Tag: Jimbo Fisher

Five takeaways on why Jimbo Fisher failed in College Station

Here are five reactions to Dave Wilson’s recent ESPN article detailing Jimbo Fisher’s downfall at Texas A&M.

The Jimbo Fisher era at Texas A&M is over after ten games in his sixth season at the helm, as the announcement was made last Sunday. Coming as a shock to many as a decision was reportedly made last Thursday during a Board of Regents meeting, Fisher finishes his Aggie career with a 45-25 record, including a dismal 27-21 record in SEC play.

While we have covered his firing ad nauseam, ESPN Staff Writer Dave Wilson recently published one of the more in-depth articles detailing Fisher’s downfall within the program, ranging from his relationships with high school coaches in Texas to his lack of adjustments on offense after consistent failure was excused with a “lack of execution,” which sadly became his calling card for the remainder of his time in College Station.

With Interim head coach Elijah Robinson set to finish out the season in Fisher’s place, Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork is hard at work interviewing candidates to fill the position, one of the most coveted coaching jobs in the college football landscape. After reading the article, which every Aggie fan should take the time to do, here are five takeaways from Wilson’s information piece from ESPN, “Why the Jimbo Fisher experiment at Texas A&M failed spectacularly.”

Report: UTSA’s Jeff Traylor interviewed with Texas A&M

It has been reported by Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman that UTSA HC Jeff Traylor has interviewed with Texas A&M.

Speculation is at an all-time high as the search for the next Texas A&M head football coach is in full swing. There have been several names thrown out there early, like Dan Lanning and Mike Norvell; while these are the “sexy” names, they are not very likely as both are in prime positions for their own extensions soon.

However, one name that continues to pop up on every list, along with Mike Elko, is UTSA’s Jeff Traylor. It was reported by Kirk Bohls that Traylor recently interviewed with the A&M athletic director Ross Bjork for the position.

“Bjork interviewed Traylor for 90 minutes on a Zoom call, a conversation that lasted an hour longer than had been scheduled.”

“Neither Bjork nor Traylor returned phone messages Thursday night.”

Traylor has put together an impressive resume through his coaching career, and the Texas A&M job would be the logical next step if both feel it’s a good fit. His strong ties in Texas make him extremely popular among high school coaches, which should translate perfectly with the resources needed to recruit the best of the best.

While some may speculate that hiring a coach from the Group of Five after owing Jimbo Fisher close to $77 million doesn’t make too much sense, Traylor is a program builder who now has won at every level. For a program in need of more stability at the top, Traylor may be the perfect man for the job.

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Watch: Jimbo Fisher’s final speech as Texas A&M’s head coach

Watch Jimbo Fisher deliver his final locker room speech on the latest episode of 12th Man Productions “The Pulse.”

As Texas A&M continues to bid farewell to now former Texas A&M head football coach Jimbo Fisher, 12th-Man Productions’ “The Pulse” captured the final moments of Fisher’s Aggie coaching career, specifically in the locker room after last weekend’s 51-10 win over Mississippi State.

In one of A&M’s most complete games of the season, former Fresno State quarterback Jaylen Henderson started in his first career game with the program, producing four touchdowns on the ground and through the air, while the Aggies’ stifling defense recorded five sacks and three interceptions in yet another dominant showing.

For nearly all of us who cover the program, outside of leading Texas A&M insider TexAgs co-owner Billy Liucci, our after-game coverage was focused on the team’s vast improvement after falling to Ole Miss a week prior. Still, as soon as Sunday morning hit, Liucci shockingly revealed that Jimbo Fisher had been let go after six seasons at the helm.

The decision was made by A&M’s Board of Regents last Thursday afternoon,  and as it currently stands, Fisher was unaware of his firing before the Mississippi State matchup. So, for the final time, here is Jimbo’s last speech to the 2023 Texas A&M Football team. Credit to GigEm247’s Carter Karels for the video.

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Is UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor a viable option for Texas A&M?

Amid Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork’s head coach search, UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor could be a legitimate candidate to fill the role.

Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork is the hardest working man in college football for the next two weeks, as the recent firing of now-former head coach Jimbo Fisher has galvanized the search for the program’s new leader.

With three games remaining this season, associate head coach Elijah Robinson has taken over in the interim role and will likely be considered for the permanent gig if the Aggies can finish strong, including a potential victory over LSU on the road.

Now, focusing on coaching candidates that fit the bill, one popular name keeps making the rounds on social media, as UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has become a hot commodity for nearly every vacant Power 5 coaching job. A Texas native, Traylor has risen up the coaching ranks starting with his 14-year run at Gilmer High School in Gilmer, Texas, where he accumulated a 175-28 record, including three Texas 4A State Titles.

After stops at Texas and SMU in various positions, Traylor spent two seasons at Arkansas as the assistant head coach/running backs coach under then-head coach Chad Morris. After the 2019 season, Traylor accepted UTSA’s head coaching position right before the Covid-inflicted 2020 campaign. He dealt with tremendous adversity head-on while still finishing 7-5 and earning bowl eligibility as soon as he stepped on campus.

Since then, UTSA has gone 30-8, including the program’s first conference championship in 2021, finishing with a 12-2 record. Outside the metrics, Traylor has recruited at a very high level in the Group of Five while sending several future NFL prospects to the league, including current Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen.

Most importantly, though underreported, Traylor is well-liked in the Texas coaching community at the high school and college levels. In this area, Jimbo Fisher, a West Virginia native, fell short numerous times. So, why would Traylor be a good fit at Texas A&M?

He’s a program builder with ties to the University, as his son Jordan, currently an offensive assistant with New Orleans, played quarterback for the Aggies in the mid-2010s. At the same time, his aforementioned respect among the Texas coaching circuit would tremendously impact recruiting in the talent-rich state for years to come.

However, due to Fisher’s massive $77 million payout, handing the reigns to a G5 coach is a perception-based issue that could cause disagreements for Bjork and the Board of Regents, as ludicrous as that may sound.

Whether Jeff Traylor is a serious candidate, he has more than shown the ability to lead a Power 5 program shortly.

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‘It’s more than just football at the end of the day’ Layden Robinson provides insight on the Aggies’ mindset

Hear what senior Layden Robinson had to say about the mindset of the team and looking forward to playing ACU

Outside of some social media posts, there’s been a lot of intrigue on how the players took the news of Jimbo being let go over the weekend. So, for the first time, on Wednesday, we got to hear directly from the Aggie locker room.

Senior guard Layden Robinson sat down with the media to give us some insight into the team mindset and where he stands on a few issues. He made things clear. One – He is going to finish the season out and will be playing in the bowl game. Two – the grass may not always be greener on the other side even when things do get tough.

He also expressed his opinion on the next coach who gets the opportunity to coach here, which I’m sure everyone in Aggieland can agree with:

“Whoever gets this job, I just pray they have the best interest of the team because this place is definitely going to have the best interest for them. “
“Whoever gets the job is going to be very blessed.”
Below you can listen to the entire Q&A with Robinson.

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Brian Kelly speaks on the firings of Jimbo Fisher and Zach Arnett

Both of these teams will be looking to make a splash in the coaching carousel.

Who would have thought that just a short time after Texas A&M beat Mississippi State 51-10 in College Station both head coaches would be fired?

The SEC is a tough conference to be a head coach in. You are playing in the hardest conference in college football and you are expected to produce every year. There are expectations of 10 or more wins every year.

Only Nick Saban and Kirby Smart are doing that consistently. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] did it last year and Lane Kiffin may do it this year but it is not common. Kelly gave his thoughts on Jimbo Fisher and Zach Arnett being fired recently.

“Yeah, I mean it’s, you know, in our profession it’s unfortunately that time of year where decisions are made and they’re tough decisions,” Kelly said, per On3. “Those are good men and I know them both. They love coaching. Tough decisions are made at this time of the year for whatever the reasons are.

