On3 Roundtable: Evaluating how Jimbo Fisher handled Bobby Petrino question at SEC Media Days

Jimbo Fisher made headlines at SEC Media Days. Yet, perhaps the coverage wasn’t the kind the Texas A&M head coach was hoping for.

The Aggies added offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino this offseason. Naturally, reporters asked Fisher about Petrino’s role in the upcoming season. In classic Fisher fashion, the 57-year-old coach was oddly vague about the situation.

“I’m not going to get into that. Bobby was hired for a reason. Tremendous guy. Tremendous football mind. Hopefully, he’ll call the game & have suggestions,” Fisher said at SEC Media Days on Monday.

Understandably, the comment led to a whirlwind of media attention. On3’s own Andy Staples gave his perspective on Fisher’s incident.

“It was amazing to me because it was an easy [win]. All you have to say is, ‘He’s going to be a great play caller. We’re excited to have him here. Because there’s nothing we’ll see between now and then that will change that. And then the games will start, and we’ll decide, based on the offense, how we feel about that,” Staples said.

Despite Staples’ confusion regarding Fisher’s response, TexAggs.com’s Billy Luicci believes fans shouldn’t grow concerned yet.

“What I’ve come back to finally it’s just this: you’re Andy Staples. I’ve known you for a long time. You’re gonna be Andy Staples. I’m Billy Luicci. I’m gonna be Billy Luicci. People can go around and say, ‘Well, Andy, I wish Andy did this more. I wish Luicci wasn’t like this. At some point, I do think we all need to just go, ‘That’s Jim,'” Luicci said.

According to Luicci, “Jim” is excited about this year’s team despite any unusual comments at a press conference.

“The whole program is so excited about the guys there,” Luicci said. “I’ve talked to other insiders. It’s like it’s different. Yeah, the weight room is different. The voluntary workout attendance is different. They’re showing up, O-line, D-line, 6 in the morning. Everything feels different. But I do think if you listen to [Jimbo], you walk away going, ‘OK, he likes his team.'”

No matter how Fisher feels about his squad, he’ll need Petrino this season. Last year, Texas A&M scored just 22.8 points per game, ranking 101st in the nation. Consequently, A&M lost five games by six points or fewer en route to a disappointing 5-7 finish, leading to the Aggies’ first losing season since 2009.

The Aggies won’t accept such another disappointing season. Fisher and Petrino will kick off Texas A&M’s season against New Mexico on Sept. 2.