PRESS PICKS (Week 13): A&M cleaning up the Jimbo debacle
STAFF REPORT
Jimbo Fisher is out at A&M. Ditto Zach Arnett and Mississippi State.
The latter is not much of a surprise. The former may not be either, until you open the hood and see the slush on the engine.
The recommendation came from A&M AD Ross Bjork.. or at least he said it did during Sunday’s press conference.
“I recommend to my boss that a change should be made,” so he said. That’s interesting since the board of trustees met Thursday and made the decision to fire Fisher.
Sunday’s press conference sounded like a pep rally led by someone more interested in saving his job than doing what’s best for the program. Fisher’s firing is not surprising to a degree but the decision will come with a price and not just $75 million he is owed.
Fisher was never destined to be a good coach at A&M. He had one great year at FSU in a league filled with average teams. Only when Clemson came on the scene as a national power did the league change faces. Otherwise, FSU, when it joined the league in 1991, has been the class of the ACC but did not have the success nationally as they did as an independent. Fisher took over from a legend and did somewhat well, winning.
When he arrived in College Station, he played up to the crowds, saying all the right things. Then he led them to nine wins his first season. Two years later they had the best season in a decade, winning 10 games.
Then the NIL was born and the money rolled in to provide a recruiting advantage no one (except may in-state rival Texas) could match. There was nothing that would stop the Aggies from winning that elusive national championship.
They had the right coach with everything he needed - money, fan support, and Fisher had proven he could beat Alabama just a year earlier.
Only the A&M fans learned pretty quickly, having the best recruiting class was half the battle. Teaching and coaching was necessary to reach the goal.
Jimbo wasn’t ready for it…. Maybe, not even qualified for it.
It could be said, what some thought was an advantage became a call to fight. His flying off the handle in 2022 when Nick Saban questioned A&M and other schools in how the NIL was being used for recruiting could be deemed the beginning of his the downfall.
The Aggies had their worst finish in the season that followed, going 5-7, losing to the Crimson Tide with a backup quarterback.
In some ways, Mel Tucker and Ed Orgeron, when they were given a big raise to protect their standing, and suddenly the “O” was fired at LSU, the idea was the former A&M AD Scott Woodward would come after Fisher… now look at those programs.
What becomes of Fisher? He’ll do a little fishing, politic to become a TV analyst, and, maybe, get another coaching gig. Good news for him - he’s guaranteed the A&M money no matter what happens.
Good for him and apparently good for Texas A&M, which will go out and spend a bunch of money on his replacement.
As for Arnett, he wasn’t ready for the call. If he wants to be a head coach, he’ll need to adjust his thinking on being personally involved, especially on the sideline where he seemed aloof.
Doug Amos pulled into a tie with Graham Dunn for first place on the panel after 11 weeks.
2023 Overall Standings (Last week)
1. Graham Dunn 143-37 (12-3) .794
Doug Amos 143-37 (13-2) .794
3. Wesley Lyle 138-44 (12-3) .767
4. Tim Gayle 137-43 (11-4) .761
5. Mike Peacock 136-44 (11-4) .756
6. Lindsey Bonner 131-49 (11-4) .728
Rosie Langello 131-49 (11-4) .728
8. Michael Butler 130-50 (11-4) .722
9. Barry McKnight 113-67 (12-3) .628
10. Rick Hendrick 112-68 (11-4) .622
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
143-37 (12-3) .794
Spanish Fort at Pike Road - Spanish Fort
T.R. Miller at Catholic - Catholic
Randolph County at St. James - St. James
Trinity at Flomaton - Trinity
Lowndes Academy vs. Wilcox Academy (AISA Class A Championship - Thurs.) - Lowndes Academy
Chattanooga at Alabama - Alabama
New Mexico St at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St at Prairie View A&M - Alabama St
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Florida at Missouri - Missouri
Kentucky at South Carolina - South Carolina
Texas at Iowa St - Texas
North Carolina at Clemson - Clemson
Kansas St at Kansas - Kansas St
Washington at Oregon St - Oregon St
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
143-37 (13-2) .794
Spanish Fort at Pike Road - Pike Road
T.R. Miller at Catholic - Catholic
Randolph County at St. James - St. James
Trinity at Flomaton - Trinity
Lowndes Academy vs. Wilcox Academy (AISA Class A Championship - Thurs.) - Lowndes Academy
Chattanooga at Alabama - Alabama
New Mexico St at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St at Prairie View A&M - Alabama St
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Florida at Missouri - Missouri
Kentucky at South Carolina - South Carolina
Texas at Iowa St - Texas
North Carolina at Clemson - Clemson
Kansas St at Kansas - Kansas St
Washington at Oregon St - Washington
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
138-44 (12-3) .767
Spanish Fort at Pike Road - Pike Road
T.R. Miller at Catholic - Catholic
Randolph County at St. James - St. James
Trinity at Flomaton - Trinity
Lowndes Academy vs. Wilcox Academy (AISA Class A Championship - Thurs.) - Lowndes Academy
Chattanooga at Alabama - Alabama
New Mexico St at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St at Prairie View A&M - Alabama St
