Former AD Eric Hyman critical of Texas A&M in interview

The UCLA game was not a stellar start to the football season. Throw in a couple of lackluster performances against weak opponents, some vocal criticism from a member of the Board of Regents, and the impending start of conference play against another embattled coach, and you’ve got quite a volatile atmosphere around Texas A&M Football.

Then this interview from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram drops two days before SEC kickoff.

We suggest reading it for full effect, but it’s loaded with scorchers. And guess what! It more than implies that not all Aggies are classy and well-meaning! Here are a few excerpts:

On Sumlin’s 2013 contract extension that paid him $5 million/year for six years:

“I had no say so over it. I’ve been doing this job for a long time. I had worked with Steve Spurrier for years, and he was paid a heck of a lot less than Coach Sumlin. And he won national championships after conference championships. And then you are making this commitment to a person, and again I don’t blame Kevin, that’s never won a conference championship.

“When the original contract was given to me, if Kevin were to leave the next day there was no buyout provision.”

...

But why would A&M give Sumlin such a deal when there was no need?

“Because people didn’t know what they were doing,” Hyman said.

And that’s just the beginning.

Can A&M in the SEC be successful and sustain it?

It’s a tough league but if look at historically, what A&M has to do is not shoot itself in the foot...

Aw, shit.

Do you regret taking the job?

There are some things that I felt because of my ethical standards I was not a good fit. I felt if I had to do it again, I would probably do a lot better job of researching it.

So, “yes”.

Are you hopeful or concerned about the future of A&M athletics in the SEC?

If they allow the people to do the job, they can be very successful. They’ve got people there that want to be the athletic director. They micro manage.

Again..we’re gonna take liberties and just mark that in the “concerned” column.

Do you think that is a common problem at other large, Power 5 state schools?

You have the presidents more wired than they used to be, because of the visibility and because of the money that is involved. Some schools, probably so. It just varies. But the ones I’ve talked to, none are like Texas A&M.

“From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it. From the inside looking out, you can’t explain it.”

If a 22-year-old student comes to you and says they want to be you and be a Power 5 college AD, what do you tell them?

I’d say have a lobotomy first.

Wow, what a mentor.

Is this just sour grapes, or are there deep-rooted issues within the Texas A&M power structure? The truth is probably a little bit of both, but of course this is the Internet in 2017, so that is impossible to stomach for most. Give us your takes.