Feb. 29: Why adding more MLB Playoff teams makes sense

Baseball doesn’t need a salary cap because it is great for the game to have these teams in the playoffs and quite frankly cheap owners that don’t spend money shouldn’t be rewarded and put on an equal playing field.

It just doesn’t make sense that the sport where the most games are played has the least amount of participants in post-season play.

Adding more teams to the post season would be in the best interest of the game.

It would..

1.) Allow big market teams to continue spending as much as they want.

2.) Encourage small market teams to spend money because they would now have a chance to compete at the end of the season without having to out spend the Yankees or Red Sox.

3.) Create more parity and make the long, grueling regular season less boring.

The NFL added multiple wild cards and it has only added to the excitement.

4.) Decrease the amount of meaningless games during the dog days of summer. For all of the backlash college football gets for the current system it still has more meaningful games than any other sport.

5.) Increase the interest in each city because they wouldn't be 20 games out of the playoff race in June. See: Pittsburgh, Kansas City, etc. It's no coincidence baseball has the highest amount of bandwagon fans. You can't go to a city without seeing a Red Sox or Yankees hat. This isn't because baseball fans are the most unfaithful, the teams in their cities just simply don't have a chance under the current format.

Playoff baseball is very exciting, but a lot of sports fans are so beat down by the regular season that they don’t even watch the game.

Increasing post season participation would solve all of baseballs problems and make America’s past time popular among the present American sports fan.

Feb. 28: Quick Hitters

Odom

A lot of people want the Mavs to buyout Lamar Odom midway through the season. Not only is this not going to happen, it makes zero sense for a few reasons.

1.) He would go somewhere else in the west and make that team better. See: Lakers. With that bench and his comfort in the city he automatically makes them better, provides them with depth and makes the worst bench in the league better.

2.) He could still be a key contributer off the Mavs bench. It's becoming doubtful that he can be the impact role player he was in LA, but there aren't any eighth men in the league better than Odom and most importantly, there aren't any teams in the league that wouldn't take Odom as their eight man.

3.) Even if he isn't a key contributer off the bench his contract is still beneficial and will be bought out this summer to add to the offseason pot.

Cowboys

The Cowboys always seem to feel they're a few players away from competing for a Super Bowl.

This year they just need to improve the offensive line, the secondary and get a pass rusher opposite D-Ware. After that they'll be ready to be next year's Packers or Giants. We have seen this movie many times.

This is never going to change... Unfortunately neither will the results on the field. Starts at the top, but that isn't changing either.

NBA Playoffs

A lot of people are talking about how crazy this year's NBA Playoffs are going to be, but I don't see it.

I'm going to go on record right now and say the NBA Playoffs this season are going to be all chalk with maybe one upset the entire playoffs.


Puberty and Posting go hand in hand

Going though puberty and outgrowing writing on message boards should be proportional, but it isn't. The rational, knowledgeable people that go on message boards usually just look at the dumb stuff posted on them and laugh. The idiots are usually the ones that post on them.

Feb. 14: Is TCU ready for the Big 12?

(Image courtesy of Zimbo)

How will TCU handle the significant increase in competition?

TCU has released their 2012 schedule and you can view it right here at Angry Trey's site.

Few programs that have had as much success as TCU the last decade and there's not denying Gary Patterson is one of college football's best coaches. However, TCU hasn't played top-tier competition week-to-week during that time period.

You can point to what Utah did to Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, what TCU did to Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, etc. However, the week-to-week competition in the Mountain West cannot hold a candle to what TCU will see in the Big 12.

Patterson draws praise for getting more out of less from his players, but the reality is that more times than not TCU has had more talent than their opponents on Saturday. That wont always be the case in the Big 12 and it will be interesting to see if Patterson's undue praise becomes credible in 2012.

On the other hand... TCU has wanted this challenge for a long time and a lot of second-tier Big 12 teams have been standing on an undeserving high horse for a while now. TCU will bring it every week and Big 12 teams are going to have to bring their A-game to beat Patterson's Frogs. However, unlike the majority of the conference games TCU has played in recent years the teams they'll be facing will actually have a chance at beating them as well. 

