The 'Bad Guys': Why A&M should embrace role as CFB's newest 'villain'

As a college football traditionalist, I hated when Texas A&M would wear black helmets.

But I love that the Aggies are now wearing black hats.

As the old saying goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Relish the fact that A&M football is being talked about from coast to coast, even if the discussion is based on a lie perpetuated by a less-than-reputable source.

Crazy isn’t it? A university with a legacy of honor and service is now betrayed by national media as the bad guys of college football.

Kirk Herbstreit, Jim Rome, Greg McElroy, Rick Neuheisel and several others have questioned A&M’s methods in compiling the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.

They’re all seemingly willing to accept a report from something called BroBible by someone called ‘Sliced Bread’ that A&M has a $30 million slush fund to pay recruits.

Never mind that coach Jimbo Fisher flatly denies such a fund exists. Never mind five-star defensive end Walter Nolen‍ said if he wanted to make money, he’d have signed with his home-state program, Tennessee. Never mind that five-star defensive tackle Shemar Stewart‍ said something similar about his hometown Miami.

David Bowie

Headlined by five-star Walter Nolen, A&M’s 2022 recruiting class is the highest-rated class in the history of recruiting, surpassing Alabama’s 2021 class.

Never mind that no shred of legitimate evidence has been raised to prove those accusations. Indeed, some claim Fisher’s vehement denial is proof.

If it isn’t true, they reason, then why was Fisher so upset by the false reports?

That’s what the media has become.

A coach is now vilified for defending himself against unsubstantiated accusations.

But it’s OK. The more A&M is discussed, the more the interest of high school prospects may be piqued.

Some that had little knowledge of A&M might be willing to visit. Once here, they see spectacular athletic and academic facilities. They meet Fisher and his coaches. They see an amazing game-day atmosphere. They see a safe town. They may even see A&M defeat Alabama. They may see themselves as a part of a rising program.

You know… All the stuff many in the media conveniently ignore.

Additionally, some kids may be attracted to the “bad boy” image that seems to have been bestowed on A&M.

Miami in the ‘80s and ‘90s were the bad boys of college football. The Hurricanes played hard. They were tough. They were brash.

They really weren’t bad guys. They were just portrayed as villains by the same media types that always proclaim college football is better when Notre Dame is good.

Kids loved the persona. Miami went from mainly recruiting South Florida to recruiting on a national scale. National championships followed.

Might the same thing happen in College Station?

A&M is being mentioned now more than at any time since Johnny Manziel’s Heisman campaign. Other than that, one may have to go back to the Jackie Sherrill hiring of 1982 when A&M was such a topic of national discussion.

Or is it national disdain?

The national media laughed when A&M pursued coach Jimbo Fisher five years ago. Then, several media members seemed personally offended when Fisher accepted a lucrative offer and left Florida State.

Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports still frequently refers to Fisher’s contract and salary in his articles.

Then some seemed taken aback when Fisher resisted overtures from LSU to fill its coaching vacancy.

When the national media squawks about A&M, kids hear it. Some that previously knew little about A&M might want to know more.

Give an open door to Fisher and his staff, and they can sure close a deal. That’s just a figure of speech, Dennis.

Nobody denies Texas A&M athletes are benefitting from NIL deals. Several already have deals, and several more will. It’s all legal.

Last June, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law SB 1385, which allowed student-athletes to profit from Name, Image & Likeness.

However, the law restricts colleges and universities from directly providing compensation to student-athletes for their NIL deals.

But some want to believe the unbelievable $30 million slush fund narrative.

Let them. The more they talk about A&M, the more A&M remains in the news, and the more potential recruits will be interested in wearing the black hat.

And the Maroon helmet.