Tag: Ross Bjork

‘I did not feel like we were meeting those standards in excellence and leadership.’ Ross Bjork speaks on the firing of Jimbo Fisher

Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork issues a statement on the move to fire Jimbo Fisher and takes a few questions on Sunday evening.

It was announced on Sunday morning that Texas A&M fired Jimbo Fisher, causing a major shakeup for the team. Many flocked to social media for updates and any news they could find on the topic.

Whether you agree with the move or not, things have stagnated on the field over the past few years, and Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork believed it was time to make a change to get the football program to the next level. Bjork made the points to discuss leadership and possibly the next coach being more in tune with the changes across the NCAA football landscape.

Fisher brought a lot of good things to the Aggie program and always put a tough team on the field on Saturdays. The players never quit and spoke very highly of the Jimbo as their coach.

With Fisher out the door, Bjork will start the coaching search while naming Assistant Head Coach Elijah Robinson as the interim head coach until after the bowl game.

Below is the entire press conference and a few highlighted quotes.

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Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork will address the firing of Jimbo Fisher in a Sunday afternoon Press Conference

Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork will address the firing of Jimbo Fisher during an evening Press Conference

Unless you’ve been under a rock you heard the news about Texas A&M making the move to fire Jimbo Fisher with three games left. Associate head coach Elijah Robinson will be the interim head coach for the new few games.

Earlier today Texas A&M sent out brief announcement confirming that Jimbo Fisher, has indeed, been let go and the University AD Ross Bjork’s statement on the matter. You can see the press release below from the Eagles Travis Brown.

During his tenure, Jimbo Fisher will exit the program with a 45-25 record, four bowl wins, and 1 top 5 finish during the tenure.

You will be able to watch the press conference at 5 p.m. CT on at the Texas A&M YouTube channel for what comes next for the Aggie football team.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Here’s the reality concerning Jimbo Fisher’s future at Texas A&M: It’s complicated

While fan apathy has set in regarding Jimbo Fisher’s future at Texas A&M, too many unknowns exist before the end of the 2023 season.

Texas A&M’s (5-3, 3-3 SEC) 2023 football season is a failure by every metric, and sixth-year head coach Jimbo Fisher (44-25, 26-21 SEC) has lost most of his support from the Aggie fan base, one of the most loyal alum bases in the county bar none.

Just one year after finishing 5-7 and 2-6 in the SEC, Texas A&M will likely finish 7-5, or even 6-6, while gaining bowl eligibility for the first time in two years. Still, Fisher’s recruiting acumen remains his only true strength for a program with every resource available to recruit and compete at the highest level year after year. At the same time, progressing as a coach has taken a back seat.

Coming off the Aggies’ devastating 38-35 road loss to Ole Miss last Saturday, many, including those of us in the media, agreed Fisher’s coaching “hot seat” would virtually go up in flames if a second straight loss to Lane Kiffins’ Rebels were to come to fruition. Still, due to the Aggies’ impressive effort-driven second half, embarrassment was avoided, yet fan apathy regarding Fisher’s future at the helm has reached its boiling point.

Avoiding cheap talking points such as comparing former A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin’s program record (yes, he possesses three more wins than Jimbo), it all comes down to his lengthy contract. At the same time, Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork remains the final judge and jury.

When looking at Fisher’s buyout cost after this season ($76,800,000) or, more realistically, after the 2024 campaign ($67,550,000), it doesn’t get much better, but let’s remember that the monetary attachment is only part of the issue, as Fisher’s relationships within the roster and coaching staff could create a negative future impact, as Aggies defensive tackle Albert Regis recently noted the trust the team still has in Jimbo heading into the final stretch of the season.

“A lot. I know a lot of it sounds fake, but we have a lot of faith in him… We trust him.”

Again, as frustrating as it may be to fans who feel the answer is simple, I’d encourage all of you to take every rumor, “report,” or bare speculation from any outside media member with a grain of salt. Honestly, even TexAgs Co-Owner and Executive Editor Billy Liucci, who’s as plugged into the ongoings surrounding Aggie Athletics as anyone you can find, has stated time and time again that this is simply a wait-and-see situation at best.

