Fisher staying
Texas A&M Coach Jimbo Fisher said at his Monday news conference that he’s not interested in the LSU job — again.
Fisher’s comments about being committed to Texas A&M came exactly four weeks after he said he wasn’t interested in leaving for LSU after it was announced Ed Orgeron is going to be out as the Tigers’ coach effective the end of the season.
“I want to be at A&M,” Fisher said Monday. “And I ain’t going nowhere. I love being right here.”
Despite what Fisher continues to say, rumors persist that he’s the top candidate to replace Orgeron because LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward previously held the same position at Texas A&M and hired Fisher from Florida State.
Woodward negotiated a contract with Fisher that doesn’t have a buyout clause, meaning he can leave for another coaching job with no financial penalty.
Thus Fisher felt compelled to reiterate that he will remain at Texas A&M.
“I’ve told everybody I’m staying here,” said Fisher, who is 33-13 with the Aggies. “And I told everybody I plan on being the coach at A&M. Everybody thinks all coaches lie, I know and [the media] don’t believe us. All right? That’s why we don’t trust y’all. OK? So we’re even.”
Fisher signed a 10-year, $75-million contract when he came to Texas A&M in 2018, and earlier this fall he received an extension through the 2031 season that will increase his pay to $9 million on Jan. 1, 2022 and $9.15 million on Jan. 1, 2023 with a $100,000 raise annually the next eight years.
“We’re going to recruit an unbelievable class this year,” Fisher said. “OK? So that means I’m the dumbest human being on God’s earth [to leave for LSU]. OK?
“Who’s going to recruit all these guys to A&M so I can go across over here and go play against them. OK? If I did that, you ought to say, That’s the dumbest human being, I don’t want him to be my coach.’ OK?”
OK.