Texas A&M regent calls for Kevin Sumlin to be fired
After a huge blown lead to UCLA Sunday night, a Texas A&M regent has called for Kevin Sumlin to be fired.
Fast starts and a late fades in three straight seasons have put Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin the hot seat entering the 2017 season. Things were off to a great start against UCLA Sunday night, with a 44-10 lead deep into the third quarter, but the Aggies blew that lead and went home with a 45-44 loss.
Calls for Sumlin’s dismissal from fans are sure to come, as flimsy as they will be via various mediums one game into the season. But Texas A&M regent Tony Buzbee took to Facebook to call for Sumlin’s firing.
"I’m sure I may be criticized for this post but I honestly don’t care. I’ve been on the Board of Regents for the A&M System for almost seven years. During that time, I’ve not once commented on Kevin Sumlin and his performance during his tenure at our school. I never said a word when he and his agent manipulated a much bigger and longer contract. I said nothing about his arrogance and his mishandling of multiple player controversies. I said nothing when we had multiple awesome recruiting classes, only to see key players leave our school or underperform."
"But tonight I am very disappointed and I have to say this. Kevin Sumlin was out-coached tonight, which isn’t new. He recruits well, but can’t coach the big games, or the close games. Our players were better tonight. Our players were more talented tonight. But our coaches were dominated on national TV, yet again. I’m only one vote on the Board of Regents but when the time comes my vote will be that Kevin Sumlin needs to GO."
The validity of such a social media rant can be questioned, with hacking a go-to excuse. But Buzbee, a Houston-based attorney, confirmed to the Houston Chronicle that the post is indeed his.
Sumlin has two years left on his contract, at $5 million per year. He’s now 44-22 at Texas A&M, but he’s just 21-19 in SEC play with no more than four conference wins in four straight seasons. Much of what Buzbee wrote is worthy criticism, and a recent $450 million investment in upgrades to Kyle Field has further raised the burden of expectations on Sumlin.
The Aggies have a couple of get-right games coming, against Nicholls State and Louisiana-Lafayette at home. They also won’t play another true road game until Oct. 14 against Florida, but it’s also easy to see just those two likely marks in the win column between now and then.
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An in-season firing for Sumlin seems unlikely, but it can’t be ruled out if things really go off the rails. An incredibly bad loss invites overreaction, but Texas A&M can cool the heat on Sumlin’s seat a little with a four-game winning streak before taking on Alabama on Oct. 7.