Texas A&M will return to Kyle Field to take on Mississippi State on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ESPN2.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork and Texas Senator Ted Cruz will have a sit down to discuss NIL legislation

Ross Bjork and Sen. Ted Cruz will hold a joint press conference before the Alabama game to discuss NIL legislation

The ever-evolving state of the NIL rules and regulations keeps athletic departments busy trying to keep up with the most recent changes. Not only do they have to deal with the NCAA Council, but they also have to deal with our elected officials with their own opinions that can lead to legislation.

To bridge that gap and to find some commonality, Aggie AD Ross Bjork and Sen. Ted Cruz will have an informal joint press conference before the Alabama game to discuss the topic of NIL legislation, per Travis Brown of The Eagle.

NIL usually brings varying opinions from across the spectrum, but for now, the genie is out of the bottle, and rules must be established to protect all parties involved. Especially the young student-athletes, some of whom might be making millions, a certain level of scrutiny to monitor any predatory contracts. The NCAA council recently passed measures regarding the NIL and other topics that you can check out here.

Ross Bjork is a massive proponent of athletes being able to benefit from their likeness, and there isn’t a much better person to have to fight for those benefits than Bjork. When more news comes, we will provide the latest information and quotes from the press conference. Until then, thanks and Gig’em.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Five takeaways from Chris Lows’ ESPN article detailing Jimbo Fisher’s future with Texas A&M

Here are five takeaways after reading Chris Low’s in depth ESPN article describing Jimbo Fisher’s future at Texas A&M, and more.

Throughout my time covering the Texas A&M Football program, and of course, Head Coach Jimbo Fisher’s widely discussed tenure, those outside of the Texas A&M media realm generally relied on the low-hanging fruit that was the free media fodder provided on the back of the Aggies’ dismal 5-7 (2-6 SEC) 2022 season.

Back in late December, Fisher, who (finally) saw the writing on the wall, took a big shot after hiring Bobby Petrino as the program’s new offensive coordinator, taking his first assistant job since 2002. Bringing some personal baggage, Petrino’s offensive acumen and extensive coaching resume completely outweighed any negative aspects of his hiring.

Throughout the summer, most of the outside skepticism was based on the potential animosity seen within the future Fisher/Petrino dynamic. Still, through a successful spring with notable changes to the offense, which continued into the fall, the Aggies opened the 2023 season with a bang, blowing out the vising New Mexico Lobos 52-10 behind starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s five touchdowns, three thrown to ascending sophomore wide receiver Noah Thomas.

On Wednesday, ESPN senior writer Chris Low released his highly anticipated article after spending time in College Station to interview Jimbo Fisher, Bobby Petrino, and Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork to finally bring some much-needed clarity regarding the general vibe around the football program, Fisher’s coaching future, and of course, predicting how the Petrino experiment will pan out during the rest of the 2023 season and beyond.

Here are my five takeaways from Low’s thought-provoking ESPN piece.

Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork dismisses the “Hot Seat” chatter and is ready for a bounce back season

Ross Bjork has Jimbo Fishers back among all the hot seat talk and so does Aggieland

It’s always nice to know you have someone in your corner who will tell you the hard truth in private but still support you in public. Ross Bjork obviously hears all the talk about the security of Jimbo Fisher’s job, but he takes it with a grain of salt as he sees the bigger picture.

Just like the 93,000 season ticket holders, Bjork is ready to put last year in the rearview mirror while waiting to see how the recent changes materialize on the gridiron. Bjork reiterated as much recently.

“The expectations are what they are. It’s the SEC,” Bjork said. “We all have those expectations, but what I look at is what we’re doing to build for the future. We’re recruiting at a level we’ve never recruited at before. Our fans are stepping up and continuing to invest in the program.

“I’m excited about what comes next and not worrying about one bad season.”

