Photo by: Thomas Campbell/Texas A&M Athletics
Jimbo Fisher: Introductory Press Conference
Dec 04, 2017 | Football
Full transcript of Jimbo Fisher's introductory press conference is below, featuring comments from Texas A&M President Michael Young, Director of Athletics Scott Woodward and Fisher.
WILL JOHNSON: Howdy. It's a good day to look back at Texas A&M's past and right now to its present. But it is a great day to look forward to its football future. The past has included great head coaches that have walked these sidelines at this stadium, including D.X. Bible, Homer Norton, Bear Bryant, Gene Stallings, Emory Bellard, Jackie Sherrill, and R.C. Slocum.
If you look at the Aggies presently, yesterday we accepted an invitation to play in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 29th. We wish the best of luck to the 2017 Aggies as they look to beat the hell out of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Charlotte.
But, as we mentioned, it is a phenomenal day to look forward to our future with Texas A&M football. Jimbo Fisher comes to us from Florida State University. In eight of his years in Tallahassee he won double-digit games six times. In 2014 he led the Seminoles to the College Football Playoff. In the year prior to that, 2013, Florida State University won the national championship with Jimbo Fisher at the helm. So it, indeed, is a good day to look forward to the future of Aggie football.
I want to introduce who is on stage with me right now. Please welcome the Chancellor of the Texas A&M University system, Mr. John Sharp.
The Chairman of the Board of Regents at Texas A&M, Charles Schwartz.
The President of Texas A&M University, Michael Young.
Texas A&M's Director of Athletics, Scott Woodward.
And the 29th head football coach at Texas A&M University, please welcome Jimbo Fisher. And we will begin with remarks from our president, Michael Young.
MICHAEL YOUNG: Thank you. Howdy.
I want to start today with a word of thanks. I want to thank Coach Sumlin. He took a program that helped us get into the SEC in a pretty glorious way and do extraordinary work, built this program up in ways that now allow us to move to the next level. So please join me in thanking Coach Sumlin for his service here to this university.
Today is an exciting day. We accepted yesterday an opportunity to play in the Belk Bowl. But at the same time, I called the Commissioner, told him that he would be delighted to accept that opportunity to play in the Sugar Bowl next year. We're all ready to do that. And then the Rose Bowl right after that. So we are ready. He accepted our acceptance.
I want to thank some people today who were particularly important in helping this thing happen at this university. We have a Chancellor whose mantra for this university is "Always Excellence." It's excellence in academics; it's excellence in the student experience; it's excellence in our athletic program; and nothing but excellence will do. And helping us arrive at this place, Chancellor Sharp, thank you for all your help in making this possible.
I already want to extend thanks to the Board under the chairmanship of Charles Schwartz, the Board has been extremely helpful in guiding and directing us as we do this work. Their passion for this university is unexcelled. Their support is immeasurable and extremely important for what we've done. So, Charles, thank you, and all the fellow members of the Board.
Now, I notice only person who really got a whoop in this entire enterprise was our terrific athletic director whose passion for excellence even exceeds mine. Scott, thank you. Thank you for being here. There is a little bit of a conspiracy. Some years ago, as the Chancellor suggested, he worked very hard to place Scott at LSU and embed him in there so we would have this day today to ensure that we would have that relationship.
So it's been eight years in coming. And, Scott, thank you for what you're doing. Now let me turn this over to our great athletic director. Scott.
(Applause.)
SCOTT WOODWARD: Howdy. 23 months ago, when I was given the great honor of becoming the next athletic director at Texas A&M by President Young, I stood in front of many of you and the Aggie faithful and suggested that what lured me here to College Station was opportunity. The opportunity for greatness across the board, as President Young mentioned.
Today I stand before you with proof that Texas A&M is an opportunity for greatness, as we welcome one of the nation's top college football coaches to our Aggie family.
I first met Jimbo in 2000 and quickly became an admirer, not just of his coaching acumen but more importantly of his infectious approach to the young men in his charge. I was also taken by how he interacted with then-young son Trey who was often around the team with the father-and-son bond on visible display everywhere. In the ensuing years as I've watched from afar, he ascended to the highest levels of the game and won a national championship but remained true to who he is, a football coach and a father.
With us today are two of his incredible young prodigies, Trey and Ethan Fisher. And I want you to welcome them here.
(Applause.)
Ethan, can't wait to get that big buck, buddy.
(Laughter.)
Jimbo's accomplishments speak for themselves. He is one of only four current coaches in college football who have won a national title on their resume. He led Florida State to an 83-23 overall record during his tenure, including a 48-17 record in the ACC. Won five bowl games, finished in the top ten four times, and, of course, won the national championship in 2013. Success is part of his DNA.
In 1987, he was the Division III National Player of the Year in football. In 2001, he was the finalist for the Broyles Award as the Assistant Coach of the Year. And in 2013, he was named National Coach of the Year. Ladies and gentlemen, that is success.
He is the right coach at the right time for Texas A&M, and I am confident that the opportunity for greatness is right around the corner. I want to thank the Board of Regents, Chancellor Sharp, President Young, and the 12th Man in their support of me, this process, and of our new football coach. And I especially want to recognize the senior administrative staff and our department who routinely amaze me with their dedication and their professionalism. So, if you would, please join me in welcoming Jimbo Fisher to the Aggie family.
(Applause.)
COACH FISHER: Howdy.
AUDIENCE: Howdy!
COACH FISHER: Scott, you forgot one thing that I do need out of my jacket, my glasses. (Laughter.)
It was about two or three years ago I kind of held that off for a while and I kept reading the paper farther and farther out from me. Somebody walked behind me and set a pair of glasses on me, and I had to break down and give in and admit that I do need them.
It is truly a great honor and privilege to standing in front of you in Aggieland today. It really is. I've always admired Texas A&M from afar and appreciated what it had. I'm extremely grateful to be here at Texas A&M. And this is, without a doubt, one of college football's greatest sports venues and richest traditions. Within the short amount of time that I've been here, all that said, the people here are incredible. I don't know if I've been around a nicer group of people who are more professional and make you feel more welcome. It feels like I've been here for two years already. It's really has been incredible, the amount of support and the people, the way we've been treated and our family. It's remarkable.