Unrealistic Expectations

A lot of teams have slept on TCU in recent years and I'm starting to get a sense that TCU's fan base is somewhat sleeping on the Big 12. It's unrealistic to think TCU has any chance at winning the Big 12 in their first season. It's just not going to happen. 

One of TCU's biggest disadvantages heading into the Big 12

The biggest disadvantage TCU has coming into the Big 12 is they're going to get everyone's best shot. Everyone in the Big 12 respects TCU. If they don't they'll get beat by them, it's that simple.

TCU is the new guy in town and have been a polarizing figure in college football under Patterson. Teams are going to bring it when they face the Frogs in 2012 and nobody is going to sleep on Patterson's team. TCU is used to getting everyone's best effort, but the increase in competition will make games more difficult.

Teams like Texas and Oklahoma get everyone's best effort each week and TCU will get the same treatment because they've earned the respect of the other teams in the conference.

Expectations

Unrealistic Expectations: A BCS bowl or a Big 12 conference title. 

I'll be the first to admit I was wrong if this happens, but it's not going to. It's too soon to expect TCU to win a Big 12 title.

Jumping to a big conference is a big transition. See: Utah's transition into the Pac-12. 

TCU's BCS and Big 12 hopes will be crushed by early November.

Gary Patterson deserves a Saban-like statue if he pulls that off, but I wont hold my breath.

Realistic 2012 TCU expectations: In the 8-4, 7-5 range. 

Would be a solid opening Big 12 season for Patterson and would allow the Frogs to build some momentum moving forward. There's ZERO doubt TCU will only improve in every aspect under Patterson. 

Recruiting will improve and coaching will remain elite. TCU is never going to out recruit Texas or Oklahoma, but they can (and will) go toe-to-toe with every other team in the conference in recruiting. In fact, it isn't unrealistic to expect TCU to be the solid third choice for most recruits as early as next season

Feb. 9: DFW Quick Hitters

QH1: It will be comical to see Terrell Owens try to be a good teammate in a second-tier arena league. It will be even more comical if he goes to his usual ways in a second-tier arena league.

Owens will feel the seats in Allen, but not like a franchise player fills seats in the NFL. He will fill seats the same way a freak show fills at a circus.

Bottom line: Karma is a B and T.O. being in a second-tier arena league is a pathetic, comical joke.

QH2: The Mavs game in Denver last night was a must win...

Might sound dramatic, but I stand by my notion. The Mavs were coming off extended rest against a team without their best player. Losing that game last night would've meant the Mavs would have lost to the Clippers without CP3, split with the Spurs without Ginobili (probably should've lose both) and lost to Denver without Danilo Gallinari. 

Some losses over the course of a season just aren't acceptable. Especially when you're facing shorthanded teams and haven't been smacked by the injury bug as bad as the other teams in the conference and within your own division. (Yes, Jason Kidd isn't considered a huge loss at this point based on what has been seen when he is on the court when he was out there.)

The Mavs got the job done with a decisive win which means I haven't written them off yet.

QH3: Why are we so quick to write off Roddy B?

There's no denying Roddy was terrible the two games prior to last night's game in Denver, but before that he provided the Mavs with the best point guard play they had gotten all season.

The name Jason Kidd always came up during Roddy's struggles, but people are forgetting Kidd's play when he was in the lineup was similar to Roddy's bad games. Furthermore, Kidd's good games were nowhere near as impressive.

Mavs fans are holding onto the legend of Kidd a little too long. The days of Kidd being a top-notch facilitator and playmaker have expired. At this point any positive thing Kidd brings to the table is overanalyzed and something that can't been seen through the bare eyes.

Kidd was able to avoid father time longer than most, but it has finally caught up.

At this point Kidd is all intangible and every ounce of top-notch effective NBA point guard he had is still on the American Airlines Arena court in Miami.

Feb. 6: Gronk remains my favorite meathead

You can slow Rob Gronkowski down on the field, but you can never slow down his meatheadedness off the field, not even after a Super Bowl loss.

