Jimbo Fisher delivers message to Texas A&M fans, boosters after loss vs. Tennessee

Jimbo Fisher cares about his program’s fans and boosters. But, he cares about his players more. After Texas A&M’s 20-13 loss to Tennessee on Saturday, Fisher addressed his team’s recent shortcomings.

“We have to coach them better. [We)]have to become fundamentally better and be able to execute in critical moments,” Fisher said. “They ain’t hurting no more than our kids are – those players in the locker room. Don’t put [fans and boosters] above the players. I love our fans and I love our people who give money, but those kids are what’s important. That’s why they are giving.”

Texas A&M boasts one of the most supportive fan bases in the nation. Steeped with tradition, Kyle Field is known for its rowdy crowd. Those fans support their favorite team financially. Since the inception of NIL, Texas A&M has benefitted from its fanbase.

The 12th Man’s most significant contributions came in the form of “The Fund,” which is now publicly known as Texas Aggies United. The organization launched in September as the exclusive and official NIL partner of Texas A&M.

It is a cash cow, reportedly raking in millions of dollars. Nonetheless, the Aggies’ season has been far from golden. The team is 4-3 and on a two-game losing streak, most recently falling 20-13 to Tennessee.

Texas A&M faces big decisions

Further, Fisher won’t be easy to remove. Texas A&M struck a 10-year, fully guaranteed contract extension worth $94.95 million on Sept. 1, 2021 with Fisher. It would cost the university $77 million to buy out Fisher’s remaining time in College Station.

The complex situation has created a tense dynamic between Fisher and boosters. Amid any animosity, Fisher was blunt in his postgame press conference on Saturday.

“Those kids are hurting in there too,” Fisher said. “We have to find a way to help them, coach them better, get them to play better and play in critical moments better. And that’s what we’re going to do.”

The Texas A&M faithful are all too familiar with such promises. They heard plenty of them last season when the Aggies finished with a 5-7 record and 2-6 mark in conference play. Texas A&M fans are tired of words, they want action.

On Sunday, Paul Finebaum provided reading on the passionate fan base’s pulse.

“I ran into Aggies fans in Knoxville and every time they would say, ‘Hey, why are you so tough on our program?’” Finebaum recalled. “I would say, ‘What do you think about Jimbo?’ And they go, ‘Well, I don’t know. He’s not — maybe it’s time.’ I’m talking about just random fans.”

Fisher has five more regular-season games to turn the Aggies’ season around. After a bye week, Texas A&M will square off against South Carolina on Oct. 28.