It took a few asks to get there, but coach Fisher eventually got around to sharing his thoughts when asked about the three permanent rivals he’d personally like to see as new SEC scheduling models have been a hot topic as of late.
You want Texas. When Texas comes into the league, when that schedule comes in, definitely because of that rivalry. I think LSU is a great rivalry. But that’s probably our two biggest. Then Arkansas goes into that, too. But I don’t know if that was one of our three that they equated to us in what we did. I mean, you’re going to play great teams all across the board. You have to get those rivalries…I think the Texas rivalry is important. I think the LSU rivalry is important.
While Jimbo focused heavily on a “top-two” – two rivalries that shouldn’t surprise many – overall, Fisher didn’t hesitate to show support for this particular model and the importance of maintaining tradition and rivalries in college football:
…it gives you more consistency, helps keep some traditional rivalries. I think that’s the one thing we’re trying to do in college football. To me it makes college football special, the rivalries of college football, trying to keep as many traditions as you can with the expanding world. Things are inevitable, they’re always going to change. If you can keep as much as you can, I think it’s great. I think that model will be there.
No matter what direction the SEC goes in future college football seasons, I think it’s safe to say there will be some familiar faces permanently etched on Texas A&M’s schedule.