But before I continue, I'd like to say a special thank you to the players, coaches, and supporters at Florida State University. And a special thank you to Coach Bowden. He gave me an opportunity 11 years ago to come there and then gave me an opportunity to be a head football coach. And back then President T.K. Wetherell and the board of trustees and Jim Smith gave me the opportunity of my life to live a dream and continue a dream, allowed me to come here to Aggieland.
Like I said, a special thanks to those two young men and President Thrasher and A.D. Stan Wilcox for all the help and support they gave me during the time at Florida State to be very successful. Beyond success on the field, there are important relationships you develop off the field and in those communities. And I'll always be grateful and thankful the way you treated our family and our time at Florida State. And I wish y'all nothing but the best.
But I want to say a special thank you to Scott Woodward. As I say, with Scott, as we met back in the year 2000, that, you know, we went to LSU at that time. And there was a commitment to excellence and there was a vision for what we wanted to do. And Scott was one of those guys that always said if I ever had the opportunity to work with him again -- because I say this all the time in coaching: You can have Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Chuck Noll, you can have the greatest coaches in the world; but, if your administration doesn't see things in the way you see things and allow you to do things that way, nothing can be achieved. There's a oneness to everything you do to be successful. And I knew he had the same visions that I did. Just like Scott said, he felt that about me. I felt that about him back with Chancellor Emmert at that time, who is now the president of our NCAA. And they allowed us to do the things in which we had to do to be successful. And that's always attracted me to him, and I thank him. And other than that, being a great friend. We did some great things at LSU, and we can do it again.
Also a special thank you to Deputy A.D. Stephanie Rempe, president Young, Chancellor Sharp, Chairman Schwartz, the 12th Man Foundation for giving me this opportunity. It's truly a great opportunity.
We understand that we are the front porch of this university. We are not this university. We are just a representation of this university. But we are the front porch of this university, and we want to represent it with the great values and core values on the field and off the field that this school represents. And then let people realize the greatness that's going beyond the field really continues. And the secret to it is here in College Station of what this university is, what it represents, what it is and what it still can be as we grow.
And success leaves clues. It really does in your life. All the successful people, I've learned from every one I've been around. Success leaves clues and the common denominators. And I'm a true believer in this: Success doesn't happen by accident. And you either live in vision or you live in circumstance. We want to live in vision. And we want to grow and develop and do the things here in which we think are comprehensive to this university and represent this university and to our student-athletes. Because, at the end of the day, it's all about the players. It's about the student-athletes and the students in this school. Because without them, none of us on this panel would have a job. It is truly about the people. And I can represent that, hopefully, very well as I see y'all represent it very well as I have felt that as I have gotten here as much as anywhere I've ever been.
And what we want to do here is create a comprehensive plan for success for our student-athletes. But first as a student. Students and the activity as people is going to affect the lives, the education they get here more than anything in their life. There's no doubt. And the education here and the people here I understand the success of Aggieland as I've been here, as I researched it and studied it.
Next is a person. And I believe this: If you develop the person, everything else falls in place, that comprehensive plan of creating habits and making decisions and doing things. And our players, I want them to understand the two more important abilities I want them to leave our organization with: Accountability and dependability. If you're accountable and dependable and you develop the right habits as a person, everything else in your life will fall in place.
The education will. Because, if you're accountable and dependable, you're going to go to class; you're going to go to study hall; you're going to do the extra things in which you have to do. If you're dependable and somebody calls your name and is standing up that needs you, those are two of the most important qualities in life. Because I say, education is very important. But when you're a good person, everything else falls in line and you create those habits daily that create you.
And then third is an athlete. As an athlete, you know, that's what we're here for. But often that's the carrot we will dangle to develop these kids in every facet of their life. We all want to play ball. I love coaching ball. I love all the things that go with it. But if we don't have good people, if we don't have people that are educated and driven to excellence in every form of their life, what translates off the field is going to be the same thing that translates on the field.
And that's what I want you to see in our players. I want you to be proud, when you sit in those stands, of how they compete, how they play, how they look at things, and how they represent Texas A&M University because, as I say, we are the front porch. There's going to be 15 to 20, 25 million people watching games. And we want them to understand what we're about here in College Station and what we can do and what the people can encompass and come here and want to see more about our university.
I have learned a heck of a lot here in about a day and a half. It's been amazing the things that I've -- I had no idea about. I thought I researched it, but I wasn't close. It wasn't close. And those are a lot of things that drew me here.
And then fourth after that is helping launch their career when you're done. Because when these players leave this university, we want them to be tremendous ambassadors for our school so they come back and they want to say -- and when we're out on the recruiting trail and they say, "What is it like to be there? What is it like to play there?" And they ask us. I'm going to say go ask our ex-players. Go ask the people who were here, see what it's like.
Making sure they're successful in their life, whether it's in pro football or whatever it may be, if they're lucky enough to be able to be one of the few fortunate guys that develop at that level, that's great. But taking care of these in a comprehensive way that produces ambassadors for our university, helping keeping it grow and be the place it is and the special place that y'all know it is.
Because this creates culture. And, in my belief, culture is the most important thing that any university can have, any program can have, any organization can have. Because it's the way you walk, it's the way you talk, it's the way you think.
And being here, I don't have to tell y'all that. There's no doubt. I mean, it is everything in which I envision and more. The amount of pride in which I see people in this school, when they told me when I got here, they said it's going to be different. You know, I say that. You hear that everywhere. You really do. You hear those statements everywhere you go. I feel it, though. I really do. And I see it.
And there's an adage that I tell our players about your actions speak so loud I can't hear what you're saying. Because we hear it all the time. "I'm going to do this, Coach." "I'm going to do that, Coach." But your actions speak so loud I can't hear what you're saying. Well, your actions speak so loud I can't hear what anybody else is saying. It's truly great.
