Texas A&M Football 50 in 50: Will Jimbo Fisher end the November slide?

Texas A&M football is 44 days away, and in the days leading up to the Aggie opener we’re answering the 50 biggest questions for the 2018 season.

Kevin Sumlin developed a reputation as the head coach of Texas A&M football, and it wasn’t a good one. For five years in a row, A&M started off hot only to have their season come crumbling down during conference play, and especially in the month of November.

In 2013, they were 6-2 entering November, went 2-2 in the month — 1-2 in conference play — and lost their last two regular season games to ranked opponents. They finished the season 9-4.

In 2014, they started 5-0 only to lose three consecutive games to ranked opponents. They went 1-2 in November to conference opponents and finished the season 8-5.

In 2015, they again started 5-0, but this time they lost three of four before going 1-2 against conference opponents in November. They finished the season 8-5.

In 2016, they surprised a lot of people by starting 7-1, losing only to No. 1 Alabama and beating three ranked opponents on the way. They found themselves in the first College Football Playoff ranking at No. 4. They then lost all three conference games in November and finished the season 8-5 yet again.

2017 started with maybe the most heartbreaking loss in program history to UCLA, but actually turned around to have some promise after a win at Florida got the team to 5-2. They quickly dashed those dreams losing to Mississippi State and Auburn by a combined 36 points. They again went 1-2 in conference play in November, but finished the season 7-6 this time.

Do you see a pattern? For five straight seasons, the Aggies had a losing record against conference opponents in November. Not to mention, in the final four years, Sumlin went just 2-14 against ranked opponents.

What will be the difference? Can Jimbo Fisher turn around the team’s typical second half collapse? Absolutely. He had a great quote at SEC Media Days that sums up the difference between he and the previous staff.

"When you are talking about playing a game, you have to picture yourself winning the game, not saying you’re going to win them, but believing you are going to win them and preparing to win them and practicing things you know you have confidence in and can execute under pressure. And when those moments come, be able to execute them because it is going to come down to it.I don’t care how good you get, how many good players we all get in this league. They are all coming to the end. Who can execute under pressure at the end is going to make a difference."

The biggest difference in Fisher and Sumlin is going to be the preparation. It has been clear from day one of spring practices that Fisher harps on the little things and is basically obsessed with making sure his team is fully prepared for their opponents.

It became painfully clear over the course of Sumlin’s tenure he was often out-coached and out-prepared by less talented teams.

Fisher was obviously not undefeated against lower ranked teams at Florida State, but he has been around some excellent coaching staffs and he himself has a national championship under his belt for a reason.

Preparation is often overlooked as a crucial element to winning football games. Players and coaches who are obsessed with preparation are often revered as geniuses in the football world.

Next: How dominant will Texas A&M's linebackers be?

Texas A&M will go into most of their games mentally prepared to handle any and all situations. That will be the difference and get them over the hump and back into winning ways in November.

Jeff Shull is the Site Expert for the Gig Em Gazette on FanSided. Follow him on Twitter, and be sure to follow the Gig Em Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.