Texas A&M leaving Friday for regular-season finale with No. 14 LSU

Since 2021, Texas A&M has lost nine consecutive true road football games.

Something needs to change. Something will.

Interim head coach Elijah Robinson on Monday said the Aggies will abandon their practice of traveling two days prior to a game.

Recently dismissed coach Jimbo Fisher was adamant about traveling on Thursday for Saturday road games.

Robinson announced the Aggies will travel to Baton Rouge on Friday for their regular-season finale against LSU on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.

However, Robinson seemingly went to great lengths to make it clear the decision was not meant as a slight at Fisher.

Rather, he said the move was because Thanksgiving makes for a shortened school week.

“Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the last day of school (for this week), Robinson explained. “Normally, we leave on Thursday to give your guys a chance to get academics done because we travel with our academics (instructors).

“Due to this week getting done with school on Tuesday and us practicing on Wednesday that allows our guys to catch up on work on Wednesday.

“So, I don’t think there’s a need for us to travel on Thursday this week. That allows our guys to spend time with their families on Thanksgiving. Allows coaches to spend time with their families on Thanksgiving.

“Then we’ll have a walk-through on Friday and we’ll head out on Friday. That’s strictly due to us not having to worry about academic issues.”

Senior receiver Ainias Smith said, depending on the length of trips and the time zones of opposing teams, that sometimes the Aggies did not arrive until as late as 1 a.m. on Friday morning.

He estimated they did not get into their hotel rooms until about 2 a.m. on their trip to Tennessee on Oct. 14. That game kicked off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday..

Though Smith appeared hesitant to criticize traveling on Thursday, he did acknowledge he’d prefer leaving on Friday.

“Leaving on Thursday does have its advantages,” Smith said. “You get there and you’re only focusing on being there with the meeting times and what not.

“But, personally, I’d probably just leave on Friday. Have everybody go to school, come back for meetings and then let’s hit it and get ready.”

Cheers and Chills

Aside from defeating Abilene Christian 38-10 on Saturday, Robinson seemed most proud of the all-walk-on 12th Man kickoff team.

Robinson sent all walk-ons to cover the last two kickoffs of the game. It was meant as a reward for the walk-ons for working so hard in practice this season.

“That’s what it’s all about,” Robinson said. “How awesome was that? To hear the crowd. See the guys on the sidelines. Those guys will remember that for the rest of their lives. I’m sure their family will. I’m sure the crowd will.

“Talk about what it means to be an Aggie … that showed it right there. Those guys had the time of their lives. I loved to see how hard they played, how fast they ran. To watch them celebrate. That was special.”

Smith Won’t Look Into the Future

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Ainias Smith has caught one reception in 38 consecutive games, just shy of Christian Kirk’s program record of 39.

Though a senior, Ainias Smith still has a year of eligibility remaining if he opts to take it.

He said he won’t decide whether to return for another season or enter the NFL draft until sometime after the game against LSU.

“I haven’t made that decision yet. I’m going to make that decision when it’s time to make that decision,” he said.

Smith basically repeated that when asked if he would play in the Aggies’ bowl game.

“I have thought about it,” he said. “I’m still thinking about it. I feel like in that situation it’s hard to judge. I’m so team-oriented and I definitely want to go out and play in a bowl game.

“The last time I played in a bowl game was 2020 in the Orange Bowl. That was so lit.

“I definitely would love to play in another bowl game. I’ll make that decision when it’s time to make that decision.”

NOTES:

• Robinson said the status of quarterback Max Johnson and cornerback Josh DeBerry is “day-to-day.”
• Texas A&M forward Henry Coleman III on Monday was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week. Coleman posted double-doubles in victories over SMU and Oral Roberts. He had 13 points and 15 rebounds against SMU and 19 points and 10 rebounds against ORU.