You know, our program will be built on four principles which I talk about all the time: Toughness, effort, discipline, and pride. There's a mental and physical toughness that goes with everything. Toughness is the number one thing in this world. And there's a great book out right now, as a matter of fact. In a little bit of that toughness comes in the word called "grit."
If you're mentally tough and you're physically tough, you have a word called "grit" which the most successful people in this world have that grit. They have the ability to dig down and pull out from within themselves to do the things they have to do. They have to give effort, effort in every phase of their life. It takes effort to be a good person. It takes effort to be a good student. It takes effort to be a good player, all of those qualities. And that can never be compromised. It can never be compromised. The discipline to be able to do what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it, the way it's supposed to be done every single time in every facet of your life.
And then the pride, the Aggie pride here, I feel it. There's pride in what you do and who you are and what you do as a person. And at the end of the day, sometimes that's the things that have to drive you. On those hot days, long days, the days that, you know, we all go through as human beings, whether you're a coach, whether you're a player, whether you're a father, whether you're a child, whether you're a student, whatever it may be, there's got to be a pride of excellence in what you do. And that's the kind of people we want to bring to Texas A&M. They exhibit these qualities.
Because, like I say, there's talented people everywhere in this world. But people who are driven, who are focused through our belief and want to be part of a team -- "TEAM" is Together Everyone Achieves More. That's what we have to understand. We have to be one. We have to have a oneness.
And we all do want to win. The individualism, especially in today's world, is very driven, the individualism to be great. There is an I in TEAM -- excuse me. There's no "I" in "TEAM," but there is an "I" in "WIN." And we tell our players every day, that's going to be the individual responsibility for you to be the best you can be for Texas A&M University so our team can be great. And we each have that responsibility, as a coach, as a player, as everybody who touches and effects these kids' life.
That's what we want to do, a comprehensive program. Because, as we develop kids today, this is going to be a comprehensive program. The mission for us here is very clear: Develop these young men to be the best they can be in every facet of their life. Because when they're champions off, they're going to be champions on.
And I understand that I come in here with great expectation. And I say this due diligence: Your expectations will never be greater than mine. I promise you that. We understand expectation. We live in a world of expectation. That's what we do. But our expectancy and habits of ourself to be great will never exceed anything that's out there. We're going to be driven to be the best every day. When good enough becomes good enough, we have a problem. Good enough can never become good enough. There's always room for growth every day.
We're going to strive for excellence and perfection every day. Every day. And never relinquish that. As Vince Lombardi once said about that, we're going to strive for perfection every day knowing full and well we'll never reach it. But in the meantime we're going to find that excellence, who we are and what we are. We have to drive to that every day.
As you play in this league -- I grew up in this league. I coached 13 years in this league. I understand this league. I was six years at Auburn. I was seven years at LSU. I achieved national champions in this league, conference championships in this league. It's one of the best conferences in all of college football. It's one of the best divisions in all of college football. We understand everything that goes with it. That's the challenges I like. That's what I want to be.
I want to take Texas A&M to somewhere they haven't been, and that's the champion of the SEC. That's where we want to be and what we want to be and advance to the national championship and how we do it. If you can compete in this league, you can compete in any league in college football. We have all the ingredients.
People say what attracted you to Texas A&M? First and foremost, it was Scott Woodward. As he told me in his vision for the place and what he had and he told me the President's vision and the Chancellor's and the Board of Regents', it was a no-brainer. And to be able to come over here and accept those challenges and go to new heights and do things -- because breaking into this conference and doing the things we have to do. And I think all the ingredients are. I really do. I think we have tremendous recruiting base. I think we have tremendous facilities, and I think we have tremendous support. I'm looking forward to the challenge of accepting that challenge and moving this organization and program forward and helping this university, be a proud part of this university.
I understand respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, and integrity, and selfless service are the six core values of Texas A&M. Our program will reflect these. Our players will reflect these. Our staff will reflect these. I will reflect these.
I always tell our players this: Change is inevitable; growth is optional. We want to grow. We want to live in vision. I think, when you live in vision, if you can't see it, you can never achieve it. I can see what we can be. I have a vision of what we can be. We will chip away and take the things away that don't help that vision. We will increase the things that help that vision and try to take Texas A&M where it should be at the top of the college football world. I think everything is here. It's an exciting time to be at Texas A&M, and I'm extremely proud to be your coach. Thank you.
(Applause.)
Q. Jimbo, in Florida State you won 83 games and won a national championship. From the outside looking in, it looked like a great situation. One, why leave that situation? And, two, what made Texas A&M the right place to do that?
COACH FISHER: The first part of your question. I'm sorry.
Q. Why leave what seemed to be a great situation at Florida State; and, two, why was Texas A&M the place to leave it for?
COACH FISHER: First of all, I never had any intention of leaving Florida State. And after Scott had contacted and I started to research -- and, again, I say my relationship with Scott and his vision to do things and as I researched Texas A&M and all the things it had here and the resources it had here and the vision it had here and the people it had here, from the President to the Chancellor to the Board of Regents and everyone together as a oneness. And then my relationship with Scott, the ability to come back and work and relive that vision of things that we had did before at LSU, I think it was a no-brainer in a crazy way.
And, again, my time at Florida State, I love it; it was phenomenal; it was a tremendous place. But in our life, there's opportunities out there you see. And, like I say, I had no plans on leaving there. Had no plans on ever leaving there.
But with the people I'm working with, with the place I'm going and it being -- and him explaining the things to me, as I researched, I thought it was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up and a challenge that I thought that was out there that I just couldn't pass up.
Q. With the early signing period, how important is hitting the recruiting trail as quick as you can? And, also, what are your plans for the bowl game as well?
COACH FISHER: Extremely, extremely critical. We've got to get on the road. We've got to get evaluated what we need, the players we need, the situation -- you know, how many of this, how many of that, and get up there on player evaluation, which I started on yesterday and looking at film and trying to make some evaluations and consideration on other people and getting out there.
