Jimbo Fisher plans to use Florida close call vs. Samford as example

Last week, Florida was on upset watch against an FCS school. Texas A&M is getting ready to take on an FCS opponent this week — and Jimbo Fisher isn’t forgetting what happened to the fellow SEC school last week.

Texas A&M has a matchup with Prairie View A&M this week for its final home game. Fisher saw what happened to Florida on Saturday and is making sure his players know it can happen to them, too.

“It’s an example I’m using today,” Fisher told reporters Monday. “This team’s [7-3] and playing a very good Prairie View [team]. I’m telling them, ‘Prairie View’s a very good team.’ Their coaches … have been together on two national championships at Arkansas Pine Bluff and Southern. They [won] one at Southern when I was at LSU … these guys know how to win.

“They built a great program. You watch how they’re coached, they’re coached very well, they play very well, they’re 7-2. I know they lost last week, but they do a really good job and you’ve got to play every week. Remember [Appalachian] State and Michigan? You remember them all. You’ve got to play all the time anywhere.”

Florida trailed Samford 42-35 at halftime before pulling out the 70-52 victory last week. Texas A&M will try to avoid that type of scare this Saturday when it welcomes Prairie View for a noon ET kickoff.

Jimbo Fisher on what problems Prairie View can present

The Panthers are 7-2 overall and 6-1 in SWAC play, putting them in first place in the SWAC West. Fisher talked about what they could do to cause problems for his group this week based on what he saw on film.

“Defensively, they’re an extremely high-blitzing team,” Fisher said. “Very schematically together and how they do things, cause twist games up front. Offensively, three and four wides throwing the football. Transfer quarterback [Jawon] Pass, who is from Columbus, Georgia, I remember him out of high school. Very talented guy. Receivers that can run, can fly, can hit things back.

“[They’re] just very, very talented, have very good skill guys and throwing the football. and they can do it very good in the special teams. they’re a very good team on both sides of the ball.”

Texas A&M is bowl eligible and has two regular season games left on the schedule, starting with Prairie View this week. The Aggies will close out the 2021 season next week against LSU in Baton Rouge.