Post Super Bowl photos

Gronk is a favorite of mine and with last night's post-Super Bowl activities he has a lifetime pass as the No. 1 cool meathead of all time. Everyone else is playing for second.

Cool meathead- One that parties it up, isn't that bright, but goes into beast mode on the field.

Uncool meathead- See: Stereotypical nerdy offensive lineman.

Feb. 1: Annual N.S.D. recruiting myth buster

I've done this every year for the past few years and the tradition lives on. Here's the annual N.S.D. recruiting myth buster.

We're a few days away from national signing day which means we're a few days away from  once again hearing naive, uneducated college football "fans" call recruiting databases overrated, without a doubt the dumbest thing said by fans each year. No system (or database) is perfect and there are definitely flaws and exceptions. These databases aren't the word of God, but saying these databases are overrated is moronic...

Below is data showing the recruiting classes and rankings of the last seven national champions three years prior to winning the title along with the BS TCU myth buster that puts them and their head coach on an undeserved pedestal.

Bottom line: The teams that recruit at a high level for an extended period of time are the ones that win championships.

By no means am I calling recruiting databases the college football bible. Recruiting databases are accurate, not perfect. 

Blue-chips can still flop, players who aren't recruited highly can emerge as stars and teams can still over and underachieve.

However, the team holding the championship trophy at the end of the season will always be a team that recruited near the top of the recruiting rankings. 

Here's a look at the last seven college football national champions and their recruiting class rankings the three years prior to their championship victories (Auburn has four included because Cam Newton was part of their class right away).

Note:

• Six of the seven had a top-two ranked class within the three years of their championship.

• With the exception of Auburn, the only time a team had a class ranked outside the top-10 was when they had limited scholarships to offer.

• Six of the seven teams averaged a top-10 class the three years prior to their championship.

2005 Champions: Texas Longhorns

Recruiting Class Rankings (All rankings according to rivals100.com)

2002: No. 1 ranked class (Including Vince Young and nine other starters in the national championship game)

2003: No. 18 ranked class, but only gave 18 scholarships (However seven of the 18 recruits started in the national championship game)

2004: No. 10 ranked class

Avg. Recruiting ranking three years prior to championship: Nine (w/limited scholarships in 2003)

2006 Champions: Florida Gators

Recruiting Class Rankings (according to rivals100.com)

2003: No. 2 ranked class (Including Chris Leak, the starting quarterback for the Gators in the national championship game)

2004: No. 7 ranked class (Including Derrick Harvey)

2005: No. 15 ranked class, but only gave 18 scholarships (Reggie Nelson, a huge contributor on defense in the championship)

Avg. Recruiting ranking three years prior to championship: Eight (w/limited scholarships in 2005)

2007 Champions: LSU Tigers

Recruiting Class Rankings (according to rivals100.com)

2004: No. 2 ranked class (Including Glenn Dorsey, Jacob Hester, Craig Steltz, Early Doucet)

2005: No. 22 ranked class, but only gave 13 scholarships

2006: No. 7 ranked class

Avg. Recruiting ranking three years prior to championship: 10 (w/limited scholarships in 2005)

2008 Champions: Florida Gators

Recruiting Class Rankings (according to rivals100.com)

2005: No. 15 ranked class, but only gave 18 scholarships

2006: No. 2 ranked class (Including Tim Tebow)

2007 No. 1 ranked class

Avg. Recruiting ranking three years prior to championship: Six (w/limited scholarships in 2005)

2009 Champions: Alabama Crimson Tide

Recruiting Class Rankings (according to rivals100.com)

2006: No. 11 ranked class (Including Javier Arenas and Greg McElroy)

2007: No. 10 ranked class (Including Rolando McClain)

2008: No. 1 ranked class (Including Mark Ingram, Julio Jones and Terrance Cody)

Avg. Recruiting ranking three years prior to championship: Seven

2010 Champions: Auburn Tigers

Recruiting Class Rankings (according to rivals100.com)

2007: No. 7 ranked class (Including Nick Fairley and majority of line)

2008: No. 20 ranked class

2009: No. 19 ranked class

2010: No. 4 (CAM NEWTON)