Listen, at the end of the day, recruiting is the lifeline of your organization. You have to go out and get the kind of student-athletes that represent the core values in which you want in your organization, not only on physical talent but the ability to represent, compete, and understand how to be the habits of a champion. And I think that's very critical in what we have to do. And we have to get on that road and get to that process extremely quickly.
Q. Coach, do you feel like you have to win a national championship here to validate this sort of bold move that A&M made here today?
COACH FISHER: I don't know if I have to but that's my goal, and that's the object and the mission which we're about. That's our whole objective in everything we do. Our whole goal is to win a national championship every year and always will be.
Q. Jimbo, what will the process be where you will sit down and meet with some of the current players, get to know them and start to build the foundation of the things that you want to put in place?
COACH FISHER: No doubt. We have to build that foundation and embrace those players. I will meet with them this afternoon in a team meeting. And as I will meet with the staff and the people that are here in correlation with the coaches that are here right now. I have a plan. Like, somebody asked me about the bowl game a minute ago -- I forgot to answer that -- for the comprehensive plan in which we will go into the bowl, they will coach the bowl. I will be an observer and watch and be out on the recruiting trail and what we're doing. But I definitely want to embrace these players and meet them and get to know them as quickly as possible.
Q. What would you like to see in naming your new staff, and do you have kind of a timetable on putting a staff together?
COACH FISHER: You say putting the staff together? The timetable? As soon as possible. We're in the process of doing that now. And also meeting with current staff members here, see their interest in what we have and where we're going forward. We want to do that as quickly as possible so we can have things in place, not only for the players here but for the future recruits and the people here so they can understand who's going to be here, who's going to be coaching them, and the vision which we have for them.
Q. I wonder if you've had a chance to assess and evaluate the talent that you're inheriting?
COACH FISHER: Not extensively. I've watched -- I've seen a couple of games and films. And, like I say, there is a lot of very good players here. And they've done a good job and have been very competitive and played well. So to answer that question, comprehensively, I haven't had a chance to really, you know, develop that time to be able to do that yet.
Q. Could you tell us why you've been so good at recruiting and developing quarterbacks?
COACH FISHER: Lucky, I guess. (Laughter.)
Q. Follow-up comment on the recruiting, the importance of building the relationships -- I'm sure you have many already with the Texas High School Coaches Association -- and how important that is and your message to them.
COACH FISHER: Extremely important. Because, as I say, the players and the coaches are the lifeline of this organization. That's where we're going to get our players. And to help -- and help them in any way, shape, or form. This is, like I say, one of the greatest states in all of America to develop college football. And I don't know if it means any more anywhere than in the State of Texas and the coaches and the amount of coaching they get, the programs in which they come out of.
And developing those relationships are going to be extremely critical. I've been in this state at different times. When I was at FSU we came over and recruited some, when I was at LSU and all the different places.
But I'm really looking forward to getting to know them. Because, like I say, I've had great respect for these guys from afar and what they've been able to do and develop. And that's going to be the key. And, like I say, our doors are always going to be open to them, and look forward to meeting and talking with every one of them.
Q. Coach, when were you first contacted by Scott about the vacancy here at A&M?
COACH FISHER: That was in the last week of recruiting, when we were going into our last game. He contacted my representation in that last week.
Q. Jimbo, when you hire your staff of assistants, how important is it that they have big ties to the state of Texas in order to recruit?
COACH FISHER: I think it's very critical that guys that have recruited in the state be here. But, at the same time, I think it's very critical to make sure you get the best people in the best position that are out there to be able to represent this university and coach our players and to recruit our players. We want to do that, if we possibly can. But also, at the same time, we want to make sure we get the best people who represent what we want to do, as I say, and build those relationships. Because, at the end of the day, it's still about people. And you can go out and build those relationships, too.
Q. Your time at LSU, how do you feel that will benefit you coaching back in the SEC, coming back to the SEC?
COACH FISHER: I think I understand the league. But more importantly, I think I understand where that program was at the time we come in. Like I say here, we've been winning games. We're going to bowl games. At the time when we went there, we were 3-8 and 2-9 when that plan took over. And we were able to comprehensively change the culture of how we did things.
And, as I say, your traditions and values never change -- because your core values of what you do. But how we did business over there changed daily, and we got a comprehensive plan for the future and where we saw it goes.
Like I say, you live in vision or you live in circumstance. And the vision of seeing where things go, how they're done, the way you have to conduct your business and where your organizations and programs and the game itself is going, I think was one of the greatest things we did at LSU.
Because -- and I go back to that again. It's not just about the coach. It's about the AD. It's about the President. It's about the Chancellor. It's about the Board of Regents. Everyone at that time had one vision and one goal. And we did that and were able to change that vision and how we did things daily, which I think will help tremendously in how we're trying to go forward here. To me, that's the key to everything, having that oneness.
Q. Just curious, in your mind what do you think is a reasonable time period to take a -- a good college football program and build it into an elite one?
COACH FISHER: Yesterday. No, it is. Listen, I'm not a very patient guy.
(Applause.)
Saying that, we have a process. And you're going to hear me say this word a hundred times. It's not about the outcome; it's about the process. If the process of how you do your business and what you're doing is right, the outcomes will be there.
And sometimes we get results that don't come from the right process. You can't sustain those. The process is the key of how you go about things. And we have to install that here and get people to understand that here to be the culture, create those habits so we can get the results in which we want. But it's going to be about the process. And, as soon as we can get that process in place, then we can -- we can get the results in which we want.
Q. Coach, do your boys plan to live here some of the time, all the time? And I know you've only been here a short time, but do you plan to retire here?
COACH FISHER: That's the objective. You know, they always said -- I had turned down some jobs earlier. And they said you could be a young head coach. I said, "My object is to be the oldest." So I want to be the oldest. I want to stay for a while. I plan on staying. And I think this is a destination place. I really do. I think this can be an unbelievable place. And our family is -- we're adjusting right now. We will always be together, and we're adjusting those things right now.
(Applause.)
