Both are true .

We have to adapt and I think we have to some degree although Elko's approach seems to be more focused on portal targets filling holes than tu . That's probably is partly due to less roster $ resources but we are also in yr 2 of Elko's cycle vs Yr 5(?) of Sark's cycle.

As far as the comment about Sark being innovative, etc, etc. (not your comment) . He's been close but he still hasn't won titles.

What? You mean it's all about the money???

These athletes dont even have to go to class. One and done.

But we will all pretend it's still college football.......and how glorious it will be when we nab that Natty.

Cobra39

In 2022 this was bad, now it's heralded.

As stated many times before, after our 35M fail the big money guys put their money back in their pocket

Heisenberg01 said:

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Need to just go to employment contracts already. Make them 3 year contracts, guaranteed, unless they leave the team, and put in place salary caps. The current system of no rules for payment or transferring will kill the sport.

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Yep. If they want money like pros, give them contracts and repercussions like the pros.

This is a big story no doubt but for reasons not mentioned in the article. Nothing to panic about here unless you want to critize our coaching staff for not being as smart and savvy as Sark. Them versus Georgia NIL tu will win every time. Georgia offered and the kid agreed to pennies on the dollar because he wanted to play for Smart. Sark tu collective knows this and waited last minute to offer a whole lot more and kid jumped on it. Worked out great for them because they weren't going against us or Oregon. Kid could have got alot more if he would have had a open recruitment and let the NIL big shots bid against each other. Basically if Smart was paying 500 and last day Sark offers 1.5 that's a big difference and I don't blame him. Tu still getting a great player at a discounted rate and kid feels like no matter what he is up a million. When in reality he could have got 2.5 million if he would have went about in a normal recruitment.

We need to do the same with the 26 class. Find a player that's been committed to Bama or Georgia long term and money whip them the weekend before early signing day.

If there were literally any substantiation for what you are suggesting, it would be possible to execute your strategy.

1876er said:

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We signed the greatest recruiting class of all time 4 years ago. Those guys are now seniors. We are about to reap the rewards of that class.

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Ummm..
They all left

yup

NattyOrBust said:

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1876er said:

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We signed the greatest recruiting class of all time 4 years ago. Those guys are now seniors. We are about to reap the rewards of that class.

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Ummm..
They all left

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You're replying to the oldest sip troll on texags.

Jugstore Cowboy said:

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sjsmith23 said:

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College football is no longer college football.

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There were always bidding wars, it just wasn't so transparent and not at the current dollar level (whatever that is).

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It was NOTHING like it is today. NiL and the transfer portal have radically changed college football. Yes, there was cheating and paying players in the past, but it is now many, many levels worse. Saying it has always been this way is BS.

TexAggie1999 said:

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Jugstore Cowboy said:

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sjsmith23 said:

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College football is no longer college football.

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There were always bidding wars, it just wasn't so transparent and not at the current dollar level (whatever that is).

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It was NOTHING like it is today. NiL and the transfer portal have radically changed college football. Yes, there was cheating and paying players in the past, but it is now many, many levels worse. Saying it has always been this way is BS.

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Same teams are winning. Some schools just play the game better.

Quote:

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Saying it has always been this way is BS.

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I didn't say "it has always been this way;" I said the bidding wars have always existed. And as texag101 said, we're still talking about pretty much the same big teams in the national conversation. Perhaps you weren't paying as much attention to recruiting back in the day when there was less coverage of it.

A lot of things are in flux, but there will be more regulation and rules in place within a couple years.

But like others have said, I don't get too emotionally involved or even bother trying to remember the names and stories of individual players anymore unless they stick around make a memorable impact.

this guy will be back on the market next year

and Georgia can snatch him up in they decide to

1876er said:

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We signed the greatest recruiting class of all time 4 years ago. Those guys are now seniors. We are about to reap the rewards of that class.

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Are we??!! Don't count your chickens!!! We'll be lucky to go 9-3, more like 8-4!

It is and always has been 90% Texas politicians and attorneys and politically connected businessmen.

aeon-ag said:

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1876er said:

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We signed the greatest recruiting class of all time 4 years ago. Those guys are now seniors. We are about to reap the rewards of that class.

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Are we??!! Don't count your chickens!!! We'll be lucky to go 9-3, more like 8-4!

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fc2112 said:

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sjsmith23 said:

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College football is no longer college football.

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Hasn't been for about 30 years now

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At the least

Paying in the portal makes more sense you have a tested player.
Paying a HS graduate comes with lots of risk
Over paying also has a way of back firing

I caring less and less about what other teams do

Jugstore Cowboy said:

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Quote:

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Saying it has always been this way is BS.

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I didn't say "it has always been this way;" I said the bidding wars have always existed. And as texag101 said, we're still talking about pretty much the same big teams in the national conversation. Perhaps you weren't paying as much attention to recruiting back in the day when there was less coverage of it.

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Yes a bidding war has always existed, but in yesteryear many wanted to attend Texas A&M for Texas A&M.

NIL and transfer portal has obliterated that to the extent that student traditions have become obsolete.

