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Photo by Jamie Maury, TexAgs
Texas A&M Football

Deceptive 'drama' surrounding Texas A&M likely to change with a win

October 26, 2022
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College Station is, for the most part, a quiet community.

It’s a great place to raise a family. Crime is low. Traffic isn’t too bad, at least compared to larger cities. Housing is reasonable, though an influx of people from Houston looking to escape the other two previously mentioned issues may change that.

Even then, College Station is rather drama free.

Except for that huge university around which the city is built. To be more specific, the football program is where there’s more drama than in a soap opera marathon.

By now, it’s old news Texas A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher has suspended three freshmen for a violation of team rules. This after suspending four players a month ago for another violation of team rules.

Add to that a three-game losing streak and rumors about players entering the transfer portal, and Fisher’s football program looks to be in disarray.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs
Fisher’s critics are quick to compare his tenure to that of Kevin Sumlin’s at A&M.

Looks can be deceiving, however.

Unfortunately, drama within the Texas A&M football program is not limited to Fisher’s five-year tenure.

Drama was a constant under the previous regime. It started with Johnny Manziel but certainly didn’t end with his departure. Do the names Isaiah Golden and Darian Clayborne mean anything? How about Kirk Merritt? And where else have two five-star quarterbacks — one a future Heisman Trophy recipient — transferred within a week of each other?

Those stories were rightfully covered, but they didn’t seem to generate the same national scorn. The reaction to the transfers of quarterback Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray seemed to be more of curiosity than condemnation.

Maybe that’s because once Manziel left, A&M’s national profile faded.

The arrival of Fisher again raised A&M’s profile. The national media, apparently offended by A&M’s audacity to aspire to elevate to elite status, has seemingly celebrated every Aggie setback ever since.

Even when Alabama coach Nick Saban made unfounded accusations that A&M “bought its entire recruiting class,” the national media had more disdain for Fisher’s rebuttal.

Nationally, A&M is seen as a sinking ship.

The Aggies are struggling at 3-4. SEC Network host Paul Finebaum calls Fisher a “bad” hire. There are reports that player after player from A&M’s No. 1 rated 2022 recruiting class will be headed to the transfer portal.

And that’s probably true. That happens everywhere. In the last two years, Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, LSU and many other programs have lost key players to the transfer portal.

“We have to coach better and do a better job putting our guys in a position and getting them to understand from education to techniques to doing the things we do. We’re not happy with where we’re at in any shape or form.”
- A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher

“I don’t care if you win 11 games or if you win zero games, that’s the nature of the beast right now in today’s football,” Fisher said. “That’s the inclination of anything. If a guy didn’t play enough.

“You see guys right now transfer that have had great success at places. Had great teams. That’s going to be the new normal for everything.”

He’s right, you know.

For example, Pitt receiver Jordan Addison transferred to USC last year after he won the Biletnikoff Award and the Panthers won the ACC championship.

Fisher will have to re-recruit players already on the A&M roster. Frankly, it might not be as difficult as some will think.

In the last couple of days, tight end Donovan Green, receiver Evan Stewart, defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and offensive lineman Kam Dewberry made social media posts that appear to suggest they’re still committed to A&M.

Of course, there will be more commitment if the Aggies beat Ole Miss on Saturday and go on to a strong finish to this season.

That will require better play and better coaching.

“We have to coach better and do a better job putting our guys in a position and getting them to understand from education to techniques to doing the things we do,” Fisher said. “We’re not happy with where we’re at in any shape or form.”

No one is happy. But a victory can bring dramatic change.

And no program has flair for the dramatic like A&M.

Discussion from...

Deceptive 'drama' surrounding Texas A&M likely to change with a win

20,340 Views | 4 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by texan80
Cotton79
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AG
This deserves a Gig'em, Aggies! Yeah, there's been some disappointment. But as Aggies, you gotta support your team... let 'em know that the 12th Man doesn't run when the going gets tough.

    Gig'em, Aggies!Beat the HELL Outta Ol Miss!!
TopoTacos
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AG
So accurate, OB, winning is the best panacea in sports and we've got an opportunity to do so this Saturday.

We know this team feeds off the 12th man's energy, and a home game under the lights against a top-15 squad would be a great turning point. I'm not sure what we can expect, but hopefully our coaching staff realizes that playcalling needs to reflect that we're so depleted at OL, rollouts and quick hits will need to be in heavy rotation.
fieldtrailer
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AG
Since that didn't happen, what now?
texan80
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AG
NOPE! Just another embarrassing loss at Kyle Field. LOSER BALL!
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