COACH FISHER: I am a boot guy. We don't have to put them on right yet? Any other questions? All right. Thank y'all. Look forward to being here.
(transcript courtesy Caption Pros)
WILL JOHNSON: Howdy. It's a good day to look back at Texas A&M's past and right now to its present. But it is a great day to look forward to its football future. The past has included great head coaches that have walked these sidelines at this stadium, including D.X. Bible, Homer Norton, Bear Bryant, Gene Stallings, Emory Bellard, Jackie Sherrill, and R.C. Slocum.
If you look at the Aggies presently, yesterday we accepted an invitation to play in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 29th. We wish the best of luck to the 2017 Aggies as they look to beat the hell out of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Charlotte.
But, as we mentioned, it is a phenomenal day to look forward to our future with Texas A&M football. Jimbo Fisher comes to us from Florida State University. In eight of his years in Tallahassee he won double-digit games six times. In 2014 he led the Seminoles to the College Football Playoff. In the year prior to that, 2013, Florida State University won the national championship with Jimbo Fisher at the helm. So it, indeed, is a good day to look forward to the future of Aggie football.
I want to introduce who is on stage with me right now. Please welcome the Chancellor of the Texas A&M University system, Mr. John Sharp.
The Chairman of the Board of Regents at Texas A&M, Charles Schwartz.
The President of Texas A&M University, Michael Young.
Texas A&M's Director of Athletics, Scott Woodward.
And the 29th head football coach at Texas A&M University, please welcome Jimbo Fisher. And we will begin with remarks from our president, Michael Young.
MICHAEL YOUNG: Thank you. Howdy.
I want to start today with a word of thanks. I want to thank Coach Sumlin. He took a program that helped us get into the SEC in a pretty glorious way and do extraordinary work, built this program up in ways that now allow us to move to the next level. So please join me in thanking Coach Sumlin for his service here to this university.
Today is an exciting day. We accepted yesterday an opportunity to play in the Belk Bowl. But at the same time, I called the Commissioner, told him that he would be delighted to accept that opportunity to play in the Sugar Bowl next year. We're all ready to do that. And then the Rose Bowl right after that. So we are ready. He accepted our acceptance.
I want to thank some people today who were particularly important in helping this thing happen at this university. We have a Chancellor whose mantra for this university is "Always Excellence." It's excellence in academics; it's excellence in the student experience; it's excellence in our athletic program; and nothing but excellence will do. And helping us arrive at this place, Chancellor Sharp, thank you for all your help in making this possible.
I already want to extend thanks to the Board under the chairmanship of Charles Schwartz, the Board has been extremely helpful in guiding and directing us as we do this work. Their passion for this university is unexcelled. Their support is immeasurable and extremely important for what we've done. So, Charles, thank you, and all the fellow members of the Board.
Now, I notice only person who really got a whoop in this entire enterprise was our terrific athletic director whose passion for excellence even exceeds mine. Scott, thank you. Thank you for being here. There is a little bit of a conspiracy. Some years ago, as the Chancellor suggested, he worked very hard to place Scott at LSU and embed him in there so we would have this day today to ensure that we would have that relationship.
So it's been eight years in coming. And, Scott, thank you for what you're doing. Now let me turn this over to our great athletic director. Scott.
(Applause.)
SCOTT WOODWARD: Howdy. 23 months ago, when I was given the great honor of becoming the next athletic director at Texas A&M by President Young, I stood in front of many of you and the Aggie faithful and suggested that what lured me here to College Station was opportunity. The opportunity for greatness across the board, as President Young mentioned.
Today I stand before you with proof that Texas A&M is an opportunity for greatness, as we welcome one of the nation's top college football coaches to our Aggie family.
I first met Jimbo in 2000 and quickly became an admirer, not just of his coaching acumen but more importantly of his infectious approach to the young men in his charge. I was also taken by how he interacted with then-young son Trey who was often around the team with the father-and-son bond on visible display everywhere. In the ensuing years as I've watched from afar, he ascended to the highest levels of the game and won a national championship but remained true to who he is, a football coach and a father.
With us today are two of his incredible young prodigies, Trey and Ethan Fisher. And I want you to welcome them here.
(Applause.)
Ethan, can't wait to get that big buck, buddy.
(Laughter.)
Jimbo's accomplishments speak for themselves. He is one of only four current coaches in college football who have won a national title on their resume. He led Florida State to an 83-23 overall record during his tenure, including a 48-17 record in the ACC. Won five bowl games, finished in the top ten four times, and, of course, won the national championship in 2013. Success is part of his DNA.
In 1987, he was the Division III National Player of the Year in football. In 2001, he was the finalist for the Broyles Award as the Assistant Coach of the Year. And in 2013, he was named National Coach of the Year. Ladies and gentlemen, that is success.
He is the right coach at the right time for Texas A&M, and I am confident that the opportunity for greatness is right around the corner. I want to thank the Board of Regents, Chancellor Sharp, President Young, and the 12th Man in their support of me, this process, and of our new football coach. And I especially want to recognize the senior administrative staff and our department who routinely amaze me with their dedication and their professionalism. So, if you would, please join me in welcoming Jimbo Fisher to the Aggie family.
(Applause.)
COACH FISHER: Howdy.
AUDIENCE: Howdy!
COACH FISHER: Scott, you forgot one thing that I do need out of my jacket, my glasses. (Laughter.)
It was about two or three years ago I kind of held that off for a while and I kept reading the paper farther and farther out from me. Somebody walked behind me and set a pair of glasses on me, and I had to break down and give in and admit that I do need them.
It is truly a great honor and privilege to standing in front of you in Aggieland today. It really is. I've always admired Texas A&M from afar and appreciated what it had. I'm extremely grateful to be here at Texas A&M. And this is, without a doubt, one of college football's greatest sports venues and richest traditions. Within the short amount of time that I've been here, all that said, the people here are incredible. I don't know if I've been around a nicer group of people who are more professional and make you feel more welcome. It feels like I've been here for two years already. It's really has been incredible, the amount of support and the people, the way we've been treated and our family. It's remarkable.