We're not rooting for Aggies or Longhorns or whomever.

We're cheering for freelancers with no ties to the institution or culture of the university they play for, yet we absurdly pretend through tradition that we share a commonality in the name on the front of the jersey when, really, we've been reduced to supporting the hired hands wearing our colors for the day.

Aggie Dad 26 said:

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Bravo to him for, keeping it real

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Its the reporter saying that.

Forment Fan said:

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Paying in the portal makes more sense you have a tested player.
Paying a HS graduate comes with lots of risk
Over paying also has a way of back firing

I caring less and less about what other teams do

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I don't know about that. Our big get last year was Nic Scourton.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4833355/nic-scourton

His tackles went down 26% and his sacks went down 50%.

Heisenberg01 said:

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Need to just go to employment contracts already. Make them 3 year contracts, guaranteed, unless they leave the team, and put in place salary caps. The current system of no rules for payment or transferring will kill the sport.

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This.

Just run it like an other professional sports org at this point. I wouldn't even bother with the academics part of it either - they are all mercs, we know it, they know it, the NCAA knows it - no point in pretending it is something it isn't.

Thank goodness being a 5 star guarantees they won't be a bust.

schmellba99 said:

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Heisenberg01 said:

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Need to just go to employment contracts already. Make them 3 year contracts, guaranteed, unless they leave the team, and put in place salary caps. The current system of no rules for payment or transferring will kill the sport.

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This.

Just run it like an other professional sports org at this point. I wouldn't even bother with the academics part of it either - they are all mercs, we know it, they know it, the NCAA knows it - no point in pretending it is something it isn't.

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I agree wholeheartedly, but the problem is that there is now no inherent reason to support Texas A&M football. If college athletics is just another professional sports league, what is stopping me from supporting the University of Texas football program, or picking Ohio State, or Notre Dame? Nothing. There is no longer any tie that binds me to A&M football, and that is why I am basically done with college football.

Dewhut? Because you love Aggie football, maybe?

I get it, some are not going to watch college ball anymore (my bet is very few though). I do not get the notion that you would switch P4 teams if you do decide you are still a fan. Now if you tell me you are going to dump FBS ball altogether and only root for Podunk College at at the FCS level because it feels more "pure", I guess that makes a little more sense.

Nothing is stopping you from rooting for whoever you want to... now or 20 years ago.

While the game has changed (and I too am not a fan of the changes), it is still kids that go to a school and have to make grades. Player loyalty to the program has always been hit or miss, they just could not take off as easily before. Look how many NFL guys never mention their university when they do line-up intros (I do not have an issue with this, just making the point).

It sucks, I'm with you on that point. But, I love Aggie football. It is an important source of happiness (yep I said it) for me and my family. It enriches our relationships and I have a TON of memories that I am not willing to let go of because of something I have zero control over. In my house, we will priase the Lord, and then the Aggies...

Sports are still fun, I promise. Just gotta filter out the noise and focus on why you are consuming it.

Luv ya Blue too!!

HoustonAggie37713 said:

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Forment Fan said:

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Paying in the portal makes more sense you have a tested player.
Paying a HS graduate comes with lots of risk
Over paying also has a way of back firing

I caring less and less about what other teams do

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I don't know about that. Our big get last year was Nic Scourton.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4833355/nic-scourton

His tackles went down 26% and his sacks went down 50%.

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Big change in competition and guess what? Turns out competition matters...

My sip co-workers are saying this is proof that tu wasn't cheating in the past. They say that, if they'd been paying players in the past, they would have had the #1 recruiting class every year. That's how arrogant they are.

sincereag said:

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Didn't t.u. come hard after Chace Sims and DJ Sanders, but we were able to hold on to them. We must be playing the NIL game pretty well too.

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Sanders, maybe, but Sims is a 3-star. He isn't getting loads of NIL$$ from anyone. Some, sure. But Terry was a bidding war between Georgia and Texas. That is why it spiraled so high.

Admiral Nelson said:

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sincereag said:

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Didn't t.u. come hard after Chace Sims and DJ Sanders, but we were able to hold on to them. We must be playing the NIL game pretty well too.

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Sanders, maybe, but Sims is a 3-star. He isn't getting loads of NIL$$ from anyone. Some, sure. But Terry was a bidding war between Georgia and Texas. That is why it spiraled so high.

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Sims is a 4 star that shot up the rankings at the end of the 2025 cycle.

Also tu did go after both Sims and Sanders

Hamburger Dan said:

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They've always had money. Now they've got an innovative head coach that knows how to use his players successfully. On top of that, lots of stars in / headed to the NFL, consecutive appearances in the CFB Playoffs, and odds on favorites for the Heisman and next years CFB Championships. Someone at aTm administration should be on the hot seat.

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Truthful and painful.

Texas slowly figured it out intially and then build upon it.

A&M 1st figured it out quickly and has failed to build upon it.

You have to give CDC a TON of credit as the best AD in college. Hard to beat that a-moral a-hole....but he does get things done and done well. He just needs to figure out their hoops program.