I’m with Ross on this one; it’s really going to take a season like 2022 or worse for me to call for Jimbo’s walking papers. All the pieces seem to be in place, and he’s given Jimbo all the support he needs to be successful, so it’s time to prove Bjork right.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

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‘We need to be consistent…We need to get back into the top ten’: Ross Bjork previews the future of Aggie athletics

Texas A&M Director of Athletics Ross Bjork hinted at some exciting developments in the future of Texas A&M Athletics, while also making it clear that consistency is the goal.

As the summer months slowly begin to dwindle, it means that it will soon be time to turn the page toward a full slate of exciting college sports that includes football, basketball, and the lead-up to baseball.

TexAgs recently held their 2023 Preseason Kickoff Event this weekend, which benefits the Kidz 1st Fund. The fund was established by Coach Jimbo Fisher & Candi Fisher after their son was diagnosed with Fanconi anemia. The Kidz1stFund raises awareness & funds for FA research.

Football Head coach Jimbo Fisher, basketball head coach Buzz Williams, and baseball Assistant Coach Nolan Cain took the stage to field questions about their teams’ respective offseasons and the expectations for each program heading into the fall. Before the event concluded, one more special guest was to join the stage: Texas A&M Director of Athletics Ross Bjork.

Bjork provided his insight on what should be an exciting year of Aggie athletics while also teasing some exciting developments in front of new sports facilities coming to College Station. Additionally, with the ever-evolving outlook of name, image, and likeness and the subsequent debate over legislation at the state level, Bjork indicated how Texas A&M plans to move forward in the immediate landscape.

Here is everything Ross Bjork had to say at the TexAgs 2023 Preseason Kickoff Event:

Texas A&M Athletics ushers in new chapter of NIL with latest initiative

Texas A&M continues to spearhead the evolution of name, image, and likeness (NIL), and they officially unveiled a new program to aid their student-athletes.

Texas A&M Athletics continues to spearhead the evolution of name, image, and likeness (NIL) across college athletics, and the next chapter has officially arrived.

Beginning July 1, Texas A&M is ushering in a new chapter with the rollout of AMPLIFY, a comprehensive NIL platform that provides a holistic experience for all Aggie student-athletes. The goal is straightforward: With some of the best athletes to grace the playing field, Texas A&M is leveraging every resource possible to help these young individuals build their brand for the future.

Per the AMPLIFY website, the objective of A&M’s in-house NIL platform is as follows:

“AMPLIFY is an innovative and comprehensive name, image, and likeness program designed to equip Aggie student-athletes with tools and training to maximize their brand and platform.

AMPLIFY serves Texas A&M student-athletes with best-in-class education and resources related to personal branding, networking, finance, and media training. We look to help our student-athletes in three key areas:

  • EDUCATE student-athletes on rules, best practices, and processes in place at A&M to help them make informed decisions.

  • EQUIP Student-athletes with the skills and resources that will help them AMPLIFY their brand.

  • EMPOWER Student-athletes to leverage their personal brand to create meaningful partnerships that foster mutual growth and positive impact in their communities.”

Upon a quick glance at the offered programs, a few of the pieces of training include “Building Your Personal Brand,” “Social Media Audit and Engagement Analysis,” and “Financial Literacy and Tax Education.”

Helping student-athletes become more self-sufficient and knowledgeable on the subject matter is a worthwhile endeavor, especially given the messy state of NIL legislation.

While the NCAA continues to bicker with NIL legislation at the state level, it’s key to remember that it ultimately impacts the financial future of student-athletes. At the end of the day, these young individuals have every right to maximize their hard work and achievements on the playing field, and soaking up valuable knowledge on the matter will only prove invaluable in the long term.

Kudos must be given to Texas A&M for spearheading this next chapter in their NIL efforts, and above all else, it will be great to see how the Aggie student-athletes maximize the opportunity in their own unique ways.

