halfastros81 said:

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It's not an excuse that Saban was 6-6 in his first yr at Bama, it's a fact . It's also a fact that they had people that wanted him gone. I think it's pretty clear that those people were ridiculously mistaken.

Agree with those that say with the portal it shouldn't take as long as it used to to turn things around as it did at that time however 1 yr is too short of an evaluation period. 2 yrs should be the minimum. Maybe 2 yrs is enough if you don't see clear progress but I'd lean towards 3.

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You do grasp that facts can be used as excuses depending on the nature to the statement using said fact? They are not mutually exclusive.

However, you're missing the trees for the forest. We grasp Saban's first season record is fact. The issue is that those using that fact need to grasp its shelf life is quickly ending. Saban's record season two and season three are of interest now. What did he do during those seasons?

You have nothing to compare to until you at least see Elko season 2 & maybe 3.

Should be no reason to go here at this stage but who's your choice for an immediate replacement since that what it seems like you are calling for. Maybe the field would like to pick that apart?

Both Jimbo Fisher and Mike Elko went 8-4 during the regular season and 5-3 in SEC games in their first year at Texas A&M The difference in their first-year records was that Jimbo won the Gator Bowl over NC State to finish 9-4, and Elko lost the Las Vegas Bowl to finish 8-5. After a 5-4 start, Jimbo ended his first year with 4 consecutive wins, and 3 of them were against Power 4 teams. In contrast, Elko started 7-1 (5-0 SEC) before losing 4 of his last 5 games, including 3 consecutive losses to end the season.

Dating back to a 42-30 road loss at LSU on 11/25/2023, we have lost 4 consecutive November SEC games and 6 consecutive November Power 4 games. We have not won beaten a Power 4 opponent in the month of November since a 51-10 home win over Mississippi State on 11/11/2023, which was Jimbo's last game of his tenure. Also, we have not won a bowl game since a 41-27 win over North Carolina in the 2021 Orange Bowl on 1/2/2021.

halfastros81 said:

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You have nothing to compare to until you at least see Elko season 2 & maybe 3.

Should be no reason to go here at this stage but who's your choice for an immediate replacement since that what it seems like you are calling for. Maybe the field would like to pick that apart?

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This is patently false.

I've stated numerous times that Elko should, at a minimum, be given three years. I'm not calling for his firing at all. I'm merely stating that those who think he has years, 5 to 6, to build a program are clueless. Those days are long gone. Like it or not coaches have to start performing almost immediately. The records of successful coaches of the past 25+ years show that the greats starting getting it done very quickly.

Ok. I admit I didn't know that was your stance . I'll say so when I'm wrong . Your post seemed to indicate you thought he was clearly not the right choice but I guess I misinterpreted that .

So, I was wrong and I admit it. We're in agreement that a 2 -3 yr evaluation period is required to do a proper evaluation

It was a moon rocket that lifted off beautifully, but exploded at 90,000 feet.

Justice Beaver said:

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agracer said:

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90ags said:

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Won't take the time to look it up, but betting Jimbo played a harder schedule than Elko's first year.

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His best season was 2020, which was also the easiest schedule A&M has had in the SEC

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*Until 2024

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Not true. I posted the stats before. 2020 and 2018 were easier SEC schedules.

This was thru 11/25. After the Thanksgiving weekend, 2012 was also easier.

https://texags.com/forums/5/topics/3511625/replies/69119070

GigEmReggie said:

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Justice Beaver said:

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vander54 said:

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Justice Beaver said:

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agracer said:

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90ags said:

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Won't take the time to look it up, but betting Jimbo played a harder schedule than Elko's first year.

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His best season was 2020, which was also the easiest schedule A&M has had in the SEC

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*Until 2024

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False. It was our hardest SOS. Our easiest was 2022 or 2021.

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You clinging to this narrative is absolutely hilarious.

Avoided: Bama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tenn
LSU & tu at home
Road games at 5-7 Auburn, SCar who hadn't beaten anyone yet, and an awful Miss State team.

But go ahead and parrot some meaningless ESPN metric to tell us all that 8-5 is acceptable.

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Thank you. I don't care what espn says, this was the most winnable SEC schedule we'll have for a long time.

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False.

agracer said:

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GigEmReggie said:

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Justice Beaver said:

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vander54 said:

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Justice Beaver said:

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agracer said:

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90ags said:

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Won't take the time to look it up, but betting Jimbo played a harder schedule than Elko's first year.

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His best season was 2020, which was also the easiest schedule A&M has had in the SEC

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*Until 2024

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False. It was our hardest SOS. Our easiest was 2022 or 2021.

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You clinging to this narrative is absolutely hilarious.

Avoided: Bama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tenn
LSU & tu at home
Road games at 5-7 Auburn, SCar who hadn't beaten anyone yet, and an awful Miss State team.

But go ahead and parrot some meaningless ESPN metric to tell us all that 8-5 is acceptable.

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Thank you. I don't care what espn says, this was the most winnable SEC schedule we'll have for a long time.

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False.

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True.