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Florida at Missouri - Missouri
Kentucky at South Carolina - Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St - Texas
North Carolina at Clemson - Clemson
Kansas St at Kansas - Kansas St
Washington at Oregon St - Washington
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
137-43 (11-4) .761
Spanish Fort at Pike Road - Spanish Fort
T.R. Miller at Catholic - Catholic
Randolph County at St. James - St. James
Trinity at Flomaton - Trinity
Lowndes Academy vs. Wilcox Academy (AISA Class A Championship - Thurs.) - Lowndes Academy
Chattanooga at Alabama - Alabama
New Mexico St at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St at Prairie View A&M - Alabama St
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Florida at Missouri - Missouri
Kentucky at South Carolina - Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St - Texas
North Carolina at Clemson - Clemson
Kansas St at Kansas - Kansas St
Washington at Oregon St - Washington
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
136-44 (11-4) .756
Spanish Fort at Pike Road - Spanish Fort
T.R. Miller at Catholic - Catholic
Randolph County at St. James - St. James
Trinity at Flomaton - Trinity
Lowndes Academy vs. Wilcox Academy (AISA Class A Championship - Thurs.) - Lowndes Academy
Chattanooga at Alabama - Alabama
New Mexico St at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St at Prairie View A&M - Alabama St
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Florida at Missouri - Missouri
Kentucky at South Carolina - Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St - Texas
North Carolina at Clemson - North Carolina
Kansas St at Kansas - Kansas St
Washington at Oregon St - Washington
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
131-49 (11-4) .728
Spanish Fort at Pike Road - Spanish Fort
T.R. Miller at Catholic - Catholic
Randolph County at St. James - St. James
Trinity at Flomaton - Trinity
Lowndes Academy vs. Wilcox Academy (AISA Class A Championship - Thurs.) - Lowndes Academy
Chattanooga at Alabama - Alabama
New Mexico St at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St at Prairie View A&M - Alabama St
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Florida at Missouri - Missouri
Kentucky at South Carolina - Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St - Texas
North Carolina at Clemson - North Carolina
Kansas St at Kansas - Kansas St
Washington at Oregon St - Washington
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
131-49 (11-4) .728
Spanish Fort at Pike Road - Spanish Fort
T.R. Miller at Catholic - Catholic
Randolph County at St. James - Randolph Co
Trinity at Flomaton - Trinity
Lowndes Academy vs. Wilcox Academy (AISA Class A Championship - Thurs.) - Lowndes Academy
Chattanooga at Alabama - Alabama
New Mexico St at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St at Prairie View A&M - Alabama St
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Florida at Missouri - Missouri
Kentucky at South Carolina - Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St - Texas
North Carolina at Clemson - North Carolina
Kansas St at Kansas - Kansas
Washington at Oregon St - Washington
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
130-50 (11-4) .722
Spanish Fort at Pike Road - Spanish Fort
T.R. Miller at Catholic - Catholic
Randolph County at St. James - St. James
Trinity at Flomaton - Trinity
Lowndes Academy vs. Wilcox Academy (AISA Class A Championship - Thurs.) - Lowndes Academy
Chattanooga at Alabama - Alabama
New Mexico St at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St at Prairie View A&M - Alabama St
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Florida at Missouri - Missouri
Kentucky at South Carolina - South Carolina
Texas at Iowa St - Iowa St
North Carolina at Clemson - Clemson
Kansas St at Kansas - Kansas St
Washington at Oregon St - Oregon St
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
113-67 (12-3) .628
Spanish Fort at Pike Road - Spanish Fort
T.R. Miller at Catholic - Catholic
Randolph County at St. James - St. James
Trinity at Flomaton - Trinity
Lowndes Academy vs. Wilcox Academy (AISA Class A Championship - Thurs.) - Lowndes Academy
Chattanooga at Alabama - Alabama
New Mexico St at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St at Prairie View A&M - Alabama St
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Florida at Missouri - Missouri
Kentucky at South Carolina - Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St - Texas
North Carolina at Clemson - Clemson
Kansas St at Kansas - Kansas St
Washington at Oregon St - Washington
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
112-68 (11-4) .622
Spanish Fort at Pike Road - Spanish Fort
T.R. Miller at Catholic - Catholic
Randolph County at St. James - Randolph Co.
Trinity at Flomaton - Trinity
Lowndes Academy vs. Wilcox Academy (AISA Class A Championship - Thurs.) - Lowndes Academy
Chattanooga at Alabama - Alabama
New Mexico St at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St at Prairie View A&M - Alabama St
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Florida at Missouri - Missouri
Kentucky at South Carolina - South Carolina
Texas at Iowa St - Iowa St
North Carolina at Clemson - Clemson
Kansas St at Kansas - Kansas St
Washington at Oregon St - Oregon St