Jimbo's contract extension was not a reaction to LSU

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HOW A&M GOT “LSU’D”

When Fisher arrived to College Station in the winter of 2017, he left Florida State because then A&M athletic director Scott Woodward offered him a 10-year, $75 million contract. In April of 2019, Woodward left A&M to accept the same position at LSU. The Aggies finished 2020 9-1, and were ranked fifth in the final poll.

The 2021 season had not even begun and there was considerable speculation that Coach O was not long for LSU. Jimbo was a top candidate for an opening that didn’t exist. Like Aranda, Jimbo had previously served as an assistant at LSU. In an effort to end any chance that LSU, and Woodward, would have to potentially lure Jimbo to Baton Rouge, in Sept. of ‘21 the Aggies now infamously gave Fisher that 10-year, fully guaranteed $95 million extension through 2031.
Given Woodward’s track record at both Washington and Texas A&M, he was likely never going to hire Aranda or Fisher. Woodward hired Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly. Extending Aranda may ultimately be regrettable, but it was logical at the time; what A&M did when the “threat of LSU” appeared was a self-inducted panic attack that will take years to pay off, and gives them the national title in “Brain Dead Guaranteed Buyouts.”

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