To most, 2011 wasn't all that long ago. Bin Laden was killed, #OccupyWallStreet was a thing, and the Rangers were one strike away from winning the World Series (twice). These things basically just happened. It wasn't long ago at all. But for Texas A&M football, 2011 may as well have been a lifetime ago.
Mike Sherman was at the helm of the Ags, and he and Athletic Director Bill Byrne were hopeful they had a team worthy of vying for a Big 12 title. Kyle Field held 83,000 people. Johnny Manziel was a three-star recruit from a small Texas town riding the bench during a redshirt season.