Avg. Recruiting ranking three years prior to championship: 14

2011 Champions: Alabama Crimson Tide

Recruiting Class Rankings (according to rivals100.com)

2008: No. 1 ranked class (Don’ta Hightower, Courtney Upshaw)

2009: No. 1 ranked class (McCarron, Richardson, tons more)

2010: No. 5 ranked class (Many contributors)

Avg. Recruiting ranking three years prior to championship: 2

Answering obvious questions that will emerge

 1.) The TCU example. I can already hear the TCU example being brought 

TCU is the most popular example fans use when discussing recruiting databases, citing the fact the Frogs don't land top recruits, but are able to compete at such a "high level."

TCU is a very good program and you cant say enough about the job Gary Patterson has done in Fort Worth. The win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl was very impressive and you can't take anything away from Patterson. Well, actually you can…

It's true TCU doesn't get top recruits, but the reality is most of the time they don't compete against teams that get top recruits either. In fact, more times than not TCU is more talented than the teams they play against. 

TCU was favored against Wisconsin for a reason, Texas is a pipeline for great college football players for a reason and Texas recruiting scraps are better than most states blue-chippers. 

A three-star in the state of Texas would be a four-star in most states.

 2.) The blue-chip flop and the lowly-recruited star. 

Again, no database is perfect. A hidden gem like Wes Welker can emerge as a star and a highly-recruited prospect can be exposed as a bust.

There are countless examples of both.

3.) Why some recruits don't pan out and some overachieve. There are many variables that go into this including:

- Intangibles that can't be measured

- Athleticism being overvalued (See: The NFL Combine)

- Coaching and a staff's ability to develop players

- Different levels of high school competition and supporting casts

- A player's inability to adapt to the speed of the college game

- Early bloomers that don't continue to develop in college

- Difficulty understanding the playbook and preparation that goes into the college game

- Off-field temptation that comes with going to college

- Academics 

- Injuries

- The list could go on forever

Jan. 26: Quick Hitters

(Image courtesy of Inquistitr)

QH1: Don't lose touch with what Lamar Odom is and always has been

In the midst of his struggled adapting to life as a Maverick Lamar Odom has quickly become one of the most despised athletes in the DFW.

I can't say that I understand the backlash and it seems like the DFW faithful has lost touch with reality.

Odom is getting treated as if the Mavericks signed him to a lucrative contract or traded a key piece to acquire him. Neither of these notions are true. The Mavs got Odom from the Lakers for nothing and he has a financial-friendly deal that allows them to buy him out after the season and maintain the cap space they've worked so hard to get.

Furthermore, there are few, if any, teams in the Association that wouldn't want Odom coming off the bench. Riding out Odom's struggles and hoping he turns it around is in the team's best interest.

Side note: Odom has always been looked at as one of the NBA's ultimate underachievers. Odom is 6-10, with handles, a decent shot, athleticism and uncanny versatility. He should be one of the league's best players with all the skills he has, but just isn't and never has been. There were nights in Los Angeles when Odom was the best player on the court and other nights where he was the worst.

Inconsistency is part of the Odom package, but his talent is so extraordinary that he's worth having on a roster. Especially when you didn't give up anything to get him, have depth on your roster and aren't financially committed to him.

QH2: The "just get in" myth

A lot of people are saying all the Mavs need to do is get into the playoffs and take it from there.

This is a myth for two reasons:

No. 1: It's important the Mavs are playing good basketball at the end of the season.

No. 2: With the way JET and Jason Kidd have been playing on the road there's no realistic reason to believe this team could win a bulk of playoff road games.

(Image courtesy of CBS DFW)

QH3: Yi, Wright, Williams instead of Odom... You can't be serious.

I've heard some people say Odom's minutes should be given to Branden Wright, Yi or Sean Williams.

If you've every said or thought this; slap yourself.

QH4: Tressel could do a good job in the NFL

Just my opinion, but I think his style could work if he hired a good staff.

He has always coached games with an NFL style and has the organizational skills needed to be a solid NFL coach.