“Each university has to make what they consider to be the best decisions for the direction of their programs. But, you know, the human side of it is I’m a coach as well and they’re good people, they’re good fathers, good husbands and you hope that they, you know, obviously land on their feet.”

Both of these teams will be looking to make a splash in the coaching carousel.

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A look at one wild stat regarding Jimbo Fisher’s obscene buyout

Former FSU QB Jameis Winston has reportedly made less in his NFL career than Jimbo Fisher will net from his massive buyout from Texas A&M.

The Jimbo Fisher era at Texas A&M has ended, and for those who cover the program, overanalyzing just what the future may hold for the Maroon & White is just part of the job. However, the Aggies are in good hands for the remainder of the 2023 season under interim head coach Elijah Robinson, a long-time assistant with the program.

While the search for Texas A&M’s new head coach will continue to dominate most of the headlines, Fisher’s massive buyout, which is currently listed at exactly $76.8 million, will likely be paid out in increments over the next eight years or so, potentially reaching Bobby Bonilla type levels when it’s all said and done.

Even more shocking to the human eye, Jimbo Fisher’s buyout is reportedly nearly six million dollars more than what former Florida State and Heisman-winning quarterback Jamies Winston, who won a National Title under Jimbo Fisher at Florida State during the 2013 season, has made in his entire NFL career ($71.9 million)—incredible stuff.

Well, social media had its way with the reveal, as Fisher will likely be sitting on his couch while getting paid like a billionaire who just sold his company shares after the IPO. Enjoy!

Several coaches address Texas A&M opening

See what several prominent Power 5 coaches had to say when asked about Texas A&M’s current HC opening after Jimbo Fisher’s dismissal

On Sunday, Nov. 12, Texas A&M  fired head coach Jimbo Fisher after six seasons in College Station, finishing with a 45-25 record, including a notably underwhelming 27-21 SEC record. Breaking the news before anyone else, TexAgs’ Billy Liucci announced the decision on Sunday morning, just three days after the Board of Regents met last Thursday.

Taking on the interim role for the remainder of the 2023 season, associate head coach/defensive line coach Elijah Robinson, who has more than earned a shot at the position, should be considered during Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork’s search as the decision could be made in just over two weeks time.

So far this week, nearly every coach I recently listed as a potential candidate has responded to various members of the press regarding the job, including Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, Washington’s Kalen DeBoer, and Duke head coach Mike Elko, who are all likely near, or at the top of Bjork’s list.

Here is what some of those coaches had to say about the Texas A&M head coaching postion.

Dan Lanning said there is ‘zero chance’ he would leave Oregon amid Texas A&M coaching rumors

Lanning has more than 20 million reasons to stay in Eugene.

Texas A&M parted ways with former head coach Jimbo Fisher and one candidate mentioned as a possible replacement is Oregon’s Dan Lanning.

The second-year Oregon head coach, rumored as a target for the Aggies, addressed the speculation during a press conference on Monday.

Lanning has an impressive resumé under his belt even at this stage of his career. He already has won a national championship serving as defensive coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs and currently has the Ducks ranked No. 6 overall in the College Football Playoff rankings.

While he would not be the first coach to suggest they would stay with their team and then leave the program anyway, Lanning did provide a convincing quote when he spoke to reporters. Here is what he said when asked about the vacancy at Texas A&M:

“Everything I want exists right here. I’m not going anywhere. There’s zero chance that I would be coaching somewhere else. I’ve got unfinished business here. There’s a lot that I want to accomplish here at Oregon. My number one priority is being elite here at Oregon, and we have the resources, the tools.”

Lanning also mentioned that he is raising a family in Eugene, Ore. and that he has three children. Later in the evening, his wife posted a photo on Twitter with all three kids and “Sco Ducks” as a caption.

Beyond what he mentioned about his family, Lanning also discussed his contract with the University of Oregon.

