College GameDay hosts break down Texas A&M’s decision to fire Jimbo Fisher
There’s no shortage of voices shouting out opinions on Texas A&M’s decision to fire Jimbo Fisher. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Dave Wilson calmly delivered a decisive analysis of the whirlwind situation.
“People started to turn after [the loss to] Tennessee,” Wilson told Pete Thamel. “I’m talking the general fan base. There were still a lot of people on board. For for [athletic director] Ross [Bjork] to say yesterday that really the Ole Miss loss to him was — he came home and he was sitting outside with his family and just decided, ‘I need to call the president.’
“It just was like a slow a slow burn that finally just people have decided that this is Year 6. It’s not happening. It’s time to make a move. And they just did it, and regardless of winning by 41 points, on Saturday night, they went ahead and made the move.”
It wasn’t an easy decision. The Aggies will have to pay out a record $75 million buyout to Fisher after the 58-year-old head coach began the 2023 campaign with a 6-4 record. For reference, Gus Malzahn previously held the record buyout paid to a college coach at $21.45 million by Auburn.
Obviously, Texas A&M was willing to absorb the blow. In just under six years as head coach, Fisher coached the Aggies to a 45-25 record, including being 27-21 in SEC play over that time. Fans in College Station demand more.
Texas A&M bites off more than it can chew
However, Wilson pointed out this isn’t the first time Texas A&M’s ambitious mindset has come back to bite the program.
“They’ve made these record contracts,” Wilson said. “Bear Bryant had a record contract. Jackie Sherrill had a record contract. Jimbo Fisher had a record contract. They’ve tried everything. They’ve tried the hot up-and-comer with Kevin Sumlin. They’ve tried Mike Sherman coming back from the NFL.
“They went for the big splash with Jimbo and you can’t really begrudge them at the time for taking the swing… This is something that they’ve done forever. In this case, maybe it’s time to reevaluate. Do we keep swinging for names? Do we try to find the right fit? I think that’s the been the mood is like what are we doing that’s not working?”
With Fisher out, Texas A&M associate head coach Elijah Robinson is expected to serve as the interim head coach for the Aggies, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Texas A&M and Robinson have two regular season games remaining, plus a bowl game this winter.