Aggies Jimbo Fisher Not Worried About Pressure
There are about 77 million reasons why Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher should be feeling pressure entering his sixth season with the Aggies, but only cause reigns supreme.
Fisher faces pressure every day to succeed. At least that's how he put it when discussing the mishaps of the 2022 campaign in front of reporters at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Nashville, Tenn.
“We live under pressure every day,” Fisher said Monday at SEC Media Days. “We put more pressure on ourselves than anybody out there ever puts on us, so there’s no added pressure because what good does that do? Does worrying make you any better? No.”
No, Fisher likely won't be fired following the 2023 season, even if the Aggies underachieve for the second consecutive year. There's plenty of oil money entrenched in the pockets of A&M boosters and prominent alums throughout the country, but no one is floating those sums to hit the reset button after two years of mediocrity.
That doesn't mean Fisher's seat isn't hot. He knows he's yet to keep up his side of the bargain since inking a 10-year, $75 million deal to leave Florida State and join the SEC West program. Stock on his persona around the league has plummeted further since A&M tossed him an extension during the 2021 season.
Since the new deal was finalized, the Aggies are 13-11. They've yet to make a bowl game and haven't finished with an offense ranked inside the top 50. Quarterback play has been a question under the "quarterback whisperer" since Kellen Mond left, and play-calling has gone from promising the putrid.
So yes, Fisher knows there's pressure on him to deliver this season. And no, simply beating Alabama to then lose against Mississippi State won't cut it, either.
“I’m on the hot seat when we’re 10-0," said Fisher. "I don’t feel any different whether you’re 1-3 or 10-0 in going into a game and how you prepare and how you look at it, I really don’t. I know people don’t believe that, but that’s a fact.”
Few teams in college football this fall present more intrigue than A&M. The Aggies are a year removed from boasting the No. 1 recruiting class in the sport's history. They're a year older at nearly every position and return 10 offensive starters from a unit that finished 101st in scoring. While they didn't attack the transfer, the added defensive talent should provide a veteran feel.
Oh, and Fisher hired a new offensive coordinator—a good one in Bobby Petrino. Everyone has an opinion on the former Louisville and Arkansas coach's personal life, but facts prove the man knows how to run an offense. Stats back that up, too.
On paper, it works. What about on the field? The only way to know if the Fisher-Petrino partnership can co-exist is by understanding their roles, mainly if the former will relinquish play-calling duties and allow the latter to handle the offense.
“I’m not going to get into what we’re doing, how we’re doing it,” Fisher said “Again, I’m not trying to avoid anything.”
So, is that a yes? Will Petrino be the architect of the offense?
“He’ll call a lot of – hopefully he’ll call the game,” Fisher said. “We’ll have suggestions on things we do, whether it’s offense or defense. Every coach is always involved.”
Fisher rarely gives straight answers to the local media leading up to the season, but Petrino joining a staff after taking a job with UNLV earlier in the offseason likely means he's driving the offensive car torqued with star power. His prickly persona isn't one to usually take orders, just like Fisher isn't the type of coach who's used to not being in control.
Learning to change during a crucial season? Add that to the docket of things to monitor at Kyle Field this season, too.
Adapting to change is essential in all aspects of life, including college football. Even the best must take a hard look in the mirror at times. Alabama's Nick Saban noticed how up-tempo offenses were taking over the SEC. A hiring of Lane Kiffin, Mike Locksley and Steve Sarkisian later, the Crimson Tide added three more titles to their trophy case.
If Saban can admit change is good, so should Fisher. Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz said after the offensive collapse last season, it was best for him to let go of control and hire an outside name. Auburn's Hugh Freeze, one of three coaches since 2012 to beat Saban twice, told reporters Tuesday that he's giving complete power to new coordinator Philip Montgomery.
Neither have the resume of Fisher, who won three ACC conference titles and a national championship at Florida State. Neither feature a roster filled with the amount of talent that resides in College Station. Neither should finish with more wins than the Aggies even with change in Columbia and on The Plains.
Will they, though?
The Aggies have the chance to make headlines this fall. If Petrino can elevate either quarterback Conner Weigman or Max Johnson's play, the offensive numbers should skyrocket. An entire offseason working under second-year coordinator DJ Durkin should do wonders in fixing the 123rd-ranked run defense.
A trip to Atlanta in December shouldn't be off the table, either. Players are buying into what the staff is selling. Week by week, the Aggies could be the last team standing in the division if things come together.
There's pressure on Fisher to succeed, something he seems to face daily. The question is now will he rise to the expectations, or collapse under his self-inflicted misfortunes?
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