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Texas A&M Football

Fisher, Aggies view Orange Bowl as an opportunity, not a let down

December 20, 2020
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A winter trip to Miami typically would not be a source of disappointment, but this has been an atypical football season.

A day after Texas A&M closed out an 8-1 Southeastern Conference campaign with a 34-13 victory over Tennessee, the Aggies were hoping to be selected for the four-team College Football Playoff field.

But for whatever reason, A&M remained fifth in the CFP rankings on Sunday morning. As a consolation prize, the Aggies will play North Carolina (8-3) in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2.

“We've had a great opportunity. We've had a great year. We've done great things, and we put ourselves in a position to be in (the playoff), but we weren’t. So, now it's time to move on.”
- A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher

The news resulted in a series of social media protests from Texas A&M players, coaches and support staff.

Yet, A&M coach Jimbo Fisher insisted there was no frustration within his program. Instead, he suggested the Aggies would react as if they were overcoming a turnover or controversial call.

“It's like having a bad play,” Fisher said on an Orange Bowl press conference. “You get disappointed for a minute, and then you play the next play. You move on. That's life. We've had a great opportunity. We've had a great year. We've done great things, and we put ourselves in a position to be in (the playoff), but we weren’t. So, now it's time to move on.”

That might be easier said than done.

Since the inception of the four-team playoff in 2014, teams that finished No. 5 in the CFP standings are just 2-4 in their New Year’s Six bowl games.

Some fifth-ranked teams might use a perceived slight as motivation to prove to the CFP committee wrong. Others seem disinterested and appear to go through the motions on game day.

No. 5 Ohio State defeated No. 8 USC, 24-7, in the 2017 Cotton Bowl. No. 5 Georgia defeated No. 7 Baylor, 26-17, in the Sugar Bowl last year.

But No. 5 Georgia lost to No. 15 Texas, 28-21 in the 2018 Sugar Bowl. That was the game in which Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger erroneously proclaimed the Longhorns were “back.”

Other fifth-ranked teams to falter in bowl games include Penn State, which lost to No. 9 USC, 52-49, in the 2016 Rose Bowl. Iowa lost to No. 6 Stanford in the 2015 Rose Bowl, 46-16. Baylor lost to No. 8 Michigan State in the 2014 Cotton Bowl, 42-41.

Craig Bisacre/Texas A&M Athletics
Texas A&M finished their regular season on a seven-game winning streak after defeated Tennessee on Saturday,

Fisher said he doesn’t want the Aggies to go to Miami as an angry football team.

“You can create a chip on your shoulder, but if those are the real reasons you have to motivate yourself to play, your program is not where it needs to be,” Fisher said. “I think it's the next game. It's the next play. It's the next situation. Whatever it may be, you handle it and move on because that's what you do as a human being, and you move on in life.

“I hope we're just ready to play a very good North Carolina football team, who’s a very well-coached team that I have a lot of respect for and that we do our job and play our best game.”

The Aggies’ “best” game resulted in A&M defeating then-No. 4 Florida, 41-38, on Oct. 10. That kicked off a seven-game winning streak that propelled A&M into the top five.

In just their third season under Fisher, the Aggies have a chance to finish ranked among the nation’s top five for the first time since 2012.

North Carolina coach Mack Brown, who turned a moribund Texas program into a national champion 15 years ago, is impressed that Fisher has accomplished so much so quickly at A&M.

“I think that Jimbo has gotten (A&M’s program) to this point much quicker than I thought he would,” Brown said. “To be in that (West) division in the SEC and to be able to compete like he has and put his team in a position that arguably should be in the Final Four today — I think it's amazing what he's been able to accomplish in such a short time.”

James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Mack Brown is in the second season of his second stint at North Carolina. He posted a 10-4 record vs. A&M while at Texas.

Brown and Fisher both advocated for expanding the playoff to eight teams. The omission of A&M might provide fuel to expedite an inevitable expansion.

However, Fisher said an Orange Bowl appearance could boost the Aggies in other more immediate ways.

“I think it shows the trajectory we're on and what we're trying to accomplish. That we are being relevant in the national conversations and where we're going,” Fisher said. “Our brand is becoming a national brand. We've got a great state here in Texas that we want to recruit the heck out of, but we also got to brand ourselves nationally across the board.

“I think (playing in the Orange Bowl) sends a sign to players out there that, ‘Hey, A&M is on the rise.’ We're doing the things we need to do to have success, and this is a tremendous program, and hopefully, they'll want to come be a part of it.”

Discussion from...

