The Texas A&M regent who said he wants Kevin Sumlin fired isn't backing down. In fact, he's doubling down and implying that his fundraising contributions give him the right to say what he wants.
Tony Buzbee made headlines when unleashed a rant against Sumlin after the Aggies blew a 34-point second-half lead against UCLA in Week 1.
"Kevin Sumlin was out-coached tonight, which isn't new," he wrote on Facebook. "He recruits well, but can't coach the big games, or the close games. Our players were better tonight. Our players were more talented tonight. But our coaches were dominated on national TV, yet again.
"I'm only one vote on the Board of Regents but when the time comes my vote will be that Kevin Sumlin needs to GO. In my view he should go now. We owe it to our school and our players. We can do better."
Sumlin is 44-22 since arriving 2012. He went 11-2 in his first season and tied for second in the SEC West with a 6-2 mark. Since then he has one nine-win season, three eight-win seasons and has never finished above fourth in the West. And with the UCLA loss, he's now lost five of his last six games against Power Five opponents.
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Buzbee, who resides in Houston, where Sumlin's coaching stock skyrocketed as Cougars' head coach when he went 13-1 in 2011, isn't happy with those results. He's standing by his comments and believes he has a right to voice his displeasure.
Why? Because he's given a lot money.
"I attended Texas A&M, I'm an alum," Buzbee told the Houston Chronicle on Thursday. "I've given $7 million to the school – so far. Whenever the coach or administrator who's not an alum is long gone, I'm still going to be here."
He's right; he will be a regent and donor long after Sumlin and likely every other Texas A&M coach is gone, along with athletics director Scott Woodward and other administrators. And yes, his donations do — unfortunately — give him power in amateur sports. He wouldn't be a regent if he didn't give $7 million to the university.
But does Tony Buzbee's money give him the right to publicly criticize Sumlin like a spoiled toddler?