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The NCAA will reportedly penalize schools like Texas A&M who follow newly implemented NIL State rules

Unsurprisingly, the NCAA will reportedly penalize schools, such as Texas A&M, who abide by recently passed local NIL bills

Well, we all knew it was simply too good to be true earlier this month after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2804 , the bill made its way through the Texas House, which focused on state-based NIL reform that would go into effect on Saturday, July 1. On Tuesday, the NCAA informed all member schools that programs, like Texas A&M and Texas, will violate “association rules” if they abide by their State passed NIL reform, wielding their power once again. For Texas A&M, The 12th Man Foundation described as,

The 12th Man+ Fund was established to further the 12th Man Foundation’s mission while enhancing the student-athlete experience at Texas A&M through name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities.

12th Man+ is a new avenue of support through the 12th Man Foundation designed to compensate student-athletes for promoting the organization through charitable marketing services.

According to the foundation, Every donor will have the opportunity to donate funds to specific sports or to contribute to a general A&M fund which will be distributed to every sport while providing incentives between donors and players in a completely legal manner.

The Texas Longhorns, whose Longhorn Foundation provides essentially the same services, will also be directly affected by the ruling, as NCAA executive vice president of regulatory affairs Steve Wilcox released the following statement:

“The Association has been clear and maintains that schools must adhere to NCAA legislation (or policy) when it conflicts with permissive state laws,” Wilcox wrote in the letter. “In other words, if a state law permits certain institutional action and NCAA legislation prohibits the same action, institutions must follow NCAA legislation.”

In lamens terms, the NCAA believes that the current NIL state laws in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas are meaningless based on the current power structure that puts them in charge of every and any future change, leading to Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork to reveal the Aggies’ strategy moving forward:

“The state law is going to govern how we do business,” Bjork stated. “We will continue to communicate with the NCAA on a variety of matters, but in terms of this, the state law will reign.”

There it is. Expect more information regarding the ruling to be released as the 2023 CFB season draws closer, but as things stand from Texas A&M’s purview, this is just the start of what may be a continuous power struggle.

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Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork stands by Texas A&M-Texas rivalry renewal

Amid the SEC Spring Meetings, Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork sticks by the renewal of the Lone Star Showdown between Texas A&M and Texas.

On Wednesday, a new batch of SEC coaches and administrators took to the podium to continue their verbal barrage, mainly concerning the wild nature of the NIL landscape; Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork shifted the conversation to the potential renewal of the Lone Star Showdown between the Aggies and the Texas Longhorns, who last played on the gridiron during the 2011 season.

With Texas and Oklahoma slated to join the SEC in 2024, the issue of future scheduling, specifically the debate between an eight and nine-game SEC schedule, has both Bjork and Longhorns AD Chris Del Conte in agreement that for the rivalry to resume finally, a 9-game conference schedule is the preferred path.

As usual, most of these potential changes involve monetary issues, especially ESPN’s financial burden of paying for additional conference matchups, as the network is slated to become the new home for SEC play next season.

So, assuming that all is well and Texas A&M will play Texas as soon as they become full-fledged SEC members in 2024, Ross Bjork stated on Wednesday that the first game would take place in College Station to kick things off after a 13-year drought. What time of the year will the game take place? Bjork favors resuming the usual Thanksgiving weekend slot, currently occupied by LSU but knows that the importance remains unchanged no matter when the matchup occurs.

“Doesn’t matter if it’s the first game of the season or in middle, it’ll be a monumental game.”

Bjork also had some fun sniping back at Alabama head coach Nick Saban and others who called out the Aggies, Texas, and USC’s “pay for play” spending habits due to their notable collectives, which are entirely legal and abide by NCAA rules.

“They’re speculating. .. The last two years our athletes have received more than $10 million in NIL across all sports. Our fans are passionate.”

As these issues will all (hopefully) be sorted out in time, this week is just a reminder that the 2023 college football season is getting closer and closer, and for Texas A&M, the stakes could not be higher for head coach Jimbo Fisher, who Ross Bjork has all the faith in the world in going forward.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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