Coolag02 said:

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There shouldn't be a year two of elko

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This board is certifiably insane. I truly mean that

Yeah, pesky facts that get in the way of my narrative I made up preseason so believe it has to still be true

Si also had us as 6th in the country. The schedule narrative needs to die. It is an absolutely bogus claim

beerad12man said:

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Yeah, pesky facts that get in the way of my narrative I made up preseason so believe it has to still be true

Si also had us as 6th in the country. The schedule narrative needs to die. It is an absolutely bogus claim

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People think.becuase we didn't play the traditional big dogs of the SEC it was easy. Such a dumb claim.

beerad12man said:

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Yeah, pesky facts that get in the way of my narrative I made up preseason so believe it has to still be true

Si also had us as 6th in the country. The schedule narrative needs to die. It is an absolutely bogus claim

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Agreed.

agracer said:

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90ags said:

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Won't take the time to look it up, but betting Jimbo played a harder schedule than Elko's first year.

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His best season was 2020, which was also the easiest schedule A&M has had in the SEC

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How was that the easiest schedule?

AWP 97 said:

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agracer said:

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90ags said:

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Won't take the time to look it up, but betting Jimbo played a harder schedule than Elko's first year.

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His best season was 2020, which was also the easiest schedule A&M has had in the SEC

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How was that the easiest schedule?

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We did get lucky with our schedule that uear but it wasn't the easiest.

2021 was our easiest schedule by far

vander54 said:

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AWP 97 said:

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agracer said:

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90ags said:

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Won't take the time to look it up, but betting Jimbo played a harder schedule than Elko's first year.

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His best season was 2020, which was also the easiest schedule A&M has had in the SEC

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How was that the easiest schedule?

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We did get lucky with our schedule that uear but it wasn't the easiest.

2021 was our easiest schedule by far prior to 2024

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FIFY

The Marksman said:

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It's extremely concerning to go from 7-1 to 8-5. That's a coaching issue and that's a culture issue. I was never a fan of the hire, but I sure hope Elko turns things around.

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This is what was happening with Sumlin too.

Judging coach's year 1 performance is fools gold.

Tom Herman won the Peach Bowl in his first year at UH.

Sark went 5-7


Briles went 7-6

Saban lost to UL-Monroe at Alabama.

BillYeoman said:

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Judging coaches year 1 is fools gold.

Tom Herman won the Peach Bowl in his first year at UH.

Sark went 5-7


Briles went 7-6

Saban lost to UL-Monroe at Alabama.

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Elko topped these guys in his year one.

Another thing. Jimbo also had 7 guys drafted after year one. Now, one was recruited by him. But I'd easily take the 2018 team over the 2024 team. It isn't even close. Whats sad is how some have convinced themselves this roster was better, and this schedule was easier, etc. basically setting up Elko for disappointment / failure from the beginning.

Elko will have 3 drafted, all at the same position, and one he recruited.

Year one comparisons are so utterly stupid, misleading, and incomplete. It's a waste of time. It's far more about the program the previous coach left than an indictment or positive on the new coach. Even in the portal world, because while you can add guys, you have to fight harder than ever to avoid losing Walter nolen, Evan Stewart, chase bisontis, Tyreek chappel, Lt Overton, fadill diggs, all trying to leave.

Negatives of Year 1 of the Elko era:

-overall defensive performance, especially in the back half of the season. Already been pointed out earlier in this thread

-The reappearance of Elko's drop-8 prevent defense. It never works, and I'm quite frankly surprised Elko hasn't learned his lesson on it yet. He's certainly been burned on it at Duke and when he was DC here before

-The Marcel Tell with his feet presnap. Can't believe this was a thing that even made it out the door. Could be a Trev Alberts problem with his cost cutting initiatives getting rid of the analysts that would've notified Elko/staff. If that's the case, we didn't learn what we needed to from the Jimbo experience, that winning teams have gigantic support staffs to make the machine work. If it wasn't Albert's fault, it's an indictment on the whole staff

-Weird commitment to run plays on 2nd down. Not sure what the exact split on this ended up being for the whole season, but it was a pretty dumb thing to put on tape for our opponents


A strange collection of easily fixable small things and glaring issues.



Positives:

-OL performance improved a bunch. At least our guys seemed to understand their assignments this year. Looking forward to most all the starters coming back and continuing to improve. If we get even 50% of the jump we got from 2023-2024, that'll be nice

-Overall offensive creativity was better than last season. It didn't show up in the W/L column, but we had more free WRs running downfield, more QB-aiding and defense-confusing presnap motion, and better run plays this year compared to last. Very nice to see that we're at least trying in some aspects.

Gig em G said:

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W said:

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Year 1 comparison:

Sumlin --> 11-2

Jimbo --> 9-4

Elko ---> 8-5

Sumlin finished his first year with 6 straight wins. Jimbo finished with 4 straight wins. Elko, um, yeah...

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Sumlin had Manziel. Not truly comparable.

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Elko has the opportunity to go out and find/buy a Manziel. I sure hope he's able to do so.

halfastros81 said:

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Nick Saban's first year at Alabama in 2007, 6-6 and people calling for his head on a platter. How'd that work out ?

Not suggesting Elko is Nick Saban. I am suggesting you can't tell a whole lot from Year 1 . Sumlin is another good example in the opposite direction

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Elko does not compare to Nick Saban in any way beyond first year records.