But before I continue, I'd like to say a special thank you to the players, coaches, and supporters at Florida State University. And a special thank you to Coach Bowden. He gave me an opportunity 11 years ago to come there and then gave me an opportunity to be a head football coach. And back then President T.K. Wetherell and the board of trustees and Jim Smith gave me the opportunity of my life to live a dream and continue a dream, allowed me to come here to Aggieland.
Like I said, a special thanks to those two young men and President Thrasher and A.D. Stan Wilcox for all the help and support they gave me during the time at Florida State to be very successful. Beyond success on the field, there are important relationships you develop off the field and in those communities. And I'll always be grateful and thankful the way you treated our family and our time at Florida State. And I wish y'all nothing but the best.
But I want to say a special thank you to Scott Woodward. As I say, with Scott, as we met back in the year 2000, that, you know, we went to LSU at that time. And there was a commitment to excellence and there was a vision for what we wanted to do. And Scott was one of those guys that always said if I ever had the opportunity to work with him again -- because I say this all the time in coaching: You can have Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Chuck Noll, you can have the greatest coaches in the world; but, if your administration doesn't see things in the way you see things and allow you to do things that way, nothing can be achieved. There's a oneness to everything you do to be successful. And I knew he had the same visions that I did. Just like Scott said, he felt that about me. I felt that about him back with Chancellor Emmert at that time, who is now the president of our NCAA. And they allowed us to do the things in which we had to do to be successful. And that's always attracted me to him, and I thank him. And other than that, being a great friend. We did some great things at LSU, and we can do it again.
Also a special thank you to Deputy A.D. Stephanie Rempe, president Young, Chancellor Sharp, Chairman Schwartz, the 12th Man Foundation for giving me this opportunity. It's truly a great opportunity.
We understand that we are the front porch of this university. We are not this university. We are just a representation of this university. But we are the front porch of this university, and we want to represent it with the great values and core values on the field and off the field that this school represents. And then let people realize the greatness that's going beyond the field really continues. And the secret to it is here in College Station of what this university is, what it represents, what it is and what it still can be as we grow.
And success leaves clues. It really does in your life. All the successful people, I've learned from every one I've been around. Success leaves clues and the common denominators. And I'm a true believer in this: Success doesn't happen by accident. And you either live in vision or you live in circumstance. We want to live in vision. And we want to grow and develop and do the things here in which we think are comprehensive to this university and represent this university and to our student-athletes. Because, at the end of the day, it's all about the players. It's about the student-athletes and the students in this school. Because without them, none of us on this panel would have a job. It is truly about the people. And I can represent that, hopefully, very well as I see y'all represent it very well as I have felt that as I have gotten here as much as anywhere I've ever been.
And what we want to do here is create a comprehensive plan for success for our student-athletes. But first as a student. Students and the activity as people is going to affect the lives, the education they get here more than anything in their life. There's no doubt. And the education here and the people here I understand the success of Aggieland as I've been here, as I researched it and studied it.
Next is a person. And I believe this: If you develop the person, everything else falls in place, that comprehensive plan of creating habits and making decisions and doing things. And our players, I want them to understand the two more important abilities I want them to leave our organization with: Accountability and dependability. If you're accountable and dependable and you develop the right habits as a person, everything else in your life will fall in place.
The education will. Because, if you're accountable and dependable, you're going to go to class; you're going to go to study hall; you're going to do the extra things in which you have to do. If you're dependable and somebody calls your name and is standing up that needs you, those are two of the most important qualities in life. Because I say, education is very important. But when you're a good person, everything else falls in line and you create those habits daily that create you.
And then third is an athlete. As an athlete, you know, that's what we're here for. But often that's the carrot we will dangle to develop these kids in every facet of their life. We all want to play ball. I love coaching ball. I love all the things that go with it. But if we don't have good people, if we don't have people that are educated and driven to excellence in every form of their life, what translates off the field is going to be the same thing that translates on the field.
And that's what I want you to see in our players. I want you to be proud, when you sit in those stands, of how they compete, how they play, how they look at things, and how they represent Texas A&M University because, as I say, we are the front porch. There's going to be 15 to 20, 25 million people watching games. And we want them to understand what we're about here in College Station and what we can do and what the people can encompass and come here and want to see more about our university.
I have learned a heck of a lot here in about a day and a half. It's been amazing the things that I've -- I had no idea about. I thought I researched it, but I wasn't close. It wasn't close. And those are a lot of things that drew me here.
And then fourth after that is helping launch their career when you're done. Because when these players leave this university, we want them to be tremendous ambassadors for our school so they come back and they want to say -- and when we're out on the recruiting trail and they say, "What is it like to be there? What is it like to play there?" And they ask us. I'm going to say go ask our ex-players. Go ask the people who were here, see what it's like.
Making sure they're successful in their life, whether it's in pro football or whatever it may be, if they're lucky enough to be able to be one of the few fortunate guys that develop at that level, that's great. But taking care of these in a comprehensive way that produces ambassadors for our university, helping keeping it grow and be the place it is and the special place that y'all know it is.
Because this creates culture. And, in my belief, culture is the most important thing that any university can have, any program can have, any organization can have. Because it's the way you walk, it's the way you talk, it's the way you think.
And being here, I don't have to tell y'all that. There's no doubt. I mean, it is everything in which I envision and more. The amount of pride in which I see people in this school, when they told me when I got here, they said it's going to be different. You know, I say that. You hear that everywhere. You really do. You hear those statements everywhere you go. I feel it, though. I really do. And I see it.
And there's an adage that I tell our players about your actions speak so loud I can't hear what you're saying. Because we hear it all the time. "I'm going to do this, Coach." "I'm going to do that, Coach." But your actions speak so loud I can't hear what you're saying. Well, your actions speak so loud I can't hear what anybody else is saying. It's truly great.
