Jimbo Fisher’s job is under quite a bit of scrutiny right now.
Since a pandemic-altered 2020 season that ended with a 9-1 record and victory in the Orange Bowl, Fisher is just 13-11 as the head coach of Texas A&M and is coming off a 5-7 season after beginning the year in the top 10.
When you’re under scrutiny — the kind that naturally comes with achieving only middling results despite signing a fully guaranteed 10-year, $95 million contract less than two years ago — it may be wise to watch what you say.
Fisher learned that the hard way when a playful-enough interaction between himself and members of the Texas A&M media scrum after the Aggies’ spring game took on a life of its own on Monday.
“If it’s the last question, it’s got to be a good question,” Fisher said on Saturday. “Give me a gimme question… I don’t need no Houston Chronicle questions. I need a TexAgs question, a good question. Sports Illustrated is just as bad. Sports Illustrated? That ain’t a good one either, now. That ain’t a good one either.
“(It) used to be the gold standard. Dadgum. Y’all give me flak and I can’t give you flak? Y’all can’t take it. That got personal.”
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) April 17, 2023
It’s pretty clear from the above clip (and his multiple, obvious winks) that Fisher was joking around, but the joke didn’t exactly land on the internet. College football fans latched onto a line that, admittedly, doesn’t look great out of context, especially amid Fisher’s struggles in College Station.
Hi coach. Alex Kirshner here, reporter with TexAgs. Just wanted to ask you: How do you it? How do you smile through it all? Can you believe this is your life? I'll hang up and listen. Thanks for everything https://t.co/2kyLlKnnEr
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) April 17, 2023
jimbo let's fight https://t.co/oB1MVkivRt
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) April 17, 2023
Late Stage Jimboism
— Nole Consultant (@noleconsultant) April 17, 2023
Fisher is a man under a lot of pressure — at least, as much pressure as is possible when he’s owed every last cent remaining on his contract if fired, meaning the school still has approximately 77 million reasons to retain him.
When you’re in that position, every word that comes out of your mouth will be weaponized if possible. In this case, not saying anything may have been for the best.
