Texas A&M Football: 10 Presents the Aggies Hope to Find Under the Tree

This year hasn't been the most satisfactory for the Aggies. Times have been tough, and many a game hasn't gone their way. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong.

Fortunately for A&M, the year is finally over and only one game remains against a weak Northwestern squad. AD Bill Byrne has found his university a new head coach in Kevin Sumlin, and things might be looking up for their inaugural season in the SEC.

The one good thing about the end of the year is that it's the season for wishes to come true, and Aggies have many a prayer they hope will be granted.

We take a look at the top 10 "gifts" Santa can put under the tree for Texas A&M going into the new year.  

Kyle Field Expansion Announcement

As Texas A&M prepares to move itself into the SEC, consisting of the most traveled fanbases in the nation, Kyle Field will need to get a lot bigger to support the increased numbers of people who will be  visiting during football season. 

The administration has set into motion a few plans to try and get a working model into play, but so far nothing has been seriously announced. It would be ideal if A&M could come out and confirm the expansion of its home field so that construction could begin sometime in the next couple of years.

In a previous article, I discussed why A&M needs to make Kyle Field one of the biggest destinations in the country. Hopefully, the process will be a little faster once Aggies realize just how many fans the SEC will send College Station's way. 

A Big Bowl Victory

Northwestern isn't exactly the scariest squad in the Big Ten, but after seeing the Wildcats defeat a big-time Nebraska team at home, they can't be overlooked. A&M needs to crush the Wildcats to secure their first bowl victory since 2001. 

Every Aggies needs a little pick-me-up after such a tough season, and taking home a win from the Texas Bowl in Houston is exactly the right medicine. 

A Healthy Running Back Duo

Once again, Texas A&M has one of the best running back duos in the nation. Wait a minute: no they don't, both Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael are injured—again. 

It's not like its Gray's or Michael's fault, it's just difficult to believe that the Aggies have two NFL-caliber halfbacks and neither is healthy. Michael, the junior, is done for the season for sure. Gray, the senior, is still questionable for the bowl game. Seeing him take on the Wildcats would be a sight for sore eyes.

Michael should be good to go for next season and, hopefully, will be able to hold onto his health his whole senior year. Gray helping the Aggies win one more would be an appropriate end to a great career in College Station. 

Recruiting Commitments

Definitely one of the biggest wishes for Aggies is Sumlin shoring up commitments from some of A&M's biggest recruits. Trey Williams, a running back out of Dekaney, and Bralon Addison, a pure athlete from Missouri City, are the two stars that might be wavering.

If the new coaching staff is able to convince these huge recruits that A&M is still the place to be come signing day, consider one of Aggies' hugest wishes come true.  

The Wrecking Crew

For some reason, Aggie fans believed that the legendary Wrecking Crew was going to return this season. That did not happen.

Instead, A&M had one of its worst pass defenses ever. The offense found itself supporting the defense, and as any football fan knows, that will almost never work.

Perhaps one of the most incredulous wishes on this list, A&M would love to have the Wrecking Crew return. Dat Nguyen already coaches linebackers in College Station and perhaps him and the new defensive coordinator, whoever that may be, can morph this drab defense into a force to be reckoned with.  

Consistency

Both sides of the ball had this problem all throughout the season. One series, the offense would put together a huge 13-play touchdown-capped drive. Another, they stall after just three quick passes and punt it away.

On the defensive side of the ball, they might allow an easy drive down the field, or they may hold them to nothing and get off the field quick. There is no consistent way either side of the ball plays for A&M, and they both need to find a balance. 

A Ryan Tannehill Replacement

Ryan Tannehill was a superstar that can't be replaced. He broke records and was the heart of the Aggie offense, and with him gone, A&M will need an all new QB to head up a leading role on this team.

In steps Johnny Manziel, one of the state's best quarterbacks ever. A great pocket passer, Manziel was red-shirted this season to help prepare him for starting in his second year on the team.

What Aggies are hoping for out of Manziel, however, is at least promise of a better future. A young quarterback could be amazing or a huge disappointment, and in the SEC, the latter seems more likely. However, if this high school superstar can give A&M just some hope, he will have fulfilled this wish.  

Swagger

"Ag Swag," as it has been named by some of A&M's incoming recruits, is now becoming a movement in College Station. For years, the Aggies have resided in the shadow of their brothers in Austin. Now that they have finally stepped out from the darkness, A&M needs to "grab its own swag."

Swagger, for those of you who don't know what it is, is a certain type of confidence. It's believing you are going to win before you do. It's knowing you are the best before even knowing your opponent. 

Finally, swagger is on its way to College Station, and it's going to surprise some doubters when the Aggies take the field against big-time SEC squads. 

A Shiny New Defensive Coordinator

Tim Deruyter was the front-runner for the the defensive coordinator spot at Texas A&M, basically replacing himself under new head coach Sumlin. However, that all fell apart after Deruyter accepted the head coaching job at Fresno State. Now who will take up one of the most important jobs on the staff?

Sumlin is shopping around, but the word is that he's targeting Mike Stoops, the former head coach over at Arizona. Stoops used to coach the defense under his brother, Bob, up at Oklahoma but now is out of a job after being let go mid-season.

Another huge candidate is the linebackers coach at Alabama, Sal Sunseri. With DC Kirby Smart almost certainly out the door for a head coaching job somewhere, Sunseri might be the first in line to take over there. We'll see who Sumlin gets soon enough, however.

Whichever man it might be, he needs to be good. Defense is key in the SEC, and a defensive coordinator who knows what he's doing is what will make the difference between sitting at home in December and playing in a bowl.  

Faith in Kevin Sumlin

Kevin Sumlin is new appointed head coach for Texas A&M. The former Houston head coach takes over after a very successful 12-1 season and second place in Conference USA.

Possibly the best offensive mind in college football, Sumlin knows how to turn an average offense into a potent machine. Aggies, however, were looking for someone with a little more experience. 

As a new member of the SEC, many A&M fans desired a big-time coach who had the resume to make them feel a little better about entering the toughest division in the sport. Instead, AD Bill Byrne hired Kevin Sumlin and his unproven tactics.

What A&M fans would love to see out of Sumlin that would at least give them a reason to believe would be some recruiting commitments. After that, it's all up in the air.

Sumlin will have a lot of talent to work with next season, but the real question on everyone's mind is this: will he be able to morph that talent into something dangerous in the meat-grinder that is the SEC?