The Saban example holds little weight because Saban's overwhelming personality can clash with highly-paid professionals and he's more of a teacher, which doesn't work in the NFL either.

Tressel would be a good NFL coach because he's organized, doesn't run a gimmicky college offense and has always used an NFL-like approach when coaching at the college level. Ex: Punting on 4th-and-short, etc. Just my take.

QH5: Will all be well for Doug Free on right side, Smith on the left?

Tyron Smith has never played left tackle and didn't play it last season when he had success as a rookie. Left tackle is one of the hardest positions to play in all of football and struggles by a first-year player at the position should only be expected, right?

Doug Free looked awful on the left side last season and was arguably the team's worst lineman. Phil Costa is the only other guy even in the discussion. With how pathetic Free looked last year it would be unrealistic to expect that he would move to the right side and suddenly be solid, right? Furthermore, as a right tackle Free would emerge as a new candidate for the Cowboys' most overpaid player.

Am I really supposed to believe that if you move Free to the right side and Smith to the left the team's offensive line problems will be solved? Some people seem to think so.

Jan. 20: Mavs Quick Hitters (Kidd, Dirk, Odom)

(Image courtesy of NY Daily News)

QH1: Have we reached point where Kidd's uncanny court vision and leadership is outweighed by his old age, lack of athleticism and sudden suspect judgment?

It's a sin amongst hoop heads to question Kidd's on-court performance, but at this point it's a fair question to ask.

Before he hurt his back Kidd wasn't very good when he was on the court and he has played just as bad, if not worse, since his return. It should also be noted Dallas won all four games Kidd missed. Granted it was against subpar competition, but the fact is they won every single game Kidd missed.

Kidd's shooting a dismal 28% from 3-point range, which is troubling when you consider most of Kidd's 3-point looks come wide open without little (to no) defensive resistance.

What Kidd has lacked in athleticism in recent years he has made up with by being one of the smarter players in the Association, but even his hoop IQ has looked dismal. His blunder on the final possession in Los Angeles led to Chauncey Billups' game-winner.

Last night Kidd had 11 assists, but six turnovers and was the only Dallas starter without a positive +/- in the final box score. 

Every Kidd statistic has decreased significantly this season except his minutes. Last night he played 34 minutes while Delonte West, who was much more effective, only played 16.

Kidd still brings too much to the table to not be a big part of the Mavs rotation and the offense runs more fluid when he's running it. Furthermore, Dirk plays better with him on the court. However, his minutes need to be cut.

Father time catches up to everyone. Kidd is about to turn 39 and can still play at a high level in spurts. However, it's time Kidd's role to decrease the same way his skills have this season. Rick Carlisle has shown he's elite when it comes to handling a rotation and it's time to lose the loyalty, get creative with the backcourt minutes and do what's best for this Mavs team.

(Image courtesy of Dallas SB Nation)

QH2: Sit Dirk, start Odom... Makes too much sense

Dirk isn't right and his knee is clearly bothering him.

Lamar Odom clearly isn't right and he's having trouble finding his way in the new system.

Sit Dirk out for a few games and insert Odom into the starting lineup.

A comfortable Odom can take the Mavs to the next level and without a healthy Dirk the Mavs have no chance at even winning a playoff series. Get Dirk healthy. Get Odom right. Makes too much sense, right?

QH3: MOST IMPORTANTLY

Be sure to check out Mavs Magazine every Sunday on ESPN 103.3 FM with Brendan Smith, Trey Fallon and myself every Sunday at 10 a.m.

Jan. 18: Darvish a rish

(Image courtesy of Bronx Baseball Daily)

As the Yu Darvish deadline hits the final stretch a lot of the Ranger hype has gone conservative like Jason Garrett in the red zone.

Funny to see the people that hyped Yu Darvish as the second coming and threw parties when the Rangers paid nearly $52 million just to negotiate with him now say that expectations need to be realistic when (and if) he arrives in the states.

Darvish has been sold as a 25-year-old, MLB ready stud since day one. Anything less than a top-line MLB starter right away should be considered disappointing.

