Aggies look to continue run of November success under Jimbo Fisher
The message Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher gave his football team was to remember the calendar has moved to November.
Everyone else in college football does.
“They remember November. November is always important,” Fisher said at his weekly press conference on Monday. “You put yourself in position to be relevant going into the month of November in the first two months.
“We have a chance to do that. We’ve got to be relevant each week and each day.”
The Aggies (6-2, 3-2) are certainly relevant. They’re ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press national poll. They’re still alive in the Southeastern Conference West Division race. They still have hopes to reach a prestigious New Year’s Six bowl game and possibly more.
All that requires a strong November run against Auburn, Ole Miss, Prairie View A&M and LSU.
Fisher’s teams have a history of doing well in November. Since Fisher arrived in College Station in 2018, the Aggies are 8-3 in regular-season games played in November and beyond.
The fact A&M still has so much at stake is something of a surprise. The Aggies appeared destined for a moribund season after consecutive losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State.
However, an upset of then No.1-ranked Alabama followed by blowout victories over Missouri and South Carolina have the Aggies surging into the last month of the season.
“After Mississippi State, I was even doubting myself,” star junior tight end Jalen Wydermyer said. “I doubted my catching ability. I doubted a lot of things about me.
“After those two losses, that’s when our confidence went down, but I feel like we’ve regained that. We know we still can do some amazing things. We see how good of a team we can be. We haven’t reached our full potential, and we know that. We’re working on that every week to get better.”
The Aggies know they must be better as they begin this final stretch against No. 12 Auburn (6-2, 3-1). The Tigers have won the previous four games against A&M at Kyle Field and defeated Ole Miss last week, 31-20.
Fisher acknowledged Auburn as a strong team. He also offered a reminder that the Aggies are, too. He said the Aggies, who are coming off an open week, have steadily gained confidence.
“Our guys went out to work (in the open week). It wasn’t an off week. It was a preparation week to get better in fundamentals,” Fisher said. “I love their attitude and demeanor. I think they have confidence in themselves about how they’re playing right now. They understand how to practice and how to prepare to play well.
“You’re seeing that more and more in practice. Hearing guys saying that to each other all the time. Practice is getting better and better each week.”
Wydermyer agreed the Aggies’ confidence has risen substantially over the last three games.
“Our confidence is up there,” Wydermyer said. “We know what we can do, and we know what we can accomplish on the offensive side of the ball and the defensive side of the ball. We’re still trying to stay persistent with our work ethic and not get too big-headed.”
All-SEC running back Isaiah Spiller, who rushed for 120 yards in a 31-20 victory at Auburn last season, echoed those thoughts.
“I feel like we have a lot of faith and belief in ourselves,” Spiller said.” I feel like it’s going to be a great game. Auburn is coming off a big win. I can’t wait to get out there.”
NOTE: Fisher said defensive end Tyree Johnson is recovered from an injury to his right leg and will be in practice this week. Johnson suffered the injury in the Aggies victory over South Carolina on Oct. 23. Johnson leads A&M with six quarterback sacks. He has had five in the past three games.
