Why is Bob Stoops so mad at the Aggies?

Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops got a little feisty today when asked about Nick Saban's comments on last season's Sugar Bowl. Coach Stoops is no stranger to jumping on a soap box to attack the SEC, but today he took a little jab at Texas A&M's non-conference schedule.

Bob Stoops mentions Texas A&M’s non-conference schedule: "Lamar, Rice, SMU, La-Monroe. Those are all a bunch of toughies"

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) July 23, 2014

Now, we could sit here and talk about the disparity between the Strength of Schedule ratings between the Aggies and Sooners to point out how silly that comment is, but that's the easy route. The first question that came to my mind was, "Why does Coach Stoops know the A&M non-conference schedule off the top of his head?" He even named the opponents in order. Surely the Johnny Manziel led beatdown in the Cotton Bowl two years ago isn't still renting space in Stoops' head, right? Maybe there is something bigger happening in the college football world that has the Sooners' head coach consumed with Kevin Sumlin and the Aggies.

Recruiting. The absolute lifeblood of any top-tier college football program. Yes, there are a lot of other factors involved in the rise and fall of a program, but talent on the field is certainly right there at the top. The Aggies left the Big 12 for greener (much, much greener) pastures, and the recruiting trail has been red-hot for Texas A&M ever since. Let's take a look at the national team rankings for that final season in the Big 12 between the Aggies and Sooners.

2012 Recruiting Class

12

Oklahoma

16

Texas A&M

That's pretty close, so let's take a look at the two years prior to that class.

2011 Recruiting Class

13

Oklahoma

35

Texas A&M

2010 Recruiting Class

4

Oklahoma

19

Texas A&M

The Aggies had an average team recruiting rank of 23.3 during their last three seasons in the Big 12. Oof. Meanwhile, Coach Stoops had the Sooners rolling with a three year average of 9.6.

So, that was the past. How have things looked since the Aggies' SEC move?

2013 Recruiting Class

9

Texas A&M

16

Oklahoma

2014 Recruiting Class

5

Texas A&M

14

Oklahoma

2015 Recruiting Class

2

Texas A&M

41

Oklahoma

Look, we know it's still early in the 2015 class, but that's a 5.3 team rank average for the Aggies and a 23.3 team rank average for the Sooners since A&M moved to the SEC. Is it any wonder why Bob Stoops is grasping at straws to diminish Texas A&M?

My next question was how A&M's move to the SEC has impacted Oklahoma's recruiting success in the Lone Star State. The reports we all heard was that the move to the SEC was bad for the state since we invited the SEC in to poach players. It's no secret that Coach Stoops has relied on crossing the Red River to keep his depth chart loaded with talent. He was able to pitch high school players the option to play at a power program at the top of the Big 12. Since A&M's move to the SEC, high school players have recognized the opportunity to stay in-state and play in the best conference. Looking at the same six-year time period as above, I think we've uncovered that nagging pain that keeps Bob up late at night.

Recruiting in Texas