What should make the Rangers faithful even more nervous is the fact that a lot of teams with deep pockets stayed out of the negotiations all together. Trust me, if any of the teams with deep pockets felt they were getting  Josh Beckett-like ace they would've placed a bid.

Darvish will be a great investment for the Rangers from a business perspective. Yu will bring money to the DFW.

However, on the field Yu is and always has been a risk.

Jan. 14: Degenerate NFL Picks

The best weekend of the NFL season. Betting only makes it better.

Lock of Week: Baltimore -7.5

If I were in Vegas I would bet more money than I should on this, take a deep breath, slam the money on the table and ask for extra beverage coupons.

Confident: San Francisco +4

Trust in Harbaugh, especially at home.

*Bet already made when this was typed.

Enough already: New England +13.5

A bet made on principle. This Tebow stuff has to stop eventually.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: New York +7.5

Eli doesn't get enough of it. The G-Men will be able to move the rock. Whether or not they can stop Green Bay is the question, but gimme the points.

Jan. 3: Quick Hitters

(Image courtesy of bleed-green)

QH1: Same song and dance for the Cows

There's no point in even attempting to summarize the 2011 season for the Dallas Cowboys. Just copy and paste what has been said the last five years and you will have a perfect diagnosis. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

A few things fascinating about the 2011 season...

1.) How in the hell did two guys from this secondary get extensions?

2.) How many years in a row is this team going to have a gaping hole and need for a playmaking safety and not address it?

3.) Progress? Progress? Are we talking about progress? Progress? (Jim Mora voice)

At his final presser of the season Jason Garrett said this team made progress this season, I didn't see it. I saw a team that benefited from a soft schedule and was still unable to capitalize on the opportunities they had over the course of the season. This team made the exact same mistakes it did when Wade Phillips was on the sidelines.

4.) Miles Austin, Doug Free, Gerald Sensabaugh and Orlando Scandrick. Pick a good contract from the group.

5.) Most troubling thing about the season... I think I would be able to identify Dez Bryant's butt in a butt lineup.

I think I saw Dez's bare butt during a game at least 14 times this year. Where is mall security when you need them?

6.) This is only the beginning...

Jerry is going to bury this franchise and this is only the beginning of the dark days. The job Bill Parcells did rebuilding the Cowboys is fading away and now it's up to Jerry to rebuild it.

Given the fact this is a near .500 team since their last Super Bowl, the core isn't getting any younger and the previously mentioned contract extensions this is only going to get worse.

(Image courtesy of NFLsfuture)

QH2: 2012 college football off the dome top-five with no research and in no particular order

USC, LSU, Oregon, Georgia, Alabama.

(Image courtesy of BeyondTheBets)

QH3: Plus-one, Yessir!

Not going to address the college football playoff argument because my stance is clear, I like the current system much more than I would a LARGE playoff. However, a plus-one would would be the most elite season format in all of sports. It looks like that's going to happen in the near future, which is great for all parties involved.

(Image courtesy of NY Daily News)

QH4: NFL opening playoff weekend predictions

New Orleans over Detroit

New York over Atlanta

Pittsburgh over Denver

Cincinnati over Houston

(Image courtesy of USAToday)

QH5: You can't spell 3rd String without RG3

RG3 is a  great of a college player and an even better human being, but I'm throwing the BUST challenge flag on the field for a few reasons.

1.) Usually when a QB emerges from outta nowhere as a top 10 pick it doesn't end well.

See: Akili Smith, Jamarcus Russell, Vince Young

2.) He comes from a college passing system that makes him look better statistically.

There's no denying RG3 benefits statistically from Art Briles' system. That doesn't mean he's a system QB, but he plays in a system that allows a quarterback to fill the stat sheet.

Just look at the players whose records he's breaking. Colt Brennan, etc.

3.) Toughness

Not only did RG3 not take a lot of hits in college, but he also reacted poorly when he did take them. He was always slow to get up and often threw a fit when taking routine contact over the course of a game.

Extending plays with your feet is much more difficult in the NFL and there's no avoiding hits at that level. Lookout for durability concerns.

4.) Size

A lot of people want to compare RG3 to Cam Newton. Not a good comparison.