You know, our program will be built on four principles which I talk about all the time: Toughness, effort, discipline, and pride. There's a mental and physical toughness that goes with everything. Toughness is the number one thing in this world. And there's a great book out right now, as a matter of fact. In a little bit of that toughness comes in the word called "grit."
If you're mentally tough and you're physically tough, you have a word called "grit" which the most successful people in this world have that grit. They have the ability to dig down and pull out from within themselves to do the things they have to do. They have to give effort, effort in every phase of their life. It takes effort to be a good person. It takes effort to be a good student. It takes effort to be a good player, all of those qualities. And that can never be compromised. It can never be compromised. The discipline to be able to do what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it, the way it's supposed to be done every single time in every facet of your life.
And then the pride, the Aggie pride here, I feel it. There's pride in what you do and who you are and what you do as a person. And at the end of the day, sometimes that's the things that have to drive you. On those hot days, long days, the days that, you know, we all go through as human beings, whether you're a coach, whether you're a player, whether you're a father, whether you're a child, whether you're a student, whatever it may be, there's got to be a pride of excellence in what you do. And that's the kind of people we want to bring to Texas A&M. They exhibit these qualities.
Because, like I say, there's talented people everywhere in this world. But people who are driven, who are focused through our belief and want to be part of a team -- "TEAM" is Together Everyone Achieves More. That's what we have to understand. We have to be one. We have to have a oneness.
And we all do want to win. The individualism, especially in today's world, is very driven, the individualism to be great. There is an I in TEAM -- excuse me. There's no "I" in "TEAM," but there is an "I" in "WIN." And we tell our players every day, that's going to be the individual responsibility for you to be the best you can be for Texas A&M University so our team can be great. And we each have that responsibility, as a coach, as a player, as everybody who touches and effects these kids' life.
That's what we want to do, a comprehensive program. Because, as we develop kids today, this is going to be a comprehensive program. The mission for us here is very clear: Develop these young men to be the best they can be in every facet of their life. Because when they're champions off, they're going to be champions on.
And I understand that I come in here with great expectation. And I say this due diligence: Your expectations will never be greater than mine. I promise you that. We understand expectation. We live in a world of expectation. That's what we do. But our expectancy and habits of ourself to be great will never exceed anything that's out there. We're going to be driven to be the best every day. When good enough becomes good enough, we have a problem. Good enough can never become good enough. There's always room for growth every day.
We're going to strive for excellence and perfection every day. Every day. And never relinquish that. As Vince Lombardi once said about that, we're going to strive for perfection every day knowing full and well we'll never reach it. But in the meantime we're going to find that excellence, who we are and what we are. We have to drive to that every day.
As you play in this league -- I grew up in this league. I coached 13 years in this league. I understand this league. I was six years at Auburn. I was seven years at LSU. I achieved national champions in this league, conference championships in this league. It's one of the best conferences in all of college football. It's one of the best divisions in all of college football. We understand everything that goes with it. That's the challenges I like. That's what I want to be.
I want to take Texas A&M to somewhere they haven't been, and that's the champion of the SEC. That's where we want to be and what we want to be and advance to the national championship and how we do it. If you can compete in this league, you can compete in any league in college football. We have all the ingredients.
People say what attracted you to Texas A&M? First and foremost, it was Scott Woodward. As he told me in his vision for the place and what he had and he told me the President's vision and the Chancellor's and the Board of Regents', it was a no-brainer. And to be able to come over here and accept those challenges and go to new heights and do things -- because breaking into this conference and doing the things we have to do. And I think all the ingredients are. I really do. I think we have tremendous recruiting base. I think we have tremendous facilities, and I think we have tremendous support. I'm looking forward to the challenge of accepting that challenge and moving this organization and program forward and helping this university, be a proud part of this university.
I understand respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, and integrity, and selfless service are the six core values of Texas A&M. Our program will reflect these. Our players will reflect these. Our staff will reflect these. I will reflect these.
I always tell our players this: Change is inevitable; growth is optional. We want to grow. We want to live in vision. I think, when you live in vision, if you can't see it, you can never achieve it. I can see what we can be. I have a vision of what we can be. We will chip away and take the things away that don't help that vision. We will increase the things that help that vision and try to take Texas A&M where it should be at the top of the college football world. I think everything is here. It's an exciting time to be at Texas A&M, and I'm extremely proud to be your coach. Thank you.
(Applause.)
Q. Jimbo, in Florida State you won 83 games and won a national championship. From the outside looking in, it looked like a great situation. One, why leave that situation? And, two, what made Texas A&M the right place to do that?
COACH FISHER: The first part of your question. I'm sorry.
Q. Why leave what seemed to be a great situation at Florida State; and, two, why was Texas A&M the place to leave it for?
COACH FISHER: First of all, I never had any intention of leaving Florida State. And after Scott had contacted and I started to research -- and, again, I say my relationship with Scott and his vision to do things and as I researched Texas A&M and all the things it had here and the resources it had here and the vision it had here and the people it had here, from the President to the Chancellor to the Board of Regents and everyone together as a oneness. And then my relationship with Scott, the ability to come back and work and relive that vision of things that we had did before at LSU, I think it was a no-brainer in a crazy way.
And, again, my time at Florida State, I love it; it was phenomenal; it was a tremendous place. But in our life, there's opportunities out there you see. And, like I say, I had no plans on leaving there. Had no plans on ever leaving there.
But with the people I'm working with, with the place I'm going and it being -- and him explaining the things to me, as I researched, I thought it was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up and a challenge that I thought that was out there that I just couldn't pass up.
Q. With the early signing period, how important is hitting the recruiting trail as quick as you can? And, also, what are your plans for the bowl game as well?
COACH FISHER: Extremely, extremely critical. We've got to get on the road. We've got to get evaluated what we need, the players we need, the situation -- you know, how many of this, how many of that, and get up there on player evaluation, which I started on yesterday and looking at film and trying to make some evaluations and consideration on other people and getting out there.
Listen, at the end of the day, recruiting is the lifeline of your organization. You have to go out and get the kind of student-athletes that represent the core values in which you want in your organization, not only on physical talent but the ability to represent, compete, and understand how to be the habits of a champion. And I think that's very critical in what we have to do. And we have to get on that road and get to that process extremely quickly.
