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Jimbo Fisher is back in the offseason headlines after his appearance at the 2023 SEC Media Days. The Texas A&M head coach was asked about the offense on Monday, specifically the play calling duties.
Despite hiring former Arkansas and Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator, he remains non-committal on who will run the unit. That inability to admit he hired Petrino to take the reins has TAMU fans worried.
The Aggies struggled for much of the 2022 season, ranking 101st out of 131 teams in points per game (22.8 ppg). The scoring difficulties led to a 5-7 campaign which saw losses to the likes of Appalachian State, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Auburn.
Jimbo Fisher hired an offensive coordinator in an effort to revamp the group in the coming year, but it seems he’s not quite ready to completely give up the play-calling duties.
Earlier in the offseason, he was asked about the addition of Bobby Petrino to the staff. “Plan on him calling plays,” Fisher said. “I have no problem with that.”
That response didn’t exactly ease the minds of A&M fans, and now, they’ve become even more worried about their head coach’s stubbornness.
At SEC Media Days, Fisher wouldn’t flat out say that the plan is for Petrino to run the offense. Instead, he beat around the bush with another vague reply.
“I’m not going to get into that,” Fisher responded when asked about his new staffer. “Bobby was hired for a reason. Tremendous guy. Tremendous football mind. Hopefully he’ll call the game and have suggestions.”
He was reportedly asked again at the podium to which he said simply, “I’m not going to get into what we’re doing from a schematic viewpoint.”
Fans and media were quick to react.
One follower wrote, “Jimbo wants the credit if they are good but also the ability to blame Bobby is they aren’t.”
“I will only say this: When we turn the ball over and don’t score, that’s on Coach Petrino. Same for losses. When we score touchdowns and win, I’m the play caller.
“That’s why we hired him.”— Mac Engel (@MacEngelProf) July 17, 2023
Another said, “This has disaster written all over it.”
Peter Burns of SEC Network said, “I’m not sure why Jimbo wouldn’t just say… ‘Yes. Bobby will call the offense.'”
Regardless how it will work behind the scenes, I’m not sure why Jimbo wouldn’t just say…..”Yes. Bobby will call the offense, he’s one of the best in the business and you’ll see the difference right off the bat”
Would seem to quiet naysayers.
I guess I appreciate the honesty. https://t.co/OJHxeOlPlN
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) July 17, 2023
Some think it could lead to a turbulent 2023 season on the sidelines.
Petrino getting mad and quitting mid-season would be fantastic.
— Shane Ethridge (@ShaneEthridge) July 17, 2023
It will certainly be interesting to see the dynamic between the co-workers come season’s start. As of now, it doesn’t seem like anyone knows how the offense will run in College Station.