Newton is a 6-5 physical specimen. RG3 will measure in the range of the 6 foot to 6-1 range at the combine.

Dec. 26: Bowl games about to pick up

Been slow on the blog because bowl games haven't picked up yet. Forgive me for not breaking down Utah State and company. Should pick up soon with the NBA back, NFL playoffs about to start and college bowl games getting in gear.

Dec. 12: Mavs land king of Youtube

I've been a huge fan of the Mavs getting Odom and Carter for basketball reasons, but I like the Delonte West signing strictly for Youtube reasons.

Dec. 1: Uncle Art would be perfect fit for A&M

(Image courtesy of StarTelegram)

All signs point to Kevin Sumlin being the next coach at Texas A&M, which isn't a bad hire. However, Art Briles would be a better hire.

Sumlin is winning at Houston with quarterback Case Keenum, a QB Briles recruited. Furthermore, last season when Keenum was injured Houston went 5-7 and were flat-out awful.

Briles knows the state, can recruit his butt off, has coached in Texas his entire career and would be the right man to lead the Aggies into the SEC.

Sumlin's a good hire, but Briles would be a great hire. It's not going to happen because Texas A&M isn't going to make the necessary call, but they should.

All signs point to Sumlin being the next guy in College Station, which is a symbolic hire and reason for the Aggie faithful to be encouraged. It's a HUGE step for the program to see the people in charge step out of their comfort zone when hiring a coach. Mike Sherman wasn't even interviewed before he was hired in large part because he fit the prototypical Aggie mold, had Aggie roots and embraced the traditions. 

Sherman's departure symbolizes Texas A&M taking a HUGE step toward getting with the times. It's good to see the outdated Aggie decision-makers' ideas finally being looked at as outdated in Aggie Land. 

Bear Myth

It's been comical to hear Baylor fans say Briles wont be the coach at A&M because he wouldn't leave Baylor for A&M. Comical for two reasons 1.) Before this season I didn't even know Baylor had fans 2.) Texas A&M is a much, much better coaching destination than Baylor.

The program that just arrived in the SEC would be a better coaching destination than the program that was on the edge of being conferenceless twice in the last two seasons. 

If it weren't for other teams in the Big 12 deciding to stay Baylor wouldn't even be in a BCS conference. Unless the Big East came calling. Furthermore, A&M's facilities > Baylor's facilities.

Briles isn't the coach at A&M because they didn't offer him the position, not because Waco is an ideal location for a college coach. There isn't a coach in America that thinks Baylor is a better job than A&M.

If you think Baylor is a better college football job than Texas A&M you either...

1.) Graduated from Baylor

2.) Don't follow college football

3.) Are only factoring in this season's results. Which would mean you ignored the 55-28 beat down the Aggies put on the Bears and would also mean you believe K-State is a better job than Texas and South Carolina a better job than Florida.

4.) Are just flat-out moronic 

Dec. 1: Ranking the best coaches in the Big 12

(Image courtesy of OrlandoSentinel)

No. 1: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

Stoops catches a lot of flack for losing the big game, but forgive me for not condemning a guy for losing title games to Nick Saban, Pete Carroll and Urban Meyer.

Stoops' best coaching job was in 2006 when he lost his starting QB Rhett Bomar before the season and Adrian Peterson early in the season and still won the Big 12 championship with Paul Thompson, a receiver the previous season, leading the team.

(Image courtesy of zimbio)

No. 2: Art Briles, Baylor

Doesn't get enough credit for what he has done in Waco. Baylor was the undisputed laughing stock of the Big 12 before he arrived in Waco. Furthermore, his impact at the University of Houston can still be seen this season.

A lot of people would argue RG3 deserves the majority of the credit for the turnaround in Waco, but consider the following...

1.) Briles has never has a problem finding quarterbacks. See: Kevin Kolb and Case Keenum

2.) It isn't like Griffin was a blue chipper, Briles discovered him. If it weren't for Briles Griffin may've been a safety somewhere. Contrary to popular belief, recruiting ability should come into play when evaluating college coaches, it isn't something that should be held against a coach. That's not a knock on Griffin's talent, but Briles has always handled quarterbacks well and deserves credit for giving RG3 the opportunity to play QB at the next level.