Q. Coach, do you feel like you have to win a national championship here to validate this sort of bold move that A&M made here today?
COACH FISHER: I don't know if I have to but that's my goal, and that's the object and the mission which we're about. That's our whole objective in everything we do. Our whole goal is to win a national championship every year and always will be.
Q. Jimbo, what will the process be where you will sit down and meet with some of the current players, get to know them and start to build the foundation of the things that you want to put in place?
COACH FISHER: No doubt. We have to build that foundation and embrace those players. I will meet with them this afternoon in a team meeting. And as I will meet with the staff and the people that are here in correlation with the coaches that are here right now. I have a plan. Like, somebody asked me about the bowl game a minute ago -- I forgot to answer that -- for the comprehensive plan in which we will go into the bowl, they will coach the bowl. I will be an observer and watch and be out on the recruiting trail and what we're doing. But I definitely want to embrace these players and meet them and get to know them as quickly as possible.
Q. What would you like to see in naming your new staff, and do you have kind of a timetable on putting a staff together?
COACH FISHER: You say putting the staff together? The timetable? As soon as possible. We're in the process of doing that now. And also meeting with current staff members here, see their interest in what we have and where we're going forward. We want to do that as quickly as possible so we can have things in place, not only for the players here but for the future recruits and the people here so they can understand who's going to be here, who's going to be coaching them, and the vision which we have for them.
Q. I wonder if you've had a chance to assess and evaluate the talent that you're inheriting?
COACH FISHER: Not extensively. I've watched -- I've seen a couple of games and films. And, like I say, there is a lot of very good players here. And they've done a good job and have been very competitive and played well. So to answer that question, comprehensively, I haven't had a chance to really, you know, develop that time to be able to do that yet.
Q. Could you tell us why you've been so good at recruiting and developing quarterbacks?
COACH FISHER: Lucky, I guess. (Laughter.)
Q. Follow-up comment on the recruiting, the importance of building the relationships -- I'm sure you have many already with the Texas High School Coaches Association -- and how important that is and your message to them.
COACH FISHER: Extremely important. Because, as I say, the players and the coaches are the lifeline of this organization. That's where we're going to get our players. And to help -- and help them in any way, shape, or form. This is, like I say, one of the greatest states in all of America to develop college football. And I don't know if it means any more anywhere than in the State of Texas and the coaches and the amount of coaching they get, the programs in which they come out of.
And developing those relationships are going to be extremely critical. I've been in this state at different times. When I was at FSU we came over and recruited some, when I was at LSU and all the different places.
But I'm really looking forward to getting to know them. Because, like I say, I've had great respect for these guys from afar and what they've been able to do and develop. And that's going to be the key. And, like I say, our doors are always going to be open to them, and look forward to meeting and talking with every one of them.
Q. Coach, when were you first contacted by Scott about the vacancy here at A&M?
COACH FISHER: That was in the last week of recruiting, when we were going into our last game. He contacted my representation in that last week.
Q. Jimbo, when you hire your staff of assistants, how important is it that they have big ties to the state of Texas in order to recruit?
COACH FISHER: I think it's very critical that guys that have recruited in the state be here. But, at the same time, I think it's very critical to make sure you get the best people in the best position that are out there to be able to represent this university and coach our players and to recruit our players. We want to do that, if we possibly can. But also, at the same time, we want to make sure we get the best people who represent what we want to do, as I say, and build those relationships. Because, at the end of the day, it's still about people. And you can go out and build those relationships, too.
Q. Your time at LSU, how do you feel that will benefit you coaching back in the SEC, coming back to the SEC?
COACH FISHER: I think I understand the league. But more importantly, I think I understand where that program was at the time we come in. Like I say here, we've been winning games. We're going to bowl games. At the time when we went there, we were 3-8 and 2-9 when that plan took over. And we were able to comprehensively change the culture of how we did things.
And, as I say, your traditions and values never change -- because your core values of what you do. But how we did business over there changed daily, and we got a comprehensive plan for the future and where we saw it goes.
Like I say, you live in vision or you live in circumstance. And the vision of seeing where things go, how they're done, the way you have to conduct your business and where your organizations and programs and the game itself is going, I think was one of the greatest things we did at LSU.
Because -- and I go back to that again. It's not just about the coach. It's about the AD. It's about the President. It's about the Chancellor. It's about the Board of Regents. Everyone at that time had one vision and one goal. And we did that and were able to change that vision and how we did things daily, which I think will help tremendously in how we're trying to go forward here. To me, that's the key to everything, having that oneness.
Q. Just curious, in your mind what do you think is a reasonable time period to take a -- a good college football program and build it into an elite one?
COACH FISHER: Yesterday. No, it is. Listen, I'm not a very patient guy.
(Applause.)
Saying that, we have a process. And you're going to hear me say this word a hundred times. It's not about the outcome; it's about the process. If the process of how you do your business and what you're doing is right, the outcomes will be there.
And sometimes we get results that don't come from the right process. You can't sustain those. The process is the key of how you go about things. And we have to install that here and get people to understand that here to be the culture, create those habits so we can get the results in which we want. But it's going to be about the process. And, as soon as we can get that process in place, then we can -- we can get the results in which we want.
Q. Coach, do your boys plan to live here some of the time, all the time? And I know you've only been here a short time, but do you plan to retire here?
COACH FISHER: That's the objective. You know, they always said -- I had turned down some jobs earlier. And they said you could be a young head coach. I said, "My object is to be the oldest." So I want to be the oldest. I want to stay for a while. I plan on staying. And I think this is a destination place. I really do. I think this can be an unbelievable place. And our family is -- we're adjusting right now. We will always be together, and we're adjusting those things right now.
(Applause.)
COACH FISHER: I am a boot guy. We don't have to put them on right yet? Any other questions? All right. Thank y'all. Look forward to being here.
(transcript courtesy Caption Pros)
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