“You know a lot of coaches hang on to these moments and they don’t do anything or don’t say anything, one because they don’t want egg on their face when they decide to do something else. Two, because they’re concerned about things that I’m not concerned about, like getting a better contract. I’m taken care of extremely well here at Oregon. I have the resources I need here at Oregon to be really really successful. I’m not motivated by that. I’m motivated by winning. I’m motivated by being elite here.”

This past offseason, Lanning agreed to a contract extension to extend his deal until 2028. His deal includes a base salary of $45 million over six years and it increases by $200,000 per season each year that he stays with the program.

Lanning would also have to pay a $20 million buyout if he were to leave the University of Oregon for a different gig.

Of course, the financial aspect may not scare away a program like Texas A&M. The university is paying a $76 million buyout to dismiss Fisher and that is before paying for a new head coach.

But as my colleague Mike Sykes wrote earlier today, why should Lanning leave? Here is more:

“It’s A&M, man. That’s a tough job. The Aggies don’t play. Jimbo Fischer just got fired with a $76 million payout. You’re essentially hired to be fired there. It’s tough.

Lanning has it good in Oregon.”

His situation is different than what we saw from former Oregon coach Mario Cristobal, who left the Ducks to go coach at his alma mater in Miami. This is a “dream job” for Lanning.

In fact, last season, Lanning said the “grass is not always greener” on the other side and that he wants to stay in Eugene as long as they will have him.

Meanwhile, after defeating USC on Saturday, the Ducks will face Arizona State in their next game.

They will then play Oregon State in a rivalry game for their final regular-season game before potentially earning a spot in the Pac-12 conference title in Las Vegas on Dec. 1.

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Dan Lanning, Mike Elko respond to Texas A&M job

“I’m not going anywhere. There’s zero chance I would be coaching somewhere else. I’ve got unfinished business here.”

A major coaching job suddenly opened on Sunday when Texas A&M decided to pay the major buyout and fired Jimbo Fisher. The running joke each week was the comparison of Fisher’s record compared to Kevin Sumlin’s. After coaching 70 games Sumlin had a record of 48-22 to Fisher’s 45-25.

So who could be on the list to replace Fisher? Some outlets have already named the current Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning and Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko on their top candidates list.

Tap the breaks, it didn’t seem like either man wanted to even think about the A&M job on Monday.

“We talk about outside noise a lot in our program,” Lanning said on Monday. “I guess the reality here is my name and our program would never be [at] the top of conversation for another school if we didn’t have something here everybody else wants. That’s because of our players, the coaches, and the support that exists here at Oregon. I think I’ve been really, really clear here since Day 1. Everything I want exists right here.

“I’m not going anywhere. There’s zero chance I would be coaching somewhere else. I’ve got unfinished business here.”

Oregon is currently 9-1 and within striking distance of the College Football Playoffs. The Ducks will face off with Arizona State on Saturday before wrapping up the regular season against Oregon State on Nov. 24.

Another name that has been linked to the Aggies job is former Texas A&M defensive coordinator and current Duke head coach Mike Elko. Would he trade in Durham, North Carolina, for Aggieland?

“It’s a profession where people just like to put stuff out there,” Elko said in response to A&M rumors. ”I’m very committed to this place. Everybody knows I’m very happy at this place. We’re doing a lot of really special things at this place. My family’s very happy here. We love Duke. We love everything this place is for. I say this all the time, when you’re doing the job well, everybody thinks you’re leaving. When you’re doing your job bad, everybody thinks you’re leaving. That’s the nature of college coaches.

“You try not to pay any attention to that stuff, but I’m obviously not oblivious to it. We’ll certainly address it because it needs to be addressed. I don’t know where that stuff comes from.”

After winning nine games a season ago, Elko has the Blue Devils bowl eligible for the second straight year. That hasn’t happened since the 2017 and 2018 seasons. With games against Virginia and Pittsburgh remaining on the schedule and a bowl game, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility to finish 9-4 once again.

We’ve heard these stories before where a head coach denies any thought of them leaving for another job and then turns around and takes that job. We shall take them at their word for now and if that is true, you can take two names off the list for Texas A&M.