Jimbo Fisher on how he responds to doubters: 'People doubt you, it makes it fun'

There are — understandably — questions surrounding Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M this year. The Aggies missed out on a bowl game last year despite a top-10 ranking and a highly rated recruiting class, raising the temperature on Fisher’s seat this year.

All offseason, he and the Aggies have faced questions about their ability to bounce back. But Fisher is blocking out that noise. After all, it comes with the territory.

“People always doubt you,” Fisher said Monday. “As an athlete, you’re doubted every day. Every team out there’s the same way. People doubt you, it makes it fun. That’s what competition’s about.”

Expectations were high for Texas A&M last year. The Aggies ranked No. 6 in the preseason AP Top 25 and had the No. 1-ranked 2022 recruiting class coming in, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking. That’s why the 5-7 record was such a disappointment. It also marked the first time Texas A&M missed a bowl game since a 4-8 season in 2008.

Jimbo Fisher: Coaching is a ‘what you do for me lately in everything you do’

Fisher’s name has appeared on multiple hot-seat lists this year despite the hefty buyout that could have a role in that decision. The Aggies were picked to finish third in the SEC West in the preseason media poll at media days, but Fisher is blocking out the outside noise.

He understands the nature of the business and how important winning is to job security, just as it is at nearly every other school in the country.

“I don’t worry what people think,” Fisher said. “I know what we can do and how we can have it and what we try to do it. Every coach — listen, you’re on a daily basis. It’s what you do for me lately in everything you do. Every coach in the country’s like that. If you slip up one time, it is what it is. That’s part of the business you like.”

Texas A&M came in at No. 23 in this year’s preseason AP Top 25 ahead of the biggest year of Fisher’s tenure. He made a major change, as well, by bringing in former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator. While it’s still unclear who exactly will call plays, the decision to hire Petrino has been seen as a bold one as Fisher tries to right the ship in College Station.

Texas A&M will lift the curtain on the 2023 season Sept. 2 against New Mexico.