Is Texas A&M about to realize the Florida blueprint?

They had some very good seasons. They even a Heisman Trophy winner. But overall, theirs was an underachieving college football program.

And that was a mystery.

They had great resources, excellent facilities, tremendous fan support and a mother lode of in-state high school prospects to recruit. Yet, they were frequently upstaged by the in-state archrival, whose home-spun head coach won most of the recruiting battles. The archrivals frequently won 10 games or more and eventually would even be national champions.

Meanwhile, the underachievers bristled. They changed coaches in hopes of vaulting their program among the nation’s elite. Yet, they managed only brief periods of moderate success.

Then, they hired a coach from who had attained success in a lesser conference with a wide-open, pass-oriented offense. Of course, that team will appear Saturday at Kyle Field.

On the visitor’s sideline.

That’s right, those underachievers were the Florida Gators.

What? Were you thinking it was someone else?

Yeah, Florida football was once in the position that Texas A&M football is in now. More importantly, Florida is an example of what Texas A&M could be.

Some may not realize that Florida, a program that’s won three national championships since 1996, was once one of the most disappointing programs in the nation.

But don’t take my word for it. Take it to a much higher authority.

“Mr. College Football” Tony Barnhart, a long-time analyst, observer, author and expert on the Southeastern Conference, remembers when Florida wasn’t just a sleeping giant, but a comatose one.

“Bear Bryant once told some of his assistant coaches that if Florida ever figured out what they have they were going to be dangerous,” Barnhart said. “Florida never won 10 games in a season. Florida never won an SEC championship. They came close, but they would always lose a big game — usually to Georgia in Jacksonville. Florida had been good, but always underachieved for the most part.”

While Florida languished in mediocrity, in-state rival Florida State flourished under Bobby Bowden. He would lead the Seminoles to top-five finishes in 14 consecutive seasons and national championships in 1993 and ’99.

But then in 1990 Florida hired Steve Spurrier away from Duke and his “Fun and Gun” offense took the SEC by storm. Florida posted nine victories in Spurrier’s first season.

The Gators then won five SEC championships in the next six seasons.

“People were skeptical that Steve Spurrier’s offense would work in the run-oriented and defensive-oriented SEC,” Barnhart said. “But Steve Spurrier could spread you out and show pass combinations that you have never seen before. That’s why he was so effective.

“I wasn’t surprised. By the time Steve Spurrier got to Florida I had known him for 10 years and saw what he had done at Duke. I knew what he was all about. The question was: Would he get SEC-caliber athletes to come to Florida and run that offense? Spurrier got there and maximized the talent, the tradition and all the things Florida had to offer.”

Pre-Spurrier Florida and Texas A&M are eerily similar.

Just as Florida underachieved and was overshadowed by Florida State and Bowden, A&M hasn’t reached its vast potential and often trailed behind Coach Mack Brown’s Texas Longhorns.

Now, first-year A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin, who had much success with a wide-open, pass-oriented offense at Houston, aims to maximize the talent, the tradition and all the things Texas A&M has to offer.

Just like Spurrier did at Florida.

But can Sumlin recruit SEC-caliber players for his offense the way Spurrier did? Based on early indications, the answer is an emphatic “YESSIR.”

Sumlin already has secured commitments from 28 prospects for the 2013 recruiting class, which is currently ranked 10th in the country by some national recruiting services. Seven of A&M’s commitments are listed among the country’s top 250 prospects.

“I think A&M is in a great spot,” Barnhart said. “Now they have the offense, the tradition, Kyle Field. And now they can recruit (the state of) Texas and offer a guy something that the University of Texas can’t offer — to play in the SEC.”

If A&M starts winning big in Texas recruiting, the Aggies figure to start winning big on the field in the SEC.

Just like Spurrier did at Florida.

But then, some might contend that the SEC is tougher today with coaches like Nick Saban at Alabama, Les Miles at LSU and Mark Richt at Georgia. Yet back in 1990, Gene Stallings was at Alabama, Pat Dye was at Auburn and Johnny Majors was at Tennessee. Obviously, there were pretty good coaches then, too.

The key is getting the right guy to lead the program.

Florida found the right guy with Spurrier and again later with Urban Meyer. Alabama found the right guy with Saban. If Sumlin proves to be the right guy, Texas A&M could emerge as a powerhouse and national championship contender.

“What do you need to become a major power?” Barnhard asked. “You need facilities. You need tradition. You need a good recruiting base. You need great coaching and support. A&M has all that.

“I made a speech in Huntsville, Ala. recently and I told them you better get A&M early. Once they figure it out they’re going to be hard to handle.”

Didn’t someone say something similar about Florida once?