Texas A&M Aggies Trying To 'Make Most' Of Another Lost Season
COLLEGE STATION -- Jimbo Fisher's confidence entering Week 10's matchup against Mississippi State is high, even if his approval rating among fans is plummeting daily.
Fisher, 58, knows this isn't what was expected when he left Florida State to come to College Station back in December of 2017. He promised aspirations of conference titles and trips to the College Football Playoff. Even visions of national championships were mentioned.
Instead, bowl trips to Jacksonville, Orlando, and Houston have been on the menu. Even the sixth-year coach knows more should be done at this point in his tenure.
“We just got to find a way,” Fisher said Monday during his weekly presser. “And once you get over that hump and the guys can feel that. I think it’ll take off and I think we’ll build it and do it,” Fisher said. [I’ve] been there before.”
Players seem to be bought into Fisher's teachings, even if the fan base has lost patience. Defensive lineman Albert Regis told reporters faith internally remains at an all-time high.
"To the naked eye, it may seem that he’s not doing much, but we know deep down and that inside of our culture in what we’re building, that we have a lot of faith in him and we trust him," said Regis.
Another year will pass where A&M won't be headed to the four-team College Football Playoff. They won't even have a shot at winning the SEC championship after dropping games to Alabama, Tennessee and Ole Miss, along with out-of-conference foe Miami in Week 2.
What might be more frustrating is how A&M fell short. Among its three conference games, A&M has lost by a combined 16 points. Since 2021, the Aggies (5-4, 3-3 SEC) have lost 10 games by a touchdown or fewer.
Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Bryce Anderson
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
“[If] you watch us play and how physical we play and hard we play,” opponents know they were fortunate to win, because they knew A&M as a good team," Fisher said.
Right now, attention turns to winning out and making the most of another lackluster season. The Aggies can end their five-game losing streak to the Mississippi schools if it can knock off the Bulldogs at Kyle Field this Saturday.
A&M can end its nine-game road losing streak with a win over an LSU team with a stout offense led by Heisman-caliber quarterback Jayden Daniels, but a woeful defense that was picked apart by Alabama's Jalen Milroe at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Fisher said the key right now is to focus on what one can control in the future rather than linger on what's occurred in the past.
As for Regis, his sights are on securing an extra game in December. While the Aggies defeated LSU at Kyle Field to end their season on the right note, they also lost five games by a combined 19 points.
“Yes, we won that last game, but to cut your season so short after your last game," said Regis. "And then you go home and watch everybody else playing in bowl games for what three and a half weeks? Correct me if I’m wrong. It isn’t a great feeling.”
Kickoff from Kyle Field is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
