The debate over Texas A&M’s program’s place in the college football heirarchy has unavoidably arisen as a result of the Aggies’ process of firing one coach and hiring a new one.At No. 16 in the college football all-time rankings, A&M is positioned between West Virginia and Virginia Tech. And that seems about correct in terms of history. A&M has
experienced periods of success and failure, but seldom long-lasting ones. This is particularly true in the twenty-first century, when the Aggies have only finished in the top ten twice and have never even competed for a conference championship. That being said, it makes sense for casual sports fans to believe that Texas A&M will always be the same “good but not great” program. And all that certain people ought to anticipate becoming.
Leslie’s fallacy lies in the logic of his argument, not in any factually incorrect statements. The successes and failures of previous regimes shouldn’t be used as a yardstick when posing the question “based on what?” Sports teams win or lose based on their current roster’s leadership, work ethic, talent, and resources—not on how well they performed in the past. Exist any teams that have excelled for extended periods of time? Yes, since they’ve constructed a system that offers them an inherent advantage over most of their opponents. Yes, there are dynamics in college football that can impact a team’s chances of winning, but almost always, those elements work to Texas A&M’s advantage rather than against them.
Although most people dislike to admit it, having money is practically a need for long-term success in college football, as it is in most other facets of life. You need money to hire the best staff members and coaches, as well as to recruit the best players and sign them to NIL deals these days. To develop those players and give them every advantage over your rival, you must invest money in facilities. While the best teams are almost always among the most funded, the most funded team is not necessarily the best one.
In the end, most college football programs are fighting with one or both hands tied behind their backs financially, making it impossible for them to consistently compete for national championships. At A&M, that isn’t the case. Just ten years have passed since the nearly $500 million stadium makeover, and work is currently underway on a $250 million facilities upgrade that will include the nation’s largest indoor practice facility and a renovated football complex. For the foreseeable future, Texas A&M will have access to some of the greatest resources in college football thanks to large-scale donors and a lucrative SEC television contract.
