One-on-One with Ross Bjork

 

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We welcome you inside 12th Man Studios, I'm Will Johnson.
 
With me our new Director of Athletics here at Texas A&M University, Mr. Ross Bjork. And he comes to us from Ole Miss, so certainly he has SEC experience. You're staying in the Western Division just different schools, good to have you here in Aggieland.
 
Thank you so much Will, I appreciate you having me on. It's been a great couple of days and I think having that SEC understanding and learning the league dynamics that I have the last seven years, I think helps a really quick transition. First of all, I don't have to get to know all the conference staff. I've already got them on speed dial. But also, just helping the staff here understand hey, this is what we've been talking about with scheduling and all the TV discussions happening. It's a quick learning curve so I think that definitely helps.
 
The official first day is July 8^th, but you've been here this week, you had a welcome event, what are you picking up on right now? What are you learning about Texas A&M?
 
Well, the old fire hose, right? You're drinking from that fire hose, and it's a big one here. It's just a big stage. Everyone cares, no matter where you go. The Aggies are top of mind. We were at a function last night and I was talking about, people were sort of saying Ross was setting the bar high in his comments Monday. And I said you know what, the bar is already set high. That was before I got here, right? Because Aggies love their University. They love athletics. And so it's our responsibility to meet those expectations and then grow upon those. So what I've learned is people care. They want to be the best, they've invested, and so there are those expectations and people, they're just hungry for it. They see this big stage of the SEC. They see the big stage in Texas. I've really harped on that, that we have to be capitalizing on (being) the only SEC program in the state of Texas. So I see all that, and I love it because people just want to wrap their arms around it and they want to get after it and they want to compete and win and do it the right way and follow the values. Having that energy just inspires me to keep moving forward for this program.
 
You've gotten that face-to-face time with some coaches, and facilities tours, I think you were over at Blue Bell Park and Reed Arena yesterday. Shortly after your welcome event, you met with some coaches in the Presidential Suite at Kyle Field. When you look that Aggie coach in the eye, first what do you want him or her to know, what do they need to know about Ross Bjork?
 
Well, I'm here to help them. We're partners in this journey. My philosophy is let's put them in the best position, let's make sure they have all the right kind of resources and then we really get out of the way. You know I can't...once that ball tips off or kicks off or that first pitch is thrown, there's nothing I can do about it, you know? The game is going to happen the way it's going to happen. But before that there's a process and there's resources and there's commitment and there's being on the same page and there's alignment of vision and all those things. That's the part that I'm involved in and once the game starts, man I'm a fan. I'm cheering for our student-athletes and our coaches. So that's what I wanted them to know, is I need them. We need them. We need strong leadership. We need their commitment. We know that there are high expectations here. They know it better than any anyone because they live it every day. And so we're partners in this journey and we're going to help provide the right kind of resources and just go to work.
 
And something you've had to talk about already is when it comes to football, you and Jimbo, I find this an interesting correlation. We've talked about how you were a fullback and he uses the fullback in the offense, we've heard that. But you played football at a small school, Emporia State. Jimbo did too, at Samford. You guys earned it. There wasn't national TV when you played the game. Did that shape you and probably Jimbo Fisher too and does that bring a dynamic?
 
I think so, I think that mentality, where everything comes with hard work, nothing is just given to you, you don't wake up every day saying okay we've arrived. You're constantly battling to get better and so I think having that perspective when I first talked to him that was my really last comment to him before I got hired was hey Coach, I think we see things a lot alike, you know? Small college football players. I have family in West Virginia. My uncle was a professor at Glenville State. I know that state, I know the mentality there. I think it's very similar to growing up in Kansas where you have to be tough-minded. You have to be honest. You have to look people in the eye, a very similar characteristic that you find in a coach and athletic director relationship. That's what you want, is hey, we're all on the same page. We see things together, and then we just go work and make things happen.
 
The first time we got a chance to talk was on our podcast here in the Athletics Department which is on 12thman.com by the way. You were at SEC meetings at that time and you've talked a little bit about those, there's potential for alcohol sales at SEC stadiums, you mentioned some scheduling within the conference. But to you what is the chief topic in this league right now, something that you would like to discuss from those meetings going forward as the A&M AD?
 
Yeah, probably the scheduling conversation gets the most sort of noise if you will, especially with the long-term rivalries that are in the conference. We're a new member so we probably have a different perspective, but you make one move or one adjustment, that impacts the entire league. And so we're going to do a really good study through Commissioner Sankey on, okay, College Football Playoff is here right? We're five years into it, going into the sixth year. What does scheduling have an impact on College Football Playoff access? The SEC should be in the playoff every year, if not multiple teams. A&M, we want to be in that category. So how does scheduling impact the College Football Playoff? How does it impact our TV partners? That's very, very important. Look, I've said it earlier that every penny matters, no matter what size your budget is. So how does that impact our revenue? I think scheduling and fan experience in the variety, where's our perspective? And I'm still learning that. I think the competitive piece of playing eight games is where we need to be, but also how do you get in the playoff conversation? How do you position yourself best? I think we have it figured out with eight games. So those conversations are very, very important. Then the whole fan experience piece, the SEC does a great job. We actually led those efforts at Ole Miss to do a lot of survey work, so we had a staff member who really worked with the SEC to develop those surveys. What are fans saying about parking and concessions and ticket sales and ticket prices and all those experience things? I think the SEC can be leaders in what the best fan experience opportunities are. And then we're always mindful of NCAA compliance and legislation. Those are some of the topic areas that are key to the SEC.
 
And finally this, like we said July 8^th is the start date. A lot of work to do once that point arrives. But do you find yourself looking forward a little bit to August 29^th, opening night at this stadium, Texas A&M against Texas State?
 
No doubt. No doubt. My kids are (too), you know, because they see how big it is. My son has been here for two games so he's been here. I think just walking out with your family that night and just seeing all of that will be just, it'll probably be emotional that night as well, just saying Okay, we're here. Here's kick off. This is what it's all about, is these kind of moments. So I can't wait for that Thursday night kickoff and seeing Aggieland in full force.
 
Ross, thank you so much for the time.
 
Thank you very much. Absolutely. Gig'Em.