but we all know that if A&M loses... Ags get ticked off quick... Primarily because like Dustin said... The cupboard is NOT empty....

Sherm has a very "VETERAN" team... He wont have to play a ton of walk-on's like Fran did... He wont have to recruit the JUCO teams as hard & Wont have to play as many JUCO's either...

The talent is there & after the 1st season.... Winning at least 10 games will be what many Ags expect & if doesn't come to pass, Sherman could start to hear the rumblings...

[Mezentius]

His strategy is very similiar to what Mack Brown used. He got not only the students behind the program by involving them and their exes. He got their boosters, alums in the NFL, old lettermen, and most importantly Darrell Royal behind him.

Sound familiar? It does to me. At A&M we all know how hyper involved the students are...hell there is a trademarked logo/phrase that describes them. He's tapping into that...that creates atmosphere and hopefully will turn Kyle Field back into a meat grinder...Kyle Field on Saturday is probably the biggest recruiting advantage in the Big XII when it is rocking...Its been a long long long long time since its rocked consistently.

He developed instant credibility both within and without the program. That rings with parents and coaches which helps bring in recruits. It starts from the top people and he's doing the right thing off the field.

From what I've seen/heard so far he's doing it on the field as well. People keep talking about he focuses on the fundamentals, etc. Even the tu stations that watched the spring talked about how there were not false starts, etc at the spring practice.

It takes balls to make your new starting TE out of a QB/WR...He challenged everyone on the team and everyone seems to be responding. They might not like some of it but I think they respect it.

I expect to see results pretty quickly. Not only wins, but hard play at all times. I mean in 2005 we nearly knocked off tu while they were winning a national title but looked like complete ass for the earlier parts of the season.

How many drives were killed or extended by a stupid penalty or a bizaar play call that had almost no chance of success? I mean we spent the last 4+ years scratching our heads wandering what the hell was going on...wondering why the staff wouldn't talk, etc.

That is no longer the case. I dont' demand 10 wins...I demand we beat every team we should beat (talent wise) and have a chance in every other game...I think if we can win 1/3 against Tech, tu and OU then I'm happy so long as the others are games going into the 4th quarter. I want to see this team fight and be physical for 4 quarters of every game.

I wait to see the results on the field, but he's doing many things right.

In the words of Crash Davis:
"You have mold on your shower shoes. When you win 20 in the show you can have mold on your shower shoes and you will be colorful. Until you win 20 in the show you are a slob. Think classy and you'll be classy."

That's how he's driving this program...from running the team for a couple of guys fighting to running the hell out of Goodson to start the game, to personel moves that utilize skill, to the hiring or Kines (which I think was a genius move that many coaches would have flumoxed), to keeping Van Malone (per the poster above...he's a hell of a recruiter), to the emails to the 12th man, etc.

Just getting good vibes.

[12th man fan]

I'm on board with you Mez, except that I think we should beat tceh more than 1/3 of the time. There is NO acceptable reason for letting a program with much lesser resources than we have be ahead of us for 2/3 of the time. We ought to win 2/3 of our tceh games, not the other way around. We've been losing to them mainly due to coaching reasons, and that HAS to stop.

Against OU and tu, I agree....for now.;)

[Mezentius]

I agree on the tech piece

[whatashame]

I think he has about a 3 year honeymoon. Too many things are out of his control until that time. However, I think the great coaches are the ones that don't need that long of a time and can develop the talent that is there. We shall see.

[Pumchavas28]

I think he has about a 3 year honeymoon. Too many things are out of his control until that time. However, I think the great coaches are the ones that don't need that long of a time and can develop the talent that is there. We shall see.


From the AD's point of view I can agree with that...

But from an Alumn/Fan Base point of view.... that might be a different story...

[TexAg77]

I will be happy if we win the games we're supposed to (Ark St, Army, NM, and BU) and win at least half of the rest while being competitive in any game we don't win.

Players need to look well prepared and ready to go from the first whistle.
Good in game adjustments.
No blow outs unless were the ones doing it.

[Pumchavas28]

One thing I would like to see, is A&M put teams away.... and get the back-ups in.....

[Conan]

Ever since Coach Sherman was hired he's been doing things big and small that have gotten him alot of praise and pat on the back comments from alot of Aggie faithful as well as given hope to Aggieland. Basically it just seems like the phrases good bull, class move, etc phrases have been thrown out alot at him and just curious how long the good vibes hang around if we start loosing. So my questoin to ya'll my fellow Aggie Brethren is this. How many losses till the honeymoon is over this year or will he get a pass his first season. I'm playing devil's advocate here hoping for a good thread:gig: . Here's how I see the season playing out myself somewhere between 8-4 and 11-1.
August 30 Arkansas State (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=2032) W

September 6 at New Mexico (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=167) W

September 20 Miami (FL) (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=2390) Toss-up

September 27 Army (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=349) W

October 4 at Oklahoma State (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=197) W

October 11 Kansas State (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=2306) W

October 18 Texas Tech (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=2641) Toss-up

October 25 at Iowa State (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=66) W

November 1 Colorado (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=38) W

November 8 Oklahoma (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=201) L

November 15 at Baylor (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=239) W

November 27 at Texas (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=251) Toss-up

PS wow sorry about the schedule length

I must respectfully disagree. Marking games down as a W for teams like Colorado, Oklahoma State and Kansas State is very premature. All those teams have a legit shot at beating us. I'm not saying we aren't favoirtes, but we could easily lose 1 or 2 of those games. Although I hate to say it, Texas Tech and Texas are far from Toss-ups. We should lose those games. I think we can win, but calling Tech a toss up isn't right. I know things are going to be a lot better, but think about the situation.

I'm going to have to suggest that Arkansas State, New Mexico and Army are the only sure-fire wins. Iowa State and Baylor are as close to sure things as you can get, but we have a new teams folks. I'm suggesting that although I think we'll win at least 7 games, we will probably lose more than you think. Even with the weakest schedule on earth, it'll be a tough road to transition (as always).

I know expectations are low, but optimism is high. That is the best scenerio for any fan of any team in any sport. I'm looking forward to this next season, especially with some better coaches. Still, if we get to a decent bowl game then I'm satisfied.

[The Massacre]

what's new conan. you are by far, the most pessimistic person on this site and clearly think that our football team sucks and our players suck.

no surprise here.


HELL, i'm surprised you even have those 3 games as sure fire wins. i'm also surprised that you even follow Aggie football anymore after you spent all last year rooting for us to lose.

[Loftin]

I will be happy if we win the games we're supposed to (Ark St, Army, NM, and BU) and win at least half of the rest while being competitive in any game we don't win.

Players need to look well prepared and ready to go from the first whistle.
Good in game adjustments.
No blow outs unless were the ones doing it.

I think that's how most of us feel. Under Fran, we lost games we had no business losing and let ourselves get blown out against teams he didn't think we could beat.

In time, Sherman will have the personnel for the system he wants and we'll see just how good he is (or isn't). The main thing in year 1 is just that he is in control of the little things that are important, which will keep us from getting embarrassed. I want a team that fits the profile of "Aggie Football" the way most of us remember it.

[whitelightnin_23]

pass in year 1.

While I think he's making great moves off the field (not considering recruiting since that has not yet come to fruitition)...he better live up to the hype or else he'll be considered a "country club coach"...someone that is good PR for the program, but a "lovable loser".

hmmm...:spy:

[Dustin00whoop]

hmmm...:spy:

spot on, bro!