First time in 49 years that no Texas team ended the season in the top 25.

Both pro teams bounced in the divisional round of the playoffs.

This year was extraordinarily bad overall for the state.

No one cares about sports here. Apparently.

apparently not

I think most Texans are ready to put this football season to bed and follow their favorite NBA and MLB team. Super Bowl in Houston is cool though.

But what about Futboll?

Is it a temporary outlier, or is there something else at play?

There were a couple big things that happened in 2012 and while this may just be an outlier year of crumminess, maybe those events are making a difference the last couple years.

In 2012, Texas State and UTSA started playing FBS pushing the number of FBS programs in Texas to 12.
It was also the year that A&M joined the SEC AND TCU joined the Big 12, pushing the number of P5 conference schools to 5. And then Houston and SMU upgraded conferences to the American.

Other states & schools have always recruited Texas. I know one of the concerns about A&M joining the SEC was now other SEC schools would increase successful recruiting of the Blue-Chip talent out of Texas. I have no clue if this is actually happening, however. It only has to be a couple of athletes each year exiting the state that previously wouldn't have that make a difference.

And while the additional Texas schools and American Conference schools don't impact the top recruits at the P5 schools, maybe it hurts the depth and the late developer. The kid that would walk on and become a contributor now takes an offer elsewhere.

Meh... maybe it is just coaching at Texas, Texas A&M and those other schools.

7 on 7's full effects are hitting as well. lack of quality interior players throughout the state.

Madman said:

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But what about Futboll?

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FC Dallas also did the one-and-done. Houston Dynamo weren't even in contention.

Who gives a **** about any other team besides A&M.

Agree. Yes disappointing, but there was some entertaining games this pass season!!!!!

BohunkAg said:

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Furlock Bones said:

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7 on 7's full effects are hitting as well. lack of quality interior players throughout the state.

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Yeah I'm not a big fan of that or the brand of football a lot of Texas high schools seem to be playing these days. Not sure that's helping us on the next level.

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Exactly. Who would have guessed 20 years ago that Texas would be the place for finesse players. Once upon a time, a guy like Johnny Holland, an alpha player in HS (QB1), would gladly play LB (and profit). In Texas today, the pressure is to perform in 7-7. If it's about 7-7, JH either flings it or catches it. LB....you kiddin'?

Meanwhile, over in the Deep South...J Holland types are destroying the edge, attacking QBs and watching Bama D game films.

Thanks to 7-7, Todd Dodge and Austin/Dallas finesse offenses, Texas HS now caters to the ultimate finesse conference, the BDF.

Sucks for us.

88jrt06 said:

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BohunkAg said:

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Furlock Bones said:

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7 on 7's full effects are hitting as well. lack of quality interior players throughout the state.

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Yeah I'm not a big fan of that or the brand of football a lot of Texas high schools seem to be playing these days. Not sure that's helping us on the next level.

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Exactly. Who would have guessed 20 years ago that Texas would be the place for finesse players. Once upon a time, a guy like Johnny Holland, an alpha player in HS (QB1), would gladly play LB (and profit). In Texas today, the pressure is to perform in 7-7. If it's about 7-7, JH either flings it or catches it. LB....you kiddin'?

Meanwhile, over in the Deep South...J Holland types are destroying the edge, attacking QBs and watching Bama D game films.

Thanks to 7-7, Todd Dodge and Austin/Dallas finesse offenses, Texas HS now caters to the ultimate finesse conference, the BDF.

Sucks for us.

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Does seem to be a relationship between the popularity of 7 on 7 and a general decline in defensive players. Couple that with the tremendous growth in population and the birth of the mega high schools with thousands of potential players, the development of players has suffered as well. Have a team that already has standout athletes, don't need to coach 'em up as much as ten years ago. Just tell to 'em run fast and catch the ball, or take off if the QB.

aggiehawg said:

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88jrt06 said:

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BohunkAg said:

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Furlock Bones said:

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7 on 7's full effects are hitting as well. lack of quality interior players throughout the state.

---

Yeah I'm not a big fan of that or the brand of football a lot of Texas high schools seem to be playing these days. Not sure that's helping us on the next level.

---

Exactly. Who would have guessed 20 years ago that Texas would be the place for finesse players. Once upon a time, a guy like Johnny Holland, an alpha player in HS (QB1), would gladly play LB (and profit). In Texas today, the pressure is to perform in 7-7. If it's about 7-7, JH either flings it or catches it. LB....you kiddin'?

Meanwhile, over in the Deep South...J Holland types are destroying the edge, attacking QBs and watching Bama D game films.

Thanks to 7-7, Todd Dodge and Austin/Dallas finesse offenses, Texas HS now caters to the ultimate finesse conference, the BDF.

Sucks for us.

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Does seem to be a relationship between the popularity of 7 on 7 and a general decline in defensive players. Couple that with the tremendous growth in population and the birth of the mega high schools with thousands of potential players, the development of players has suffered as well. Have a team that already has standout athletes, don't need to coach 'em up as much as ten years ago. Just tell to 'em run fast and catch the ball, or take off if the QB.

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It's really hurt in qb play. With all the signboards and signals coming in from the sideline, the qb doesn't have to read a coverage; it's all signaled in. They don't have that luxury in the NFL.

Hopefully this is just a fad. Once kids start realizing that the NFL will pay the likes of Von Miller and Khalil Mack multiple millions of dollars to sack quarterbacks, the tide will turn again.

Quote:

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Hopefully this is just a fad. Once kids start realizing that the NFL will pay the likes of Von Miller and Khalil Mack multiple millions of dollars to sack quarterbacks, the tide will turn again.

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That's a lot of years down the road, I fear.