In the parlance of our day … the Aggies are back.
That’s what people want to read after 74-72 against LSU, at least those who view the world through maroon-tinted glasses. The fan side of me, through family and my own Class of 1992 credentials, wants to believe it as well.
The other side of me, one that uses media credentials to get into games, views that differently and considers what I see, read and know about the goings-on in College Station. I weigh the product on the field with the what is happening off, factoring in history and the current college football landscape when forecasting what will happen next.
Obviously, none of us know. But when I see what’s in place, starting with Jimbo Fisher and everything at his disposal, I’d place a bet on a date getting etched onto his already-awarded National Championship plaque.
A Fort Worth columnist called Jimbo a fraud last week.
The motivation behind such a cutting indictment, besides a sophomoric attempt to bait clicks and troll Aggies, is sketchy at best and disingenuous at worst. Nothing wrong with writing what you believe, and people being upset.
That’s opinion. Creating false narratives to feed one’s ego is the very definition of fake news.
By any reasonably accepted metric, there is absolutely no evidence that Jimbo Fisher is a fraud.
He paid his dues as an assistant, with success at every stop, including a national title as offensive coordinator at LSU under the greatest coach of his time and, likely, all time. Nick Saban is effusive in his praise and respect for Fisher, well as effusive and Nicky can be, which should mean something to those of us who consider the whole story when forming an opinion.
To have Saban’s stamp of approval is akin to Lennon and McCartney saying you’re a pretty good songwriter. (BTW, I can’t read enough about the White Album reissue. Christmas list.) There’s no reason to take a year-by-year account of Fisher’s resume to affirm he’s legit. What he did at Florida State can’t be disputed.
He took over for the legendary Bobby Bowden and raised the level of the program. Jimbo won a national title with his players, not Bowden’s. And when Jimbo left, the Seminoles crashed and burned, missing out on a bowl game for the first time since Ronald Reagan’s first year in office.
Coaches matter.
Fisher consistently sends players to the NFL. Recruits tend to like that. He’s a personal guru to the most important position on the field, a renowned Quarterback Whisperer. He’s gotten far more out of Kellen Mond than appeared possible under Kevin Sumlin. Fisher’s odds of landing the next Jameis Winston are substantially better than a coach who’s never landed one to begin with.
As for valid knocks against Fisher, the contract generates easy clicks. On both ends of the spectrum.
Scott Woodward wanted to make a statement with the $75 million guarantee. In his mind, it screams commitment and belief and that Texas A&M finally has its man. And that Aggies have a lot of money.
It doesn’t take a deep dive to realize that Fisher isn’t even the highest-paid coach in the land. Of course, it’s Saban followed by Ohio State’s Urban Meyer. Multiple national titles for both put them in a class above the rest. Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh checks in at third before you get to Fisher. Ol’ Jim has yet to sniff a natty.
The contract also makes for easy shots. Who do the Aggies think they are? They really believe they can be Alabama or Ohio State or, heaven forbid, Texas? A&M can’t buy itself a new history. Renovated stadiums and a new conference can’t erase the past.
The tired argument is the Aggies should just be happy with mediocrity. Really, why play football anymore? They have haven’t won it all since 1939 so, naturally, they never will again. Why leave the stability of the Big 12 for the SEC? Just foolish.
I wonder where TCU would be if all Frogs thought that way? I guess every newspaper that isn’t the New York Times should fold up its tent. Um, bad example. It’s kinda the American Way to strive to get better. Just as long as those Americans aren’t running Aggie Football.
As for where the Aggies stand after breaking the Internet, noise ordinances and curfews Saturday night? Maybe that’s up for debate, too. Had the Aggies lost, and all logic suggested as much, would it have meant that Jimbo had failed? I mean, programs can’t come back from winning seven in the first season under a new coach. (Wait, see: Alabama and Saban. Actually, see: everybody.)
Fisher appears to have the Aggies on better football footing. They played with toughness, mentally and physically, throughout the season, even if the secondary couldn’t cover a pot if they were spotted a lid. A&M snapped an embarrassing losing streak against LSU. Nine wins are on the table. Commitments are lining up.
And the throws made by Mond at the end of regulation and on fourth downs and 2-point conversions throughout a ridiculously entertaining overtime aren’t the throws of a throwaway quarterback.
Jimbo may really have something there. Mond is just a sophomore.
“He never lost poise,” Fisher said in Saturday’s aftermath. “Even if he made a bad play, he said, ‘I got you, I got you.’”
Fisher also appeared to allude to an answer previously supplied to a certain Fort Worth columnist in his postgame comments.
“Like I said before, we improved a lot in areas on this team that didn’t always come out in results in critical moments,” Jimbo said. “They are starting to get over that hump, they picked up the crumbs, they found the inches and they just scratched, clawed and bled all the way. I mean, you say fight to the end, well, we had one second.”
One second in this case could change the narrative. The Aggies are back. Believe it if you want.
