AD: Fisher fired because Aggies ‘stuck in neutral’

Dave Wilson, ESPN Personnel WriterNov 12, 2023, 08:10 PM ET

Close

Dave Wilson is an editor for ESPN.com because 2010. He previously operated at The Dallas Early Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Sun.COLLEGE STATION, Texas– Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork on Sunday night said it was his choice to fire football coach Jimbo Fisher earlier in the day, saying that the program was”stuck in neutral. “Bjork said he called interim Texas A&M president

Gen. Mark Welsh after the Aggies ‘loss to Ole Miss on Nov. 4 and asked to fulfill.”The evaluation that I delivered was that we are not reaching our full capacity,”Bjork said at a press conference.”We are not in the champion conversation and something was not quite ideal about our direction and the plan.”We must matter on the national scene.”Editor’s Picks 2 Related In Fisher’s very first

three seasons in College Station, the Aggies were 26-10 and ended up No. 4 in 2020– the second-highest

ranking ever for the program, after the 1939 national championship. Over the past three seasons, Texas A&M is 19-15, including an active nine-game road losing streak that is tied for the program’s longest since the AP survey began in 1936. Considering that Fisher’s first complete recruiting class in 2019, Texas A&M has signed 70 ESPN 300 players, the 4th most in the FBS, behind Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State, who have actually each played in a minimum of one national championship game over that span. The Aggies were credited with the No. 1 recruiting class in 2022. “There was something simply not clicking to offer self-confidence for everyone in the program,”Bjork said. “You need to adapt, you have to develop. I’m not going to state whether he did or didn’t, however it didn’t work.”Fisher’s A&M tenure ends with a 45-25 record over six seasons and no looks in the SEC champion game.Bjork stated he and Welsh met Fisher inside Kyle Field prior to 9 a.m. Sunday and informed the coach

that they were making an instant change, along with dismissing Mark Robinson, Fisher’s associate athletic director for football.Bjork said the discussion was”fast and cordial. “Actions towards eliminating Fisher began in a board of regents fulfilling Thursday, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. An executive session included a four-hour discussion, much of which was committed to Fisher’s future. “I’ll just state [there was a] robust conversation and I’ll simply leave it at that, “Bjork stated.” However there was no vote. This was my choice to the president and Chancellor [John] Sharp. Which was the end of our decision-making process. “Protective line coach Elijah Robinson, who Bjork stated has the respect of the players, will serve as the interim coach, with planners Bobby Petrino and D.J. Durkin continuing their functions. “I expect them to really rally around Coach Robinson and complete the season strong,”Bjork said.Fisher’s termination is anticipated to cost the school more than $76 million to purchase out his contract, almost triple the highest recognized previous coaching contract buyout at a public school. According to his agreement, Fisher

is owed$19.2 million within 60 days and after that $7.2 every year through 2031. There is no balanced out or mitigation on those payments, and the yearly payments start 120 days after termination.Bjork stated the athletic department and the 12th Man Structure, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization that is the university’s fundraising arm for sports, will cover the expenses.” The finances are monumental, “Bjork said.”Let me be really clear in this next part: Texas A&M sports and the 12th Man Structure will be the sole sources of the required funds covering these transition costs.”When asked if he anticipated to be on the hook for the whole buyout, Bjork said there were”various specifications” in the agreement language.”Those mechanics will be worked out as soon as we touch base with his representation,” Bjork stated, referring to Fisher’s representative, Jimmy Sexton.Fisher was initially provided a 10-year, $75 million completely guaranteed contract in December 2017, when the Aggies employed him from Florida State, where he had actually won a national championship following the 2013 season. His buyout is so big because he was offered a four-year extension in August 2021 that

raised his annual salary from$7.5 million to$9 million and pressed his agreement through 2031.”That’s an institutional choice, but I take responsibility,”Bjork stated.”I understood what was coming in the market later that fall [when LSU provided Brian Kelly a 10-year,$95 million offer, among other big contracts] So I knew that it was the best decision at that time since that’s the details we had. Clearly it didn’t work out. We’re going to learn from that and ensure that we don’t make those exact same

mistakes once again.”Bjork said his athletic department will be accountable for making the yearly payments to Fisher.” We have a lot of brand-new earnings coming our way too, but we also have to manage expenditures, “Bjork stated. “There’s a lot of things within even the football budget that we’ve got flexibility on where we can still be at a high level, but we can likewise spend a lot less, but we can be a championship-funded program. We’re going to adjust all that.” There is a set list of traits that Bjork stated he’s trying to find during the Aggies’search for their next coach. He said it includes someone who has a program identity, great social skills, a track record of player development, commitment to academics and a strong recruiting background with solid organizational skills.With the transfer portal opening Dec. 4, Bjork said that will be an essential date as the program shifts to a new coach.”It’s not ideal,”Bjork stated.”However also not distinct in the contemporary of college football, specifically given [the] transfer portal world, signing day and all those characteristics that played into it.”Bjork, who has remained in College Station five years, said he’s not prevented in his objectives of making the Aggies into a national title competitor.”The ingredients for a championship are here,”Bjork stated.”Aggies want to do it the proper way and deserve excellence in everything that we do. … Onward we go.”