Fisher, Aggies view Orange Bowl as an opportunity, not a let down

25,030 Views | 20 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by NOT-QCoryatt
BreNayPop
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AG
It's a let down. Say the right things and hope we show up. Nobody goes from top 4 to playing number 13 as a backup option.
TAMU74
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AG
I agree with Coach Fisher you have to move on.
We had a great year and I'm excited about playing in the Orange bowl for the first time in forever.
cavjock88
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AG
Despite the let down of not being in the CFC Playoff, it is a great opportunity to showcase the program. Need to get up for the game and make a statement. BTW it is "the opportunity to" and not "to opportunity to."
AggieDub14
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AG
BreNayPop said:

It's a let down. Say the right things and hope we show up. Nobody goes from top 4 to playing number 13 as a backup option.


We were never top 4
Mr. Ectomy
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AG
A strong win and we can still end up the Top 3, which would be great for recruiting.
CapCityAg89
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AG
AggieDub14 said:

BreNayPop said:

It's a let down. Say the right things and hope we show up. Nobody goes from top 4 to playing number 13 as a backup option.


We were never top 4

Bull *****
wheelz
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AG
We've come a long way pretty fast if the Orange bowl is a letdown.
StrykerAg
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Quote:

"I think it shows the trajectory we're on and what we're trying to accomplish. That we are being relevant in the national conversations and where we're going," Fisher said. "Our brand is becoming a national brand. We've got a great state here in Texas that we want to recruit the heck out of, but we also got to brand ourselves nationally across the board."


Say it louder, Jimbo, for those in the back that wanted to play OU in the Cotton Bowl AGAIN
greg.w.h
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AG
Great response. We still got robbed. Have to keep it it in perspective. But don't have to diminish the theft.
Dr RC
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CapCityAg89 said:

AggieDub14 said:

BreNayPop said:

It's a let down. Say the right things and hope we show up. Nobody goes from top 4 to playing number 13 as a backup option.


We were never top 4

Bull *****
Remind us all of the time we were ranked 4th this year.
agINbj2000
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We got robbed, no question!

However we have not been a top program in a consistent basis in the past... if we start to establish ourselves year in and year out, starting with this season and a win in the Orange bowl, we will be in a much better in such situations!

Way to go Jimbo and Aggie Football...we need the bowl win
CapCityAg89
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AG
Dr RC said:

CapCityAg89 said:

AggieDub14 said:

BreNayPop said:

It's a let down. Say the right things and hope we show up. Nobody goes from top 4 to playing number 13 as a backup option.


We were never top 4

Bull *****
Remind us all of the time we were ranked 4th this year.

Apologies. The post read to me like "we were never of the quality to be top for because we suck and have been over-ranked". Those are kinda typical of this boards. I didn't realize it was making a statement of fact which, as you point out, was true.
Iraq2xVeteran
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AG
There is no question that we got robbed, but Jimbo Fisher gave an excellent response. We should be excited about our first BCS/NY6 bowl since a Sugar Bowl appearance in 1998. We played in the Cotton Bowl in 2012 and the Peach Bowl in 2013, but these bowls were not considered BCS bowls at the time they were played. A win over No. 13 North Carolina in the Orange Bowl would help us to take recruiting to the next level. BTHO North Carolina!
SECTAMU#1
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We're disappointed A&M is not in the CFP, especially if they would have been playing the first round in Arlington.

My wife and I are flying to Miami for the Orange Bowl to support the team. We love the way they are playing!
Foamcows
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AG
Im looking forward to the offseason where we manufacture all kinds of issues to complain about
3rd and 2
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I'm pretty sure we could curb stomp Notre Dame, but whatever, orange bowl is a good bowl game.
.
GoAgs92
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In the immortal words of RC Slocum...bullcrap!
sleepybeagle
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Quote:

But No. 5 Georgia lost to No. 15 Texas, 28-21 in the 2018 Sugar Bowl. That was the game in which Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger erroneously proclaimed the Longhorns were "back."
Sorry... I couldn't help but smile at this...
Aggieland12thMan
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Does being angry over the CFP Committee's injustice improve our play-off picture? Nope! What serves Aggieland's best interest? Come on, you know the right answer! That's right, ignore the rearview mirror and focus on the road ahead! Focus, regroup, and meet the next challenge!
BTHO North Carolina!!!
NOT-QCoryatt
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AG
These discussions are interesting & intriguing... that's why college football fans are passionate. For those that feel slighted & want to blow up the system, I offer the NFL playoffs. A team from the NFC East will make the playoffs & displace a team with a better record. It's equal but unfair.

There is no perfect system. I feel they need to go back to two teams. These kids risk their pro careers to play in these games & we use their efforts to talk smack on bulletin boards with most of us never have suited up for any college team.

It's foolish & quite frankly selfish. Perhaps it'd be better to stop putting our self esteem on the backs of these kids & treat this for what it is... a passionate hobby
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