A&M’s coach doesn’t want his players thinking about football rankings.
COLLEGE STATION — This past summer and with the football season still up in the air because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a reflective Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher plopped down and penned a proclamation.
“Like writing your own will,” Fisher said of his undesirable list of what-ifs. “Because you're not going to be there.”
The decree outlined who was in charge of what should Fisher not be around the Coolidge practice fields because of a COVID-19 quarantine.
While a couple of his colleagues have had to step aside for a time after testing positive for the virus — the most notable of late being Florida's Dan Mullen — Fisher has made it clear in the past few days he's running the show in the Bright Football Complex more than ever.
“We're still leaving too much on the field,” a seemingly incensed Fisher said this week. “We've won some games, but we still haven't played close to our capabilities.”
From the sounds of his sullenness, an outsider might believe the 3-1 Aggies were scrapping to
squeeze into the Top 25. Instead, they're coming off an upset of then-No. 4 Florida and a doubling up of Mississippi State and new coach Mike Leach, and at No. 7 are enjoying their highest Associated Press ranking in Fisher's three seasons.
“Enjoying” is used loosely, however. Fisher warns his players to ignore it all — no matter the current upbeat tone of the old-fashioned media and more modern social media missives available at their fingertips.
“It's all garbage. It's all poison,” said Fisher, in taking a page from the Book of Nick (Saban). “Listen, right now we need to worry about next week and how we get better this week. And then get ready for Arkansas and don't worry about the scoreboard … you can't worry about what y'all say, and I don't mean that with any disrespect to any of y'all.
“Y'all are going to write your stories and say what you're going to say. (But) we have to play.”
Fisher's earnest diatribe was mindful of when Alabama's Saban dubbed positive media coverage of his program “rat poison” to his players — because it might start believing the cheery clippings and grow complacent. Saban's “rat poison” invective occurred after Alabama beat A&M and thencoach Kevin Sumlin 27-19 at Kyle Field in 2017.
Fisher was Saban's offensive coordinator at LSU in the early 2000s, when the Tigers won a national title, and Fisher wisely considers Saban a mentor. Both have won national titles — Saban with six (one at LSU and five at Alabama) and Fisher with one (at Florida State in 2013).
A little more than a week ago, the Aggies were ranked No. 21 following a four-touchdown loss at Alabama on Oct. 3 but have jumped 14 spots following the victories over the Gators and Bulldogs. A&M does not have any ranked opponents remaining on its regular-season schedule after Auburn and Tennessee dropped out of the Top 25 on Sunday.
“We're in a results-based world in what we do and how we prepare to play,” said Fisher in waving off any optimistic dispatches aimed his way. “You can't believe the poison that's out there — good, bad or indifferent. What matters is what's in that room and what you believe with your players, coaches and organization. You play the next play and you play to win your space, to put your dominance on somebody else and put your will upon somebody else.
“That's what we need to stay focused on — not anything else.”
Fisher could pile praise on his veteran offensive line and no one would hold it against him. A year ago, the Aggies finished 107th nationally in sacks allowed with 2.62. This year, they've allowed one sack all season — and none against Alabama, Florida and MSU in the last three games.
Instead, he said his line needs to keep getting its act together.
“I don't think anybody played well — any group,” Fisher said of the Aggies' first victory at Mississippi State in eight years when quarterback Johnny Manziel was on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012. “I don't think any (unit) played poorly, but we could have played better in all facets.”
The Aggies are off Saturday before hosting Arkansas and new coach Sam Pittman on Halloween. The Razorbacks, also off this weekend, were winless in league play under then-coach Chad Morris the last two seasons but are 2-2 with victories over Mississippi and Mississippi State.
Ergo, two early feel-good stories will collide Oct. 31 at Kyle Field — with only one side still feeling good Nov. 1 and halfway through the 10-game regular season.
“I say ‘damn' too much, but I'm damn proud of this football team,” said Pittman, a former Georgia offensive line coach assigned with cleaning up Morris' mess. “Who in the world wouldn't be?”