Texans Comeback Ousts Sumlin Move as Biggest Weekend Story

There was a lot of sports news over the past weekend.  But in this corner one story stands out.  Sure Robert Griffin winning the Heisman or the Texans AFC South clinching at Cincinnati or Sam Houston State moving on were big.  And how about Ryan Braun of the Brewers who may be facing an MLB suspension?

To most t he number one story is the Texans, but everyone will have an opinion on the comeback  in Cincinnati so I will leave that story to others.

Personally,  I think the move of Kevin Sumlin from Houston to Texas A&M has the longest  shelf life.  It can’t compare to what the Texans did Sunday at the top news, but is very important to two college football programs.  Sumlin moving on may be disappointing to Cougar fans, but they must admit the days of Bill Yeoman or Guy V. Lewis making a long career exclusively on Cullen Boulevard is over.

Until the Cougars are truly one of the “big dogs” in college sports they will be in that middle level,  where success brings other schools to their doorstep seeking to “steal” their head coaches.  That is the way things are now with no end in sight.

Yes, Cougar fans, it is disgusting that contracts are broken and that fans have to recognize the reality the school is not on the football level of Texas A&M or teams in the Big 12.  Until Houston can build their new stadium and fill it every game, that will be the case.

The move to a BCS qualifying conference, the mis-named and geographically imperfect Big East is a positive for Houston.  Even without Sumlin the football team should be competitive from the start.  Any prayers should be reserved for basketball coach James Dickey who has to take his team into one of the strongest leagues in all of college basketball.

If the loss to Southern Miss did anything it may have delayed the announcement of Sumlin being the new head man with the Aggies.  Had Houston won that game the school might have had more money to toss in his direction, but Sumlin would have certainly had to pass.  Texas A&M continues to be one of the sleeping giants in college sports.  Sumlin knew all about the place, having served on R. C. Slocum’s staff earlier in his career. 

Consider that job openings in college football can be tricky to apply for and trickier to accept if offered.  The job needs to be the right fit.  Texas A&M is almost a perfect fit for Sumlin.  He isn’t moving far.  He already knows  a lot about the program.  And he already has contacts and a recruiting feel for his primary area.

On top of that the immediate future at Houston has to be at least a little in question.  Yes, they will be moving to a BCS conference and a plan to construct a new stadium is being formulated, but Case Keenum is finally out of eligibility.  If  Sumlin had anything to do with making Keenum the star he was, the reverse  must at least be considered.

Now was the time for Sumlin to make the move.

Cougar Athletic Director Mack Rhodes says a national search will be conducted for Sumlin’s replacement.  A national search may result in another coach who would use Houston as a stepping stone, but as Rhodes said, he wants a coach that will leave the program in better shape than he left it.  Art Briles did that.  Kevin Sumlin did that.

Hopefully, the next guy will be able to do the same and with the Cougars in a new BSC conference and with a new stadium the itch to move on won’t be quite so strong.