(Image courtesy of Exposay.com)

No. 3: Gary Patterson, TCU

Some people will argue that this is too low for Patterson, but I think it's a beyond generous ranking.

Patterson draws a lot of praise for competing at a high level despite not getting top-notch recruits, but you could make a strong case Patterson has had a significant advantage in recruiting during his tenure at TCU.

The reality is Patterson hasn't coached in a conference against teams that get top-notch recruits either. Furthermore, he recruits in the state of Texas, one of the best recruiting pipelines in the country. Quick, name one team in the Mountain West conference TCU doesn't have a recruiting advantage over.

With all that said there's no disputing Patterson can coach, but we will see how he does in the Big 12. Winning with less praise has been unwarranted at this point, but if Patterson competes in the top-tier of the Big 12 he deserves every ounce of credit throws his way and belongs at the top of this list.

(Image courtesy of State Impact)

No. 4: Mack Brown, Texas


Say what you want about Mack Brown and every advantage he may have in Austin, but he has done a great job at the University of Texas.

A lot of people knock Brown for having just one national championship, but there isn't a coach in college football that has more that two. You don't just fall out of a tree and land the job at Texas. Brown has three 10-win seasons at North Carolina and handles the extra duties and BS that comes with being a head coach at the University of Texas better than most could.

People are going to put people below Brown on this list above Brown with the popular "What would he do with those recruits" argument, but as I've already mentioned with those recruits comes extra baggage and responsibility. If it were simply about in-game coaching Brown might not be at No. 4, but it isn't.

(Image courtesy of Kansas.com)

No. 5: Bill Snyder, Kansas State

I Would like to eat crow on this one. When Snyder went back to Kansas State I unleashed an array of jokes and thought there was no way in hell Kansas State would make the jump they have in his second tenure.

The fact Kansas State is doing what they're doing and might be in the Cotton Bowl this season is nothing short of phenomenal.

Snyder's teams might not have top-notch talent, but they never beat themselves. Snyder could easily be higher on this list, but for whatever reason I find it difficult to rank him higher on the list. However, it shouldn't bother Snyder because 1.) He doesn't read this blog 2.) If he does... He has already shown he does his best work when everyone's counting him out.

(Image courtesy of CycloneFanatic)

No. 6: Paul Rhoads, Iowa State

His coaching is underrated, his speeches are overrated, but his teams with make up for limited talent by being scrappy and fighting until the very end.

(Image courtesy of ESPN)

No. 7: Mike Gundy, OSU

The facilities and recruiting have improved significantly in Stillwater, but until the Pokes take that next step Gundy is among the bottom-half of the coaches in the conference.

(Image courtesy of ESPN)

No. 8: Tommy Tuberville, TTU

Not a good start for Tuberville in Lubbock and if there isn't significant progress in year three the seat could be scorching hot.

(Image courtesy of Grantland)

No. 9: Dana Holgorsen, WVU

Young, fiery coach, but still unproven. Huge upside though.

(Image courtesy of BusinessInsider)

No. 10: Whoever is coaching at Kansas

Question: Why doesn't Mark Mangino get Mike Leach-like praise for the way in which the Kansas program has fallen apart since he left? You could argue that the Kansas drop in much worse than Tech's.

Dec. 1: TCU says goodbye to historic senior class

College Football Insider: TCU

Trey Fallon and Landry Locker of ESPN Dallas talk about TCU's upcoming game against UNLC, the legacy of the senior class and possible bowl scenarios for the Frogs.

ESPN Dallas TCU Cast

Dec. 1: OSU prepares for Bedlam

College Football Insider: Oklahoma State

Trey Fallon and Landry Locker of ESPN Dallas are joined by Justin Wilmeth of O-State Illustrated to discuss Oklahoma State's current standing in the BCS, if they should have a chance to appear in the title game, the impact weather could have on Bedlam and the importance of winning their first Big 12 title.

ESPN Dallas Bedlam Preview