So now the reality has to have sunk in for most of us - the Auburn win was fantastic, and rekindles the hope that this thing can become a true beast of the southeast. Throw in the amazing class the men's basketball team put together and it has been a great week for our athletic department.
But the other fact is this - we play again Saturday, and this time it is against another talented team. Setting the opponent aside for a moment, I want to talk about what I think Sumlin and Co. need to do, no matter who the opponent is:
Work. Do work. Every day, consistently.
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This team has shown amazing promise - and it is quite intoxicating. The challenge for this team, though, is appears that the youth have gotten as intoxicated as us in the stands, and that is a problem. Now, part of that run of form between Arkansas and ULM was also a mix of some of the best football teams in the country, a lot on the road, and all in a row. Throw in some rope a dope by the offensive staff in the ULM game and you had the low expectations that came with the start of the Auburn match.
But the worrisome part of that run was also some clear inconsistency of youth that affected work habits and focus. Some of that is on the coaches, but some of that is on the players. Frankly, the coaching staff had done a fantastic job getting this team ready for a big game against the Gamecocks. The players had the blueprint.
Clearly, though, the coaching staff did the necessary work to get this thing back on the rails, and the players bought in, and it was glorious. Frankly, win or lose last week, we had regained our confidence, but to find a way to finish the job was pure excellence. More than any game in Sumlin's career at A&M, that game showed that you better not sleep on the Aggies - no matter how good you are, no matter how many games you have won or who you have beaten, or where the game is held. Except for LSU, Sumlin has shown he can beat anyone, anywhere, anytime.
So now the challenge becomes this - did the players learn from the dip in form and stay focused, or are they back on the high horse? Only they know at this point, but we will find out tomorrow night, make no mistake about it. Why? Because while many doubt the Mizzou Tigers because of their loss to Indiana, this is a team that can give our refurbished offensive line more trouble than the Auburn Tigres ever could, and they are nowhere near as bad as they are being perceived.
Look at their schedule again. Yes, they had to come back to win at South Carolina - but you know what, they did it. They beat a Florida team that is not as bad as people thought they were - with their defense. Their only ugly loss was to a Georgia team that had just found out their star running back was suspended indefinitely. If there ever was an example of a team stepping up to make up for a missing player, this is it.
So there is very real danger here. Especially if the players didn't get off the ride they were on after beating Auburn. No sir, if the Aggies take the Missouri Tigers for granted, they will lose one of two remaining chances to show that the Auburn game, not the Alabama game, was what represents this team.
Can they get the win? Absolutely. After the way this team played against South Carolina, Arkansas (at times) and Auburn, they showed they have the talent to give anyone a game, anywhere. But as we saw with Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama, the danger of the team not playing at their best is always lurking.
Make no mistake, these may be the two most important games in Aggie history as the team tries to keep the momentum going, and keep together what is currently a top five recruiting class. Continued recruiting excellence is required to be able to just survive in the SEC West, and it is a very slippery slope. Baylor, Oklahoma, now TCU and UTx are always there, nipping at the Aggie's heels, and the fight with LSU, Alabama and Auburn for the very best of Texas and elsewhere will always be there. Hell, now that Ole Miss and Mississippi State have shown they can put together a quality team, they will be chipping away too. And don't sleep on Arkansas. That is a team that is going to continue to press for success, and I wouldn't bet against them turning a corner in the next season or two.
It is only going to get tougher. So every loss is another bullet in the negative recruiting gun. Laughing at things like #sliver and #GadgetProgram will only continue as long as the wins against anything other than top ten teams continue. So do not miss this chance to keep the momentum going, Ags. That means the coaching staff, the players, but also the fans and students. Make sure it is a full house tonight for Midnight Yell, and then for the game tomorrow. And cheer the boys on to a win!
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