Texas A&M Football: Jimbo Fisher era begins

Texas A&M Football embarks on a new journey in 2018. Some could argue this is the first coaching staff not related to R.C. Slocum since 1971.

We’re officially 43 days away from the start of the college football season. I’ve been talking to several people in and around my Aggie circle and the one question I keep asking is: what will success for new head football coach Jimbo Fisher look like?

The bar that I’ve set is taking a 10-year line that Mark Dantonio at Michigan State has produced. Dantonio starts year 12 this year so I eliminated his first year in 2007 when they went 7-6.

Since then, the Spartans are 93-39 with a 57-25 record in the Big 10. That includes finishing first in the conference or division four times. They’ve also finished second on two other occasions. Dantonio has won 10 or more games six times during this 10 year run and has made one playoff berth which came in the 2015 season.

Let’s examine this a little closer, Dantonio started 22-17 after three years (2007-2009). I would argue that’s a solid start after taking over a team that only had two winning seasons since Nick Saban departed in 2000.

Bobby Williams took over for Saban in the bowl game which he won and then recorded a 15-17 record over the next two plus years. Williams was fired after nine games into the 2002 season. John L. Smith took over after a 41-21 record at Louisville and struggled going 22-26 with one winning record in 2003. Smith would be notified in November of that year that he would not be retained.

Dantonio starting 22-17 in my opinion is not that bad after what he had to work with coming in. Since the 2010 season, Michigan State has had one losing season which was in 2016, the other six seasons have been quite successful except for the 2012 season when they went 7-6.

• 2010 / 11-2 / lost bowl game
• 2011 / 11-3 / won bowl game
• 2012 / 7-6 / won bowl game
• 2013 / 13-1 / won Rose Bowl / finished 4th in BCS rankings
• 2014 / 11-2 / won Cotton Bowl
• 2015 / 12-2 / lost Cotton Bowl / College Football Playoff appearance
• 2016 / 3-9 / ouch
• 2017 / 10-3 / won bowl game

So to all of my Aggie friends, would you take that? Let’s be honest, four west titles means four shots at the SEC title. We also know if you finish second in your division and with some luck, you still have a shot at the playoff (just ask Alabama). I’ve gone back and forth with this since Fisher was named the head coach.

The Aggies have weapons, they have two quarterbacks that have played. They have a running back that could be all-conference. They have an offensive and defensive line that will be solid. Some could argue the linebacker and secondary are the strengths on this team. The one question I have is will the receivers make enough plays? Who will help Jhamon Ausbon?

Next: 5 bold predictions for Aggies 2018 season

With this, there’s no excuse for Fisher to at least match what Dantonio has. Every Aggie that I’ve talked too says 93 wins and four conference titles is not enough. All I could say was wow. What do you think?