It’s time to put Jimbo Fisher vs. Kevin Sumlin to bed once and for all
For those outside of the Texas A&M coverage realm, it’s been the sole mission of many in the media to reignite a debate that should have died a long, long time ago; Jimbo Fisher vs. Kevin Sumlin.
Neither coach wins this matchup, as the highs have been equally high, and the lows, well, have been low for both regimes. So, in an effort to prove that a winner in this pointless face off simply fails to exist, let their resumes do the talking.
For clarity, I’m referring to Sumlin’s six seasons with the Aggies (2012-2017) highlighted by quarterback Johnny Manziel’s Heisman-winning, 11-2 2012 campaign capped off with a victory against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, still recognized as one of the greatest seasons in program history.
After the aforementioned 2012 season, Sumlin would go on to achieve a 40-24 record and 51-26 overall, though his firing due to a consistent lack of midseason success in SEC play compared to his exemplary records in September opened the door for one of the premier hires at the time, as then Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher threw out his Christmas Tree earlier than usual as his sights were now set on Stetsons and Cowboy boots as College Station awaited his arrival in December of 2017.
In Fisher’s first season with what was a majority-constructed roster from Sumlins’ previous recruiting classes, Fisher finished 9-4 with a win in the Gator Bowl, leading to his second full season in 2019, finishing 8-5 with a consecutive bowl victory.
His best season so far with the program came during the 2020 campaign, known only as the Covid season where one game on their schedule (Ole Miss) was canceled, the experienced Aggies squad led by senior quarterback Kellen Mond finished 9-1 including an eight-game winning streak, and were notably on the cusp of their first appearance in the College Football Playoff, and finished the season with one of their biggest bowl wins in program history against North Carolina in the Orange Bowl. At the end of the season, Texas A&M ranked 4th in the country, their highest finish in AP Polling history.
Yes, progress has been made under Fisher, but since 2020, it’s been painfully average after an 8-4 finish in 2021, and of course, the recent 5-7 2022 season I myself have analyzed ad nauseam, the comparisons between Fisher and the previous regime have made their way back to the news cycle. Ranging from record comparison to a debate surrounding player development, the 2023 NFL Draft provided a perfect scapegoat for Aggie clickbait, As it was brought to the public attention that Kevin Sumlin has produced seven first-round selections during his time with the program, while Fisher has only produced one in five seasons.
Here’s a bit more clarity in response to that bombshell revelation: three of the seven players drafted in the first round (Luke Joeckel, Jake Matthews, Cedric Ogbuehi) under Sumlin were recruits of former Aggie head coach Mike Sherman, who Sumlin succeeded in the position, so give credit where credit is due. Lastly, 2017 No.1 overall pick Myles Garrett, who by all means is a generational talent and future NFL Hall of Famer realistically had all the makings of a future first-round pick regardless of the college he attended, while both Johnny Manziel and wide receiver Mike Evans’ are the best examples of first-round picks who developed under Sumlin’s fast-paced run and gun offense, so again give him all the credit in the world.
At 57 years old and entering his sixth season with Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher is still recruiting at a high level despite significant losses to the transfer portal, and the 2023 roster is as talented and experienced as he’s possessed since, yes, 9-1 2020 season. Here’s the bottom line, Fisher is under immense pressure to turn things around ASAP, so comparing his current regime to Kevin Sumlin’s former life in College Station is an exercise in futility, but hey, we’re just focused on the season ahead. as always, Gig ‘Em, and BTHO off-season.
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