Paul Finebaum identifies three-game stretch that will define Jimbo Fisher's future at Texas A&M
When Texas A&M hired Jimbo Fisher, the goal was to win championships. To this point in his tenure, that hasn’t happened and it’s led to questions about his future with the program.
One person who has questions about Fisher’s future is SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum. While speaking to Inside Texas, Finebaum shared the three-game stretch that could define Fisher’s future with Texas A&M.
“It’s amazing to think about how little progress that program has made down there,” Finebaum said. “And then, the Longhorns come in and essentially take away their advantage of being in the SEC. I think they’re at a tipping point. Impossible to predict week-to-week.”
In Week 2, Texas A&M lost to Miami in a game where the defense struggled to make stops. That loss was a frustrating one for people around the program and reminded a lot of people about the concerns that they had at the end of last season when the Aggies went just 5-7.
Finebaum does think that Texas A&M is better than they showed in that loss to Miami. However, he knows Fisher needs to prove that in SEC play. In particular, during a stretch of games against Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee.
“I don’t think they’re as bad as they look against Miami, but with Arkansas in two weeks and Alabama and Tennessee, that’s a three-game stretch that will easily define Jimbo Fisher’s future. People will say, ‘What about $70 million?’ Guys, come on, $70 million in Texas? That’s what you settle up after a round of golf.”
That stretch of games begins on September 30th. In the meantime, the Aggies need to deal with ULM and Auburn.
Jimbo Fisher believes Texas A&M should’ve played in 2020 College Football Playoff, can get over hump
Despite the team’s current struggles, Jimbo Fisher believes that Texas A&M should have already made the College Football Playoff during his tenure and that it can get over the hump in the future.
“I thought we did in 2020. I thought we had a tremendous year and I thought we should have been in the playoffs. But that is neither here nor there. We got over that year and had experience,” Fisher said.
“I think we had a couple of injuries and some youth at the same time to combine that. We just have to keep the faith and confidence to do that. We have to play on the road better. We have to keep our maturity. But I do think we have a good team and I do think we will. But saying and doing it are two different things. We’ve been close but we have to keep fighting. I think once you get there, you realize ‘I know how to do this.’ I do think we’re close. At the same time, I think you’re just as far or just as close as you want to be. I really mean that. It’s all based on your work ethic and attitude.”