Jimbo Fisher preparing Aggies to stick it to Nick Saban again
Texas A&M Coach Jimbo Fisher watch his players warm up in drills before game against Colorado Saturday September 11, 2021 on Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
Last year he became Nick Saban’s first assistant to beat him at his own game.
Jimbo Fisher is always a threat because he’s one of five current head coaches with a National Championship under his belt. Not to mention Texas A&M was the only team to beat Alabama during the regulars season last year.
It was a big deal because Fisher backed up his words. And it was the Aggies’ first victory over an AP top-ranked team. That was at Kyle Field, but this time around Fisher’s squad will be back in Bryant-Denny Stadium. And there’s more fuel to the fire from the war of words between Fisher and Saban that took a life of its’ own this past May.
Saban insinuated that Fisher used lucrative NIL deals to lure in this year’s top-ranked recruiting class. Fisher responded that Saban was a narcissist, and that there was some corruption with his past recruiting tactics. The national media munched on all the drama like movie popcorn, but the two coaches downplayed the ordeal at SEC Media Days.
College football fanatics know the two coaches are going to handle it all on the field. Even though the two teams are going in opposite directions on the season. It just so happens that the game will be played the under lights too. Alabama is also No. 1 in the country again.
Meanwhile Texas A&M is coming off a loss at Mississippi State, that knocked it out of the AP Poll. That doesn’t mean the Aggies don’t have everything to gain by upsetting the top-ranked Crimson Tide. Being more than three-touchdown underdogs should give Fisher’s boys even more motivation.
Saban emphasized earlier this week that it’s going to be a game-time decision on whether quarterback Bryce Young will start tonight. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner injured his shoulder in last week’s victory over Arkansas. Fisher has had his own quarterback issues with Haynes King’s struggles and Max Johnson out with a broken hand.
Still, it could all work to Fisher’s advantage because Saban doesn’t know what type of game plan he’s going to come with. Fisher is a great game day motivator, and the Aggies have enough talent to pull off the upset. Regardless, the Crimson Tide has had this game marked on their calendar for quite since last year’s loss.
Alabama should be in good hands if Young can’t play. After all, backup quarterback Jalen Milroe had a stellar outing against the Razorbacks, and his dangerous mobility could be a problem for the Texas A&M’s defense. There’s no denying the Aggies will need to score some points in this game to keep it close.
Fisher does have Devon Achane in his arsenal, who’s one of the best running backs in the SEC. Texas A&M must find another deep threat on offense, after wideout Ainias Smith suffered a season-ending injury. It could possibly be tough sledding for Fisher, considering Alabama is in the top-five in both total offense and defense.
It’s still any given Autumn Saturday and games aren’t played on paper. So in theory Fisher has every chance tonight to pull off the upset against his mentor, and raise eyebrows across the country.
